WASHINGTON — Can you believe it’s been 12 years?
A dozen March’s ago, George Mason compiled one of the most memorable runs in the history of the NCAA Tournament. After a pair of upset wins in Dayton, Ohio, the Patriots earned a surprise and happenstance home court advantage by drawing Wichita State, then top seed Connecticut at Verizon Center, in their own backyard. Another upset and a shocking, overtime classic later, Jai Lewis, Tony Skinn and company were etched into Final Four history.
Success has been sparse since then. The Patriots have been back to the Tournament just twice, the last trip coming in 2011, also the last time they won a game (an 8-9 first rounder over Villanova). They’ve made the CBI a couple times, including last season, but lost their entire front line to graduation, including 6-foot-11 Shevon Thompson. This season’s roster averaged less than a year’s worth of experience entering the campaign, the 12th-greenest of 351 Division I teams.
Amid the growing pains, there have been bright spots. Mason actually led at Louisville with less than 10 minutes to play. They played a good Fresno State team tight on a neutral floor. And after losing 13 of their first 22 games, the Patriots won six of their final nine down the stretch, including a one-point road win at VCU a week ago.
Point guard Otis Livingston has averaged 21 points and 5.5 assists in those six wins, but success has been about balance and distribution. There have been double-digit point contributions all around in those half dozen victories, from Goanar Mar (5 times), Justin Kier (4), Jaire Grayer (3), and Ian Boyd (3). It’s a team still developing its identity, and without a single senior in the rotation, this week serves as a chance to build for next year as well. But it’s also another chance, just maybe, to get four more magical wins.
If the Patriots can get past the La Salle/UMass winner in their opener Thursday, they’ll get a Saint Joe’s team they beat twice during the regular season in the quarterfinals. Like GW, they ought to enjoy a solid home crowd advantage, with games being played just 18 miles from campus. If they can make the weekend, those friendly crowds should only grow. And if any team knows that anything is possible on the court at 7th and F St. NW, it’s George Mason.
