2026-27 Season Preview

[GunstonsGhost]

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

Between the USF tailgate and the carnival for the ODU game it does seem like we're trending in the right direction for enriching the gameday experience in regards to extending beyond The Patriot Center. This may be spilling into the subject of a different thread though...

 

[GMUgemini]

To get back to the season Preview, Dr. Giannini is doing his annual preview with the 3 Bid Leafue guys and said something interesting. He supposedly has seen Nnaji practice. Said they won’t reveal why he hasn’t played in any of the scrimmages. But said when he practices, he affects everything around him by his sheer size and hopes he’ll be an option.

Other things he said, Pendergrass is a power conference player right now.

He had EOE with Butler last year and their coaches said he could be an NBA point guard.

Backcourt is second to no one. We have 5 guards that can play with anyone.

Question is just how good the front court is going to be.

He thinks Mason could be an at-large contender.

 

[psyclone]

To get back to the season Preview, Dr. Giannini is doing his annual preview with the 3 Bid Leafue guys and said something interesting. He supposedly has seen Nnaji practice. Said they won’t reveal why he hasn’t played in any of the scrimmages. But said when he practices, he affects everything around him by his sheer size and hopes he’ll be an option.

Other things he said, Pendergrass is a power conference player right now.

He had EOE with Butler last year and their coaches said he could be an NBA point guard.

Backcourt is second to no one. We have 5 guards that can play with anyone.

Question is just how good the front court is going to be.

He thinks Mason could be an at-large contender.

Link to podcast with Dr. G,

3 Bid League | Listen to Podcasts On Demand Free | TuneIn

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tunein.com

Edit: focus on Mason at 30 minute mark.

 

[GMU79]

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

Glad to see Okojie back! Can someone update me on how that happened?

 

[hoopsjunkie75]

Glad to see Okojie back! Can someone update me on how that happened?

 

[GMU79]

Meaning, I suppose, that Tony built a team that Okojie thought could win?
Again, I have no idea who is even on the team except for BOC.

 

[GMUgemini]

Meaning, I suppose, that Tony built a team that Okojie thought could win?
Again, I have no idea who is even on the team except for BOC.

Listen to the podcast above and you will get a good sense of the team.

Other returning players: Emmanuel Kanga, Malik Presley, and Ryan-Preston Mendy, who red-shirted last year.

 

[NewPatriot]

Listen to the podcast above and you will get a good sense of the team.

Other returning players: Emmanuel Kanga, Malik Presley, and Ryan-Preston Mendy, who red-shirted last year.

It was okay.

 

[GMU79]

Listen to the podcast above and you will get a good sense of the team.

Other returning players: Emmanuel Kanga, Malik Presley, and Ryan-Preston Mendy, who red-shirted last year.

Thanks!!

 

[GMUgemini]

It was okay.

He’ll at least learn about the critical new faces on the team: Valentine, EOE, Jones, Pendergrass; and then maybe Marville (over 50% shooter from 3), and James Nnaji (big boy who may or may not do anything).

The rest: we can all start learning about the team on Monday.

 

[psyclone]

Quick, reasonable preview of Mason from A10 Talk:

Meet Team 61: George Mason Men Have High Hopes Despite Familiar Refrain

Last year was a tale of two seasons for the George Mason Patriots. A 20-2 start was undone by a 3-8 finish with losses in the first round of both the Atlantic 10 Tournament and the National Invitational Tournament, as injuries wore down head coach Tony Skinn’s team in the home stretch. Now...

www.a10talk.com