2005-06 George Mason Patriots men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
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.
Second Team All-CAA
CAA All-Defensive Team
CAA Player of the Week
, 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
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. 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
.)
Season notes
- On April 26, 2006, it was announced head coach Jim LarranagaJim LarranagaJames Larranaga is an American college basketball coach and the head coach of the University of Miami men's basketball program. He was most notably the men's basketball coach of George Mason where he coached the Patriots to 13 consecutive winning seasons and became a media sensation during the...
received a contract extension to keep him with the team through the 2011–2012 season.
- On March 30, 2006, head coach Jim LarranagaJim LarranagaJames Larranaga is an American college basketball coach and the head coach of the University of Miami men's basketball program. He was most notably the men's basketball coach of George Mason where he coached the Patriots to 13 consecutive winning seasons and became a media sensation during the...
received the Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award.
- For the first time in school history, the men's basketball team was ranked on the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll coming in at #25 for the week of February 20, 2006.
- On December 27, 2005, senior guard Lamar ButlerLamar ButlerLamar Edward Butler, Jr. is an American basketball player for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League. He was a starting guard for the Patriots of George Mason University during the Patriots' surprising run to the Final Four...
set a George Mason men's basketball record for most career 3-point field goals.
- The 2005–06 George Mason Patriots were predicted to finish 3rd in the Colonial Athletic Association.
- On September 15, 2005, it was announced that sophomore guard John Vaughan would miss the entire season due to a torn ACL.
Awards
First Team All-CAA- Jai Lewis
Second Team All-CAA
- Tony Skinn
CAA All-Defensive Team
- Will Thomas
CAA Player of the Week
- Jai Lewis – Jan. 30
- Tony Skinn – Feb. 20
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 LarranagaJim Larranaga
James Larranaga is an American college basketball coach and the head coach of the University of Miami men's basketball program. He was most notably the men's basketball coach of George Mason where he coached the Patriots to 13 consecutive winning seasons and became a media sensation during the...
, 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
Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award
The Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award honors the active men's NCAA Division I basketball coach who has made the most significant positive contributions to his sport during the preceding year...
on March 31, 2006, and the Virginia Coach of the Year on June 26, 2006, the same day he was nominated for an ESPY
Espy
-People:* Cecil Espy , American baseball player* Duane Espy, American baseball figure* James Pollard Espy , American meteorologist.* Mike Espy , American politician* William Gray Espy , American actor...
award. Although the team lost to Hofstra
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
during the CAA tournament, George Mason were still able to grab an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament
2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season...
. 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
Mid-major
Mid-major is a term used in American Division I college sports, to refer to athletic conferences that are not among the major six conferences...
conferences (which included George Mason) to the tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
was criticized by media personalities, most notably Billy Packer
Billy Packer
Anthony William "Billy" Packer is a former American sportscaster for CBS Sports and a published author.-Early life:Packer is a graduate of Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania...
. 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
Loren Stokes
Loren Stokes is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the NBA D-League team Erie BayHawks. He was a combo guard at Hofstra University from the 2003–04 season to 2006–07. He is 6'3" and weighs 175 lbs. Stokes is one of six players in Hofstra Pride history to score at...
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
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
Spartans
Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represents Michigan State University and competes in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I. The team currently plays at the Breslin Student Events Center...
, who had played in the previous year's Final Four
2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St...
.
In their second round matchup against the defending champion North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels are the athletic teams for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State...
, 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
Connecticut Huskies
The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice...
, 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
Florida Gators men's basketball
The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...
, the eventual national champion in both 2006 and 2007
2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season...
(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
LSU Tigers basketball
The Louisiana State Tigers basketball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The team is currently coached by Trent Johnson and has enjoyed recent success, including a Final Four run in the 2005–2006 season. Past coaches include John Brady, Press...
in 1986, also an 11th seed).
George Mason's Cinderella
Cinderella (sports)
In American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament or career than originally anticipated. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the...
story ended in Indianapolis
RCA Dome
RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons ....
, 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
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
/ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
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
2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 NCAA schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2006–07 basketball season...
.)
Roster
Stats
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Lewis Jai Lewis Jai Lamar Lewis is an American basketball player who currently plays in Japan for Rera Kamuy Hokkaido.-College career:... |
35 | – | 30.4 | .523 | .348 | .651 | 7.8 | 1.8 | 1.4 | .7 | 13.7 |
| Tony Skinn Tony Skinn Tony Oludewa Jeffrey Skinn was a college basketball player who was a starting guard for the George Mason University Patriots.-College career:... |
34 | – | 31.6 | .396 | .339 | .802 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 1.6 | .0 | 12.6 |
| Lamar Butler Lamar Butler Lamar Edward Butler, Jr. is an American basketball player for the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League. He was a starting guard for the Patriots of George Mason University during the Patriots' surprising run to the Final Four... |
35 | – | 31.9 | .454 | .378 | .733 | 2.5 | 2.2 | .9 | .2 | 11.9 |
| Will Thomas Will Thomas (basketball) William Benson Thomas is an American former college basketball player for George Mason University.-College career:As a starter in his sophomore year, Thomas was part of the 2005-06 Mason Final Four team. During his college career, Thomas was named to the Colonial Athletic Association's All-CAA... |
35 | – | 31.9 | .580 | .000 | .516 | 7.2 | 1.1 | .7 | .7 | 11.8 |
| Folarin Campbell Folarin Campbell Folarin Yaovi Campbell is a Nigerian-American basketball player who played for the George Mason Patriots. Campbell started at guard for the Patriots, including during his sophomore season when the Patriots made their improbable run to the NCAA Tournament's Final Four in 2006.Campbell is a former... |
35 | – | 31.1 | .491 | .343 | .761 | 4.2 | 3.4 | .7 | .7 | 11.0 |
| Gabe Norwood Gabe Norwood Gabriel Daniel Norwood also known as Gabe Norwood is a Filipino-American professional basketball player and a former NCAA basketball player at George Mason University. Norwood is currently playing for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association... |
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
Recruits
The following is a list of commitments George Mason received for the 2006–2007 season:- Louis Birdsong –
- Darryl Monroe –
- Dre Smith –