Bleacher Report - Articles by Mike Arrowsmith

To Be the Best, Big South Fave Radford Feels It At Least Needs To Play the Best

Mike Arrowsmith — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:22:22 -0400

It almost seemed like something out of a dream for the Radford Highlanders basketball team (21-11).

Just five months ago, the Radford student body was storming the court of the Dedmon Center after being crowned Big South Champions by virtue of defeating the VMI Cadets 108-94 in the final game of the tournament.

The Highlanders earned an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in school history where they would face ACC powerhouse North Carolina Tarheels (34-4) in the first round.

Unfortunately for Radford, the Tarheels dashed any hope the Highlanders had for an upset with a 101-58 drubbing.

North Carolina was clearly the better team in almost every aspect of the game in size, depth, and talent. They went on to beat the likes of LSU, Gonzaga, Oklahoma, Villanova, and Michigan State en route to becoming the 2009 NCAA Tournament Champions.

Radford lacked any depth past their starting five and had no answer for North Carolina's All-American forward, Tyler Hansbrough. They also lacked the experience of playing the top tier NCAA basketball teams that North Carolina saw on a regular basis.

A majority of Radford's wins came in the lowly Big South where they went a conference best 13-3. However, this season's schedule brings hope for Radford to improve on last year's success.

The Highlanders will be well battle tested on the road as they will play three games against national powerhouses Duke, Louisville, and Kansas. They will also play host to George Mason, who was voted by several publications as the No. 1 non-BCS recruiting class for the 2009-2010 season.

The Highlanders will also host an ESPN Bracket Buster late in the season. A potential upset in any of these games could bolster Radford's seeding and at large hopes for the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

If nothing else, the experience that Radford will gain from playing teams of this caliber will help them to win the Big South Tournament and earn an automatic tournament bid.

Radford looks to be the clear favorite to win the Big South in 2010. They will return four of five starters. Amoung them, is senior center and Big South Player of the Year, Artsiom Parakhouski.

After transferring in from an Idaho community college, the 6'11 Belorussian has become a monster inside the paint. Last year, Parakowski averaged 16.2 points per game. He proved to be the deciding factor in the Big South Championship game where he scored 26 points and added 18 rebounds.

Parkowski followed that effort with another 10 point and 10 rebound double double in their NCAA Tournament game against North Carolina.

The Highlander community is also very excited about the signing of junior point guard Jeremy Robinson. Robinson is a 5'10, 170-pound guard that who is coming off of his second season at Tallahassee Community College where he started 31 contests.

In 2007, Robinson led Northwestern High to the Baltimore City Championship. He was rated as the 38th best prospect in the class of 2007 by Mid-Atlantic Hoops, and was also named to the Baltimore City All-Star team.

Radford will tip off the 2009-2010 against Navy at the Dedmon Center at 7 pm on November 13.

Don't Count Out The Louisville Cardinals

Mike Arrowsmith — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:10:21 -0500

Five day’s ago, I wrote an article pertaining to the dominance of the ACC and the Big East. While addressing the Big East, I went into detail about league front runners Syracuse, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, and Connecticut. However, I didn’t really focus on the No. 20 Louisville Cardinals (12-3, 3-0 Big East).

At the time I wrote the article, I wasn’t sure what to make of Louisville. They were off to a pretty good start, with 10 wins early in the season.

However, despite Louisville’s Elite Eight finish in 2008, I was hesitant to name them a true contender for the Big East. I felt this way because Louisville had yet earn a win over a formidable top 25 opponent.

Two days after writing my article, I was watching the Cardinals take on the No. 17 Villanova Wildcats on the road. At half time, Louisville was down by nine and I was starting to think that I was right not give them top-tier status in the Big East.

Then, in the second half, almost as if to prove the critics wrong, Louisville came roaring back. After playing exceptionally good defense for the next twenty minutes, Louisville was able to slowly chip away at the Villanova lead.

With 7.4 seconds to play in the game, Louisville finally took a one point lead and hung on for the 61-60 win as Villanova missed two shots in the closing seconds.

At this point, I started to think that I might have been wrong. Was Louisville in fact a Big East title contender? Two days later I got my answer, as the Cardinals played host to the No. 13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-4, 3-2 Big East).

Backed by Big East Offensive Player of the Year, Luke Harangody (24.8 ppg, 12.7 reb), Notre Dame was my sleeper to win the conference.

The Irish feature one of the most potent offenses in the NCAA, which has dismantled team after team in a variety of ways. If Louisville could contain the Notre Dame offense and handle their business on the glass, then I knew they would have a chance to get their second big upset of the season.

At halftime of the fast-paced, high-scoring game, the Cardinals led 41-38.

After Louisville jumped out to an early nine point lead in the first eight minutes, the Irish fought their way back into the game, making it too close for comfort at halftime.

The second half proved to be just as nail-biting as the first, ending regulation in a 71-71 tie.

It didn’t appear that Notre Dame was going to be worn down by the Louisville defense. Then, over the next five minutes of overtime, the Cardinals stunned the Irish by going on a 16-2 run to snag a hard-fought win in the process.

The time has come to admit I was wrong about the Louisville Cardinals.

They are a contender! Somebody needs to warn the undefeated No. 1 Pittsburgh Panthers to watch their step when they travel to Louisville this Saturday.

This is a team that will match up very nicely against Pittsburgh. The Cardinals are led by one of the best inside games in the Big East.

In the last couple games, senior forward Terrance Williams has dominated the boards with 12.3 points-per-game and 9.3 rebounds-per-game. He has also received help from freshman forward Samardo Samuels, who leads the team with 13.9 points-per-game.

As a team, Louisville features one of the league's stingiest defenses allowing just 60.7 points-per-game. The Cardinals are 9-1 at home, but, more importantly, are 3-0 in conference play. They could very well be dancing late into March once again in the 2009 NCAA tournament.

I guess the moral of the story is that every team in the Big East is a big threat to the rest of the league!

George Mason Patriots Taking CAA by Storm

Mike Arrowsmith — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:10:43 -0500

In the preseason CAA basketball polls, George Mason was picked to finish fourth behind the likes of VCU, Old Dominion, and Northeastern. The general consensus seemed to be that the Patriots were going to be good, but not NCAA tournament bound. I guess George Mason didn’t get the memo.

Gone are the days of 2006 Final Four starters Folarin Campbell, Will Thomas, Jai Lewis, Tony Skin, and Lamar Butler. Now, the Patriots are sporting a 12-3 (5-0 CAA) record behind a new line of stars.

Standing at the top of the CAA with an undefeated conference record, the Patriots have shown how an unselfish offense and power defense win games. While averaging just under 70 points a game, George Mason has received scoring from a variety of sources.

Sophomore Cam Long has embraced his role as a team leader this season. While averaging 11.7 points a game, Long has helped to light up the guard game for the Patriots with help from the senior leadership of John Vaughn (11.1 ppg).

After receiving CAA rookie of the year honors as a freshman, Vaughn suffered an ACL injury that put him out for his entire sophomore season. Three years later, Vaughn is making up for lost time and appears to have his sights set on a CAA title and an NCAA tournament bid.

The Patriots also have been handling their business in the paint this season behind senior center Darryl Monroe. At 6'7" and 250 lbs., Monroe has proved to be one of the most physical and athletic centers in the conference.

In his last three games, Monroe has recorded three straight double-doubles in points and rebounds. Fifteen games into the season, he is averaging 10.6 points per game and 8.9 rebounds a game. Monroe’s inside presence will become more and more vital as the Patriots enter the meat of their CAA schedule.

Mason has also received great inside production from junior forward Louis Birdsong, who is averaging 7.7 points a game.

Finally, George Mason is led by their offensive court general and point guard Dre Smith. Entering his second year as the Patriots starter, experts are expecting Smith to have a breakout senior season. Smith is off to a great start by averaging 8.3 points per game. In eight of the season's first 15 games, Smith has scored in double figures, including a season high 22 points at Dayton.

However, unlike past seasons, the Patriots don’t just go five deep. George Mason has received surprising production from freshman recruits Andre Cornelius, Ryan Pearson, and Michael Morrison. All three of these players have seen significant minutes at a young age, and it has paid dividends on the scoreboard.

Pearson has added something extra to the inside game, averaging 7.1 points per game in 18.1 minutes a game. Michael Morrison seems to be developing into a great rebounder and has been a great compliment at center to Darryl Monroe. Morrison has showed great promise with 15 and 13-point games against Brown and UNC Wilmington.

Cornelius has also been a great contributor as a lightning-quick point guard. Cornelius seems to provide extra energy when on the court and adds a spark to the offense with 6.9 points per game.

These three players seem to be among the best recruits Mason has had in years. The team's Final Four appearance helped to widen recruiting interest across the country. Morrison was picked up in Florida, Cornelius in North Carolina, and Pearson in New York. Mason’s ability to recruit across the country has most likely elevated their incoming talent level for years to come.

As a team, the Patriots are giving up less than 60 points a game and look to have one of the most physical teams in the league. Jim Larranaga looks poised to coach the Patriots to their second consecutive CAA title.

However, there are still plenty of big tests looming down the road for George Mason, with upcoming games against James Madison, Northeastern, VCU, and an ESPN Bracket Buster game not too far off.

Luxury Tax Not Enough in MLB

Mike Arrowsmith — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:44:14 -0500

One of the most exciting things to watch in the offseason is Major League Baseball’s free-agent shopping spree. Every team is trying to sign the best available talent in order to benefit the most important needs of their organization.

Over the past few months, I have watched the New York Yankees take full advantage of the free-agent market by signing high-class players such as pitchers A.J. Burnett and CC Sabathia. They also came out victorious in a five-team bidding war over star first baseman Mark Teixeira.

After it was all said and done, the Yankees had invested nearly $423.5 million on these three players alone. Given that the Yankees are one of the richest teams in baseball, they can afford to spend big-time dollars on big-time players. The 2009 New York Yankee’s theme seems to be no price tag is too high for a World Series championship.

Unlike the NFL and NBA, who instigate a salary cap to keep teams from overloading on talent, Major League Baseball uses a luxury tax. The luxury tax enables teams to spend as much money as they want as long as they are willing to be taxed after a certain amount. After their newest acquisitions, the Yankees were handed a $26.9 million luxury tax bill.

This, of course, is no problem for an organization that could potentially finance a small country. The Yankees and the Detroit Tigers were the only teams to be taxed this year. However, one has to wonder if the lack of an MLB salary cap really promotes fairness around the league.

While Mark Teixeira was on the free agent market, he was drawing interest from the likes of the Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Nationals, and Angels. Over the course of a few months, Teixeira’s price tag became higher and higher and soon reached a mark that only New York dollars could satisfy.

While the Yankees cashed in on another big acquisition, the other four teams were left to pursue less proven veterans or bring up young talent from the minor leagues.

This year, I have a strong feeling that the Yankees will return to the playoffs. However, it won’t be because of their strong farm system. It will be because unlike most teams, they can afford to bring in the most talented players that money can buy.

I believe that more teams should rely on their farm systems to propel their way into the World Series like the 2008 Tampa Bay Devil Rays. A salary cap needs to be established to promote fairness around the league. This would give every team an equal chance to experience the sweetness that is October baseball.

ACC Vs. Big East: The Power of 25

Mike Arrowsmith — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:05:35 -0500

As the college basketball midpoint rapidly approaches, it’s anyone’s bet who will be battling it out in the field of 65 come March. However, one thing that we can be sure of is that the 2009 NCAA tournament will feature an overload of ACC and Big East talent.

In the eighth week of the season, both conferences placed a combined 13 teams into the Coaches Top 25 Poll. Both of these conferences have established themselves as the most powerful in the NCAA. However, the question remains—who is better?

On paper, the Big East, holding nine spots in the top 25, seems like the superior conference. Not only that, but not one of the 16 teams in the Big East has a losing record. The cellar dweller is DePaul, who currently stands at 8-8 on the year.

On the opposite end of the spectrum stands undefeated Pittsburgh (14-0). The Pittsburgh Panthers have not only established themselves as first in the Big East, but first in the country as well. Led by the strong inside presence of Sam Young and DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh is averaging over 77 points a game while keeping their opponents to under 60 ppg.

The Panthers have shown that they can hang with the best of them with a 16-point victory on the road against Georgetown (10-3) and an equally impressive road win over ACC title contender Florida State (10-3).

Don’t expect Pittsburgh to cruise to a Big East title though, with a team like the fifth-ranked Connecticut Huskies (13-1) close on their heels. UConn has been tested early and often in the first half of the season, coming up with big wins over Miami (11-3), Wisconsin (12-3), and an overtime win over then ranked Gonzaga (9-4). The Huskies' only loss came at the hands of No. 10 Georgetown at home.

UConn possess one of the most well-rounded offenses in college basketball, making them extremely difficult to stop. They can beat you inside with the big man play of Hasheem Thabeet (13.9 ppg, 10.7 rpg). Or if that fails, they can rely on the strong guard play of Jerome Dyson (14.2 ppg.).

If those two powerhouses don’t strike enough fear into the hearts of the opposition, then maybe the Syracuse Orange (15-1) will! Rounding out the top 10 in the ninth spot, Syracuse returns to the Big East stage with a bigger, better, and more mature roster then in years past.

Last year, suspensions and injuries crushed Syracuse’s hopes for an at-large bid to the big dance. This year, however, the Orange look to do more than just make it to the tournament. Look for Syracuse to go deep into possibly the Elite Eight.

Syracuse is led by the ferocious guard play of Jonny Flynn (16.8 ppg) and Eric Devendorf (13.9 ppg). As only a sophomore, Flynn seems poised to help Syracuse rise to the occasion on the national stage.

The Orange have already shown they can handle big-time competition with wins over Florida (13-2), Kansas (11-3), and Memphis (11-3). The only chink in their armor came at the hands of the Cleveland State Vikings (11-5). The Vikings sunk Syracuse on a 60-foot buzzer-beating three-pointer as time expired for a 72-69 win at Syracuse.

The Big East can definitely expect most of their losses to come inside the conference, with other teams like No. 10 Georgetown, No. 13 Notre Dame, No. 15 Marquette, No. 17 Villanova, No. 21 Louisville, and No. 22 West Virginia bringing fast on the heels of the leaders.

But does the quantity of Big East really match the quality of the talent in the ACC? For now, Pittsburgh holds the number one spot in the country. However, numbers two, three, and four have been taken over by the likes of the ACC.

Coming in at number two are the Duke Blue Devils (13-1). The Blue Devils have shown they can beat anyone with one of the best coaches in college basketball in Mike Krzyzewski.

Not once in my life have I ever underestimated Coach K’s ability to take one of his teams deep into NCAA tournament play. Krzyzewski has built an epic résumé with three national championships, three Final Fours, one Elite Eight, six Sweet 16s, and 24 NCAA Tournament appearances.

This year, the Blue Devils are looking to go deep into the tournament for the first time since their Sweet 16 appearance in 2006. This looks to be one of the Blue Devils' most potent offenses, with sophomore Kyle Singler (16.5 ppg) leading the way with great post play. Duke already has impressive wins over Michigan (13-2), No. 14 Purdue (11-4), and Davidson (10-2). Duke's only loss came in a road rematch against Michigan.

Sitting right beneath Duke is their conference rival, the No. 3 North Carolina Tar Heels (14-1). Backed by 2008 league MVP and All-American senior Tyler Hansbrough (22.9 ppg), the Tar Heels look poised to make an NCAA title run. North Carolina doesn’t just beat teams—they win in decisive fashion. This is a team that is truly playing like a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Hansbrough isn’t the only weapon in the UNC arsenal though. Ty Lawson (15.2 ppg) and Wayne Ellington (12.5 ppg) are currently engineering one of the best guard games in the country. This batch of superstars is dismantling their opponents by putting up over 94 points per game.

UNC has already proved they can handle the best the country has to offer with wins over Kentucky (11-4), No. 13 Notre Dame (11-3), and No. 12 Michigan State (12-2). UNC has come up short only once this season in a seven-point loss to Boston College. My only explanation for this game is that the Tar Heels played flat and deserved to lose this game. However, they do have the potential to win the National Championship.

North Carolina will face quite possibly their biggest test yet in their upcoming game against the No. 4 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (14-0).

Coming off a rebuilding year, the Demon Deacons are out to prove that they are among the best teams in the country. A win over North Carolina would go a long way for Wake Forest taking over the nation’s number two spot.

Wake Forest features one of the league's more balanced offensive fronts. All five starters are averaging nine points or better per game. Sophomore guard Jeff Teague has really raised his game from a year ago to become the go-to guy for the Demon Deacons. Teague is averaging 19.6 ppg and 4.2 apg.

Wake Forest has already bolstered their résumé with a big win over No. 23 Baylor (12-2). However, a win or a close loss to UNC is a must in order for Wake Forest to solidify themselves as a contender and not a pretender.

Rounding out the ranks of the ACC, we have No. 11 Clemson (15-0) and No. 24 Boston College (13-3). Clemson has yet to play any teams that would merit them a top 10 spot, but their undefeated record leaves them in the top 25 for the time being. Boston College recently upset UNC to join the top 25, but flopped in an embarrassing loss to Harvard and will more than likely drop out of the week nine rankings.

As for the rest of the ACC, there is not one team with a losing record among them. UVA brings up the rear at 7-5 but will most likely finish the season over .500.

It’s easy to say that the Big East is the better conference with what seems like an unending abundance of talent. I guess that would be true. However, the ACC presents three of the league's finest at the front of their roster in Duke, UNC, and Wake Forest, and teams like Clemson, Maryland (11-3), and Florida State (13-2) close on their heels.

I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that when it comes down to the Elite Eight, the ACC will overwhelm the Big East.

College Basketball or Pro Ball?: Stay in School for the Love of the Game

Mike Arrowsmith — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:58:13 -0400

As I turn on the TV to watch a college basketball game, I can't help but ponder how much the game has changed in recent years. I'm not talking about the rules and regulations. I'm talking about the young bucks who are considering leaving college early for the NBA draft.

In the last few years, a rule was created that required players to play college basketball for at least one year before turning to the pros. I believe this is a good rule for many reasons.

For starters, it brings a lot more talent and intensity to the NCAA. In recent years, college basketball fans have gotten to see the wonders of Greg Oden and Michael Beasley in action. Overall, it has made the game much more competitive and even more exciting come March. This even allows for NBA scouts to get a better look at an individual in the playoffs.

I also like this rule because I believe that it gives the players an opportunity to mature. Does everybody remember Kwame Brown? If not, allow me to refresh your memory.

Brown was drafted to the NBA as the first overall pick by the Washington Wizards right out of high school. He was considered by many to be the top high school player in the country. He seemed to be the golden boy coming into the NBA.

After one season of action, Brown was putting up decent rookie numbers. He scored a few points here and there, but nothing amazing.

Then came Year Three of Brown's career. The Wizards found themselves in the second round of the playoffs against the Chicago Bulls and Brown was complaining for not receiving enough playing time.

If I'm an NBA coach in a playoff game, I'm turning to my seasoned veterans. Yet, Brown continued to feud with All-Star point guard Gilbert Arenas and head coach Eddie Jordan. To me, this is just a lack of maturity, which four years in college might have subdued to some extent.

I'm not saying college basketball is the cure all for all athletes, but it at least enables young kids to find out if the can handle the pressure that the next level provides.

I also think that college basketball players should go to college all four years. I don't say this because I love watching them on the court, but I believe everyone should get his degree. There is nothing more important in life than a college education.

There is the lucky 1 percent of Americans that will go pro in sports. Everyone else is headed for the workforce. However, what we can't predict is a career-ending injury.

Then what? You left college early. You don't have an education. Good luck finding a job.

That is why the player I respect the most in the NCAA is Tyler Hansborough. Hansborough could've easily elected to go pro at the end of his freshman year. However, he decided to get his four-year education. I have tremendous respect for him for putting his priorities in line and doing what is truly important.

So, now I'm back in front of my TV and I'm watching the news surrounding O.J. Mayo and his place in the NBA. I thought to myself, what happened to playing for the love of the game?

What's so appealing about going to the NBA? Money? Sure! These players are so caught up in playing to get to the next level that they can't even stop to enjoy the moment.

My message to the college basketball players out there...Enjoy living in the moment. Enjoy the feeling of euphoria when your shot kisses the net. Feel the magic of the ball coming into your hands off a sweet pick and roll bounce pass.

Get your education. If you are destined for the NBA, then great. If not, so be it. Just try and rekindle the college basketball magic that was lost due to the NBA speculations.

March Madness: Patriots Ready to Fight the Irish

Mike Arrowsmith — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:35:52 -0400

Just months ago, I found myself questioning whether or not George Mason was good enough to go to the NCAA tournament. Heading into the CAA tournament, the Patriots were playing very unsteady basketball down the stretch. In the final week of the season George Mason lost by 11 points to a less than stellar Northeastern squad. Then came conference tournament time. After a first round bye, the Patriots got a rematch against Northeastern. In their opening game of the tournament, George Mason returned to what they did best by playing great defensive basketball in a 63-52 win over the Huskies. While this was a great win, the semi final worried me. The Patriots were set to face off against the UNC Wilmington Seahawks. In their earlier meetings, the Seahawks came away with two and three point victories over the Patriots. However, the Patriots had one goal in mind and that was making it to the NCAA Tournament. The Patriots never trailed as they defensively dominated the Seahawks 53-41. From there, it was onto the CAA Title game where Mason would have to play the streaking William and Mary Tribe. William and Mary emerged as a very aggressive fifth seed taking down regular season CAA champion VCU in the semi final. The Tribe kept it close for the first half as the Patriots led 27-26 at intermission. However Mason’s defense proved to be too much as they cruised to a 68-59 victory and the CAA Championship title. The Patriots advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since their magical final four run in 2006. They enter as a 12^th seed and will play 5^th seeded Notre Dame in the first round.

The Irish are the clear favorites with good reason. They enter the tournament as a Big East at large with a record of 24-7. Notre Dame also enters the tournament averaging a Big East best 80.6 points per game. Leading the way for the Irish is Big East Player of the Year, Luke Harangody. Standing at 6’8 and 251 lbs, Harangody is considered to be one of the most physical players in the league. During the regular season, he averaged a team leading 20.8 points per game and 10.2 rebounds a game.

While George Mason may not have a single player that matches up with Harongody, but they have two players who could make some noise for the Patriots. Will Thomas and Folarin Campbell are the two remaining starters from the 2006 Final Four squad. Both have been consistent leaders for the Patriots offensively throughout the season averaging a combined 31.7 points per game. The Patriots will also counter the Big East’s best offense with the CAA’s best defense. The Patriots like to slow the game down and that could be just what they need to throw off the inconsistent outside shooting of the Irish. The Patriots are not to be underestimated as they ran the table as the underdog just two years ago. While they come into the tournament as a much different team than two years ago, their attitude is the same. Play loose and have fun. Notre Dame may be so focused on getting to the next round that they could easily overlook a hot team like George Mason.

If the Patriots do get past Notre Dame, they will face a match-up against the winner of the #4 Washington State vs. # 13 Winthrop game. As the tournament goes on the games traditionally only get harder. Everyone is looking to get as far in the tournament as they can. Winthrop comes off a Big South Tournament Championship. Year after year, Winthrop has been known for pulling huge upsets against solid teams in the first round. In my mind, they are going to slip past Washington State and advance to the second round. Their tournament experience against great teams may work in their favor. However, you can’t over look Washington State either. Washington State finished as the third best team in the Pac-10. They come into the tournament with an overall record of 24-8. Keep in mind, the Pac-10 put a league leading seven teams into the tournament. So, Washington State has already faced off against some of the best teams in the country. The Cougars finished with an 11-7 record in conference play. There is no question that the Patriots will have their work cut out for them in the second round regardless of their opponent. The only thing on George Mason’s mind right now is having fun and playing quality basketball against quality opponents.

GMU Basketball: How Good Are the Patriots?

Mike Arrowsmith — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:06:46 -0500

If there’s one word that described the 2006-07 George Mason men’s basketball season, it would be inconsistency.

Just one season removed from their magical Final Four run, the Patriots seemed to struggle with own identity until the very end of the season.

The Patriots alternated wins and losses for much of the season, and headed into CAA tournament with a less than spectacular 15-14 (9-9 CAA) record.

Then, came tournament time. George Mason opened the tournament as the conference’s fifth seed and pulled out a 73-62 win over CAA cellar dweller James Madison (7-23, 4-14). This was a feel-good win, but nothing to really turn the heads of the NCAA tournament committee.

George Mason then caught fire.

First, they pulled out a nail biting 64-61 win over fourth seed Hofstra (22-10).

Next, they beat NCAA Tournament at-large bid Old Dominion (24-9) 79-63. This win propelled the Patriots into the CAA Championship game against number-one seed Virginia Commonwealth (28-7).

George Mason found themselves one win away from an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament. The Patriots played their hearts out, but came up short in the final minutes, losing 65-59 and consequently ending their season at 18-15.

However, the impressive end to their season brought hope to the Patriots for 2007-08.

After returning four of their starters, George Mason opened up the season with four straight wins—including an impressive victory over #20 Kansas State (12-4).

It seemed the Patriots were back to NCAA tournament form and looked to be legitimate contenders for the CAA title. George Mason dropped their next game over #19 Villanova by eight points, but rebounded with a nice 69-68 win over 9-8 South Carolina.

The Patriots were convincing the country that they were legitimate competitors and a force to be reckoned with. However, one question still remained.

How would the Patriots hold up in CAA competition? George Mason opened up conference play with an impressive 85-38 win over Drexel. The Patriots seemed to be firing on all cylinders. Not only were they beating the teams they were supposed to, but they were winning games that weren’t favored to win. The Patriots defense was dominant, and the offense was sparking behind the efforts of Will Thomas and John Vaughan—who are currently putting up 16.4 and 14.1 points per game, respectively.

However, the Patriots' newfound dominance would soon be brought into question at the BB&T Classic.

The Patriots came into the Verizon Center expecting to blow the lowly East Carolina Pirates (7-9) out of the water. Surprisingly, East Carolina pulled off a stunning 68-65 upset. Fans began to wonder whether George Mason was for real.

The Patriots rebounded with a with a win over MEAC front runner Hampton (10-6) 57-54, but were overpowered by Kent State (14-4) in a 73-55 loss.

After that, the Patriots seemed to return to form—until losing to CAA cellar dwellers Delaware and Georgia State. Most recently, the Patriots earned a convincing 96-75 road win over tough division opponent James Madison (10-8).

That victory brings Mason to (13-5, 5-2) on the year.

The Patriots have also yet to loose a game at home this season. Their record puts them just one win out of first behind CAA front runner Virginia Commonwealth.

The much-anticipated rematch of these two teams will ultimately help to decide just how good George Mason is come March.