I remember that Indiana game. The TV announcer referred to us as George MASONRY. He wasn't wrong. Still made me mad though.
George Mason to Compete at #5/5 Duke Tuesday in Durham - George Mason University Athletics
George Mason (7-3) heads to Durham for a Tuesday night matchup with No. 5/5 Duke (8-2, 1-0) inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.gomason.com
"• George Mason ranks third nationally in FG defense (.354) while ranking in the top-15 in effective FG defense (4th, .418), 2pt defense (8th, .423) and 3pt defense (17th, .275). The Patriots are 22nd overall in scoring defense (63.1 ppg allowed) and 49th in defensive efficiency (0.987 points/possession).
• George Mason has excelled at getting to the free throw line this season. GM is +58 (189-135) vs. opponents in free throws made on the year and the team has made more freebies than its opponent in eight of 10 contests. GM is 20th nationally in FT made/game (18.9).
• The Patriots are ranked 86th nationally in the Dec. 16 NET. GM also is 81st in the Ken Pomeroy rankings. Prior to the campaign, the Patriots earned a spot in the preseason KenPom top-100 for the first time since 2013-14.
• The Patriots have taken advantage of a deep bench throughout the course of the season. GM's bench accounts for 38 percent of the team's total minutes, which ranks 44th in the country. The Patriots hold a +104 (263-159) edge in bench scoring on the year and outscore opponent reserves by an average of 10.4 points/game.
• Tuesday's game marks GM's first road contest against a top-5 foe in 22 years (12/28/02 at No. 2 Pittsburgh).
• Two Patriots have seen action in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Darius Maddox suited up for Virginia Tech at Duke on Dec. 22, 2021, while Woody Newton hit Coach K Court for Syracuse on Feb. 22, 2021."
"MASON ALL TIME VS. TOP-10 TEAMS
George Mason is 2-13 all time against AP Top-10 teams. Both victories came during the 2006 run to the Final Four, when Mason dispatched of No. 10 North Carolina in the Round of 32, then upset No. 2 UConn in the Elite Eight. The Patriots have not suited up against a top-10 foe since a New Year's Day contest at No. 6 Kansas in 2021.
GAMES vs. TOP-10 TEAMS
1981-82: 11/29 at #7 Virginia L, 57-76
1985-86: 12/3 vs. #6 Georgetown L, 63-75
1988-89: 3/17 #8 Indiana L, 85-99 (NCAA Round of 64)
1994-95: 12/22 at #2 UCLA L, 100-137*
2002-03: 12/28 at #2 Pitt L, 41-65
2003-04: 12/7 at #10 UNC L 81-115
2005-06: 3/19 #10 UNC W, 65-60 (NCAA Round of 32), 3/26 #2 UConn W, 86-84 (OT) (NCAA Elite Eight)
2006-07: 12/9 at #7 Duke L, 53-69
2010-11: 3/20 vs. #1 Ohio State L, 66-98 (NCAA Round of 32)
2013-14: 2/19 vs. #10 Saint Louis L, 85-89 (OT)
2015-16: 11/22 vs. #6 Virginia L, 66-83 (Charleston Classic)
2019-20: 11/22 at #6 Maryland L, 63-86
2019-20: 2/25 vs. #4 Dayton L, 55-62
2020-21: 1/1 at #6 Kansas L, 67-76
*National Champions"
Looking back, it really was a clever play on words.
