News and Notes: Looking back at Ticket Gaines' big game against Kansas, how George Mason played each of Providence's 2022 NCAA Tournament opponents, Big East draft prospects, and more
1. Somewhat ironically, in Kim English’s first year at George Mason in 2021-22, his Patriots played all three teams that Providence faced in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Of course, this includes Atlantic-10 foe Richmond, as well as South Dakota State and Kansas in non-conference play. All four games were well-contested.
The South Dakota State game came first and it took place at the Sanford Pentagon Crossover Classic in South Dakota. George Mason opened the tournament with a 77-74 loss to Washington, then fell to Nevada (88-69), before going up against Baylor Scheierman and Co. Mason led by seven with just over 13 minutes to go before SDSU stormed back with a 16-2 run and eventually took an 80-76 victory. The Jackrabbits hit 10-20 shots from beyond the arc, and overcame a 20-point, seven-rebound effort from Josh Oduro. Mason went on a 14-0 run around halftime, but it ultimately wasn’t enough, as Scheierman finished with 21 points on 7-11 shooting from the field (4-7 from three), while Noah Friedel led South Dakota State with 25.
The South Dakota State game came during a stretch in which Mason played eight games in 16 days — a period that included a win over #20 Maryland on the road.
They were scheduled to play Wisconsin, but the game was cancelled, then Mason hopped on an opportunity to face Kansas. English’s group traveled to Lawrence and gave the eventual national champions all they could handle in a 76-67 Jayhawks win.
The Patriots essentially played Kansas center David McCormack off the court by going small and spreading the floor (he finished with one point). Mason got to the rim at will in this one, and kept it a two possession game until the final three minutes. This game marked the best I have seen from Davonte “Ticket” Gaines, who was seemingly everywhere, finishing with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Gaines’ energy jumped out when re-watching the game, as he kept so many plays alive and then buried a trio of 3-pointers. Mason nearly pulled the upset, despite Oduro finishing with 12 points while playing through foul trouble.
The Richmond team that Providence saw in the Sweet 16 split with Mason that year. The Spiders won the first matchup, 62-59, at home before George Mason knocked them off two days later, 87-84, in overtime. Jacob Gilyard broke the hearts of Mason fans in the first game by burying a last-second three point shot. Mason was without Oduro, but Gaines stepped up with 17 points, nine rebounds, and four assists in the loss.
Oduro returned from concussion protocol in the second meeting, and did so in style by finishing with a monster night: 22 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists. He also scored with under 30 seconds to go to send the game to overtime.