George Mason Basketball: 2006 NCAA Tournament Run
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George Mason’s unlikely 2006 NCAA tournament run is one of the most remarkable stories in college basketball history.
George Mason’s 2006 NCAA Tournament run
In 2006, George Mason University’s men’s basketball team made an unlikely run to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament The team, which was seeded eleventh in their region, upset several higher-seeded teams to reach the semi-finals. They ultimately lost to the University of Florida in the semi-finals, but their tournament run captured the nation’s attention and cemented George Mason’s place in Basketball History
The Cinderella story
In 2006, the George Mason Patriots men’s Basketball team made an improbable run to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament The Patriots, who were seeded 11th in the tournament, defeated six teams that were seeded higher than them on their way to the Final Four. They ultimately lost to eventual National Champion Florida in the semifinals.
The 2006 NCAA tournament run is often referred to as a “Cinderella story ” as it is one of the most unlikely runs in NCAA Tournament history.
George Mason’s road to the Final Four
In 2006, George Mason made an unlikely run to the NCAA tournament’s Final Four. The 11th-seeded Patriots had to win three game in the tournament’s opening weekend – including a stunning upset of top-seeded Connecticut – just to make the Sweet Sixteen They then beat two more highly-seeded teams, North Carolina and Wichita State before losing to eventual champion Florida in the semifinals.
The Final Four
George Mason’s 2006 NCAA Tournament appearance was one of the most improbable and memorable in the history of the event. The Patriots, a mid-major school from Fairfax, Virginia, entered the tournament as an eleventh seed, and proceeded to upset six higher-seeded teams in order to reach the Final Four. There, they lost to eventual champion Florida in a close game Nonetheless, George Mason’s surprising run captured the imagination of sports fans across the country, and stands as one of the great Cinderella stories in tournament history.
George Mason’s impact on college basketball
George Mason’s 2006 NCAA tournament run was one of the most improbable and exciting in the history of the event. The Patriots, a team from a small conference that had never won an NCAA Tournament game, went on to win five games, including three against top-seeded teams. George Mason’s run to the Final Four had a profound impact on college basketball helping to change the way hat smaller schools were viewed by the public and by NCAA officials.
The George Mason team
The George Mason team that made an improbable run to the 2006 Final Four was one of the most unlikely Cinderella stories in NCAA Tournament history. The team was led by senior guard Jai Lewis and junior forward Will Thomas, who both averaged over double figures in scoring. The Patriots also had a strong group of role players, including seniors Jesse Young and Folarin Campbell, who contributed key minutes off the bench.
George Mason entered the tournament as a eleventh seed in the East region, but they quickly proved they were no pushover, upsetting sixth-seeded Michigan State in the first round. They followed that up with an even more impressive win over third-seeded North Carolina earning a trip to the Sweet Sixteen
In the regional semifinals, George Mason took down top-seeded Connecticut, becoming the first eleventh seed ever to make it to the Elite Eight. Their run came to an end in the regional final against second-seeded Florida, but their improbable run to the Final Four will always be remembered as one of the greatest upsets in tournament history.
The 2006 NCAA tournament
The 2006 NCAA tournament was George Mason University’s first appearance in the tournament since 2001. The Patriots, who were seeded eleventh in their region, defeated sixth-seeded Michigan State third-seeded North Carolina seventh-seeded Wichita State and top-seeded Connecticut to reach the Final Four. There, they lost to eventual national champion Florida.
George Mason’s run to the Final Four is considered one of the most unlikely in NCAA Tournament history. The Patriots were the first team from a conference without an automatic bid to reach the Final Four since UNLV in 1991, and only the second team ever to do so (after Penn in 1979). They were also the first double-digit seed to reach the Final Four since LSU in 1986.
George Mason’s upset of Connecticut
In the 2006 NCAA tournament eleventh-seeded George Mason made an improbable run to the Final Four. The Patriots upset sixth-seeded Michigan State third-seeded North Carolina seventh-seeded Wichita State and top-seeded Connecticut en route to the Final Four. George Mason’s upset of Connecticut in the Elite Eight is widely considered one of the greatest upsets in NCAA tournament history.
The 2006 NCAA championship game
In 2006, the George Mason men’s basketball team made an unlikely run to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament The Patriots, who were seeded eleventh in their region, defeated four higher-seeded teams to advance to the national semifinals. There, they lost to eventual champion Florida. The game was played on April 1, 2006, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana.
George Mason’s legacy
George Mason’s 2006 NCAA tournament appearance is often cited as one of the most remarkable Cinderella runs in College Basketball history. The Patriots, who were an 11th seed in the tournament, made an improbable run to the Final Four before losing to eventual national champion Florida.
George Mason’s run to the Final Four brought national attention to the school and helped solidify its reputation as a top Basketball Program The Patriots have made the NCAA tournament five times since 2006, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2011.
George Mason’s success on the court has had a lasting effect on the school’s Basketball Program The Patriots have been able to attract top recruits and build a tradition of winning. George Mason is now considered one of the top mid-major basketball programs in the country.
