This year's George Mason?
Mar 9, 2007 2:12:31 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Mar 9, 2007 2:12:31 GMT -5
www.knoxnews.com/kns/basketball/article/0,1406,KNS_629_5403552,00.html
This year's George Mason?
By By
March 7, 2007
A trip to the 2006 Final Four put tiny George Mason on the map. Here are some claims to fame for a few potential Cinderellas this year:
- Southern Illinois: Basketball Hall of Famer Walt Frazier led the Salukis to the 1967 National Invitation Tournament title. His number is one of two retired by the men's team.
- Wright State: Ohio school first captured national headlines in June 1983 when paraplegic Nanette Davis Ferrall walked to receive her diploma with the assistance of a computer-controlled electrical stimulation device created by Dr. Jerrold Petrofsky. The movie "First Steps'' dramatized her story.
- Winthrop: Actress Andie MacDowell attended Winthrop in 1977 (as Winthrop College) but dropped out as a sophomore in 1978 to sign with Elite Model Management.
- Oral Roberts: All students are required to sign a pledge stating they will live according to the university's honor code. Prohibited activities include lying, cursing, smoking, drinking, gambling and elicit sexual acts. Notable alums include Kathie Lee Gifford and Ted Haggard, former president of New Life Church in Colorado Springs.
BRACKET BANTER
What they're saying about midmajors in the NCAA Tournament:
- Craig Thompson, Mountain West Conference commissioner:
"We have a chance to have higher seeds than we've ever had in the past. We've had multiple teams (get in), but we've always been in the 10-11-12 (seed) range. History shows when we've had a single-digit seed, we've won."
- Jeff Bzdelik, Air Force coach:
"Our staff put together a schedule that will put to rest any controversy about who we played. We played road games, games at neutral sites. We've gone out to play the very best schedule we can play to prepare us and challenge us."
- Doug Elgin, Missouri Valley Conference commissioner, on Bradley and Wichita State advancing to the Sweet 16 last year:
"It was gratifying to see both those fan bases and players celebrating and chanting 'M-V-C,' because we were under attack by the media and by CBS' people, saying we were undeserving. It was vindication."
TIMETABLE OF A MIRACLE
A look at George Mason's improbable run to the Final Four last year:
- March 12: Patriots receive the school's first at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. CBS analysts Jim Nantz and Billy Packer rip the selection committee for overloading the field with mid-major teams, including two from the Colonial Athletic Association.
- March 17: In the first round, GMU stuns a Michigan State squad that returned four starters from a team that made the Final Four the previous season.
- March 19: The Patriots dig out of a 16-2 hole to upend defending champion North Carolina, 65-60, and advance to the Sweet 16. "A lot of people's brackets are messed up right now," center Jai Lewis said. "I love it."
- March 24: Playing in Washington, D.C. - 10 miles from its Fairfax, Va. campus, George Mason beats fellow mid-major Wichita State, 63-55, to advance to the Elite Eight.
- March 26: Coach Jim Larranaga hums the theme to "Mission Impossible,'' then the Patriots shock top-seeded Connecticut 86-84 in overtime to become only the second No. 11 seed to make it to the Final Four.
- April 1: George Mason loses 73-58 to eventual champion Florida in the NCAA semifinals.
FINAL WORD
"To crash through and make it to the NCAA Final Four has changed everything. . . . We are going to be talking about them down the road, years and years, generations to come, as the team that broke through and really made this NCAA Tournament totally up for grabs." - Jim Nantz
This year's George Mason?
By By
March 7, 2007
A trip to the 2006 Final Four put tiny George Mason on the map. Here are some claims to fame for a few potential Cinderellas this year:
- Southern Illinois: Basketball Hall of Famer Walt Frazier led the Salukis to the 1967 National Invitation Tournament title. His number is one of two retired by the men's team.
- Wright State: Ohio school first captured national headlines in June 1983 when paraplegic Nanette Davis Ferrall walked to receive her diploma with the assistance of a computer-controlled electrical stimulation device created by Dr. Jerrold Petrofsky. The movie "First Steps'' dramatized her story.
- Winthrop: Actress Andie MacDowell attended Winthrop in 1977 (as Winthrop College) but dropped out as a sophomore in 1978 to sign with Elite Model Management.
- Oral Roberts: All students are required to sign a pledge stating they will live according to the university's honor code. Prohibited activities include lying, cursing, smoking, drinking, gambling and elicit sexual acts. Notable alums include Kathie Lee Gifford and Ted Haggard, former president of New Life Church in Colorado Springs.
BRACKET BANTER
What they're saying about midmajors in the NCAA Tournament:
- Craig Thompson, Mountain West Conference commissioner:
"We have a chance to have higher seeds than we've ever had in the past. We've had multiple teams (get in), but we've always been in the 10-11-12 (seed) range. History shows when we've had a single-digit seed, we've won."
- Jeff Bzdelik, Air Force coach:
"Our staff put together a schedule that will put to rest any controversy about who we played. We played road games, games at neutral sites. We've gone out to play the very best schedule we can play to prepare us and challenge us."
- Doug Elgin, Missouri Valley Conference commissioner, on Bradley and Wichita State advancing to the Sweet 16 last year:
"It was gratifying to see both those fan bases and players celebrating and chanting 'M-V-C,' because we were under attack by the media and by CBS' people, saying we were undeserving. It was vindication."
TIMETABLE OF A MIRACLE
A look at George Mason's improbable run to the Final Four last year:
- March 12: Patriots receive the school's first at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. CBS analysts Jim Nantz and Billy Packer rip the selection committee for overloading the field with mid-major teams, including two from the Colonial Athletic Association.
- March 17: In the first round, GMU stuns a Michigan State squad that returned four starters from a team that made the Final Four the previous season.
- March 19: The Patriots dig out of a 16-2 hole to upend defending champion North Carolina, 65-60, and advance to the Sweet 16. "A lot of people's brackets are messed up right now," center Jai Lewis said. "I love it."
- March 24: Playing in Washington, D.C. - 10 miles from its Fairfax, Va. campus, George Mason beats fellow mid-major Wichita State, 63-55, to advance to the Elite Eight.
- March 26: Coach Jim Larranaga hums the theme to "Mission Impossible,'' then the Patriots shock top-seeded Connecticut 86-84 in overtime to become only the second No. 11 seed to make it to the Final Four.
- April 1: George Mason loses 73-58 to eventual champion Florida in the NCAA semifinals.
FINAL WORD
"To crash through and make it to the NCAA Final Four has changed everything. . . . We are going to be talking about them down the road, years and years, generations to come, as the team that broke through and really made this NCAA Tournament totally up for grabs." - Jim Nantz