2005–06 George Mason Patriots men's basketball team

2005–06 George Mason Patriots men's basketball
CAA Regular Season Champions
Final Four vs. Florida, L, 73–58
Conference Colonial Athletic Association
Ranking
Coaches #8
2005–06 record 27–8 (15–3 CAA)
Head coach Jim Larranaga
Assistant coach Scott Cherry
Assistant coach James Johnson
Assistant coach Chris Caputo
Home arena Patriot Center
2005–06 CAA men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
George Mason 15 – 3   .833     27 – 8   .771
UNC Wilmington† 15 – 3   .833     25 – 8   .758
Hofstra 14 – 4   .778     26 – 7   .788
Old Dominion 13 – 5   .722     24 – 10   .706
Northeastern 12 – 6   .667     19 – 11   .633
VCU 11 – 7   .611     19 – 10   .655
Drexel 8 – 10   .444     15 – 16   .484
Towson 8 – 10   .444     12 – 16   .429
Delaware 4 – 14   .222     9 – 21   .300
Georgia State 3 – 15   .167     7 – 22   .241
William & Mary 3 – 15   .167     8 – 20   .286
James Madison 2 – 16   .111     5 – 23   .179
† CAA Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2005–06 George Mason Patriots men's basketball team represented George Mason University in the 2005–2006 NCAA Basketball season, and is best known for their success in the NCAA Tournament, having reached the Final Four.

Season notes

Awards

First Team All-CAA

Second Team All-CAA

CAA All-Defensive Team

CAA Player of the Week

Recap

The Patriots enjoyed their best season in 2005–2006 when they won a school-record 23 games in the regular season, and for one week were even ranked in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 for the first time in school history. Head coach Jim Larranaga, who began his stint at George Mason in 1997, also became the CAA's all-time leader in coaching victories and was named the winner of the 2006 Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award[7] on March 31, 2006, and the Virginia Coach of the Year on June 26, 2006, the same day he was nominated for an ESPY award.[8] Although the team lost to Hofstra during the CAA tournament, George Mason were still able to grab an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament. This marks the first time in which the Patriots earned an at-large bid and the first time in 20 years in which the CAA sent two teams to the tournament (the other being conference tournament winner UNC Wilmington).

The at-large selection of teams from mid-major conferences (which included George Mason) to the tournament was criticized by media personalities, most notably Billy Packer. In the case of George Mason, this was possibly because of the absence of Tony Skinn, who was suspended for one game by the Patriots for punching Hofstra guard Loren Stokes in the groin during the CAA tournament semifinal loss. Moreover, many believed that Hofstra, who didn't get invited to the tournament despite of the fact that they beat the Patriots twice in a span of ten days, deserved to get in instead of them. Nevertheless, the Patriots entered the tournament as an 11th seed and defeated the 6th seeded Michigan State Spartans, who had played in the previous year's Final Four.

In their second round matchup against the defending champion North Carolina Tar Heels, the Patriots were once again underdogs. After falling in a 16–2 hole early in the game, the team was able to bounce back and win the game, 65–60. Their next game was against another mid-major, the Wichita State Shockers. George Mason jumped out to a big early lead, and the Shockers were not able to overcome. The Patriots won, 63–55.

Their Elite Eight matchup found themselves facing the Connecticut Huskies, a team that was tabbed as the favorite to win it all the entire season. The Patriots were able to defeat the top-seeded Huskies, 86–84 in overtime, in what is recognized as one of the most memorable games in tournament history. Their tournament run would end in Indianapolis, in a Final Four matchup with the Florida Gators, the eventual national champion in both 2006 and 2007 (with the same starting lineup both years).

The Patriots were the first team out of the CAA to reach the Final Four and also became the second team to reach it as a double-digit (11th) seed (the other being the LSU Tigers in 1986, also an 11th seed).

George Mason's Cinderella story ended in Indianapolis, when the eventual National Champion Florida Gators defeated them 73–58 on April 1, 2006. Despite their loss, many sports analysts considered their performance in the 2006 tourney to be the best run by a mid-major in tournament history. In the final rankings of 2005–2006 season, the USA Today/ESPN poll ranked the Patriots eighth in the nation—their highest rank to date.

Mason was atypical of recent Final Four teams not only in being a true mid-major, but also in their unusual scoring balance. The Patriots had five players average in double figures, making them one of only six Final Four teams in the 10 seasons from 1998–99 through 2007–08 with that distinction. (Two of the other five teams in this club are Florida's back-to-back national champions in 2006 and 2007.)[9]

Roster

2005–06 George Mason men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year High School/Junior College Home town
G 22 Butler, LamarLamar Butler style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 170 lb (77 kg) RS Sr Oxon Hill Fort Washington, MD
G 12 Burns, TimTim Burns style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Worcester Academy Greenfield, MA
G 42 Campbell, FolarinFolarin Campbell style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 205 lb (93 kg) So Springbrook Silver Spring, MD
G 2 Carter, JordanJordan Carter style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 175 lb (79 kg) So Brebeuf Indianapolis, IN
F 40 Fleming, ChrisChris Fleming style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 240 lb (109 kg) Fr Osbourn Park Manassas, VA
F 3 Konate, MakanMakan Konate style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Worcester Academy Mali
F 55 Lewis, JaiJai Lewis style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 275 lb (125 kg) Sr Aberdeen Aberdeen, MD
G 24 Makings, CharlesCharles Makings style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 210 lb (95 kg) Jr St. John's College Silver Spring, MD
F 5 Norwood, GabeGabe Norwood style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 190 lb (86 kg) Jr State College State College, PA
G 1 Skinn, TonyTony Skinn style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 175 lb (79 kg) Sr Takoma Academy Takoma Park, MD
F 34 Thomas, WillWill Thomas style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 230 lb (104 kg) So Mount Saint Joseph’s Baltimore, MD
F 13 Urbina, JesusJesus Urbina  style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 235 lb (107 kg) Jr Amelia Academy Venezuela
G 23 Vaughn, JohnJohn Vaughn  style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 179 lb (81 kg) So Laurel Laurel, MD
Head coach

Jim Larranaga (Providence)

Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: 2010-07-27

Stats

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Jai Lewis 35 – 30.4 .523 .348 .651 7.8 1.8 1.4 .7 13.7
Tony Skinn 34 – 31.6 .396 .339 .802 3.5 2.8 1.6 .0 12.6
Lamar Butler 35 – 31.9 .454 .378 .733 2.5 2.2 .9 .2 11.9
Will Thomas 35 – 31.9 .580 .000 .516 7.2 1.1 .7 .7 11.8
Folarin Campbell 35 – 31.1 .491 .343 .761 4.2 3.4 .7 .7 11.0
Gabe Norwood 35 – 21.1 .425 .375 .588 2.0 1.9 .9 .7 3.4
Sammy Hernandez 35 – 11.1 .518 .375 .278 3.1 .5 .2 .3 2.8
Tim Burns 20 – 6.0 .400 .400 .000 .5 .4 .3 .0 1.8
Jordan Carter 28 – 6.5 .524 .364 .333 .7 .7 .5 .0 1.0
Chris Fleming 28 – 4.7 .440 .000 .500 .7 .0 .1 .2 1.0
Makan Konate 11 – 2.2 .167 .000 .000 .4 .0 .0 .0 .2
Charles Makings 13 – 2.5 .250 .000 .000 .7 .2 .2 .0 .2

Game log

Date Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site
November 6* St. Francis Xavier
(Exhibition)		 W 99–70  Patriot Center
November 10* vs. UC Irvine
(Coaches vs. Cancer Classic)		 W 79–56  1–0 Joel Coliseum
November 11* vs. Wake Forest
(Coaches vs. Cancer Classic)		 L 83–78 OT 1–1 Joel Coliseum
November 22* Creighton L 72–52  1–2 Patriot Center
November 26* at Manhattan W 72–66  2–2 Draddy Gymnasium
December 2 at Georgia State W 81–51  3–2 (1–0) GSU Sports Arena
December 5* vs. American
(BB&T Classic)		 W 75–35  4–2 Verizon Center
December 7 at Old Dominion L 54–53  4–3 (1–1) Ted Constant Convocation Center
December 10* Radford W 81–69  5–3 Patriot Center
December 21* Hampton W 79–66  6–3 Patriot Center
December 27* Holy Cross W 71–38  7–3 Patriot Center
December 30* at Mississippi State L 63–61  7–4 Humphrey Coliseum
January 2 at Northeastern W 71–68  8–4 (2–1) Matthews Arena
January 5 VCU W 73–60  9–4 (3–1) Patriot Center
January 7 Delaware W 70–56  10–4 (4–1) Patriot Center
January 12 at William & Mary W 65–46  11–4 (5–1) Kaplan Arena
January 14 at James Madison W 65–43  12–4 (6–1) JMU Convocation Center
January 19 Northeastern W 74–63  13–4 (7–1) Patriot Center
January 21 at UNC-Wilmington L 69–63  13–5 (7–2) Trask Coliseum
January 26 William & Mary W 81–58  14–5 (8–2) Patriot Center
January 28 Old Dominion W 66–47  15–5 (9–2) Patriot Center
February 2 at Delaware W 57–52  16–5 (10–2) Bob Carpenter Center
February 4 UNC-Wilmington W 69–62  17–5 (11–2) Patriot Center
February 9 at VCU W 73–61  18–5 (12–2) Stuart C. Siegel Center
February 11 Towson
(Homecoming)		 W 65–53  19–5 (13–2) Patriot Center
February 15 Drexel W 67–48  20–5 (14–2) Patriot Center
February 16* at Wichita State
(ESPN Bracket Busters)		 W 70–67  21–5 Charles Koch Arena
February 23 #25 at Hofstra L 77–66  21–6 (14–3) Hofstra Arena
February 25 #25 James Madison W 61–56  22–6 (15–3) Patriot Center
March 4 vs. Georgia State
(CAA Tournament Quarterfinals)		 W 61–56  23–6 Richmond Coliseum
March 5 vs. Hofstra
(CAA Tournament Semifinals)		 L 58–49  23–7 Richmond Coliseum
March 17* vs. Michigan State
(NCAA Tournament First Round, No. 6 vs. No. 11)		 W 75–65  24–7 University of Dayton Arena
March 19* vs. #12 North Carolina
(NCAA Tournament Second Round, No. 3 vs. No. 11)		 W 65–60  25–7 University of Dayton Arena
March 24* vs. Wichita State
(NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen, No. 7 vs. No. 11)		 W 63–55  26–7 Verizon Center
March 26* vs. #2 UConn
(NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, No. 1 vs. No. 11)		 W 86–84 OT 27–7 Verizon Center
April 1* vs. #10 Florida
(NCAA Tournament Final Four, No. 3 vs. No. 11)		 L 73–58  27–8 RCA Dome
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll. ( ) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Recruits

The following is a list of commitments George Mason received for the 2006–2007 season:

References

  1. ↑ http://www.fansonly.com/schools/gema/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042606aaa.html
  2. ↑ http://gomason.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/033006aab.html
  3. ↑ http://gomason.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/022006aaa.html
  4. ↑ http://gomason.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/122705aaa.html
  5. ↑ http://gomason.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102605aaa.html
  6. ↑ http://gomason.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/091205aaa.html
  7. ↑ Coach Larranaga Receives Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award
  8. ↑ Larranaga Named Virginia Coach of the Year
  9. ↑ Glockner, Andy (2008-02-28). "Florida did it but can balanced scoring lead Xavier to Final Four?". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-01.