Streaking Patriots try to end Richmond jinx
With an NCAA berth virtually assured, what’s at stake this weekend for George Mason in the CAA tournament?
A seed, a streak, a trophy and a haircut.
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As they departed for Richmond on Thursday afternoon, those were the priorities for the Patriots (25-5), who hope to maximize their position in the NCAA tournament, extend their nation-high winning streak (15 games), capture their second CAA title in four years and avoid a trip to the barbershop.
Since losing at Old Dominion on Jan. 8, junior Ryan Pearson has not had a haircut. Many of his teammates have followed his shaggy lead.
“This is a very good group of guys. They’re very well-groomed,” George Mason coach Jim Larranaga said with a smile Thursday. “They dress very nicely, and they behave very well.”
The Patriots have reason to copy Pearson. Before the streak began, the bearded 6-foot-6 junior averaged 13.8 points and 5.7 rebounds. During the streak, his numbers have grown to 15.6 and 8.2, respectively.
Little wonder that Larranaga gasped Thursday when Pearson hit the floor hard, knocked down by Paris Bennett as the freshman was shoved off a screen by Andre Cornelius. Cushioning Pearson’s fall was his hair, joked Cornelius, the Patriots’ standout backcourt defender.
| UP NEXT |
| George Mason vs. Georgia State/UNCW |
| When » Saturday, noon |
| Where » Richmond (Va.) Coliseum |
| TV » Comcast SportsNet |
As the No. 1 seed in the CAA tournament, George Mason has the luxury of a first-round bye. The Patriots will watch No. 8 UNC Wilmington (13-17) and No. 9 Georgia State (11-18) play at noon on Friday and then prepare for the winner.
A win by Georgia State would put George Mason in the odd position of playing the Panthers for a second straight Saturday but against a different coach. Rod Barnes was fired shortly after the Patriots defeated Georgia State 65-58. Assistant Paul Graham takes over.
“We don’t address that,” Larranaga said. “We’ve played Georgia State twice. We’ve played UNC Wilmington twice. We know their personnel. We know their style of play. We will scout the game to make sure there are no major changes. We don’t anticipate any to either team.”
With its CAA tournament nemesis, No. 4 Virginia Commonwealth (21-10), as a potential semifinal opponent, George Mason will not take anything for granted.
The last four times the Patriots have faced VCU in the tournament, all at Richmond Coliseum, they have lost. Before VCU entered the CAA, the University of Richmond beat George Mason all five times the teams met in the Coliseum in the tournament.
George Mason exorcised some element of the Richmond curse on Feb. 15 when it won decisively at VCU 71-51. If both teams reach the semifinals, the trick will be to beat the Rams in a larger arena (12,000 capacity) and with more at stake, especially for VCU, which needs to win the tournament to reach the NCAAs.
Getting to the semifinals, however, might be a big assumption for slumping VCU, which enters the tournament having lost four of its last five. The Rams, also with a first-round bye, will play either No.?5 Drexel (20-9) or No. 12 Towson (4-25) in the quarterfinals.
Larranaga said the widespread belief that George Mason has wrapped up a berth in the NCAA tournament will not alter the Patriots’ focus.
“We never talk about that,” Larranaga said of the NCAAs. “One of our goals every year is to win the conference tournament. It’s not changed since the day I got here. The goal this weekend is to be the team that cuts down the nets on Monday.”
Notes: Larranaga was named CAA coach of the year for the second time. The announcement was made Thursday night at the league’s pre-tournament awards banquet. GMU players honored were senior guard Cam Long (first-team), junior forward Ryan Pearson (second-team), and sophomore guard Luke Hancock (third-team). Senior guard Isaiah Tate made all-academic second team. Hofstra guard Charles Jenkins is CAA Player of the Year.
