History of George Mason basketball
Encyclopedia
George Mason Patriots men's basketball
George Mason Patriots men's basketball
The George Mason Patriots men's basketball team represents George Mason University and competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of NCAA Division I...

 program has a long history. Since Masons founding in 1957, basketball and athletics as a whole have contributed significantly to George Mason's popularity and success. The Patriots are the mascot and logo of George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...

. The Patriots home court for both the men and women is at the Patriot Center
Patriot Center
The Patriot Center is a 10,000-seat arena in Fairfax, Virginia. It is located on the campus of George Mason University , and has attracted 9.6 million people to over 2,958 events. In 2010, the Patriot Center was ranked No. 7 nationwide and No...

, which is in Fairfax Virginia. The Patriots compete in the Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...

, better known as the CAA. The CAA is a part of NCAA Division I sports. The men's team is coached by Jim Larranaga
Jim 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...

. The women's team was coached by Debbie Taneyhill, until she resigned in 2008.

History

The Patriots made a transition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...

 to the National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Division II, and subsequently into the NCAA Division I rank in the 1978-79 season. According to the history of George Mason basketball, both the men's and women's basketball program have been fixtures of campus life, and have all been enjoyed by students, parents, faculty, staff, other alumni. Although many of the school's athletic programs are enjoyed by George Mason Patriots and have had many of their own memorable moments, the men's basketball program remains the key sport at the University. The men's basketball team has played at the Patriot Center since 1985, and in prior years played at the PE Building on the west side of the Fairfax Campus.

NCAA Tournament Appearances

Men's
  • Basketball (5), 1989
    1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
    The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle, Washington...

    , 1999
    1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
    The 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1999, and ended with the championship game on March 29 at Tropicana Field in St....

    , 2001
    2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
    The 2001 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 13, 2001 with the play-in game, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in...

    , 2006
    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...

    , 2008
    2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
    The 2008 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 2007–08 basketball season...



The Patriots have advanced to the NCAA 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...

 five times (1989, 1999, 2001, 2006, and 2008) and the NIT tournament (National Invitation tournament) three times (1986, 2002 and 2004). The basketball team is best known for its 2006 NCAA Final Four
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...

 appearance where Mason beat North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...

, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...

, Michigan State, and Wichita State. The Patriots lost to Florida in the final four, who then eventually became the 2006 National Champion. After the Patriots run in the 2005-2006 season, and their successful finish in the 2007-2008 season, George Mason Head Coach Jim Larranaga
Jim 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...

 was offered to leave Mason for a 5 year, $4.25 million dollar offer from Providence College. Coach Larranaga announced his decision in April 2008 by declining the offer from Providence, and extending his current contract with Mason to 2015.

Final Four

George Mason celebrated the 2005-2006, when they set a school-record by winning 23 games. That season the patriots were ranked top 25 in the USA Today and ESPN for the very first time. After the 2005-2006 season Head coach Jim Larranaga
Jim 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...

 was named Virginia Coach of the Year on June 26, 2006. George Mason was one of only three teams since 1982 without a tournament win in its school history to still enter the final four. Georgia did it in 1983, and Virginia did it in 1981. During the 2005-2006 season the final four had a bigger following than the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...

 and the NBA Playoffs
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...

 that year. The main following came from office pools and parties in houses, dorms, and bars.

The Patriot Center

The Patriot Center
Patriot Center
The Patriot Center is a 10,000-seat arena in Fairfax, Virginia. It is located on the campus of George Mason University , and has attracted 9.6 million people to over 2,958 events. In 2010, the Patriot Center was ranked No. 7 nationwide and No...

 is a venue in the Northern Virginia area, seating over 10,000 people in its arena.The Patriot Center is located in Fairfax, Virginia, and is the home of the George Mason Patriots. The Patriot Center is on the campus of George Mason University, which currently has over 30,000 students and has engrossed over 7.7 million people to over 2400 events. www.Pollstar.com has ranked The Patriot Center as number 51 in ticket sales (2005). That is a large number considering most arenas have over 20,000 seating availability. A memorable moment at The Patriot Center occurred during the opening on October 4, 1985, when the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...

 played the Washington Bullets in a pre-season game. The patriot center is also the host of many concerts. The Patriot Center is the first university venue to be managed by a private company. Currently the Patriot Center is being managed by Washington Sports and Entertainment, who also manages the Washington Wizards and the Verizon Center. The Patriot Center hosted the first men’s CAA Tournament, and hosted its first women’s CAA Tournament in 2005.

George Mason Women's Basketball

In 2008, news broke out that women's basketball coach Debbie Taneyhill decided to resign to pursue other opportunities.
Coach Taneyhill spent 11 seasons as Mason's women's basketball head coach, and had much success with the ladies. During Taneyhill's tenure as coach, she helped the lady Patriots to four-straight winning campaigns, from the 2000 to the 2004 season. She also led them to two post-season appearances in the Women's National Invitation Tournament
Women's National Invitation Tournament
The Women's National Invitation Tournament , formerly the National Women's Invitation Tournament, is a college basketball tournament with a preseason and postseason version played every year...

, WNIT in 2001 and 2004, and was named 2001 Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year.
She was the sixth coach in George Mason's 33-year history, and was the only head coach to have 10 or more wins in each of her first eight seasons. She led the Patriots to the 2004 CAA Championship title game for just the third time in school history. Taneyhill ranks second all-time among Mason coaches in both wins and games coached.
During the 2005-2006 season George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...

 was selected to host the Colonial Athletic Association Women's Basketball Championship, to be played at the Patriot Center
Patriot Center
The Patriot Center is a 10,000-seat arena in Fairfax, Virginia. It is located on the campus of George Mason University , and has attracted 9.6 million people to over 2,958 events. In 2010, the Patriot Center was ranked No. 7 nationwide and No...

. It was the first time that George Mason served as host to the women's championship. In 2003 Mason Guard Jen Derevjanik advanced to the WNBA (Women's National Basketball association). Derevjanik is one of few players ever in Mason's history to play in the WNBA. Jen wrapped up her second season with the WNBA's Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...

 in 2005, where the Sun's competed in the WNBA finals for the second straight season. Derevjanik is the first Mason player to be part of a team that has advanced to the WNBA Finals.

All-Time Head Coaches

Coach Years Win-Loss Win % Conference
Titles
NCAA Tourn.
Appearances
NCAA Titles
Arnold Siegfried 1966–1967 6-12 .333 0
Raymond Spuhler 1967–1970 11-60 .155 0
John Linn 1970–1980 130-147 .469 0
Joe Harrington
Joe Harrington
Joe Harrington is an American basketball coach. He last served as the Director of Men's Basketball Student Services at the Maryland. Harrington served as the head coach at Hofstra University, George Mason University, California State University, Long Beach, and the University of Colorado...

1980–1987 112-85 .569 0
Rick Barnes
Rick Barnes
Richard Dale Barnes is the current head coach of the University of Texas Longhorns men's basketball team. He has coached Texas for the last twelve seasons, taking the team to the NCAA Tournament each year, including a Final Four appearance led by T. J. Ford in 2003...

1987–1988 20-10 .667 0
Ernie Nestor
Ernie Nestor
Ernie Nestor is an assistant Coach at the University of Missouri. Coach Frank Haith named Nestor to this post in April 2011. He was formerly the head coach of the Elon University and George Mason men's basketball teams. Nestor was a long-time assistant at Wake Forest University, including an...

1988–1993 68-81 .456 1 1
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...

1993–1997 38-70 .352 0
Jim Larranaga
Jim 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...

1997–2011 207-131 .612 3 4
Paul Hewitt
Paul Hewitt
-External links:**...

2011-Present 0-0 N/A N/A N/A

George Mason Men's Basketball Current Roster

George Mason Men's Basketball
Current Roster
Head Coach: Jim Larranaga
Jim 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...

F 1
Paris Bennett Freshman (RS) 6-6, 216 lbs. (Linden, NJ)
F 5
Jonathan Arledge Freshman 6-9, 236 lbs. (Washington, DC)
G 45
Andre Cornelius Junior 5-10, 172 lbs. (Charlotte, NC)
G 3
Bryon Allen Freshman 6-3, 214 lbs. (Upper Malboro, MD)
F 14
Luke Hancock Sophomore 6-5, 189 lbs. (Roanoke, VA)
G 20
Cameron Long Senior 6-4, 177 lbs. (Palm Bay, FL)
F 22
Mike Morrison Junior 6-9, 222 lbs. (St. Petersburg, FL)
F 24
Ryan Pearson Junior 6-6, 185 lbs. (Far Rockaway, NY)
G 13
Isaiah Tate Senior 6-4, 200 lbs. (Upper Marlboro, MD)
G 4
Vertrail Vaughns Freshman (RS) 6-2, 184 lbs. (Mesquite, TX)
G 23
Rashad Whack Sophomore 6-2, 179 lbs. (Hyattsville, MD)
F 32
Johnny Williams Sophomore 6-8, 249 lbs. (Memphis, TN)
G 15
Sherrod Wright Sophomore 6-4, 193 lbs. (Mount Vernon, NY)
F 30
Thomas Armistead Freshman 6-6, 190 lbs. (Richmond, VA)

Notable player accomplishments

CAA PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the Colonial Athletic Association's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1982–83 season, when the conference was known as the ECAC South basketball league...

  • 1983 - Carlos Yates
    Carlos Yates
    Carlos Yates was an American former college basketball player for George Mason University.-College career:Yates began his collegiate career at George Mason and remained with the team all four years. He was the Eastern College Athletic Conference's Rookie of the Year in 1982 and its Co-Player of...

     (Co-Player)
  • 1988 - Kenny Sanders
    Kenny Sanders
    Kenny Sanders is an American former college basketball player for George Mason University. He was the Colonial Athletic Association's Rookie of the Year in 1986 and its Player of the Year in 1988...

  • 1999 - George Evans
  • 2000 - George Evans
  • 2001 - George Evans


CAA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
  • 1980 - Andy Bolden
  • 1982 - Carlos Yates
  • 1986 - Kenny Sanders
  • 1994 - Curtis McCants
  • 1995 - Nate Langley
  • 1998 - George Evans


ALL-CAA (ECAC South Conf., 1980–85)
  • 1980 - Andre Gaddy
  • 1982 - Carlos Yates
  • 1983 - Carlos Yates
  • 1984 - Carlos Yates, Ricky Wilson
  • 1985 - Carlos Yates, Rob Rose (2nd), Ricky Wilson (2nd)
  • 1986 - Rob Rose, Ricky Wilson (2nd)
  • 1987 - Kenny Sanders
  • 1988 - Kenny Sanders, Amp Davos (2nd)
  • 1989 - Kenny Sanders
  • 1990 - Robert Dykes, Mike Hargett (2nd), Steve Smith (2nd)
  • 1991 - Robert Dykes, Byron Tucker (2nd)
  • 1995 - Nate Langley (2nd)
  • 1996 - Curtis McCants
  • 1997 - Nate Langley
  • 1998 - George Evans (2nd), Jason Miskiri
    Jason Miskiri
    Jason Miskiri is an Guyanese professional basketball player.Miskiri attended George Mason University and Montgomery College. He played one game for the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Hornets during the 1999-2000 NBA season.-External links:**...

     (2nd)
  • 1999 - George Evans, Jason Miskiri
  • 2000 - George Evans, Erik Herring (2nd)
  • 2001 - George Evans, Erik Herring
  • 2002 - Jesse Young
  • 2003 - Mark Davis (2nd)
  • 2004 - Jai Lewis
    Jai Lewis
    Jai Lamar Lewis is an American basketball player who currently plays in Japan for Rera Kamuy Hokkaido.-College career:...

    , Mark Davis (2nd)
  • 2005 - Jai Lewis (2nd), 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...

     (2nd), 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:...

     (3rd)
  • 2006 - Jai Lewis, Tony Skinn (2nd)
  • 2007 - Will Thomas (2nd), 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...

     (3rd)
  • 2008 - Will Thomas, Folarin Campbell (2nd)
  • 2009 - John Vaughan (2nd), Darryl Monroe (2nd), Cam Long (3rd)
  • 2010 - Cam Long (2nd)
  • 2011 - Cam Long (1st), Ryan Pearson (2nd), Luke Hancock (3rd)

Points

Rank Player Years Games PPG Avg. Total Points
1 Carlos Yates 1981–1985 109 22.2 2420
2 Kenny Sanders 1985–1989 107 20.3 2177
3 George Evans 1997–2001 116 16.8 1953
4 Robert Dykes 1987–1991 122 13.4 1642
5 Andre Gaddy 1977–1982 98 16.0 1568
6 Rob Rose 1982–1986 113 13.8 1565
7 Will Thomas 2004–2008 131 11.9 1564
8 Folarin Campbell 2004–2008 130 11.9 1545
9 Rudolph Jones 1971–1973 59 25.8 1525
10 Jai Lewis 2002–2006 125 12.2 1519

Rebounds

Rank Player Years Games Reb. Avg. Total Rebounds
1 Jim Nowers 1972–1976 112 9.4 1048
2 Kenny Sanders 1985–1989 107 9.6 1026
3 Will Thomas 2004–2008 131 7.6 993
4 George Evans 1997–2001 116 8.2 953
5 Robert Dykes 1987–1991 122 7.5 925
6 Andre Gaddy 1977–1982 98 9.3 916
7 Jai Lewis 2002–2006 125 7.2 895
8 Rob Rose 1982–1986 113 7.1 805
9 Herb Estes 1973–1976 80 9.2 734
10 Jesse Young 1999–2003 115 6.2 708

Assists

Rank Player Years Games Ast. Avg. Total Assists
1 Curtis McCants 1993–1996 81 7.3 598
2 Myron Contee 1974–1979 101 4.0 411
3 Ricky Wilson 1982–1986 116 3.4 405
4 Folarin Campbell 2004–2008 130 3.0 392
5 John Niehoff 1980–1984 108 3.0 331
6 Steve Smith 1986–1990 114 2.8 329
7 Mike Hargett 1988–1991 93 3.3 312
8 Tremaine Price 1997–2001 110 2.8 308
9 Raoul Heinen 2000–2004 109 2.7 290
10 Jamel Perkins 1989–1993 97 2.9 283

All-Time Standings

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