The George Mason Patriots lost tonight to the Florida Gators 58-73. I rushed back from DC today to watch the game and was very disappointed in the way it turned out. The Gators definitely played a strong game and earned their victory.I am disappointed, but am also a University of Florida alum and this is the least painful loss the Patriots could have had for me. I caught the tail-end of Coach Larranga’s after-game speech to the team and have to say the man is all class. You can’t help but like the coach, just like you can't help but like the team.
I hated to see the Patriots lose, but tonight’s game does not detract one iota from their Cinderella story and their performance for the entire tournament. GMU was the first small-conference school to reach the final four since 1979.
I think Sports Illustrated sums it up the best when they say (emphasis mine):
Now that the tournament is down to the Gators and UCLA, I will definitely be rooting for Florida in the final game.
In a little over two weeks' time, both team and school rose from almost complete obscurity to capture the hearts of an entire country. In a tournament whose massive appeal is inexorably linked with its history of upsets, the Patriots took our image of a Cinderella to previously unthinkable heights. For the next three days, the basketball world will be talking almost entirely about the two teams competing for the national title. For years to come, however, they'll be still be talking about 2006 George Mason.
Patriots, we are proud of you and all you’ve done! We look forward to welcoming you home!
Gators, I am looking forward to another excellent game as you win the tournament on Monday night!
Go Gators!!! Go Patriots!!!
1 comment:
The way the went out is definitely disappointing. Wish it at least would have been more of a game.
But this team has nothing to be ashamed of! Beating Mich. State, UNC, Witchita Stat, and UConn in one tourney run is nothing to sniff at.
I disagree with thought, though - I think this will be one of the most talked-about tourney runs in years to come, even if (and it won't happen) GMU never sets foot on a March Madness court again.
How can this run not be talked about? Nobody expected GMU to win the whole thing - what's memorable is that this Patriot team beat recent winners in this tourney.
And, in defense of GMU, they did demonstrate by winning that they were better than Michigan State, Witchita State, UConn, and UNC. If this tourney is all about previous games' statistics - like Uconn "playing sluggish in its previous games" - then why do we bother playing games?
- Tom
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