�鶹��Ƶ men's basketball

At George �鶹��Ƶ basketball game, students ran the show

Sarah Holland — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:16:20 +0000

At George �鶹��Ƶ basketball game, students ran the show Sarah Holland Fri, 02/21/2025 - 11:16

Most students at Division 1 universities like George �鶹��Ƶ can say they’ve been to at least one sport event. A sold-out football game, a baseball no-hitter, or a Cinderella run at the NCAA Final Four: these games bring the campus together and make core memories for future alumni.

Students from left: Melissa Quinteros, Cody Salenga, and Manahil Piracha. Photo provided.

But while many can say they’ve cheered in the stands, only a handful can say they’ve run the show.

In fall 2024, Donald G. Costello College of Business students had that unique opportunity, leading the marketing and management of the Ferrum vs. George �鶹��Ƶ basketball game on November 23.

Mentored by marketing professor Niki Vlastara, assistant director of fan engagement Lily Plizga, and senior marketing and communications director of Costello College of Business Duane Bailey, five students took responsibility for various aspects of the game: from marketing ticket sales to managing check-in to developing a creative timeout game.

For Plizga, the experience was an opportunity to show students the breadth of career possibilities in sports management and marketing. “I found this career because I was a student wage worker with Athletics; I wouldn’t have known about all the opportunities here otherwise,” she said. “So for me, this experience helps showcase all the different paths available to them.”

For Vlastara, it was an opportunity to give students hands-on experience to practice theories and concepts from their coursework. “In event marketing, once the event is done, it’s done; you can’t resell. So, it’s important for the students to have that experience of having one chance to get it right and fill the seats,” Vlastara explained.

George �鶹��Ƶ is nationally ranked for internships/co-ops and its graduates report high job success related to their career goals, which underscores its prioritization of experiential learning opportunities like this one.

“I think this experiential part of education is what students are looking for. Projects like this help them really understand where the concepts I’m teaching in class apply,” said Vlastara. “It’s very holistic.”

From left: Melissa Quinteros, Cody Salenga, Dean of Costello College of Business Ajay Vinzé, and Manahil Piracha. Photo provided.

Melissa Quinteros, a senior in Costello, said that this hands-on opportunity challenged her to improve the skills she was developing in her classes and extracurriculars. “Having interpersonal skills and collaborating on projects have always stood out as necessary skills in my marketing and business classes,” she said. “For this, I needed to take those skills and learn what worked when trying to promote an event to attendees. I had to figure out how to be brief while emphasizing what parts of the event would be most interesting to the person I’m talking to. That was a challenge, but I learned so much.”

The students, Bailey said, “jumped in with both feet and smiled the whole way.” They brought ideas not just from the classroom, but also from their own experiences: winter 2024 graduate Cody Salenga, for example, pitched the idea of the timeout game based on a game he saw at an NBA game. According to Plizga, the game was really successful.

Athletics also saw increases in their social media engagement when the students had taken over; Plizga’s data showed more comments and higher views.

“We want students to feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves, that extends beyond graduation,” said Bailey, “We want them to invest in George �鶹��Ƶ, and experiences like these plant that seed early.”

The team hopes to continue this collaboration next season. “Athletics and the fans were excited by the collaboration. So we hope to keep it going in the fall, maybe make it a big event each year that becomes tradition,” said Plizga. “And I hope that other departments, schools, and colleges see what we did as a baseline for opportunities in the future.”

In This Story

Mariniki (Niki) Vlastara

Learn here, lead anywhere with Costello College of Business

Topics

Students

Costello College of Business

Athletics

�鶹��Ƶ men's basketball

experiential learning

Costello College of Business News

Strategic Direction

Off the Clock: Kristina Ryder keeps calm and sings on

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 17:51:34 +0000

Off the Clock: Kristina Ryder keeps calm and sings on Lauren Reuscher Wed, 10/30/2024 - 13:51

Kristina Ryder has worked as an administrative specialist in �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of University Advancement and Alumni Relations for almost two years, where she supports the Advancement communications team.

Outside work, Ryder has spent time on the basketball court at EagleBank Arena—but not shooting free throws. Ryder is a singer, and she has performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at sporting events at George �鶹��Ƶ and beyond.

Kristina Ryder performs the national anthem at a Washington Mystics game. Photo by Monumental Sports

In addition to performing at George �鶹��Ƶ basketball, soccer, and volleyball games, Ryder has taken her voice to the pros, performing at NBA and WNBA games. Her latest performances were at a Washington Mystics game in September and a Washington Wizards game in October. She first performed at professional sporting events in 2023.

Ryder feels like she’s been training for this her whole life. “I started singing when I was 2 years old,” Ryder said. “Everyone in my family calls me ‘the songbird.’”

Her talent developed at church plays, school events, talent shows, and around the house. Now, Ryder sings at church, weddings, and more. Her favorite genres to sing are gospel, R&B, and soul.

“I never thought I would perform for the NBA and WNBA in a million years,” Ryder said. “I always pray and ask God to open new doors and create opportunities for me to showcase my talent, and he answers my prayers every time. I am so thankful and humbled.”

Some people might feel anxious standing before a crowded arena, but Ryder thrives on it. “No words describe how amazing I feel right before I sing,” Ryder said. She describes it as “calm adrenaline.” Ryder never feels nervous when singing, and she loves seeing a full house.

The hardest part can be waiting for an opportunity to perform. “I have learned that patience is a virtue, and waiting on gigs takes time,” Ryder said. “No matter how long I must wait for an opportunity, I believe it will come at the perfect time.”

Kristina Ryder works in the Office of University Advancement and Alumni Relations, and she is also pursuing a master's in school counseling. Photo by Monumental Sports

In addition to her day job and her singing, Ryder stays busy as a graduate student at George �鶹��Ƶ. She is pursuing a master’s in school counseling and hopes to work with elementary school students someday.

The common thread between her singing and her professional goals? Inspiring others. “I look forward to inspiring and advocating for children and their needs,” Ryder said.

Catch Ryder’s next performance of the national anthem at the George �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball season opener on Monday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. in EagleBank Arena.

Topics

Off the Clock

Faculty and Staff News

Advancement

�鶹��Ƶ men's basketball

Patriot Pop Quiz: Olympic basketball

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 16:22:29 +0000

Patriot Pop Quiz: Olympic basketball Lauren Reuscher Thu, 08/01/2024 - 12:22

Think you know a lot about �鶹��Ƶ? Let’s find out if we can stump you with this Patriot Pop Quiz.

Question:

Who was the first George �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball player to participate in the Olympics?

Illustration by Getty

Answer: Tony Skinn, BA Communication '06, head coach for George �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball.

Tony Skinn, now the head coach for George �鶹��Ƶ men's basketball, played in the London 2012 Olympics for the Nigerian team. Photo by Alamy

In 2012, Skinn was a member of the Nigerian national team that qualified for the Olympics in London. At the games, Skinn and Nigeria won their first Olympic preliminary round game, defeating Tunisia, 60–56, before finishing 10th in the tournament. Read a Q&A with Skinn leading up to his time at the Olympics.

At George �鶹��Ƶ, Skinn was a starter on the 2006 George �鶹��Ƶ Final Four team and one of the best all-around guards in program history. He returned to his alma mater as head coach in 2023.

"It's a good feeling because you represent more than just basketball," Skinn said of playing at the Olympics in 2012. "Our team gave millions of people a chance to root for something." Photo by Alamy

Topics

Patriot Pop Quiz

Faculty and Staff News

�鶹��Ƶ men's basketball

�鶹��Ƶ basketball

Olympics

�鶹��Ƶ formally welcomes new men’s basketball coach Tony Skinn

Colleen Rich — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 20:31:40 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ formally welcomes new men’s basketball coach Tony Skinn Colleen Rich Mon, 04/10/2023 - 16:31

The storied past of the �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball program and its promising future came together with the formal introduction of Tony Skinn as the Patriots’ next head coach.

The former standout point guard played a key role on the Patriots’ magical ride to the 2006 Final Four, and that mythical pedigree served as the unofficial backdrop as Skinn was formally welcomed as the school’s 12th head coach during Monday’s introductory event at EagleBank Arena.

Tony Skinn, now coach of the �鶹��Ƶ Patriots' mens basketball team, during the exhilarating 2006 championship season.

“Who better?” asked �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington. “Who better than an all-conference basketball player? Who better than an Olympian? Who better than someone who has come up the ranks as an assistant coach at some of the finest basketball programs in our country? Who better than somebody who bleeds green and gold and was responsible for that [2006 Final Four] banner?”

Skinn, who succeeds Kim English, said it was a “dream come true” to come back to the place where he helped �鶹��Ƶ permanently etch its name into college basketball lore and made lasting friendships among teammates and classmates that remain strong even today. Skinn and his wife, Weyni, met at �鶹��Ƶ and are now parents to three children.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling right now,” he said of coming home to his alma mater. “The times that I had at George �鶹��Ƶ were among the best moments of my life. So it’s really incredible to see it come full circle. It’s truly remarkable and words can’t really describe it.”

Interim Athletic Director Nena Rogers and University President Gregory Washington stand with new men's basketball coach Tony Skinn at the April 11th welcome event.
Photo credit: �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

A first-time head coach, Skinn promised to play fast and spoke of the four pillars of attitude, commitment, class and family upon which he intended to build his program. He listed recruiting the talent-rich Washington, D.C., area, competing for Atlantic 10 Conference championships, winning NCAA Tournament games and successfully mentoring young men as his primary objectives.

“Winning is not easy,” he said, “but the formula to winning is clear.”

Five members of that �鶹��Ƶ 2006 team were among the 200 or so people on hand to proudly welcome back one of their own.

“He’s likeable and connects with guys,” said Lamar Butler, a member of the 2006 team who will serve as a member of Skinn’s basketball staff. “Tony was always like that. He always brought out the best in you as a competitor. It’s just that he’s doing it now as a coach.”

A Hyattsville, Maryland, native with deep ties to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, Skinn spent a combined eight years in assistant coach roles at Ohio State, Seton Hall and Louisiana Tech.

Most recently, he served on Kevin Willard’s staff at Maryland, helping the Terps to a 22-13 record this past season that included a first-round NCAA Tournament win over West Virginia.

Skinn’s former college coach, current University of Miami coach Jim Larrañaga, predicted that his former floor general will “lead the George �鶹��Ƶ Patriots to new heights.”

“He’s a tremendous young man, a tremendous coach,” Larrañaga said in a video tribute, “and he’s going to be a great head coach.”

A two-time All-CAA selection with �鶹��Ƶ from 2003-2006, Skinn totaled nearly 1,100 points while starting 68 games in his George �鶹��Ƶ basketball career. During the memorable 2006 Tournament run, he averaged 11.3 points per game while shooting 35 percent from bonus range to lead the underdog and 11th-seeded Patriots past college basketball bluebloods North Carolina, Michigan State, and Connecticut and into the Final Four.

Skinn played professionally in Europe for a number of years following graduation, and took part in the 2012 London Olympics as a member of the Nigerian National Team.

“We have all the pieces in place to make the month of March exciting again,” �鶹��Ƶ interim athletics director Nena Rogers said.

Skinn was already anticipating meeting with all of his players following the day’s public events and sounded very much like a guy who couldn’t wait to get started.

“I haven’t been this excited to take on something since I was a basketball player,” he said.

Topics

Campus News

Athletics

�鶹��Ƶ men's basketball

Tony Skinn

Read the �鶹��Ƶ Athletics press release

Learn more about �鶹��Ƶ hoops

At George �鶹��Ƶ basketball game, students ran the show
February 21, 2025
Off the Clock: Kristina Ryder keeps calm and sings on
November 1, 2024
Patriot Pop Quiz: Olympic basketball
August 2, 2024
�鶹��Ƶ formally welcomes new men’s basketball coach Tony Skinn
April 10, 2023
�鶹��Ƶ Selects Tony Skinn to Lead Men’s Basketball Program
March 30, 2023

�鶹��Ƶ Selects Tony Skinn to Lead Men’s Basketball Program

Jeannine Harvey — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:15:41 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ Selects Tony Skinn to Lead Men’s Basketball Program Jeannine Harvey Thu, 03/30/2023 - 10:15

Media Contact:

Mark LaFrance

508-577-7282

mlafran@gmu.edu

FAIRFAX, Va. – �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington and Interim Director of Athletics Nena Rogers have named Tony Skinn as the 12^th head coach in the men’s basketball program’s history.

A key starter on the 2006 George �鶹��Ƶ Final Four team and one of the best all-around guards in program history, Skinn returns to his alma mater after nearly a decade of collegiate coaching.

During that decorated coaching career, he’s guided three different programs to the NCAA Tournament, been a part of six 20+ win campaigns, and established himself as a stout recruiter both within the talent-rich DMV and across the country.

“Tony Skinn is the right man for this moment in �鶹��Ƶ’s basketball program,” Washington said. “His coaching style will galvanize our student-athletes and his connection to our finest hour on the court is sure to electrify our alumni and fans. Let the Tony Skinn era begin!”

A two-time All-CAA selection with the Patriots from 2003-06, Skinn scored 1,079 career points while starting 68 games in his George �鶹��Ƶ career. During the 2006 NCAA Tournament, he averaged 11.3 points and shot 35 percent from 3-point range while leading the Patriots to the national semifinals.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tony and his family back to George �鶹��Ƶ,” Rogers said. “I had the pleasure of working with Tony during his time as a student-athlete and I’m so proud of his growth personally and professionally. We all look back with reverence at 2006, and I am confident Tony will bring the same competitive drive and fire in leading our program as he did as our starting point guard. An elite recruiter, he is well-connected and well-respected, and he will play an integral role in identifying and securing talented student-athletes to represent our university. I share in the excitement of �鶹��Ƶ Nation as we begin a new era of George �鶹��Ƶ Basketball.”

Most recently, Skinn served on Kevin Willard’s staff at the University of Maryland, where in 2022-23, he helped lead the Terps to a 22-13 record and an NCAA Tournament victory over West Virginia.

“It is with great excitement that I return home to George �鶹��Ƶ,” Skinn said. “I’d like to thank Dr. Washington and Nena Rogers for this tremendous opportunity and for believing in my vision. I am committed to greatness! We will set our standards high, hustle every step of the way and compete amongst the best. It’s an unbelievable feeling to step back on campus. I’ve had some of my greatest memories here and I’m looking forward to making new ones with our fans and our community. Our best days are ahead! �鶹��Ƶ Nation, I missed you and I am honored to represent you.”

Prior to Maryland, Skinn served with Chris Holtmann at Ohio State in 2021-22. During his time with the Buckeyes, he worked closely with Big Ten Freshman of the Year Malaki Branham, who averaged 13.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting over 49 percent from the floor. He was one of just five freshmen nationally and one of only two from a Power 5 school to have multiple 30-point games this season, and both of his came on the road. Skinn was also in charge of scouting personnel in Columbus.

Skinn and the Buckeyes won 20 games and advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

In his three seasons at Seton Hall, Skinn coached the guards and helped Quincy McKnight become one of the best point guards in the Big East. He also played an influential role in the development of 2020 BIG EAST Player of the Year Myles Powell. Skinn was part of the Pirates' program-record fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in 2019. The Pirates also won a BIG EAST regular-season title in 2020 and were on track for another NCAA Tournament bid prior to the COVID-19 cancellation.

Prior to joining Seton Hall, Skinn had a successful three-year run as an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech, as the Bulldogs won 63 games during his tenure, including back-to-back 23-win seasons and a pair of top-four finishes in Conference USA. In three seasons with Skinn's aid, Louisiana Tech student-athletes garnered five All-Conference USA selections and three Conference USA All-Freshmen picks. Skinn was instrumental in the development of point guard DaQuan Bracey, who set a Louisiana Tech and Conference USA record for most assists by a rookie (193) in 2016-17 en route to Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors. Bracey also finished the season with the sixth-best assist/turnover ratio in the country at 3.51.

Skinn worked in the Washington, D.C. metro area for four years prior to his collegiate coaching start. He served as the director of athletics at the Paul International High School in Washington, D.C., and was an assistant coach for NIKE Team Takeover, one of the premier AAU programs in the country. While working for NIKE Team Takeover, he helped recruit and develop student-athletes who went on to earn Division I college scholarships.

A native of Takoma Park, Maryland, Skinn stayed close to home to star for the Patriots from 2003-06. He averaged 14.4 points as a junior before putting together an outstanding senior campaign in 2005-06. During that magical season, he ranked fifth in the CAA in steals/game (1.6) while notching 12.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists/contest. His nine steals against Northeastern on Jan. 19, 2006, set a George �鶹��Ƶ and CAA conference record that still stands today.

During the historic run to the Final Four, Skinn notched 10+ points in three of the four contests he played, including a 14-point, 4-assist performance against Wichita State in the Sweet 16 and a 13-point effort against Florida in the national semifinal. The first modern Cinderella in NCAA Tournament lore, Skinn and his teammates advanced to Indianapolis as a No. 11 seed while generating an estimated $677 million in free advertising for the university during the three-week run.

After making history with the Patriots, Skinn went on to play professionally in Europe for many years, including three in France. In 2012, he was a member of the Nigerian national team that qualified for the Olympics in London by finishing third at the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Caracas, Venezuela. He averaged 10 points a game during the tournament as Nigeria upset Greece in the quarterfinals, lost to Russia in the semifinals but then topped the Dominican Republic to earn the final Olympic qualifying berth. In London, Skinn and Nigeria won their first Olympic preliminary round game, defeating Tunisia, 60-56, before finishing 10th in the tournament.

Tony and his wife, Weyni, have three children, Isaiah, Liam, and Noelle.

Details of a press conference will be announced soon.

What They’re Saying �鶹��Ƶ Tony Skinn:

“I love Tony Skinn. He was a great college player who led our George �鶹��Ƶ team to the Final Four. He then became a terrific assistant coach helping Louisiana Tech, Seton Hall, Ohio State and Maryland recruit some outstanding student-athletes. He is now the perfect choice to become the next head coach at George �鶹��Ƶ and lead his alma mater to the top of the Atlantic 10 and beyond. I wish him all the success in the world. Onward and upward for Tony and �鶹��Ƶ.” – Jim Larrañaga – Head Coach, University of Miami

“Tony is ready to run and lead �鶹��Ƶ’s men’s basketball program. He has great energy, is a ferocious competitor and will demand excellence from his players. I have enjoyed having Tony on my staff at both Maryland and Seton Hall and I am confident he will work tirelessly to build a great program at George �鶹��Ƶ.” – Kevin Willard – Head Coach, University of Maryland

“Tony is a very bright basketball mind who connects well with players. He has tremendous recruiting connections along the East Coast and I believe he is ready for this next step in his coaching career. The George �鶹��Ƶ community knows Tony Skinn well as a player and I’m excited that he and his family now get to return in this role. Congratulations on an excellent hire.” – Chris Holtmann – Head Coach, The Ohio State University

“Tony Skinn is one of the most driven and determined people I have ever been around. His ability to compete, improve, and make others better is at the highest level. He is passionate about �鶹��Ƶ and will be relentless in his pursuit of excellence as a recruiter, skill developer, and leader. His players are going to love playing for him.” – Eric Konkol – Head Coach, University of Tulsa

�鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ

�鶹��Ƶ is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., �鶹��Ƶ enrolls nearly 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. �鶹��Ƶ has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. Learn more at www.gmu.edu.

Topics

�鶹��Ƶ men's basketball

Office of the President

National Search Underway for George �鶹��Ƶ Men’s Basketball Coach

Kristin Heydt — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 16:37:30 +0000

National Search Underway for George �鶹��Ƶ Men’s Basketball Coach Kristin Heydt Thu, 03/23/2023 - 12:37

FAIRFAX, VA – A national search is underway to name �鶹��Ƶ’s next men’s basketball head coach, �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington said Thursday.

Coach Kim English is departing George �鶹��Ƶ to become the head men’s basketball coach at Providence College.

“We are moving quickly and looking nationwide to identify our next men’s head basketball coach, and we expect to have an announcement soon,” Washington said. “While I am disappointed that Coach English did not accept our offer to retain him, I wish him continued success at Providence.”

“Coach English and his team brought the excitement back to George �鶹��Ƶ basketball. They reminded �鶹��Ƶ Nation and the college sports world of our basketball program’s heritage and massive potential,” Washington said.

Washington said �鶹��Ƶ’s current search for a permanent athletics director also will be accelerated and will be completed in the coming weeks.

“We have made significant commitments to enhance our basketball and academic facilities, and along with a new athletics director, our next coach will step into an exciting new era at �鶹��Ƶ athletics,” Washington said.

Nena Rogers, �鶹��Ƶ’s interim athletics director, said, “I want to thank Coach English for the relentless energy and passion he infused into the George �鶹��Ƶ basketball program over the past two years. We are grateful for the work Kim and his staff have done to position us for sustained success within the Atlantic 10 and on a national level. We wish him the very best as he embarks on his next step at Providence.”

“We have a proud basketball tradition here at George �鶹��Ƶ. I am confident �鶹��Ƶ will find a dynamic leader who will continue to build on that tradition,” Rogers said.

�鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ

�鶹��Ƶ is Virginia’s largest public research university. Among public universities, �鶹��Ƶ is ranked No. 1 in Virginia and No. 7 in the nation for innovation, No. 1 in Virginia and No. 9 in the nation for diversity, and among America’s top 50 public universities for overall quality. Located near Washington, D.C., �鶹��Ƶ enrolls nearly 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. �鶹��Ƶ has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation, entrepreneurship and commitment to accessibility. Learn more at www.gmu.edu.

EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus of �鶹��Ƶ is home court to the Patriots' basketball programs.
Photo credit: �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

In This Story

Gregory Washington

Topics

�鶹��Ƶ Athletics

�鶹��Ƶ men's basketball

�鶹��Ƶ basketball

Press Release

Fired up for Homecoming 2023

Damian Cristodero — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 21:29:43 +0000

Fired up for Homecoming 2023 Damian Cristodero Mon, 02/20/2023 - 16:29

In This Story

Gregory Washington

Homecoming 2023 at �鶹��Ƶ took many forms.

There was tailgating before the men's basketball game against LaSalle.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

There were cheers during the game.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

And a 70-66 victory, the Patriots' third straight win.

�鶹��Ƶ forward Elvis Nnaji. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

�鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington welcomed alumni back to campus.

�鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington in the Alumni Tent. Photo by Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications

There were blood donations during the Day of Service.

Photo by DeRon Rockingham

And a good time was had by all.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

Topics

Homecoming

Homecoming 2023

�鶹��Ƶ Athletics

�鶹��Ƶ men's basketball

Homecoming Day of Service

Alumni

Campus News

�鶹��Ƶ's run to the 2006 Final Four paved the way for future Cinderellas

Colleen Rich — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 16:17:01 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ's run to the 2006 Final Four paved the way for future Cinderellas Colleen Rich Thu, 03/17/2022 - 12:17

Photo by �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

The 2006 Final Four run by the �鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball was an improbable feat of such epic proportions within the college basketball realm that it has since been likened to Roger Bannister’s first sub-4-minute mile.

And like the late English runner who became the first to cover that distance in less than four minutes when he did so in 1954, the Patriots’ stunning run to the college basketball pinnacle 16 years ago remains the gold standard for everybody following behind that anything is always possible if you believe.

�鶹��Ƶ’s unlikely NCAA Tournament run as an 11th seed through college basketball bluebloods Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State and Connecticut en route to the Final Four not only stands out as one of the defining moments in the university’s first 50 years, but it set the stage for later college basketball Cinderella stories in the likes of Butler, VCU and Loyola-Chicago.

�鶹��Ƶ, however, will always stand out as the first belle to the ball. They captured America’s hearts along the way.

Senior Lamar Butler signs copies of Sports Illustrated in the campus bookstore. Photo by Creative Services

“Barry Collier, the athletics director at Butler, later called me and said ‘Now you’ve broken the four-minute mile,’” recalled Jim Larranaga, the then-Patriots coach now at the University of Miami. “Now that you’ve done it, other programs will think they can do it.”

History has since proven Collier correct as Butler (2010, 2011), VCU (2011) and Loyola-Chicago (2018) each later defied the long odds against them and reached the Final Four.

And they have �鶹��Ƶ to thank for it.

“Anybody who came after [�鶹��Ƶ in 2006] went into the locker room believing it was possible,” said Hurricanes assistant coach Chris Caputo, who also served on Larranaga’s staff at �鶹��Ƶ during the Final Four season. “We were part of something that had never been done before in modern college basketball history. We were kind of like the Roger Bannister.”

Playing at the time in the relatively unheralded Colonial Athletic Association, the Patriots became the CAA’s first-ever representative in the Final Four, with each upset more improbable than the previous one.

They began tournament play with a 75-65 win over a Michigan State team that had returned four starters from the previous year’s squad that had reached the Final Four. The sixth-seeded Spartans had outlasted �鶹��Ƶ by six points in an early regular season meeting a year earlier.

“I asked the team, ‘Are we six points better than we were last year?” Larranaga said. “They said, ‘No, we’re a lot better than we were last year.’ So going into the Michigan State game, we were very, very confident and comfortable playing against them. We played a great game and won by 10.”

An impromptu pep rally/press conference awaited the team at the Patriot Center after the Elite Eight win. Photo by Creative Services

The mighty Tar Heels, the No. 3 seed and the reigning NCAA champions, were next, falling 65-60 in the Patriots’ second and final game in Dayton, Ohio. From there, it was back to the more familiar confines of Washington, D.C.’s nearby Verizon Center and a strongly partisan �鶹��Ƶ crowd for the Sweet 16 matchup against fellow mid-major and No. 7 seed Wichita State. Four Patriots scored in double figures as �鶹��Ƶ won, 63-55, to advance to the Elite Eight and face tournament overall No. 1 seed Connecticut.

The talent- and size-laden Huskies boasted four players who would later be selected in the first round of the NBA draft in just a few months and five players among the league’s top 40 selections. As if that weren’t enough, they were coached by Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun.

A huge turnout by the passionate �鶹��Ƶ faithful reaped big dividends as the Patriots played the role of David to UConn’s Goliath. Down by as many as 12 points in the first half and nine in the second, the Patriots rallied to shock the entire sports world with an 86-84 overtime win that ranks as among the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history, propelling the team to Indianapolis for the Final Four.

More than 10,000 frenzied Patriots fans were on hand at what was then the Patriot Center when the team returned home following its win over UConn.

“The place was filled,” Caputo said. “It was crazy.”

Largely unknown to the rest of the nation prior to that NCAA Tournament, �鶹��Ƶ had suddenly become en vogue everywhere. Following the Final Four appearance, Robert Baker, then director of the Center for Sport Management at �鶹��Ƶ and now interim dean of �鶹��Ƶ's College of Education and Human Development, examined the economic and social impacts of the Final Four appearance across the university. What he found is good news for the next university that wears the glass slipper. �鶹��Ƶ’s improbable run was responsible for an estimated $677 million in free publicity from television, print and radio media.

As a result, the university reported an 800% increase in traffic to its official website, while the university bookstore in the Johnson Center, which typically averaged $11,000 in weekly sales, brought in just shy of $1 million in the 10 days leading up to the Final Four. Admissions inquiries increased by 350% with out-of-state applications increasing by 40%.

“The run to the Final Four really brought national attention, not just local and regional,” Larranaga said. “With that kind of recognition and publicity, George �鶹��Ƶ was really on the map from then on.”

See more Final Four memories in the �鶹��Ƶ Spirit story "Hoop Dreams" from the spring 2006 issue.

Topics

�鶹��Ƶat50

Campus News

Alumni

�鶹��Ƶ men's basketball

Basketball star Josh Oduro puts hard work on display

Colleen Rich — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 18:49:47 +0000

Basketball star Josh Oduro puts hard work on display Colleen Rich Mon, 03/07/2022 - 13:49

Photo by Shelby Burgess/Strategic Communications

Josh Oduro isn’t much for statistics.

But for the record, the star forward on �鶹��Ƶ’s men’s basketball team finished the regular season as the Atlantic 10 conference’s top scorer (18 points per game), and tied for seventh in rebounding (7.4 per game) and blocked shots (1.7 per game).

All of which makes him a strong candidate for conference player of the year.

Asked about the numbers, Oduro, a 6-foot-9 junior forward, shrugged them off.

“I don’t really care about stats. Stats are whatever,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s really just trying to get wins. That’s my whole motivation—team success.”

Photo by Shelby Burgess/Strategic Communications

�鶹��Ƶ (14-15) has a chance to create that success at the Atlantic 10 tournament that begins Wednesday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The ninth-seeded Patriots—who received a first-round bye and whose season includes a victory over then-No. 20 Maryland—face eighth-seeded Fordham (15-15) at noon on Thursday.

“I feel we can play against anybody,” Oduro said.

Oduro admitted he had some “baby fat” on him when he came out of Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Virginia. And he chuckled as he remembered a coach who he said once told him that he was a high-level player, “but I just had to wait for my body to catch up to my skillset.”

So before his sophomore season at �鶹��Ƶ, Oduro cut carbs and sugars out of his diet, lost 20 pounds and then added 15 pounds of muscle.

The results: a nice shooting touch (53% from the field, eighth-best in the conference), and greater assertiveness on the boards and as a team leader.

“His work ethic, his toughness, his will to show up and get better every day,” Coach Kim English said, describing what makes Oduro effective. “And he’s incredibly talented. I say all the time, he’s only scratching the surface.”

Oduro said working with English, a former NBA player, helped him to hone his game. But he also applied lessons of hard work and responsibility from his mother, Kris, and father, Kofi, who ran track and played soccer in his native Ghana.

“They’ve always taught me there is no substitute for hard work,” Oduro said. “I feel that kind of discipline has been a catalyst for what I’m doing now and being able to move forward and become a more developed player.”

The hard work doesn’t stop on the court. Oduro is majoring in business with a concentration in management.

Though Oduro’s goal is to play basketball professionally, “I want to have that good degree to fall back on,” he said.

Besides, he said, “I feel that business and sports go hand-in-hand because there’s a lot of teamwork and you have to be able to work with different kinds of people to achieve one overall goal.”

“He works hard to prepare himself for life after basketball,” said Michael Ouellette, academic coordinator for �鶹��Ƶ Athletics. “He’s committed to his education and values the opportunity he has to receive a �鶹��Ƶ degree. Josh is another example of �鶹��Ƶ student-athletes striving both on the field and in the classroom.”

For this week, though, Oduro’s focus is on the court.

“I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people,” he said of the Atlantic 10 tournament that provides the winner with a spot in the NCAA tournament. “I’m excited just to do that.”

Topics

Students

Athletics

�鶹��Ƶ men's basketball

Atlantic 10 conference

Costello College of Business News

Campus News

�鶹��Ƶ basketball student-athletes demonstrate they mean business when it comes to learning

Colleen Rich — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 14:31:49 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ basketball student-athletes demonstrate they mean business when it comes to learning Colleen Rich Thu, 01/13/2022 - 09:31

�鶹��Ƶ men's basketball players, Blake Buchanan, left, and D'Shawn Schwartz. Photo by Shelby Burgess/Strategic Communications

�鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball players D’Shawn Schwartz and Blake Buchanan, both School of Business graduate students, say their friendship helps keep them focused on their studies.

“I would describe Blake as a lifelong learner, and it’s always interesting and motivating to talk to him,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz, who is working on a graduate certificate in business analytics, and Buchanan, who is pursuing a master’s degree in management, are suite-mates and say they often find themselves deep in conversations about politics, about movies, about anything.

“People push the idea that athletes don’t have other interests, but that’s far from the truth,” Buchanan said. “The majority of our conversations have nothing to do with basketball. We could end up talking about a history documentary or economic theory or any number of other topics that interest us.”

Schwartz is in his final season of athletic eligibility.

�鶹��Ƶ men’s basketball head coach Kim English says that Schwartz and Buchanan’s leadership and emphasis on academics are crucial to the team’s culture of excellence.

“It’s very important to me that our student-athletes’ education extends beyond the classroom, and both of these student-athletes exemplify excellence in education,” English said. “As coaches, we look at ourselves as being a part of the higher education process. In recruiting, we target and seek out well-rounded, bright individuals who possess a growth mindset in both their athletic pursuits and as learners.”

Schwartz, 22, a 6-foot-7 forward, graduated from University of Colorado in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an emphasis in marketing, as well as a certificate in music technology.

Schwartz is second on the Patriots in scoring this season and led �鶹��Ƶ with a game-high 24 points in the team's upset win at #20 Maryland on Nov. 17.

In December, Schwartz was named one of 30 candidates for the NCAA’s Senior CLASS Award, which recognizes student-athletes who achieve success both on and off the court. The award recognizes excellence in character, community, classroom, and competition.

Besides basketball and business, Schwartz is passionate about music and spends much of his spare time working on songs. Schwartz plans to work as a music producer after his basketball career is done. Samples of Schwartz's music can be found on Spotify.

“I’m learning a lot this year in my studies about how to use statistics and data to make predictions, along with ways to sell to different demographics,” Schwartz said. “This year has also been a great way to explore Washington, D.C., and take in all the museums and experience a more urban lifestyle than I am used to.”

Buchanan, a 6-foot-5 guard, graduated from Wake Forest University in May 2021 with a degree in economics and a minor in entrepreneurship. He participates in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Buchanan said that studying management has allowed him to make good business connections and learn about concepts, translating them into “real-world settings.”

“My plan is to apply the knowledge I’m gaining toward a career in consulting or fundraising,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan, 21, has played in several games and is a critical part of �鶹��Ƶ’s scout team helping in game preparations.

“I’m incredibly excited to see what both these men achieve in life and how they impact the world,” said English. “One thing is for certain—wherever they end up, �鶹��Ƶ is going to be very proud that they are alumni. I know that they will have taken much from their time in Fairfax.”