Patriots begin dance in Denver
John Boal/For the News & Messenger
Junior guard Dre Smith celebrates George Mason’s selection to the NCAA Tournament.
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By Dave Utnik
Published: March 17, 2008
On the Fairfax campus, they still haven’t quite forgiven Packer for the comments he made two years ago when he suggested that the Patriots didn’t belong in the NCAA Tournament and there was some satisfaction in knowing this time around his opinion didn’t matter.
George Mason was assured of a spot in the field of 65 after capturing the Colonial Athletic Asso-ciation championship and on Sunday evening the Patriots gathered with their most faithful follow-ers to celebrate.
The Mason Nation Selection Rally featured performances by Doc Nix and the Green Machine pep band and a rousing chorus of YMCA led by head coach Jim Larranaga. The only thing lacking was suspense.
Unlike a similar party in 2006 when they received an at-large bid and made history by reaching the Final Four, the Patriots arrived at the Johnson Center in the heart of campus knowing that they were going to play in one of eight first round locations across the country.
Not long after Packer’s face faded from view on a portable movie screen, the rally became a full-fledged party as Mason learned that it’s first-round game would be against Notre Dame on Thurs-day in Denver.
“There’s going to be a lot of green and gold in Denver, but it’s going to be us with the luck of the Irish,” Larranaga told a gathering of several hundred revelers — many of whom viewed the festivi-ties from three levels of balcony railings. “We’re going to bring back the net from Denver.”
He wasn’t just posturing to a loyal fan base either. The Patriots drew a No. 12 seed but they aren’t necessarily underdogs given what transpired two seasons ago.
“We’re going to go to Denver and handle business,” Campbell said. “There’s no pressure on us. We’re just going to go out there and have fun. I feel we match up with them well.”
The No. 5 seed Irish lost to Winthrop in the first round last season but they are 24-7 this year and have one sizable advantage in 6-foot-8 sophomore center Luke Harangody, the Big East player of the year.
“He’s just harder than hell to defend,” said former DePauw and University of Indianapolis assis-tant coach Tom Davis. “He’s an old fashioned post player who can go to the basket with either hand.”
The Patriots (23-10) counter with Campbell, the CAA Tournament MVP, and senior center Will Thomas who both started on the 2006 squad.
“We’ve just got to use our quickness. They’re a big team and we’ve got to run,” Campbell said. “But they have shooters and we have shooters. They have a great big man and we have a great big man. It’s going to be a great game.”
The winner of Thursday’s first-round game will play either No. 4 seed Washington State or No. 13 Winthrop on Sunday.
“I think playing Notre Dame, they’re a storied program — everybody knows the Fighting Irish — it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Larranaga said. “There will definitely be a lot of green there.”
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