March Madness Brings May Sun

There are, I'm sure, many people who curse George Mason for busting their brackets. Let's look at their path, so far. In the first round, they knocked out Michigan State. Michigan State was the surprise final four team from last year, and had won the national championship themselves in 2000. They were a senior-laden team. Many predicted they would go far in the tournament, even though they were perhaps not as strong as the team from last year. Mason beats them without Tony Skinn, suspended for punching a Hofstra player in the groin by Coach Larranaga, seen as a gutsy move, given that it could have cost Mason an opportunity in the tournament.

Second round. University of North Carolina. Last year's national champion. Sure, several of the players that made last year's win possible are now earning six figures playing for the NBA. This was seen as a rebuilding year for UNC. But as with most powerhouses, they can lose large parts of the team to the pros and still win. With freshman sensation, Tyler Hansbrough, UNC looked not to miss a beat. Surely, they would knock out Mason. Some had picked them to sneak far into the tournament, especially since they had a regular season defeat of Duke.

Mason knocked them out, down by 7 points at the half, playing a zone defense they installed only mere weeks earlier, that confounded a young UNC team. George Mason was in the sweet 16.

Their opponent there was a game Wichita State. The first weekend of the tournament was all about the Missouri Valley Conference. Billy Packer had lambasted tournament committee director Craig Littlepage, athletic director for Virginia, for picking four, four teams, from the MVC, a little regarded mid-major conference. To compare, this year, the ACC only had four teams sent to the big dance, and the ACC has had three teams that had won national championships in recent years (Duke, UNC, Maryland). Wichita State had knocked out surprise number 2 seed, Tennessee, whose first year coach, Bruce Pearl had been one of those mid-major coaches the year before.

Pearl had coached University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (the UW most people know is in Madison) to the sweet sixteen, defeating Notre Dame. He had brought the UT team back into the tournament after years of absense. Still, no one thought they were ready to be the number 2 seed, and they barely escaped the first round, requiring a three point shot in the last few seconds to beat Winthrop. The experience Wichita State beat them by 7 in the second round.

George Mason, coincidentally enough, had beaten Wichita State at Wichita State. You have to realize that beating teams on their home court is worth a lot. Home teams are probably 5-6 points better at home than away. George Mason had another advantage. They were playing at the Verizon Center, nee MCI Center, which is in Washington DC. Thousands of Mason fans would make this a virtual home game. Wichita State didn't have a chance.

But no one, no one, except possibly the Mason players and die-hard Mason fans, gave Mason much of a chance to beat UConn, the number 1 number 1 seed in the tournament. It's true UConn had not played great to get to this point, but usually a top seed will have one dominating game on the way to a championship. Besides, UConn's draw was really tough. They faced Kentucky in the second round, which has won the national championship recently, and a tough Washington team that required a last second 3-point shot by Rashad Anderson that put the game into overtime. Washington was deflated, and proceed to exit the game meekly.

Mason would enter the second half down 43-34. Nice try, Mason. This is where you exit. You're at the elite 8. You've represented the CAA and all mid-majors quite well. This is where the big boys take over.

Except Mason wasn't going anywhere. Knocking 3 pointers after 3 pointers, Mason would make up the deficit and eventually head to the final seconds with a lead of 2 points. With 5 seconds left, with a missed George Mason free throw keeping Mason's lead at a mere 2 points, Denham Brown Connecticut would charge down the court, past Mason defenders, curl around, put up a reverse, and watch it bounce, bounce, bounce, and fall into the hoop, to tie the game and push it into overtime.

And that should have done it. Washington was deflated after the 3 pointer went in to push their game against UConn to overtime. Destiny, baby. That's what UConn had to think. Some higher power wanted them to win. They would test them, by seeing what steel they had, at the closing seconds of the game, and they would meet the challenge, and be rewarded with victory.

But Mason wasn't done. Hitting 5 of 6 shots, often in close range, in the midst of bigger players, but not stronger players, not players with more heart, Mason would trade blows. Mason would take a lead of 5 points, and then it would be cut to 2 points after a UConn 3. And UConn would need heroics again in the last seconds to push it to overtime number 2.

And the ball would bounce on the rim once again.

And it would not fall in.

And the game would end.

And Mason would stand as victors, gladiators in the pit of the Verizon Center, surrounded by Huskies, with fans cheering up to the rafters. And Larranaga would smile. Just a few years short of 60, in his ninth year as head coach. A moment in time that he had seen as an assistant but never as head coach. And Tony Skinn would smile. And you couldn't stop Lamar Butler from smiling. He had been grinning all tournament long.

And they would head to Indianapolis.

Of the three Georges in the region, Georgetown, George Washington, and George Mason, they were the least likely to make it.

One George to rule them all. One George to find them.
One George to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

This fellowship is heading to Indy, baby. They're still dancing.