March 30, 2005
George Mason University
2004-05 Men's Basketball Season in Review
Coming off a record-breaking season in 2003-04, there were high expectations set for the George Mason men's basketball team in 2004-05. Along with those expectations were several unknowns as Mason had to adjust to a lineup void of several key contributors to the success of the 2003-04 team. Picked to finish third in the preseason Colonial Athletic Association media poll, the Patriots went into the season hoping to make a postseason tournament for the fifth time in seven seasons.
Although the Patriots - a young team with no seniors and nine sophomores and freshmen - didn't reach their goal, they did provide several highlights for George Mason fans in accomplishing a 16-13 overall record and 10-8 mark in the CAA. Under the guidance of head coach Jim Larranaga, who completed his eighth season as the Patriots mentor, George Mason won 15 or more games overall and 10 or more games in league play for the seventh consecutive year - a streak unmatched by any other CAA team, including recent members Delaware, Drexel, Hofstra and Towson when they were affiliated with the America East Conference.
A model of consistency over the past seven seasons, the Patriots have had the best regular-season record in the CAA at 82-38 and have earned an imposing 77-13 mark at the Patriot Center, including a 10-2 record in 2004-05.
Larranaga, who has a record of 139-97 at the helm of the program, became George Mason's all-time winningest men's basketball coach with his 131st victory in a 77-58 triumph at arch-rival James Madison on January 22. He now owns a 337-266 overall record in 21 years as a collegiate head coach.
Returning three starters and only four letterwinners from the 2003-04 squad, it became very apparent early on that Mason's freshmen recruits would play a huge role during the upcoming season. George Mason was tested early and often throughout the year, which began on the road in early November as first-time participants in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. Mason dropped IPFW 69-51 in the first round in Memphis, Tenn. to begin the year, but fell to host and No. 24 Memphis in the following contest.
Back-to-back home wins, including a victory over league opponent Towson, pushed Mason's record to 3-1 heading into its first foray in the BB&T Classic, where the Patriots faced two top-20 opponents in No. 12 Maryland and No. 11 Michigan State. Although Mason lost both contests, the team drew a modicum of respect from fans and the media and showed what it was capable of in hanging with the Spartans the entire game before falling 66-60. The Patriots wrapped up their non-conference schedule winning three of their next four games and entered league play with a 6-4 overall mark.
George Mason's mettle was soon tested again in early January after the Patriots dropped four of five, including two contests at home and a string of three straight defeats, to begin 2005. Mason saw itself in unfamiliar surroundings with sub-.500 overall (7-8) and league (2-4) records that left Larranaga waiting to set the all-time wins record for two weeks.
However, on January 22, Larranaga implemented his "Green Team" system in the contest at James Madison after a suggestion given to him by his assistant coach Bill Courtney. It was a fortuitous move that gave the head coach his 131st win at Mason and sparked the Patriots to a four-game win streak, victories in seven of their following eight games and nine wins in their next 11 contests. Victories that included a thrilling 104-99 double overtime win at William & Mary, a 74-58 triumph over league-leading Old Dominion at home and a scintillating 78-66 win over non-conference opponent Manhattan in Mason's first-ever ESPN Bracket Buster game.
The Patriots averaged 82.1 points per game and held opponents to 70.3 during the span. Owning a 16-10 overall record and 10-6 mark in the league, George Mason had high hopes entering its final two games of the regular season, which were both on the road. But, the momentum gained by the Patriots' wins was quickly dashed as the team dropped its final two conference contests.
George Mason finished the regular season with a 10-8 CAA record and a 16-12 overall mark, earning the No. 6 seed in the CAA Tournament. The Patriots, who posted a 6-10 mark away from the Patriot Center, couldn't overcome third-seeded UNC Wilmington in Richmond. Mason fell to the Seahawks 60-47 in its CAA quarterfinal match, thus ending the season with a 16-13 overall record.
As a team, the Patriots scoring offense led the CAA at 73.3 points per game, while the team's scoring defense listed seventh, allowing 69.6 points per contest. Mason finished eighth overall in rebounding margin and was second in field goal (.448) and 3-point field goal (.363) percentage as well as assists per game (14.41) and steals per outing (7.93). Three players averaged double figures in scoring on the year, led by junior guard Lamar Butler at 15.7 points per game. Joining Butler was junior guard Tony Skinn (14.4) and junior forward Jai Lewis (13.0).
Butler, an all-CAA second team selection, also led the Patriots in three-point field goals made with 87, which is the third highest single-season total in school history, and in 3-point field goal percentage at 43.1 percent. He concluded the season ranked among the top 10 in the league standing in four different categories, including fourth in scoring, 10th in field goal percentage (.455), third in 3-point field goal percentage and first in 3-point field goals made per game (3.00). One of two players to start every game, Butler ranked among the nation's top-25 in three-point field goals made and three-point field goal percentage. He also earned CAA Player of the Week honors on Jan. 3 after scoring a career-high 36 points in a win at Morehead State on Dec. 30. He contributed 2.4 rebounds per game, was second on the team in assists (70) and third in steals (33).
Skinn earned all-CAA third team honors while battling various injuries throughout the season. He appeared in 27 games with 26 starts, leading George Mason in free throw percentage at 75.7 percent, which ranked 11th in the CAA. His scoring average placed him ninth among league peers, and he was also 13th in 3-point field goals made per game, totaling 39 on the season. The CAA co-Player of the Week on Jan. 31, Skinn finished third on the squad in assists with 59 and averaged 2.9 caroms per outing. He logged his first career double-double on Jan. 29, pulling down a career-best 10 rebounds to go with 21 points.
Lewis also started every game for the Patriots and led the team in rebounding at 7.5 per game, which listed fourth overall in the league. A second-team all-CAA honoree, Lewis placed in the top-15 in the CAA in five separate categories, including scoring (14th), rebounding, field goal percentage (3rd), steals (T-10th) and blocked shots (7th). He led Mason in field goal percentage at 49.8 percent and in blocked shots (31). He added 56 assists, shot 71.5 percent from the free throw line and was second on the squad in steals with 40. Lewis totaled a career-high 31 points against Drexel on Jan. 19 and totaled seven double-doubles on the year.
Sophomore guard Gabe Norwood was also a steady presence among the veteran trio of Butler, Skinn and Lewis, providing much needed assistance to the development of the Mason's younger players. Norwood saw action in all 29 games, earning 24 starts, and averaged 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, which ranked third on the team. His 74 assists led the Patriots and ranked 14th overall in the league, while his 47 steals also topped the team's list and was fourth in the CAA. Norwood shot 43.8 percent from the field and was third on the team in blocked shots (16).
Mason's freshman quartet of John Vaughan, Will Thomas, Folarin Campbell, and Jordan Carter showed tremendous promise from the beginning of the season to its end. Vaughan and Thomas witnessed several stints among the starting lineup, while Campbell and Carter played pivotal roles in reserve as often headlined Mason's "Green Team" unit. The consistent and steady play of Vaughan, Thomas and Campbell earned each a nod to the CAA all-Rookie team by season's end.
Vaughan appeared in all 29 games and started the final 15, receiving CAA Rookie of the Week accolades on Feb. 14. A solid outside shooter, Vaughan was third on the team in 3-point field goals made (34) and averaged 7.5 points per contest. He made 41.8 percent of his shots and 72.9 percent from the charity stripe. He also contributed 43 assists, 24 steals and 3.3 rebounds per game.
Thomas started 16 of 29 games and was named CAA Rookie of the Week on Jan. 17. Mason's second leading rebounder at 5.6 per game, which ranked 12th in the CAA, Thomas averaged 5.7 points per contest and was second on the squad in blocked shots with 20 (T-12th in the CAA in blocks per game). He finished with 22 assists, 16 steals and shot 61.1 percent from the floor.
Campbell, who saw action in 29 contests with one start, averaged 6.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per game for Mason. A two-time CAA Rookie of the Week selection (Dec. 29 and Jan. 31), he contributed 38 assists, 20 steals and connected on 40.8 percent of his shots.
Carter averaged 8.3 minutes per game, but made the most out of his 28 appearances, concluding the year with 33 assists and 10 steals. In his only start of the season against at Towson on Feb. 9, Carter scored five points, grabbed three rebounds, had five assists, made three steals and posted a block. Sophomores Jesus Urbina and Tim Burns recorded steady numbers for Mason as Urbina averaged 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, while Burns totaled 2.7 points and connected from 3-point range at 41.5 percent.
Also making solid contributions were sophomore forward/guard Makan Konate and sophomore guard Charles Makings. Konate appeared in nine games and Makings saw action in 10 contests.
