Sunday, March 19, 2006

George Mason Stuns North Carolina

How Do You Like That, Billy Packer?

First it was Michigan State, the 2000 NCAA Champion who was sent packing Friday night. Today it was the defending champion North Carolina Tar Heels who fell victim to surprising
George Mason 65-60.

The Patriots will come home (so to speak) to face Wichita State at Verizon (MCI) Center in Washington, DC Friday night. George Mason and Wichita State played earlier this season (at Wichita State) with George Mason winning 70-67. This was the win that put George Mason in the top 25 for the first time in school history. Some say this was the victory that got them into the NCAA tournament.

The game didn't start out well for the Patriots, who were down 16-2 at the start of the game. I was thinking the 'Heels will be up by thirty at halftime. Incredibly, George Mason managed to get back into the game and at the half, were trailing 27-20.

Nothing went right for the 'Heels in the second half. It was great seeing UNC coach Roy Williams take his frustrations out on a chair late in the second half when Mason was ahead.

But the best shot from CBS besides Roy Williams beating up the chair, was the clip of George Mason coach Jim Larranaga talking to his team before the game. Larranaga said that "North Carolina's fans think their team is Superman. Our fans think we are kryptonite. What does kryptonite do to Superman?"

Survive and advance.

Let me also take a moment to give props to Georgetown for beating Ohio State today 70-52. The Hoyas play Florida on Friday in Minneapolis.

Michael Wilbon's column in Monday's Washington Post.

3 comments:

Scrutineer said...

The GMU Colonials will go all the way.

Bill-DC said...

Yikes! Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Once the Post staff writer posts their column, I'll link it here.

Bill-DC said...

I deleted the earlier AP story I had posted and replaced it with the Post writer's story.