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August 21st,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
George
Mason Patriots
Overall Rank:
#80
Conference
Rank: #4 CAA
2005-06:
27-8, 15-3, 1st (t)
2005-06
postseason: NCAA
 No matter how
much they messed up our brackets, we all have a little special
place in our hearts for
George Mason. Yet, here in August, it’s
all looking ahead to 2006-2007 and it’s back to reality. Coach
Jim Larranaga loses three instrumental players of the Final Four
run and there is a little rebuilding to do.
Who’s Out:
The
top three scorers are gone in Jai Lewis, Tony Skinn and Lamar
Butler. Big man Lewis averaged a team high 13.7 points and 7.8
boards, while Butler and Skinn tacked on 12.6 and 11.9 points,
respectively.
Who’s In:
It won’t be
easy to replace Lewis, Butler and Skinn, but with a couple guys
returning from injuries and one of the best classes GMU has seen
in a while, it is possible that the Patriots won’t take too much
of a hit. There will be a couple starting spots up for grabs
among these newcomers. Power forwards Jesus Urbina, Darryl
Monroe and Louis Birdsong will help replace Lewis. Urbina
redshirted last season and has yet to reach his full potential
due to nagging injuries. As a sophomore two years ago, the 6-7
Venezuelan earned two starts, averaging 2.7 points and rebounds
per contest. If not healthy, junior college transfer Monroe
will earn the starting nod. Incoming freshman Louis Birdsong
might not see too much action this year, but he is a great
pickup for George Mason. The 6-6 forward is tough and athletic
and is expected to be an exceptional player before his career is
through. In the backcourt, shooting guards John Vaughan and
Andrew Smith will compete for a starting gig. Vaughn started
the final 15 games of his freshman campaign before missing the
magical season with an injury. Healthy again, the 6-3 sophomore
will regain his starting role and knock down the long ball and
get to the basket. Smith won’t make it easy for Vaughan to
return to his starting role though. The junior college transfer
can play both guard spots and GMU might need him to spend a
little time at the point as well as the two.
Who to Watch:
Folarin Campbell and Gabe Norwood will be the new go-to-guys on
the perimeter. Campbell moved to the point a couple years ago
and has obviously been successful. The 6-4 Silver Spring,
Maryland native started all but one game last year, averaging
11.0 points, 3.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds. Norwood came off the
bench most of last season and is expected to move to a starting
role this year. The 6-5 versatile wing averaged 3.4 points last
season, but should see a drastic increase in numbers with more
minutes.
Final
Projection:
Up front the
Patriots return Will Thomas who averaged 11.8 points and 7.2
boards as just a sophomore. With Lewis gone, Thomas will be the
man in the paint. It will be imperative that Thomas continues
to work hard on the glass or GMU will have some problems in that
category. A little work on the free throw shooting wouldn’t
hurt either. Sophomores Sammy Hernandez and Chris Fleming
showed promise during their first campaign in Fairfax and with a
little more development could make a much bigger impact this
season. What separates Mason from the rest is the fact that
they have a system that works and the players believe in it.
Plugging a few new guys in here and there might not have as a
big of a negative effect as many think.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NIT
Projected
Starting Five:
Folarin
Campbell, Junior, Guard, 11.0 points per game
John Vaughn,
Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season
Gabe Norwood,
Senior, Guard, 3.4 points per game
Darryl Monroe,
Junior, Forward, DNP last season
Will Thomas,
Junior, Forward, 11.8 points per game
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