Mid Major Bragging Rights Up For Grabs: CofC vs George Mason

Ryan Pearson may have cost GMU a win in 2009, but now he's the Patriots best player

College of Charleston (10-2, 2-0)

George Mason University (8-4, 2-0)

TD Arena

Tipoff at 7pm on ESPN3

Hope everyone had a merry holiday season and is ready to take on the new year, but the Cougars have one more tough test before 2012 begins. On December 30th the College of Charleston gets one more chance to knock off a quality OOC opponent when the George Mason Patriots return to TD Arena (having played in the 2010 Charleston Classic). Both teams are among the best non-BCS teams in the country and a win over the other will look good on the ol' March resume. 

This game holds particular meaning to me because I grew up in northern Virginia and have a number of close friends who are George Mason alumni. Another win by the Cougs over the Patriots would further justify CofC's place in mid-major hoops in their eyes. Fans of both teams should remember how, two years ago, this matchup went down to the wire before a charging foul was called on Ryan Pearson's game-tying layup*. The Cougars held on for a great Bracketbuster road victory at the Patriot Center.  

All five starters from that CofC team are now gone and the Patriots are a vastly different team as well. Under new coach Paul Hewitt, the Patriots squeaked out an OT victory over Rhode Island before dropping two of their next three games to Florida International and Florida Atlantic (both in OT as well). Since then, Mason has only lost to a strong UVA team on the road and Duquesne at home.

This game is going to depend on which team takes better advantage of their mismatch. The Cougar backcourt has the edge over Mason's guard play. One of the reasons why the Patriots have really been struggling is their 15.6 turnovers per game. Their guards are largely inexperienced and succumb to defensive pressure. GMU has gotten a boost from senior guard Andre Cornelius (who missed the first 10 games via suspension) but he is slowly being integrated into Hewitt's game plan. I know, the Cougars turn it over a lot too (14 per game) but our guards have been good at not giving the ball away with the exception of the Louisville game. 

The Cougars hold the disadvantage inside the paint. Although the physicality and size of Mason's forwards is nothing compared to the BCS teams we've faced, both Pearson and Mike Morrison are seniors who play effectively and clean the glass pretty well (15 rpg between them). Wiedeman and Baru will have to play smart and resist the temptation to foul because Sundberg is...well, Sundberg. Trent has got to be relieved that he finally gets to pick on kids his own size and Adjehi seems to be maturing every week. 


On paper, this should be a Cougar victory. Mason is a great team but we're playing at home and have held our own against a number of quality opponents. Unfortunately the game is not played on paper and the Cougars will certainly have their hands full with a motivated GMU squad. If we start off flat, aren't hitting threes and look like we haven't played in a week; the Patriots will take this one. Same scenario occurs if we cough the ball up too many times. I think we'll have enough offensive firepower between Wiggins, Lawrence and Sundberg to outscore the second-chance points GMU will likely get. Coming off winter vacation, the boys have to look sharp before getting into Socon play. Go Cougars!

*you'll also notice in that video how Pearson tries to take off Tony White's head with a hard elbow