George Mason Basketball’s Road Back To The Big Dance

George Mason basketball has won 10 straight games and sits at 11-1 in Atlantic 10 conference play. But what do the Patriots need to do to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011? 

George Mason basketball has a one-game lead over Virginia Commonwealth University in the A-10. But these two teams will meet on Feb. 22 in VCU’s Siegel Center, a game that will have massive implications in the battle for the top seed in the conference tournament. 

But before looking at what George Mason basketball needs to do to make it back to the dance, let’s look at how the Patriots earned their spot atop the A-10 standings. 

Currently, the Patriots are one win away from locking up their best conference record since joining the A-10 in 2013. Their previous best was 11-7, which they have achieved twice. 

After opening up their conference schedule 1-1, including a win over Davidson and a three-point loss to Rhode Island, the Patriots have rattled off 10 straight wins. In the first 15 games of the season, the Patriots were 2-3 in games that were decided by single digits. However, since the winning streak began, they have won seven games in this category. 

George Mason basketball is statistically one of the best defensive teams in the country. On average, the Patriots give up 61.3 points per game, this ranks ninth in the country in scoring defense. However, the Patriots play at one of the slowest tempo in the country, ranking 320th with only 64.3 possessions per game. 

While the slow pace helps George Mason to keep their opponents from scoring at a high rate, according to Kenpom, they are ranked 12th in defensive efficiency. The reason for this is George Mason’s ability to contest opponents’ shots. 

To this point in the season, GMU leads the conference in opponent field goal percentage, holding their opponents to just 36.8% from the field. This ranks them third in the country, behind only No. 5 Tennessee and NCAA Tournament hopeful San Diego State. 

Both George Mason and VCU are in the top 11 in the country in scoring defense. So it is no surprise that these two squads have risen to the top of the A-10 standings. 

What does George Mason need to do to make a return to the NCAA Tournament? 

Currently, the Patriots are ranked 64th in the NCAA’s NET Rankings, which places them very close to the tournament bubble. However, early in conference play, George Mason was one of three teams to pick up a Quad 1 win in the Atlantic 10. This win came over Dayton on Jan. 15, but with the Flyers’ recent struggles that victory has fallen to a Quad 2 win. 

However, GMU has a chance to pick up another Quad 1 win that is unlikely to slip, when they travel to the Siegel Center in what will be the most decisive game in the A-10 this season. An upset win at VCU will most likely push the Patriots firmly into the bubble conversation for an at-large bid. But it will require near-perfect play to finish the season. 

In three of George Mason basketball’s final four games of the regular season, they will face off against the bottom three teams in the conference (Fordham, La Salle, and Richmond). Because all of these teams are ranked outside of the top 210 in the NET, a slip-up in one of these games is likely to eliminate the Patriots from at-large contention. 

With only one true opportunity to boost their resume before the conference tournament, the Patriots will likely need to run the table to be in the bubble conversation. 

But, with George Mason’s proven ability to win close games in conference play, a trip to Capital One Arena for the A-10 tournament may be the perfect opportunity for a return to The Big Dance.