Game 8: GMU (7-0) vs JMU (5-3) on Saturday, November 29, at 2:00 PM.

[NewPatriot]

Including Steve Buckhantz, who sat right in front of me, and bolted out of EBA with around 5 minutes left. Someone was pissed. DAGGER!

Losing rubbed off on him after broadcasting decades of Bullets/Wizards games.

 

[mkaufman1]

Felt like a statement of intent and a bit of a callout to UVA too (which he mentioned by name).

Hopefully Odom is interested in playing Mason. I don’t think he’s playing vcu this year but that may be the only a10 team he wants to play.

 

[Earl the Squirrel]

First game I could not attend live, I watched the replay on ESPN +. The D in the first half was not very good, the second half was much better. Good win on a night Kory was off on his 3 PT shooting, Troutman, Hill and Allenspach picked it up on offense. We r definitely more athletic with Hill in the lineup. He also is our best driver to the basket. Like a few others said I couldn't t hear the crowd on +. I can't wait to see the team live on tuesday.

I really like this team. We're deep as hell and are going to wear our opponents out. Troutman, in particular, deserves a shout-out. He's averaging just over 12 pts in only 25 minutes. 50% from deep and takes care of the ball. Provided a real lift in the 2nd half, as did Fatt Hill. A lot more weapons than we had last year.

I'm looking forward to the Va Tech game, which will give us an idea just how good this team can be.

 

[tblack33]

Well, the first 15 minutes had me worried. Nice response on our part. Good win to cover the spread! 8-0 and going strong. Love it!!!!

The crowd was the best to date, unfortunately it was close to 50/50 for JMU. Much to my dismay, I was surrounded by Madison fans. Too much purple for my taste in the Gold Room as well which means only one thing, Mason fans sold out. This will bite us in the a** when we enter conference play. If you live within an hour of Mason and don't attend, or sold your tickets today, you get a big FU from me.

They were front and center in the green room as well and somehow dotted all throughout the floor seats, not sure if they were guests of season ticket holders down there or gifted by the university. Seemed like slightly more Mason fans than usual yesterday, plus a ton of JMU fans.

 

[psyclone]

They were front and center in the green room as well and somehow dotted all throughout the floor seats, not sure if they were guests of season ticket holders down there or gifted by the university. Seemed like slightly more Mason fans than usual yesterday, plus a ton of JMU fans.

No doubt there were more than a few JMU people at the game. But they weren't particularly boisterous--had plenty to cheer in the first half when the Dukes were shooting well but I didn't notice particularly enthusiastic cheering from them even then. Maybe just killing time until their football game was televised later in the afternoon.

 

[variaban]

What I also appreciate about CTS is that he called out JMU being a quality opponent that can win their conference. This is exactly the kind of thing Larranaga used to do to bring more attention to George Mason basketball and the CAA as a conference, which eventually elevated the old CAA to a 2 and even 3 bid league before the departures. The regular media is too focused on the blue blood programs but bringing the attention back to our under the radar quality opponents will eventually get media attention if we keep winning.

 

[undertherock]

Including Steve Buckhantz, who sat right in front of me, and bolted out of EBA with around 5 minutes left. Someone was pissed. DAGGER!

After he was fired by the Wizards he became the color commentator for JMU basketball. Is he not doing that anymore?

 

[GM Logo Guy]

Felt like a statement of intent and a bit of a callout to UVA too (which he mentioned by name).

Sounds like Skinn wants to stay at Mason!

 

[Stoolguy]

Box score: https://gomason.com/documents/2025/11/29/2740024.PDF

Attendance for the game: 5262

Highest attendance (outside of hoco) for a home game since March 9 2024!

Bar is set, time to beat it for ODU

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Highest attendance (outside of hoco) for a home game since March 9 2024!

Bar is set, time to beat it for ODU

Just picked up 3 extra tickets from the Black Friday sale. Expecting it to be packed!

 

[MasonSAE4]

If they beat Tech the place will be packed. Curious how it looks after a loss.

 

[Stoolguy]

If they beat Tech the place will be packed. Curious how it looks after a loss.

To all going to the VT game, what section did you find tickets in?

Im looking at going down (my first away game)

 

[GMU79]

Sounds like Skinn wants to stay at Mason!

At one point earlier he did say he was the happiest coach in America.
(Lane Kiffin, he ain't)

 

[ProfessorCFK]

To all going to the VT game, what section did you find tickets in?

Im looking at going down (my first away game)

I am still trying to get tickets from the GMU ticket office. They continue to give the ol' runaround. Gave them a call this morning and it's still "we expect to have an update soon."

 

[MasonSAE4]

At one point earlier he did say he was the happiest coach in America.
(Lane Kiffin, he ain't)

There will come a day, and it’s not far off, when Mason’s ability to invest in our NIL pool/coaching salaries will be outpaced by Tony’s rising stock and we will lose him.

The man is a damn fine coach, and unfortunately we are what we are as a program as a whole. Money will help, but a big boy is gonna come calling soon.

 

[NewPatriot]

There will come a day, and it’s not far off, when Mason’s ability to invest in our NIL pool/coaching salaries will be outpaced by Tony’s rising stock and we will lose him.

The man is a damn fine coach, and unfortunately we are what we are as a program as a whole. Money will help, but a big boy is gonna come calling soon.

Masons needs to take a page out of vcu's book and negotiate a home and home requirementsl as part of the buyout or pay Mason 500k - 1 million to waive it.

vcu has used to strategy and leverage Oklahoma with Capel, Alabama with Grant, Texas with Shaka, LSU with Wade(he waived half), Penn st with Rhoades(waived altogether), UVA - Odom(TBD).

 

[mkaufman1]

Masons needs to take a page out of vcu's book and negotiate a home and home requirementsl as part of the buyout or pay Mason 500k - 1 million to waive it.

vcu has used to strategy and leverage Oklahoma with Capel, Alabama with Grant, Texas with Shaka, LSU with Wade(he waived half), Penn st with Rhoades(waived altogether), UVA - Odom(TBD).

I think everyone would love to have that in Skinn's contract ( and whomever) , but I would be surprised if he agreed to that at this juncture. vcu is a whole different animal and can require that.

 

[pm57WOW]

Masons needs to take a page out of vcu's book and negotiate a home and home requirementsl as part of the buyout or pay Mason 500k - 1 million to waive it.

vcu has used to strategy and leverage Oklahoma with Capel, Alabama with Grant, Texas with Shaka, LSU with Wade(he waived half), Penn st with Rhoades(waived altogether), UVA - Odom(TBD).

But, you have a product that other people want to negotiate those deals. The LOWEST winning percentage since for any vcu coach since 2002 has been Mike Rhode's .692,( between 2017-2023..)... Meanwhile Mason had has had since Jim Larranaga, (.625), Paul Hewitt (.496), Dave Paulson (,511) and Kim English (.520). See the difference?

 

[GM Logo Guy]

There will come a day, and it’s not far off, when Mason’s ability to invest in our NIL pool/coaching salaries will be outpaced by Tony’s rising stock and we will lose him.

The man is a damn fine coach, and unfortunately we are what we are as a program as a whole. Money will help, but a big boy is gonna come calling soon.

Probably so. I just wish, sometimes, that in America we valued being content, valued belonging, valued building something more than endlessly chasing the next salary bump. Tony is already a millionaire coaching where he grew up, at the place that essentially changed the trajectory of his life. He was at a JUCO with all the talent in the world, and Coach L literally told him, “Don’t waste a year of eligibility—I’ll take you at Mason without even seeing you play.”

Fast-forward to now: he gets to be the face of the university that believed in him, he’s coaching in front of people who love him, he’s said publicly he’s the happiest coach in America, and GMU is investing in him and the program more than ever before.


Skinn doesn’t owe Mason anything—but he also doesn’t have to give up a situation where he’s rich, respected, supported, and genuinely happy. I get that a bigger school will eventually come calling, but there’s something to be said for staying exactly where you’re valued and building your own legacy instead of becoming the next guy in someone else’s machine.

 

[NewPatriot]

But?

It started with Capel but Mack M

But, you have a product that other people want to negotiate those deals. The LOWEST winning percentage since for any vcu coach since 2002 has been Mike Rhode's .692,( between 2017-2023..)... Meanwhile Mason had has had since Jim Larranaga, (.625), Paul Hewitt (.496), Dave Paulson (,511) and Kim English (.520). See the difference?

Nobody was going to negotiate for Hewitt and Paulsen because they were retreats any more than anyone would have negotiate vcu for Sonny Smith or Mac McCarthy..

The hook in the strategy is grooming what is perceived to be a successful young up and comer like Kim English(at that time..not now). Providence offered him 4 million as a hedge fund investment..Mason was in a position to do that strategy and leverage an H and H with Providence..