2026-27 Season Preview

[psyclone]

2026-27 Media Day
Monday 10/19
at Capital One
Streamed on ESPN+
starting 8:30 am

(listing must be wrong as doesn't Dayton have a new coach?)

Andy Katz & Christy Winters (ESPN+) start talking about Mason men's team at about the 3 hr 14 minute mark. Tony/Brayden a few minutes later followed by VBL/Mary Amaoteng.

 

[psyclone]

3 Bid League podcast previews Mason. Toward the beginning of the podcast. From a few days ago, before the St. Mary's exhibition game.

3 Bid League

Sports Podcast · Updated Weekly · 3BL: Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Podcast covering the Rams, Rams, Rams, Ramblers and the other 11 teams.

podcasts.apple.com

 

[psyclone]

3 Bid League podcast previews Mason. Toward the beginning of the podcast. From a few days ago, before the St. Mary's exhibition game.

3 Bid League

Sports Podcast · Updated Weekly · 3BL: Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Podcast covering the Rams, Rams, Rams, Ramblers and the other 11 teams.

podcasts.apple.com

They mention that Jones is one of only 2 players in the NCAA to shoot 75% at the rim + 40% from 3 and call him a better version of what the staff had hoped to get out of Adair.
Interesting stat and making me think that we could be better than I thought we'd be! I hadn't really thought that he was among the new players that I was excited about seeing how they might contribute.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Interesting to note that the noon game against GW on February 6 is Homecoming. Tailgating from 8:30 - 11:30 AM. Interesting.....

You've probably seen this but here are all of the giveaways.

Men's Basketball Releases 2026-27 Promotional Schedule - George Mason University Athletics

The George Mason men's basketball 2026-27 promotional schedule is hot off the presses!

gomason.com

 

[Jack Strop]

Interesting to note that the noon game against GW on February 6 is Homecoming. Tailgating from 8:30 - 11:30 AM. Interesting.....

You've probably seen this but here are all of the giveaways.

Men's Basketball Releases 2026-27 Promotional Schedule - George Mason University Athletics

The George Mason men's basketball 2026-27 promotional schedule is hot off the presses!

gomason.com

Homecoming tailgate with eggs, bacon, pancakes, and orange juice??? And I'll bet it comes with a slice of cantaloupe at the end.

 

[jessej]

Matt Norlander's Top 100 And 1 college basketball teams: CBS Sports' preseason rankings for 2026-27

The season is less than a week away, title contenders are everywhere and more NCAA bids are there for the taking. Here's what to know

www.cbssports.com

This is the highest preseason ranking of GMU that I have seen. GMU is ranked above many P4 and BE programs - especially the local ones

#24 - SLU
#36 - vcu
#47 - GMU
#60 - DAY
#76 - GWU

 

[NewPatriot]

Homecoming tailgate with eggs, bacon, pancakes, and orange juice??? And I'll bet it comes with a slice of cantaloupe at the end.

Homecoming at IHOP? Count me in?

 

[psyclone]

Matt Norlander's Top 100 And 1 college basketball teams: CBS Sports' preseason rankings for 2026-27

The season is less than a week away, title contenders are everywhere and more NCAA bids are there for the taking. Here's what to know

www.cbssports.com

This is the highest preseason ranking of GMU that I have seen. GMU is ranked above many P4 and BE programs - especially the local ones

#24 - SLU
#36 - vcu
#47 - GMU
#60 - DAY
#76 - GWU

47. George Mason​

The Patriots haven't yet made an NCAA Tournament under Tony Skinn, but then again it's only been three years. And in that time GMU has established itself as one of the five best teams in the A-10. The Patriots have put up an enjoyable 23.3 wins per year under Skinn. I'm predicting the Pats match that average, even with some new blood and the expected mid-major rebuild amid the portal wars.

Look for Brayden O'Connor (who missed last season due to injury) and Mercer transfer Baraka Okojie to be one of the three best backcourts in the league. Experienced, if nothing else. James Nnaji's (controversial) run at Baylor didn't work out, but maybe he'll become a real factor in Fairfax, Virginia. GMU also has Lilian Marville coming in to be a spark off the bench, which will be a boost when he likely sinks north of 40% of his 3-pointers after making 52% of them as a flamethrower at UNCG last season.

#47 and without mentioning potential significant contributors EOE, Valentine, Kanga, Jones.

PS. He has High Point as #48

 

[mshin5]

Matt Norlander's Top 100 And 1 college basketball teams: CBS Sports' preseason rankings for 2026-27

The season is less than a week away, title contenders are everywhere and more NCAA bids are there for the taking. Here's what to know

www.cbssports.com

This is the highest preseason ranking of GMU that I have seen. GMU is ranked above many P4 and BE programs - especially the local ones

#24 - SLU
#36 - vcu
#47 - GMU
#60 - DAY
#76 - GWU

CBS glazing us? That’s a pleasant surprise

 

[hoopsjunkie75]

Interesting to note that the noon game against GW on February 6 is Homecoming. Tailgating from 8:30 - 11:30 AM. Interesting.....

You've probably seen this but here are all of the giveaways.

Men's Basketball Releases 2026-27 Promotional Schedule - George Mason University Athletics

The George Mason men's basketball 2026-27 promotional schedule is hot off the presses!

gomason.com

WHAT? Really? A noon game for homecoming/the big tailgate day?

Has any decision maker at Mason actually ever graduated from college? Even two-year degrees count.

Seems to me that we can't get out of our own way. How on one hand do you invest more than ever before in a team, then blow it at every turn?

Edit -- I'll evn accept a non-credit Critical Thinking course.

 

[GMUgemini]

WHAT? Really? A noon game for homecoming/the big tailgate day?

Has any decision maker at Mason actually ever graduated from college? Even two-year degrees count.

Seems to me that we can't get out of our own way. How on one hand do you invest more than ever before in a team, then blow it at every turn?

Edit -- I'll evn accept a non-credit Critical Thinking course.

To be fair, the A10 kind of screwed us with our February schedule. The only other option would have been for it to be St. Joes on 1/30. And since the GW game is on ESPN, I bet they had a lot to say about the start time.

 

[Jack Strop]

WHAT? Really? A noon game for homecoming/the big tailgate day?

Has any decision maker at Mason actually ever graduated from college? Even two-year degrees count.

Seems to me that we can't get out of our own way. How on one hand do you invest more than ever before in a team, then blow it at every turn?

Edit -- I'll evn accept a non-credit Critical Thinking course.

We'll just have to tailgate before AND after the game! Party on!!!

 

[EXpatriot13]

WHAT? Really? A noon game for homecoming/the big tailgate day?

Has any decision maker at Mason actually ever graduated from college? Even two-year degrees count.

Seems to me that we can't get out of our own way. How on one hand do you invest more than ever before in a team, then blow it at every turn?

Edit -- I'll evn accept a non-credit Critical Thinking course.

Pretend it’s a football game…where tailgating at these hours is completely normal and no one thinks twice about it.

Tbh if I lived in the area this would be ideal, still have the whole second half of the day open.

 

[mkaufman1]

WHAT? Really? A noon game for homecoming/the big tailgate day?

Has any decision maker at Mason actually ever graduated from college? Even two-year degrees count.

Seems to me that we can't get out of our own way. How on one hand do you invest more than ever before in a team, then blow it at every turn?

Edit -- I'll evn accept a non-credit Critical Thinking course.

Game times are not dictated by Mason. Since its on tv, that’s the time they chose.

 

[jessej]

It is all guesswork - until Monday Night

 

[hoopsjunkie75]

To be fair, the A10 kind of screwed us with our February schedule. The only other option would have been for it to be St. Joes on 1/30. And since the GW game is on ESPN, I bet they had a lot to say about the start time.

Who says HC needs to be in Feb? And, I agree 01/30 game would have been the MUCH better choice.

Pretend it’s a football game…where tailgating at these hours is completely normal and no one thinks twice about it.

Tbh if I lived in the area this would be ideal, still have the whole second half of the day open.

When you have large built-in fan attendance, that is fine. When you are scrambling/struggling to bring in a crowd, any and everything you can do to make that happen is a plus.

Game times are not dictated by Mason. Since its on tv, that’s the time they chose.

Hence why you choose a game being played at a more suitable time.

============================================

The only way we could Mason this up more, is to hold HC during an away game next season.

 

[jessej]

The Other Top 25

#1 SLU
#2 vcu
#10 Dayton
#20 GMU

Would be nice to schedule more of the non A-10 teams on this list - but here seems to be a dearth of teams on the East Coast

The Men’s Other Top 25: Saint Louis starts at the top

Josh Schertz heads into year three with SLU with high expectations

www.midmajormadness.com

 

[99 Patriot]

I am a November homecoming proponent (hate that students and alumni have a good time and only have 2-3 more opportunities to return), but if February is the choice a noon start isn't much worse than a 4:00 PM, especially for a rivalry game. Would be great to have a postgame concert or something to keep the tailgating/party going into the evening.

 

[KAOriginal]

Would be great to have a postgame concert or something to keep the tailgating/party going into the evening.

That's a winning idea that flies over the head of many......

 

[Stoolguy]

I am a November homecoming proponent (hate that students and alumni have a good time and only have 2-3 more opportunities to return),

This is a big reason for the USF tailgate. The plan is for everyone to have a great time and continue to come back.