GMU is #1 in mid-major recruiting for 2009

[Go Skins]

[url="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=4185555"]http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/...tory?id=4185555[/url]

With most of the attention on the floor and in the recruiting world focused on the schools that comprise the high-major conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10, SEC), a number of mid-major powers outside of BCS conferences have made significant progress on the recruiting trail. Consequently, these teams have reaped the rewards of their recruiting victories with increased win totals.

While Gonzaga has served as the blueprint for how to build a dominant power outside of a BCS conference, teams such as Butler and Davidson have emerged to place their own imprint on the college basketball landscape, and nobody will forget George Mason's improbable run to the Final Four in 2006.

With increased television and media exposure mid-major teams have more than enough ammunition to lure top prospects on campus. In fact, five ESPNU 100 recruits (Terrell Vinson, Massachusetts; Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State; Zeke Marshall, Akron; Aaric Murray, LaSalle; Anthony Marshall, UNLV) decided to take their considerable basketball talents to non-BCS homes in the fall.


1. George Mason Patriots
Coach Jim Larranaga has assembled a very impressive group that will make its debut in the fall. Six-foot-4 SG Sherrod Wright provides George Mason with a tremendously athletic wing player. Wright can get to the rim at will and will become even better when he improves his jumper to go along with his athleticism and strength. Johnnie Williams (Memphis, Tenn./Briarcrest Christian), a 6-8 PF, gives the Patriots a dominant post presence who can also connect on jumpers.

Luke Hancock (Roanoke, Va./Hargrave Military Academy) is a 6-5 SF who will provide long-range shooting and high intensity. Rashad Whack (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara), a 6-2 SG, puts an immense amount of pressure on opposing defenders with his aggressive style of play. Vertrail Vaughns (Mesquite, Texas/Mesquite) will give the Patriots a 6-2 point guard with great quickness and passing ability while 6-6 PF Paris Bennett (Elizabeth, N.J./St. Patrick) will play some face-up 4.



Mason is involved in a tournament in Puerto Rico this season with the following schools: Boston University, Dayton, George Mason, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas State, Ole Miss and Villanova

[BengalBrandon]

[quote name='Go Skins' post='778252' date='May 22 2009, 04:52 PM'][url="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=4185555"]http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/...tory?id=4185555[/url]

With most of the attention on the floor and in the recruiting world focused on the schools that comprise the high-major conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10, SEC), a number of mid-major powers outside of BCS conferences have made significant progress on the recruiting trail. Consequently, these teams have reaped the rewards of their recruiting victories with increased win totals.

While Gonzaga has served as the blueprint for how to build a dominant power outside of a BCS conference, teams such as Butler and Davidson have emerged to place their own imprint on the college basketball landscape, and nobody will forget George Mason's improbable run to the Final Four in 2006.

With increased television and media exposure mid-major teams have more than enough ammunition to lure top prospects on campus. In fact, five ESPNU 100 recruits (Terrell Vinson, Massachusetts; Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State; Zeke Marshall, Akron; Aaric Murray, LaSalle; Anthony Marshall, UNLV) decided to take their considerable basketball talents to non-BCS homes in the fall.


1. George Mason Patriots
Coach Jim Larranaga has assembled a very impressive group that will make its debut in the fall. Six-foot-4 SG Sherrod Wright provides George Mason with a tremendously athletic wing player. Wright can get to the rim at will and will become even better when he improves his jumper to go along with his athleticism and strength. Johnnie Williams (Memphis, Tenn./Briarcrest Christian), a 6-8 PF, gives the Patriots a dominant post presence who can also connect on jumpers.

Luke Hancock (Roanoke, Va./Hargrave Military Academy) is a 6-5 SF who will provide long-range shooting and high intensity. Rashad Whack (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara), a 6-2 SG, puts an immense amount of pressure on opposing defenders with his aggressive style of play. Vertrail Vaughns (Mesquite, Texas/Mesquite) will give the Patriots a 6-2 point guard with great quickness and passing ability while 6-6 PF Paris Bennett (Elizabeth, N.J./St. Patrick) will play some face-up 4.



Mason is involved in a tournament in Puerto Rico this season with the following schools: Boston University, Dayton, George Mason, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas State, Ole Miss and Villanova[/quote]

I love all the mid-major schools. It's a great story and their games are exciting. A school with gym with a capacity of only 4,000 or so beating teams playing in arenas of 15,000 or so. Great to see GM get a good class coming in, I'll never forget the run that they had a few years back.

[Homer_Rice]

Poop on GMU basketball.

[Jamie_B]

[quote name='Homer_Rice' post='780760' date='Jun 5 2009, 01:31 PM']Poop on GMU basketball. [/quote]

[Go Skins]

Mason's non conference schedule got released yesterday:

Out of Conference: 12 games
Friday, November 13 vs. LIBERTY
Sunday, November 15 vs. DARTMOUTH
Thursday-Sunday, November 19-22 vs. TBA at ESPN Puerto Rico Tip Off
(3 games: Boston University, Dayton, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas State, Ole Miss and Villanova)
Saturday, November 28 at Tulane
Wednesday, December 2 at George Washington
Tuesday, December 8 vs. DAYTON
Saturday, December 12 vs. CREIGHTON
Tuesday, December 22 vs. VMI
Wednesday, December 30 at Radford
Saturday, February 20 ESPN BRACKETBUSTER

[Go Skins]

#66 in this poll:

http://collegehoopsnet.com/george-mason-basketball-preview-66-167169

[ThurmanMunster]

if they counter Xavier as a mid major then GMU isnt # 1.

[Go Skins]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/07/AR2009110702752.html

Jim Larranaga is sitting at his desk on the ground level of Patriot Center, primed for the start of his 13th season as the men's basketball coach at George Mason. For a moment, he breaks from a discussion about the promising freshman class, his hip-replacement surgery in April and the rigors of the Colonial Athletic Association to envision how spectators will react to his team's new, up-tempo style.

"Our fans are going to be taken on a roller-coaster ride," he says.

Suddenly, his eyes widen and voice surges with excitement.

"They're going to be saying: 'Whoa, this is terrible! Whoa, this is great! No, it's terrible! No, it's great! What's going on here? Wow!' All in a matter of 10 minutes."

For years, the Patriots' identity was forged by brawny forwards who served as the hub of the offense, by the mass of Jai Lewis and Darryl Monroe -- each 6 feet 7 and 275 pounds -- and by Will Thomas's muscular moves.

"You didn't think they were doing anything to you, and then you realized you had a bruise across your chest," Old Dominion Coach Blaine Taylor groaned. "It wasn't fun."

But after assessing the traits of his 11 freshmen and sophomores, Larranaga decided to choose pace over power, fury over force. The coach, in effect, adapted to his talent. He has implemented a scrambling defense that, if executed properly, will force turnovers in the back court, create easy baskets and generate additional possessions for a team with a variety of scoring options.

The Patriots won't utilize their new tactic on every possession or run the court with reckless abandon. They will still look to establish an inside game and manage the clock.