Game 9: GMU (7-1) at #10/11 Tennessee (4-3) on Tuesday, December 5, at 6:30 PM.

[mkaufman1]

“That’s a myth, it comes down to how well we practice”

— Dave Paulsen

FTFY

 

[bravesfan]

Thanks John.

Unless it's Calvin Johnson.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

I mean, he's dishing out cutting edge advice. And I want to know if Tony threatening to have marital relations with the referee's wife would be detrimental to our chances of winning.

My goodness - you are so dark its compelling. I have met my better. I salute you sir.

 

[KAOriginal]

Fantastic graphic ....I'm living for those now.

We need to make this a freaking grinder for many reasons just beyond this specific game.....

 

[GMU79]

Fantastic graphic ....I'm living for those now.

We need to make this a freaking grinder for many reasons just beyond this specific game.....

They are great!

 

[Pikapppatri8]

They are great!

I have to agree - would like them printed on canvas material 24X18 or something.

 

[Walter]

I read on a Vol message board that Dalton Knecht is going to play.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

I read on a Vol message board that Dalton Knecht is going to play.

link to said message board?

 

[Pikapppatri8]

I read on a Vol message board that Dalton Knecht is going to play.

"Sweep the leg!"

 

[Walter]

On his memories coaching at George Mason:
“I remember going there in 1980 and I was a part-time assistant at Davidson College. I got the call and the first thing I did, I got out the college Blue Book to look up where it was. I was surprised that it had 18,000 students, but I didn't know until I got there that they only had like 500 living on campus. It was considered the fastest-growing university in the country at the time. I was the first full-time assistant coach they had ever hired in any sport there. (George Mason coach) Joe Harrington, who hired me and gave me the opportunity, it was the first full-time (assistant) coach he ever had. He told me this and it was truly a great statement: He said, ‘You're going to learn more in the time here because we're going to have to build a program from the ground floor up.’ I go back (and) he was right and then I stayed five years and through that time being in D.C., I got to meet a lot of people. Back then, that was — and still is — a hotbed for recruiting. I met (former Duke coach) Mike Krzyzewski and ended up interviewing for a job with him. Bill Foster was at Clemson, interviewed for a job there. Wimp Sanderson, obviously went to work there (at Alabama) for a little bit, but being there was an area that opened up contacts that I don't think I could imagine at the time. But in itself, watching the university grow to what it is today and it's a special place to me. It always will be. Both my kids were born while we were living in Fairfax at Georgetown Hospital. Some dear friends. I have one of my former players here. I guess to answer your question: He’s 60 years old. So that tells you something.”
‌

​

What he’s seen from George Mason:
“I think they (are a) really good offensive team. They change their defenses. They're shooting, I think, the three maybe better than they thought they would. They're shooting the ball really well, but I still think they're more of an inside-out team. A team that they know what they're looking for and they're going to try to keep you off balance as much as they can on the offensive end.”

Everything Rick Barnes said about George Mason coming off loss to UNC

Rick Barnes met with the media on Monday afternoon to discuss the state of Tennessee basketball coming out of its loss to North Carolina.

247sports.com

 

[Walter]

I wonder which former Mason player lives in Knoxville?

 

[phoenix-arizona]

The graphic is good but it's different from the one I saw this AM (which was good too). That was more of a dog wearing a tie sort of thing than this 'bad dog' one.

 

[KAOriginal]

No longer the "Kimmie Gimme" game....Barnes is going to have to take us seriously....

 

[Pikapppatri8]

No longer the "Kimmie Gimme" game....Barnes is going to have to take us seriously....

Do you think we might actually see blood?

 

[Pablo]

George Mason Plays at #17/13 Tennessee Tuesday Night - George Mason University Athletics

George Mason wraps up a two-game road trip with a Tuesday night contest at #17/13 Tennessee. It's Mason's first ever trip to Knoxville and the second all-time meeting

gomason.com

"PATRIOT POINTS
• The Patriots are 7-1 to begin the season, which matches the 2019-20 squad for the best start over the past 40 campaigns. The 2019-20 team began the season 11-1.

• Most recently, Mason picked up an 86-77 win at Toledo in its road opener Saturday night in the Glass City. Mason showcased its usually defensive fortitude while holding Toledo's top-50 FG offense (.493 entering Saturday) to just 42.9 percent. On the other end of the floor, the Patriots shot 50+ percent for the third-straight game while making 51.7 percent (31-60) of their attempts.

• Mason made 8-of-15 (.533) 3-point attempts against the Rockets. The Patriots are shooting 44.4 percent (36-81) from deep and making 9.0 triples/contest over the past four games. Mason leads the A-10 and is 20th in the nation in 3pt FG percentage (.398).

• Graduate forward Amari Kelly led the Patriots with a career-high 24 points (8-11 FG) against the Rockets to go along with team highs in rebounds (10) and blocks (2).

• It marked Kelly's second-straight double-double and third of the season. He ranks fifth in the A-10 in offensive rebounding (2.5/game) and is sixth in overall rebounding (7.5 rpg).

• Preseason All-Atlantic 10 selection Ronald Polite III added 14 points and four assists. He's averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals and shooting 52.9 percent (18-34) over the past four games.

• Senior Darius Maddox is averaging a team-best 16.7 points over the last three games. He's also dishing out 3.3 assists/contest while shooting 54.1 percent from the floor and 46.7 percent from deep.

• Sophomore Keyshawn Hall ranks sixth nationally in defensive rebounds/game (9.4) and is 36th in overall rebounding (9.4/game). He leads the A-10 in all three of those categories.

• The Patriots held Toledo's potent offense to 19-of-43 (.442) from 2pt range. Mason ranks fifth nationally in 2pt FG defense (.396) and is 23rd in overall FG defense (.381).

• Mason's initial NET ranking of No. 62 is the program's best in the NET era. The previous high of 67 was reached during December of the 2019-20 campaign.

• The Green & Gold also have moved into the KenPom top-100 overall (96) and offensively (96th, 1.088 points/possession). Mason has scored 80+ points in three-straight games for the first time since Jan. 2011.

• The Patriots' last win over a ranked team came at #20/21 Maryland on Nov. 17, 2021.

HISTORY vs. SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
Mason is 6-7 (.462) all time against teams currently in the Southeastern Conference. The Patriots' most common opponents are Ole Miss (2-1), Mississippi State (1-1) and South Carolina (1-1). Mason's most famous SEC showdown came in the 2006 NCAA National Semifinal against eventual national champion Florida. In the most recent matchup with an SEC foe, the Patriots fell at #15/15 Auburn, 70-52, in last season's opener on Nov. 7, 2022. Then-junior Ronald Polite III led the Patriots with 10 points (2-4 3pt FG), four assists and four rebounds against the Tigers.

HISTORY vs. TENNESSEE
Tuesday's game is just the second all time between the Patriots and Volunteers in men's basketball. In the only previous meeting, George Mason earned a 58-55 victory on March 17, 2004 in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament. Current Mason head coach Tony Skinn led the Patriots with 16 points (6-8 FG, 2-3 3pt FG) in the win. Terry Reynolds added 15 points, while Jai Lewis chipped in 13 points (5-7 FG) along with team bests in rebounds (6) and steals (3).

A LOOK AT THE VOLUNTEERS (4-3, 0-0 SEC; KenPom #11, NET #17)
Tennessee was picked to win the Southeastern Conference in the league's 2023-24 media poll. The Volunteers have played the nation's fourth-toughest schedule, with losses to Purdue (71-67) and Kansas (69-60) in the Maui Invitational, and a road setback at North Carolina (100-92). Tennessee also won at Wisconsin (80-70) on Nov. 10. The Vols rank second nationally in defensive efficiency (.904 points/possession allowed) and hold opponents to a 45.0 effective field goal percentage. Dalton Knecht ranks second in the SEC and 36th in the nation in scoring (20.3 ppg). He's shooting 50.5 percent (49-97) from the floor and 40.5 percent from 3pt range (15-37). Jordan Gainey adds 11.6 points/contest while Josiah-Jordan James chips in 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds/game.

THE BARNES CONNECTION
Tuesday's game marks the first time former George Mason head coach Rick Barnes has faced his former program. Barnes served as an assistant coach under former Mason bench boss Joe Harrington from 1980-85. After assistant coach stops at Alabama and Ohio State, Barnes returned to Fairfax to assume the rank of head coach for the 1987-88 season. During that campaign, Barnes earned CAA Coach of the Year honors after leading the Patriots to a 20-10 record and10-5 mark in league play. The following season, Barnes took the head coach job at Providence College. He also served as head coach at Clemson and Texas before taking the Tennessee job in 2015."

 

[Pablo]

Vols guard Dalton Knecht 'progressing' following ankle injury

Tennessee basketball guard Dalton Knecht is progressing after suffering an ankle injury in last week's loss to North Carolina.

247sports.com

"'It depends on him, if he wants to play,' Barnes said. 'We'll hold him out if we don't think he's ready. But players like that, they want to play. We'll leave it up to what (trainer) Chad (Newman) and (Knecht) thinks, but we'll know more after practice today.'

Knecht left Tennessee's 100-92 loss at then-ranked No. 17 North Carolina in the ACC/SEC Challenge when he turned his left ankle while driving towards the basket with 1:39 remaining. He didn't return to the game after having to be helped to the bench.

'He stepped on somebody's foot, turned his ankle,' Barnes said following the game. 'It looked like he got it pretty good because he's the kind of guy that, he bounces back. And for him not to get up, he got it pretty good. Looked good when I saw the whole thing. He stepped on somebody's foot and rolled it.'

Knecht was in the midst of leading Tennessee back from a 61-39 halftime deficit when he turned his ankle. He scored 22 second-half points to cut North Carolina's lead to six points at the time he left the game, finishing with a game-high 37 points."

Vols forward Tobe Awaka on track to play against George Mason

Tennessee sophomore forward Tobe Awaka is on track to play against George Mason as he works his way back from a right ankle injury.

247sports.com

 

[Yossarian]

MSN

 

[Yossarian]

MSN

Short CBS Sports piece on the game

 

[Yossarian]

I’m wary of anyone named Barnes.

 

[ephoops]

well go for the ankles on him. They can be rolled

Sweep the leg...