2026-2027 Season Schedule Thread

[tblack33]

The staff has done everything they can do to attract some big name teams. There were some bigger names that were somewhat in the works but they fell through. The struggle, as some of you have pointed out is that better teams don’t want to possibly lose.

For the USF game, look forward to some cool things coming from athletics. If you’re not a season ticket holder, get your tickets for that game asap!!

An off topic note: one of my good friends plays for NCCU, it’ll be a fun watch. They also play @ vcu.

Attracting big names does absolutely nothing if you don’t get it across the finish line. These are all paid professionals, and should be judged on the results of their efforts, not the effort itself.

 

[tblack33]

Overall meh OOC schedule like this certainly reduces our overall likelihood of having an at large resume in the end, but keep in mind that the OOC is only one piece of the pie, and with the OOC and the conference schedule, there are two pieces of the pie. Better one is, more the other can lag.

1 or 2 losses, with no losses to anyone other than HP or USF and we put ourselves into position to perform well enough in conference to get onto the bubble. Better our conference opponents are, the better the opportunity we have.

Margin of error is basically zero. No bad losses, some Q1 wins, and make it to semi's and...

We might only realistically have 3 Q1 opportunities all season. Have to pretty much be perfect in them if we aren’t perfect in OOC.

 

[tblack33]

He’s already got an extension and needs an NCAA bid to land a significantly better job than Mason. This is not an at-large OOC schedule unless we go undefeated and then wreck shop in the A-10 — probably need 28 wins minimum before the conference tournament to have a competitive profile.

I do think there’s a certain logic in not over scheduling when you have to replace almost your entire roster every year, but no P4 games is a red flag — if we are on the bubble come March, it will look like we ducked the toughest competition and that becomes another reason to keep us out.

He’s absolutely earned all of his extensions to date, but I think we’re at the point where we shouldn’t be extending him any more unless we dance. He’s gotta get over the hurdle.

 

[GMUgemini]

We might only realistically have 3 Q1 opportunities all season. Have to pretty much be perfect in them if we aren’t perfect in OOC.

3 is pretty much guaranteed unless something weird happens (@Dayton, @SLU, @vcu)

2 possible (vcu at home, @High Point)

2 longshots (@GW, @St. Joes)

2 wild cards (how good will Duquesne and Davidson be?) we play both on the road.

They’re not all going to be top 75, but some combination of them will be.

Edit: will any of them be top 50 and will we play them in the tournament? If we get the 4 seed we will play the 1 in the semis and that probably will be a Q1 game.

Edit to the edit: I might bump the home game against vcu down a notch. Apparently Q1 is 1-30 not 1-35 like I thought. I looked last year and our home win against SLU was a Q2 win because they finished at 31 and not 30 (stupid cutoff). Might be hard to see vcu as top 30.

 

[tblack33]

3 is pretty much guaranteed unless something weird happens (@Dayton, @SLU, @vcu)

2 possible (vcu at home, @High Point)

2 longshots (@GW, @St. Joes)

2 wild cards (how good will Duquesne and Davidson be?) we play both on the road.

They’re not all going to be top 75, but some combination of them will be.

Edit: will any of them be top 50 and will we play them in the tournament? If we get the 4 seed we will play the 1 in the semis and that probably will be a Q1 game.

Edit to the edit: I might bump the home game against vcu down a notch. Apparently Q1 is 1-30 not 1-35 like I thought. I looked last year and our home win against SLU was a Q2 win because they finished at 31 and not 30 (stupid cutoff). Might be hard to see vcu as top 30.

The top three I’ve penciled in as the Q1 games, there’s a chance the @Dayton slides out and the @HP slides in. The rest I think are very, very long shot.

 

[gmujim92]

He’s absolutely earned all of his extensions to date, but I think we’re at the point where we shouldn’t be extending him any more unless we dance. He’s gotta get over the hurdle.

Not sure if serious. He has our program in better shape than it has been at any moment since L bolted. I want to make the tournament as much as anyone, but the reality is Mason is punching above its weight class largely because of Tony — we’re a middle of the pack A-10 program that is blessed to have one of the best coaches in our league. We’ll miss him hugely when he is gone.

 

[Patriot Blue]

Back in Georgetown's hey-day, I remember their out of conference schedule being ridiculous. They did nothing but pound on these little Catholic schools during OOC and then run as a top-three in the Big East. John Thompson, Jr. would say he didn't want to schedule difficult games because "it puts too much pressure on my kids." But then again, that was John Thompson, Jr.

St. Leo

 

[KAOriginal]

He’s already got an extension and needs an NCAA bid to land a significantly better job than Mason. This is not an at-large OOC schedule unless we go undefeated and then wreck shop in the A-10 — probably need 28 wins minimum before the conference tournament to have a competitive profile.

I do think there’s a certain logic in not over scheduling when you have to replace almost your entire roster every year, but no P4 games is a red flag — if we are on the bubble come March, it will look like we ducked the toughest competition and that becomes another reason to keep us out.

--Any good success will get him ANOTHER extension.

--I think you'd be surprised what attention he would garner if he actively decided to put his hat in the ring after this season even without an NCAA win. Maybe not "THE" jobs.....but there would be interest. The story is there--moderate success with a chronically underfunded mid major...while managing the portal each year with huge roster turnover.

--Define better. NCAA hoops ia ALL business now. He has a better chance for an at large at ANY P4, especially with expansion. Better chances at doubling his salary. Better recruiting levels. Better NIL money.

 

[mshin5]

--Any good success will get him ANOTHER extension.

--I think you'd be surprised what attention he would garner if he actively decided to put his hat in the ring after this season even without an NCAA win. Maybe not "THE" jobs.....but there would be interest. The story is there--moderate success with a chronically underfunded mid major...while managing the portal each year with huge roster turnover.

--Define better. NCAA hoops ia ALL business now. He has a better chance for an at large at ANY P4, especially with expansion. Better chances at doubling his salary. Better recruiting levels. Better NIL money.

If or hopefully when Tony takes us dancing he’ll be gone in a heartbeat. The only reason he’s staying is because he hasn’t taken us to the tournament and probably isn’t liking his options. We all know that Mason wouldn’t dump the kind of money on CTS to keep him if he does take us to the tournament.

 

[GMUgemini]

If or hopefully when Tony takes us dancing he’ll be gone in a heartbeat. The only reason he’s staying is because he hasn’t taken us to the tournament and probably isn’t liking his options. We all know that Mason wouldn’t dump the kind of money on CTS to keep him if he does take us to the tournament.

This narrative is a little stale in that when he got his first extension Mason basically doubled his salary from 950,000 to 1.8 million and for every year he stays he gets an automatic 100k raise on his base. He’s up to 2 million a year in base salary right now. He’s the third or fourth highest paid coach in the A10. Its not exactly like he’s underpaid here.

 

[mkaufman1]

If or hopefully when Tony takes us dancing he’ll be gone in a heartbeat. The only reason he’s staying is because he hasn’t taken us to the tournament and probably isn’t liking his options. We all know that Mason wouldn’t dump the kind of money on CTS to keep him if he does take us to the tournament.

Its September so I guess we can start the "can we keep Tony" discussions...

That said, Mason has spent more on Tony than any other coach, pay him top 4 in the A10, and have a built in ladder to his contract. He is at 1.8 (I believe) with a ladder to 2.2.

Needless to say, yes if he does take Mason to the tournament some school will throw 4 or 5m at him. But Mason has done un-Mason like things to already invest and retain Tony who could have darted already if we didnt' come up to the price point. In addition, while we don't have shiny facilities or other shiny objects, we also spend well on our players and give Tony a solid budget to work with. All very un-mason like things.

Can he go somewhere else in a heartbeat? Yes. But at the very least, we can safely say that Mason has done everything in their power to keep Tony. Now whether we need to adjust him again if we somehow go 28-5 and head to the NIT, we can debate that in March.

Damnit @GMUgemini you basically said what I said, while I was typing lol

 

[Old Man]

Its September so I guess we can start the "can we keep Tony" discussions...

That said, Mason has spent more on Tony than any other coach, pay him top 4 in the A10, and have a built in ladder to his contract. He is at 1.8 (I believe) with a ladder to 2.2.

Needless to say, yes if he does take Mason to the tournament some school will throw 4 or 5m at him. But Mason has done un-Mason like things to already invest and retain Tony who could have darted already if we didnt' come up to the price point. In addition, while we don't have shiny facilities or other shiny objects, we also spend well on our players and give Tony a solid budget to work with. All very un-mason like things.

Can he go somewhere else in a heartbeat? Yes. But at the very least, we can safely say that Mason has done everything in their power to keep Tony. Now whether we need to adjust him again if we somehow go 28-5 and head to the NIT, we can debate that in March.

Damnit @GMUgemini you basically said what I said, while I was typing lol

OR ... We continue to pay CTS in the top 4 of the A10 and fund the bball team like we mean it, and he builds a solid program that goes to the NCAA/NIT with some regularity. AND he likes Mason, respects the opportunity Mason gave him 20 years ago, and decides loyalty IS a thing and stays here for a long time. Money isn't everything.

 

[Patriotsince81]

OR ... We continue to pay CTS in the top 4 of the A10 and fund the bball team like we mean it, and he builds a solid program that goes to the NCAA/NIT with some regularity. AND he likes Mason, respects the opportunity Mason gave him 20 years ago, and decides loyalty IS a thing and stays here for a long time. Money isn't everything.

A concept lost on 90% of America.

 

[Jack Strop]

OR ... We continue to pay CTS in the top 4 of the A10 and fund the bball team like we mean it, and he builds a solid program that goes to the NCAA/NIT with some regularity. AND he likes Mason, respects the opportunity Mason gave him 20 years ago, and decides loyalty IS a thing and stays here for a long time. Money isn't everything.

Coach Tony may also like.livimg in the DMV area. Doesn't he have lots of family here? If CTS does leave then it's possible it may be a long time until he would have the ability to return. Yes, money isn't everything. There's certainly more to consider.

 

[2011WinOverVillanova]

There’s something also to be said for finding the right fit. Anthony Grant left vcu for what he thought was the right fit at Bama. Money doesn’t always equal the right fit. And Mason should use that fear of failing Anthony Grant example if some lower power school comes.

 

[Old Man]

There’s something also to be said for finding the right fit. Anthony Grant left vcu for what he thought was the right fit at Bama. Money doesn’t always equal the right fit. And Mason should use that fear of failing Anthony Grant example if some lower power school comes.

And to round out that story, where is Anthony Grant now? He's now coaching at Dayton, in the A-10, and, btw, his alma mater. CTS could skip the frustration of having a bad coaching experience and just stay at Mason, basically the same as AG.

 

[mshin5]

And to round out that story, where is Anthony Grant now? He's now coaching at Dayton, in the A-10, and, btw, his alma mater. CTS could skip the frustration of having a bad coaching experience and just stay at Mason, basically the same as AG.

Different times unfortunately

 

[tblack33]

A sizable portion of their fanbase has soured on Grant because he can’t get them into the dance enough relative to what they spend.

Getting to the dance is all that matters. 20 win seasons mean absolute jack now.

 

[gmujim92]

A sizable portion of their fanbase has soured on Grant because he can’t get them into the dance enough relative to what they spend.

Getting to the dance is all that matters. 20 win seasons mean absolute jack now.

And if we had a 13,000-seat arena that was sold out every night, a top-3 NIL/rev share budget in the A-10 and a slew of Q1 opportunities in the OOC, I’d be frustrated by Dayton’s results too. They underachieve their level of investment, no doubt.

Mason doesn’t, and likely never will have any of those advantages. At a time when it’s getting harder and harder for programs at our level to get into the NCAA tournament, saying that’s the only measure of a successful season feels incredibly self-defeating.

 

[tblack33]

And if we had a 13,000-seat arena that was sold out every night, a top-3 NIL/rev share budget in the A-10 and a slew of Q1 opportunities in the OOC, I’d be frustrated by Dayton’s results too. They underachieve their level of investment, no doubt.

Mason doesn’t, and likely never will have any of those advantages. At a time when it’s getting harder and harder for programs at our level to get into the NCAA tournament, saying that’s the only measure of a successful season feels incredibly self-defeating.

Counterpoint, we’ll never fill our 10k arena, improve our NIL, and improve scheduling unless we dance. We have to get over the hump. I think Tony can do it and will be the guy to do it. We pay him 2 million dollars a year to figure out how to get it done, so you just aren’t going to catch me making excuses for him not making the tournament.