Fairfax, VA -- It’s been an interesting few days around the cozy Recreation Sports Complex – known as the Fieldhouse to faculty and students – on the campus of George Mason University.
Early yesterday morning outside the building in unpleasant weather conditions, students munched on assorted Dunkin Donuts treats, compliments of Head Coach Jim Larranaga. Once allowed inside, some gathered over a small TV set less than 20 inches to keep in tune with the outside world. Some tossed the pigskin while the rest chatted it up about the new Kelly Clarkson CD. Others tried to catch up on schoolwork; eh, who am I kidding, they just slept.
Whatever you can think of by staying occupied while being cuddled up in a gym overnight…George Mason fans did it all.
A group of 400+ students waited overnight – and for some, two nights – in and outside the multi-purpose facility to get their hands on a ticket for the Patriots Friday night Sweet 16 match-up against Wichita State.
Obtaining a $130 ticket to the Sweet 16 (Elite 8 game included) is by far the hottest ticket in town this March. Students as what they dubbed, “the golden ticket,” lined up as early as Monday to get their hands on one. For a visual, just picture this past Christmas season when the few XBox 360 systems went on sale in department stores.
Ian Djuric, a sophomore at GMU, played the real-life role of Charlie from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” He beat everyone to the punch arriving earlier than his peers (4 PM on Monday for that matter) in order to get the first ticket that was dished out at 10 AM on Wednesday morning. Missed classes? No problem.
With a plethora of cameras and reporters in his face to get his post purchase reaction, when I asked for what would he give up that golden ticket, he smiled and said “nothing.”
Good answer. Because if he hesitated to ponder over his response, the group of reporters standing in front of him would’ve quickly been replaced by a group of potential ticket buyers.
A Mid-Major Re-Match
As for the game, it’s a dandy. George Mason. Wichita State. A battle featuring two of the best-unknown teams in America, or what the college basketball assemblage knows as mid-majors.
Despite being in two separate conferences and being based in two different geographic regions, these two teams are very familiar with each other and in some ways fairly similar. The two schools were paired up in an ESPN Bracket Buster game just over a month ago back on February 18. Mason squeaked out a victory on the road, 70-67, arguably the best Bracket Buster game of the line-up.
Both schools rely on a guard/forward combo, which makes for a very nice 1-2 punch. The Patriots combo is consisted of senior guard Tony Skinn (12.6 ppg, 81% FT) and 6’7, 275-pound senior forward Jai Lewis (13.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg). Opposite GMU, the Shockers are paced by guard Sean Ogirri (12.2 ppg, 45% 3-pt fg) and 6’10, 250-pound Paul Miller (13.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg). Neither team has much depth, but both squads have three additional players that are capable of scoring in double figures.
Both teams are akin in that they were two of the last teams to get in the NCAA tournament. Wichita State was more of a lock than their upcoming foe, but both teams were surrounded in controversy.
No, No Drama
On Sunday March 12, moments after the tournament selection show had just finished, CBS announcers Billy Packer and Jim Nantz were appalled at the number of mid-major schools that received at-large bids. Neither had any problem expressing their displeasure either.
Exactly a week later, on March 19, three of the so-called mid-major teams that Packer and Nantz said that didn’t even belong in the tournament, advanced into the Sweet 16. Bradley, Wichita State and George Mason.
“I don’t feel there was any heat,” said GMU Athletic Director Tom O’Connor, who was also on this year’s NCAA tournament selection committee. “Our duty was to pick the 34 best teams. When I walked out of the room and I know the committee members walked out of the room, we felt pretty good that we picked the 34 best teams.”
"Well worth the wait."
Aforementioned, GMU is familiar with the foe. They are familiar with the venue, winning their last game played at the Verizon Center by 40 points. And, the fans, well they hope to be familiar with Larranaga bringing around doughnuts.
“This has been a great experience,” said Djuric. “It was well worth the wait. I would wait a week for a ticket.”
If the Patriots beat the Shockers then get past the winner of the Connecticut/Washington game, he’d get that chance. This time the tickets will be to The Final Four.
