tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20019497.post114341566571410837..comments2023-08-09T11:39:27.218-04:00Comments on Shine Silently: On to Indy!Bill-DChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08684162800187654435noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20019497.post-1143556838250985912006-03-28T09:40:00.000-05:002006-03-28T09:40:00.000-05:00Whatever happens in Indy, George Mason deserves fu...Whatever happens in Indy, George Mason deserves full credit for what it has done so far. <BR/><BR/>The Patriots have not reached the Final Four with lucky last-second shots, bad ref calls, injuries to opponents or a weak draw. This hasn't been a fluke.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20019497.post-1143483972491922102006-03-27T13:26:00.000-05:002006-03-27T13:26:00.000-05:00The reason the four No. 1 seeds are no longer with...The reason the four No. 1 seeds are no longer with us is that, unlike in some years past, each had discernible weaknesses that an opponent was eventually able to exploit. <BR/><BR/>Duke wasn't athletic enough. Connecticut lacked ball-handlers (though that seemed to hurt the Huskies more in their Sweet 16 win over Washington than in their Elite Eight loss to George Mason).<BR/><BR/>Villanova lacked size. Memphis lacked experience.<BR/><BR/>The same can be said, however, of the Bruins, Gators and Tigers. Though they've been fortunate enough to survive longer than numerous higher-seeded teams, each has negatives to go with its positives. UCLA plays phenomenal defense but, with only two real scorers in Arron Afflalo and Jordan Farmar, is prone to stretches where it can't buy a bucket. LSU is freakishly athletic, particularly with big men Glen Davis and Tyrus Thomas, but often throws up bad shots and plays out of control. Florida has its own frontcourt studs in Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Al Horford, but you can never be sure what you're going to get out of guards Taurean Green and Lee Humphrey.<BR/><BR/>Then there's George Mason.<BR/><BR/>At this point, the only reasons anyone has to keep picking against George Mason are its name and its seed. So far, the Patriots have defied both. Sure, it's possible to see Florida's Noah or LSU's Tyrus Thomas and Davis overwhelming Lewis and Will Thomas. Then again, they more than held their own against Hansbrough, Armstrong and Michigan State's Paul Davis. Sure, UCLA's suffocating defense is a step up from what they've seen in the tournament to date. But in case you haven't noticed, Mason plays some pretty mean D (its four tourney opponents have shot 39.4 percent).<BR/><BR/>Though seedings, history, NBA draft projections and our own better instincts might suggest otherwise, the reality is, George Mason has as much of a chance of winning the whole thing as it does of going out in the next round.<BR/><BR/>So, too, do LSU, UCLA and Florida.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com