In My Own Words: Final Four: Setting Up for the Excitement and Looking for Closure

by   Posted on December 1st, 2009 in Sports

Fernanda Bartels, Staff Writer

We concluded our regular season schedule with a victory against our rival, the James Madison Dukes.

We finished the regular season with a 21-8 record and qualified for the CAA Tournament as the third seed.
Today, we look to prolong our season as we face the second-ranked Delaware Blue Hens at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The winner in our match and the winner in the matchup between the top-seeded VCU Rams and the William & Mary Tribe will face off in the conference championship tomorrow.

With our season reaching its end, we have been reflecting about our team and where we stand in the conference playoffs.

I am proud to say that we are not the same team as we were in August; we are more confident and mindful of the game.

These strengths were built with a lot of sweat, hours in the gym and time on the court.

I am also proud to say that we have been playing our finest volleyball since I came to George Mason University.

During the spring and all throughout the season, we had one goal in mind.

Our goal was to make it to the tournament.

This year, the postseason structure changed with only four teams qualifying for the tournament, whereas six teams played in the tournament the past few years.

With that in mind, we knew we had to step up our game and work harder. So we did.

By concluding the regular schedule, we ended the first part of our journey.

We reached our first goal, but it is not over. It does not feel good enough yet.

Now, we have a bigger challenge to face – Delaware. The four teams, which include us, Delaware, VCU and William & Mary, enter the playoffs on a similar level.

There is no favored team to win since all of the teams lost to each other during the regular season. It is hard to guess who is going to win the CAAs at this point.

It is hard to guess who will be the winner, but it is easy to know our chances.

We only have control over what happens on our side of the court, and if we “do our jobs,” like Head Coach Pat Kendrick usually says, we will definitely be competitive during the playoffs.

Being competitive might not be enough to win the tournament, but it is the feeling of trying our best that is going to last.

There are no regrets. Everything needs to be left out on court.

By the end, the results might not ever matter as much. All that matters now is knowing that we did everything we could to win.

Inside the Locker Room: A Closer Look at the Cleveland Cavaliers

by   Posted on December 1st, 2009 in Sports

Cody Norman, Staff Writer

There is just something about multi-million dollar athletes that cause people to mistake them for superhuman beings with fat pockets and big heads.

I was given the unique opportunity to explore the depths of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ locker room before and after the game on Saturday night Nov. 14 against the Utah Jazz.

I discovered that the exact opposite was true of these professionals. They’re just people like you and me.

5:45 p.m.

I arrived at the Quicken Loans Arena and took a walk down to the court. While standing courtside, Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished his warm-up, and prior to returning to the locker room, “Z” stopped to acknowledge each and every fan that called his name from the bottom row of the arena.

He spent several minutes signing autographs and posing for pictures with Cavaliers fans and even a few Jazz fans along the way.

I was impressed with Z’s willingness to laugh and joke with his fans after 11 years of being in the league. He was and still is a true class act.

6 p.m.

Head Coach Mike Brown typically speaks to the media for about 90 minutes before the opening tip. The Cleveland coach recognized many of the reporters and called them by name during his interview.

I was impressed that a man of Brown’s stature would make it a point to learn the name of many members of the media.

He also took a step back from his professional life and was able to communicate with these reporters and fans on a more personal level.

6:15 p.m.

Following Coach Brown’s comments, the locker room was opened up to the media. As many of you are well aware, LeBron James is a huge Ohio State Buckeyes fan.

LeBron sat on the floor, cheered on his Buckeyes and sang along to the music playing from the headphones beside him. LeBron refused to formally speak to the media prior to the conclusion of the game, but he carried on conversations with many of the men in the room.

“The King” may be one of the most recognizable human beings in the world, but as I sat watching the game with LeBron James, I realized that he really is a human being just like the rest of us.

He has a very humble personality and, believe it or not, LeBron gets as excited about a Buckeyes victory as much as anyone else in Ohio.

As I looked around the locker room, I noticed an enormous pair of shoes sitting at my feet. At first glance, I thought it may have been a full-size speedboat or cot set up for Mo Williams until I noticed the letters S-H-A-Q written across the top. A size 23 shoe sounds big, but you just don’t realize how big it really is until you see it in person.

Obviously, LeBron was not the only one in the locker room. Darnell Jackson spent a lot of his time watching the game with LeBron and he too displays extraordinary character.

“D-Block” exited the locker room and hit the weight room for about 20 minutes before returning, with his muscles flexed.

Delonte West and Anderson Varejao were in and out of the locker room throughout our visit, and both players were incredibly polite each time they entered and exited; both players acknowledged our presence and said, “Excuse me” if they ever needed to squeeze past us.

Following a game-winning field goal by the Buckeyes, LeBron James was ready to speak to the media.

One of the reporters asked the King about his announcement to change his number saying, “Why the No. 6? Why not choose a number that nobody has ever worn before?” LeBron joked by saying, “What do you mean, like No. 72 or something? I mean there’s not many numbers that nobody has ever worn before.” Everyone, including LeBron, laughed.

6:45 p.m.

After we spoke to LeBron, I headed back out to watch some of the players warm up from courtside.

Like Z, Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker both signed autographs and posed for pictures to show their respect and appreciation for Cleveland fans.

It was incredible to see these two guys displaying such gratitude toward their fans after only nine games with the Wine and Gold.

7:30 p.m.

Prior to opening tip and the announcing of starting lineups, the Cavaliers made an effort to thank both present and former members of our military on their Military Salute Night.

Coach Mike Brown paced back, forth, up and down the court while he welcomed and thanked the members of our military.

Brown explained that he came from a military family; his father was in the Air Force, so the coach grew up exposed to the military and has a great amount of respect for those individuals.

On a night when the Wine and Gold were without Shaquille O’Neal, the Cavs still held their own in the paint behind yet another solid performance by J.J. Hickson. Just two nights after setting a career-high in points, the sophomore forward shined again, scoring 20 points on 7 of 13 from the field in 38 minutes of work.

Cleveland led through three quarters of play but caved on a late surge by Utah and surrendered the lead with 1:56 to play on a free throw by former Cavalier Carlos Boozer. Then the King stole the show. LeBron James scored the last 8 points for his team and finished the game with 21 points on 6 of 15 from the field while gathering 6 boards and finding his teammates on 9 assists. The second half of the Cavs’ dynamic duo, Mo Williams, added 21 points and 6 assists of his own on the night.

Cleveland continued their sweet-shooting ways from downtown, going 9 of 22 from deep. Prized free agent acquisitions Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon led the three-point assault, canning four and three tres respectably. Parker finished with 14 points on the night while Moon chipped in with a solid 11 points and 4 boards in just over 16 minutes of play.

After a rocky start, the Cavaliers have settled in and will carry a four game win streak back into the Q for Tuesday night’s contest with the Golden State Warriors.

10 p.m.

Following an intense game, we waited out in the tunnel for Mike Brown to speak. While we were all crowded around the coach’s normal spot, I felt a large hand touch my shoulder and a deep voice utter, “Excuse me, man.”

When I turned to see who it was that touched my shoulder, I was staring at the “Big Witness Protection’s” knee caps! It was unreal.

According to www.dictionary.com, a giant is defined as a ”being with human form but superhuman size, strength, etc.” Of course, that is Shaq.

Then, out came Mike Brown to speak to the media; before any questions were asked, Brown said, “I’d like to open up by saying I have the utmost respect for Jerry Sloan. He’s a great coach and everything about him is just a class act . . . I love his demeanor. I love the way he coaches his team.”

Brown, himself, is a classy individual. And the way he carries himself is mirrored by his entire team. The coach went on to praise J.J. Hickson for another excellent game and went on to describe Anderson Varejao as his “glue guy.”

He said, “[Andy] holds everything together. It doesn’t matter what lineup is out there, you know that you can always go to him and he can keep it together. Whether it’s at the 4 or the 5 spot.”

Coach Brown then described the role that LeBron had in Saturday night’s matchup. He referred to his superstar as Picasso on Thursday night and called him Rembrandt on Saturday.

He then said, “What LeBron did on the floor at the end of the game was awesome. He put everybody in the right position to keep bodies on bodies and contest the shot. So LeBron, defensively and as a coach on the last couple of plays, was off the charts. It just speaks volumes to his intelligence and his feel for the game.”

10:15 p.m.

The locker room was reopened to the media and, again, LeBron spoke about the game. After LeBron’s comments, we were left waiting for JJ Hickson to come out of the shower.

While we waited, I was able to talk to Danny Green about his plans for Sunday. Outside of his daily workout, Danny said Sunday was a “chill day.” He said he would be resting and watching football for most of the day following his workout.

When Hickson came out and sat at his locker, he willingly spoke to the media about the game and paid a lot of respect to LeBron James for mentoring him throughout the summer.

Hickson talked about his ability to make good decisions on the floor and his outstanding play as of late.
The sophomore forward said, “Like Coach said, I’m just making basketball plays. I’m being smart on the floor and taking the open shot. I understand my role. I think that is a big part of it, [that I] understand my role. Knowing that I have LeBron James and Mo Williams out there, I just have to space the floor and take advantage of it when I do get my shots.”

After my experience with the Cavaliers, it was incredible for me to see the human side of each of these individuals.

They are amazing athletes, but off of the hardwood floor, these guys are high-character individuals. And it made me proud to be a Cavaliers fan.

Tough Turkeys: Giving Thanks to an Established Free Market

by   Posted on December 1st, 2009 in Sports

1. Compared to the other holidays, where does Thanksgiving rank in terms of your favorites?
2. What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?
3. If there was one piece of turkey left, and you and another person wanted it badly, what would you do to get it?

Kelsey Bohman
1. First
2. Mashed potatoes
3. Trade one of the bread rolls

Tiana Kallenberger
1. First
2. Mashed potatoes and gravy
3. Push my sisters out of the way or have a dance off with them

Ryan Pearson
1. Second
2. Fried chicken
3. I probably would pay him for it. Probably spot him a five for that

Get to Know Your Opponent

by   Posted on December 1st, 2009 in Sports

Going from a 9-18 season to reaching the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament to winning the championship the hard way, the George Mason University women’s volleyball team will face another tough opponent in the Iowa State Cyclones. Recently jumping two spots to fifth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll, the Cyclones have an impressive résumé to show for in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

While this season was a turnaround season for Mason, Iowa State successfully reached the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season with a school-best 25 wins in 2009. Last season, the team reached the regional final before falling to the Texas Longhorns. The Cyclones are competing at a high level with Big 12 Coach of the Year Christy Johnson-Lynch.

The Cyclones are equipped with three All-Conference First Team players, including the two-time Big 12 Libero of the Year Ashley Mass, who led the conference with 537 digs. Junior outside hitter Victoria Henson finished third in the conference with 4.13 kills per set. Whereas Mason is comprised of dispersed talent, the Cyclones’ players are concentrated in the midwest region. Despite the difference in makeup of the team, both Mason and Iowa State share some similarities. As a team this season, Mason recorded a .231 attack percentage and allowed a .148 attack percentage from their opponents while the Cyclones hit .240 and allowed a .147 percentage.

Both teams provide solid defensive play. Mason led the CAA with 500 blocks, 168 of which came from All-Conference First Team player Kelsey Bohman. The Cyclones enter the NCAA Tournament, leading the Big 12 in defensive digs and ranking second in blocks.

With the tournament field revealed this past Sunday, the outcome seemed to disappoint the Cyclones, who were placed in a region with three other conference foes, including Big 12 champion, Texas. Former American volleyball player Karch Kiraly, now an ESPN analyst, called it a “brutal region.”

While it may be a Big 12 get-together, new faces like Mason will be focused on their first round opponent. Mason will play underdog once again as it had in the CAA Tournament, and even though their first task is to play in the Hilton Coliseum, where the Cyclones went 10-1 this season, Mason has been relatively solid away from home, sporting a 14-5 record when playing away from the RAC.

The Saga Continues

by   Posted on November 29th, 2009 in Sports

The women’s volleyball team will travel to Ames to take on the Iowa State Cyclones in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The match will start at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4. Coming off a conference championship win over the VCU Rams, Mason faces a tough challenge in the seventh-seeded Cyclones, who finished second in the Big 12 conference. Mason, the only team in the Colonial Athletic Association to have qualified for the NCAA Tournament, will look to continue their journey into the midwest with the CAA Player of the Year Holly Goode and Coach of the Year Pat Kendrick.

Rally Pats Win Eighth Conference Title

by   Posted on November 25th, 2009 in Sports

The women’s volleyball team had a set point advantage in each of the first two sets, but the team was unable to put away the VCU Rams in either set. Despite being down 2-0 on Tuesday night, Mason rallied from behind for the second straight day to capture their eighth conference title in school history. Mason scored the first five points in the fifth set and held on to win the set, 15-9.

Junior opposite hitter and middle blocker Holly Goode added the Most Oustanding Player award to her list of accomplishments for the 2009 season. Goode recorded 20 kills and 16 digs. Goode, senior outside hitter Rebecca Walter and sophomore outside hitter Noelle Fanella each recorded double-doubles in the championship match.

Sophomore middle blocker Kelsey Bohman and junior setter Fernanda Bartels were named to the All-Tournament Team. Bartels posted 57 assists, and Bohman contributed 13 kills.

Mason last won a conference title in 2003. Six years later, the team added their eighth title, placing them in a tie for most conference titles with the William & Mary Tribe. Tuesday night’s championship match was also historic in the sense that Mason became the first team to rally from a two-set deficit to win the Colonial Athletic Association championship match. With an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, Mason waits to see where it is seeded in the bracket.

Third Try is a Charm

by   Posted on November 23rd, 2009 in Sports

The women’s volleyball team defeated the Delaware Blue Hens when it mattered most. Down 2-1 in sets, Mason prolonged their successful season by taking the final two sets. The VCU Rams swept the William & Mary Tribe in three sets to set up a tantalizing matchup between Mason and the Rams.

Junior opposite hitter and middle blocker Holly Goode, who was named the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, led all players with 20 kills. With 14 digs, Goode notched her 10th double-double this season.

In their two meetings this season, Mason dropped both matches in straight sets. This time around, Mason built a 20-15 lead, but the Blue Hens rallied to cut the lead to one, 24-23. Mason finally won their first set against the Blue Hens with a kill from Goode. Mason led 18-13 in the second set, but the team was unable to stave off the Blue Hens’ rally. Outside hitter Kelly Gibson served two aces to close the gap to 18-17, and by the time Head Coach Pat Kendrick, the CAA Coach of the Year, called timeout, Mason could not recover from the Blue Hens’ rally. After leading 18-13, Mason allowed the Blue Hens to score the next seven points. The Blue Hens took the second set 25-23 as Mason was unable to regain the lead.

The situation would not get any better in the third set for Mason, who trailed 15-3 early in the set. Senior outside hitter Rebecca Walter was issued a yellow card, and even though Mason gradually came back, the Blue Hens were able to hold off Mason’s rally, taking the third set 25-20.

The last time Mason played in Richmond, the team took a 2-1 set lead over the Rams, but dropped a heartbreaker in five sets. With the season dwindling for Mason, the team was able to keep close with the Blue Hens in the fourth set. The Blue Hens never led by more than three points in the set. Tied at 16-all, Mason broke away from the tie when outside hitter Alissa Aiker recorded a ball-handling error. Mason forced a fifth set after winning the fourth set 25-21.

The team took the first three points in the fifth set and cruised to victory, dethroning the Blue Hens from contending for the CAA title. Mason matched their 2002 win total, recording number 22 in a crucial match. The team looks to win their first conference title since the 2003 season. However, they have a tough task in facing the Rams, winners of 10 straight. The two teams split the season series with each team winning on their home floor in five sets. Tomorrow’s match will start at 7 p.m.

Over the weekend, four Mason players were recognized for their success in the 2009 season. Ranked third in the conference in kills and fifth in attack percentage, Goode became the sixth Mason player to win the Player of the Year award. Goode joined sophomore middle blocker Kelsey Bohman, the CAA’s leading blocker, on the All-CAA First Team. Junior setter Fernanda Bartels earned second team honors, and freshman libero Koala Matsuoka, who emerged late in the season, was nominated to the All-Rookie Team.

Mason Dominates the Lady Panthers: Defense Allows 27 Points as Mason Impresses in Exhibition Game

by   Posted on November 17th, 2009 in Sports

Jerry Holy, Broadside Correspondent

Four days before their season opener this past Friday, the George Mason University women’s basketball team outplayed the Virginia Union Panthers en route to a 75-27 victory.

The team received a great deal of contribution from each player. Freshman forward Amber Easter led the team with 14 points.

Junior guard Brittany Poindexter added 13 points and four steals. Freshman forward Janaa Pickard also scored in double digits with 11 points and added eight rebounds and seven blocks.

Freshman guard Rahneeka Saunders had five assists and nine points.

From the start, both sides struggled to score. Rising junior guard Ashleigh Braxton helped Mason get on the board after the first two minutes of play. Her effort led Mason to an 11-2 run.

Later in the first half, Mason went on the fast-break offense, exploding to a 25-11 run. Mason went into halftime with a 42-14 lead.

During the first half, Mason shot 12-of-13 from the free throw line and forced 12 Panther turnovers.
“The key plays in the game were the fast breaks we had,” said Poindexter.

During the second half, Mason kept up their tempo as they jumped out to a 9-2 scoring run.
“I think the quick tempo we had was a key play,” said Easter.

Mason would keep their pace throughout the game as they outscored the Lady Panthers 33-13 in the second half. Mason outrebounded Virginia Union 52-33.

“Controlling the backboard was a key play during the game for us,” said Pickard.

In her second year at Mason, Head Coach Jeri Porter was impressed by her team’s effort.

“Teamwork was good and everyone had great energy level[s]. We have a young team this year with the freshmen players. We have a great balance with our upperclassmen players,” said Porter.

The freshmen players, which include Pickard and Easter, experienced their first game as Patriots in a shining style.

“The freshmen stepped up to the challenge during the game,” said Poindexter.

“The transition from high school basketball to college basketball is intense, but Mason has made the transition less tense for us freshmen players,” said Pickard.

Both Easter and Pickard were effective in their first collegiate game. Each shot 5-of-6 from the field, and the two combined for 15 rebounds. Easter made all four free throws.

The team had an impressive offensive display, but they were even better defensively.

On the defensive side of the ball, Poindexter and Saunders recorded four steals apiece. Pickard blocked seven of Mason’s 13 total blocks.

The team pick-pocketed the Panthers 15 times, which led to 23 turnovers.

The Panthers shot a meager 19.6 percent from the field. Their 21.4 field-goal percentage was a slight improvement from 17.9 percent in the first half.

Virginia Union was unable to contain Mason’s explosive performance as Mason gradually increased their lead, which at one point reached 49 points.

“We will be a strong and well-balanced team when we get deeper into the season,” said Porter.

The women’s basketball team expects to be a conference sleeper in the 2009-10 season.

The exhibition game against the Panthers displayed the team’s potential to contend.

Putting Out the Flames: Mason Holds on Late to Win Their Season Opener

by   Posted on November 17th, 2009 in Sports

Fox Parker, Staff Writer

The George Mason University men’s basketball team’s 76-72 season-opening win over the Liberty Flames could prove to be microcosm of the season to come.

The Patriots were brilliant at times and erratic at times, building up a 19-point lead only to see it dwindle to three with 2:34 to play.

The game, which appeared to be in hand midway through the second half, was slipping away from the Patriots until freshman forward Luke Hancock made a fumbling jump shot and, sophomore guard Andre Cornelius made game-sealing free throws.

“We are a very interesting team, aren’t we?” said Head Coach Jim Larranaga. “We can play very well for a while, [but] there are always going to be periods whe . . . there’s a little bit of a letdown.”

Last season’s leader in just about every statistical category (scoring, assists, 3-point percentage, free throw percentage, and minutes), junior point guard Cam Long could only watch from the bench as his young squad allowed a commanding lead turn into a contested advantage.

Long left the game with 17 minutes remaining due to cramps in both legs.

“We never really got a good flow offensively,” said Larranaga of the offense without Long. “I would have liked to execute our half court man-to-man offense much better than we did.”

Cornelius, who was suffering from cramps at the end of the game as well, took over Long’s point guard position and his leadership role, scoring 17 points in 31 minutes of play.

Cornelius’ assist to senior guard Louis Birdsong for a layup with 2:09 left brought the score to 70-65 and lowered the collective heart rate of the Patriot Center crowd.

With 31.2 seconds remaining, Hancock put his mark on the game by making a jumper as the ball moved around in his hands to give the Patriots a 73-66 lead.

“That one jump shot [Hancock] made off the dribble, basically, was a dagger at the end,” said Larranaga. “That was pretty special for a freshman to do that.”

Of the four freshmen that played, Hancock led with 23 minutes, 11 points, four rebounds, and two assists. All of that happened in just his first collegiate game.

“I was a little nervous starting out. I was definitely a little nervous,” said Hancock. “Everyone telling me to calm down made me relax a little bit and get in a groove.”

Mason’s defensive play was a testament to their athleticism. Harassing the ball handler led to six steals, off-the-ball defenders helping on drives resulted in six blocks and full-court pressure forced Liberty into 15 turnovers. The Patriots tried to rattle the Flames with aggressive play.

For a while, it had worked as Mason had a 53-34 lead with 14:21 to play, but the defense began to sag.

“It is the defense, that’s where were running a lot,” said Larranaga. “You know, we’re really putting a lot of pressure on people with our defense, and tonight they just ran right by the pressure, and that’s why they were able to get so many easy buckets.”

The win over Liberty pushes Mason’s home winning streak to 16 games and the Patriots have also won their last five home openers.

Lady Patriots Make an Opening Statement: Women’s Basketball Wins Opener for the First Time in Four Years

by   Posted on November 17th, 2009 in Sports

Kiala Haynes, Staff Writer

The George Mason University women’s basketball team took the floor on Friday night and were able to get their message to everyone in the Patriot Center – “We are here to win.”

The Patriots were able to defeat Norfolk State in the season’s opener, 66-49, and proved to their fans that they are a sight to watch.

The lead changed six times during the first half, but freshman guard/forward Amber Easter scored two points on the line, making the lead 21-20. From there, Mason did not lose their lead.

There was a slow finish to the first half of the game, and most of the team’s points were made on the line with Easter and junior guard Brittany Eley making both of their shots.

Junior guard Brittany Poindexter and sophomore Rachel Robinson, who scored double-digits in the game, were also able to contribute four points at the end of the first half.

Staring off the second half, the Patriot’s junior guard Ashleigh Braxton, whose scoring total ended up in double-digits as well, made two three-pointers in the first minute of the half.

This aided the Patriots in finding their rhythm as they began their 8-0 run over Norfolk State.

Mason dominated Norfolk State in the second half with 37 points. Having Robinson and freshman Rahneeka Saunders scoring in the paint, they were able to keep the points rolling in for the Patriots.

Saunders and guard Rashauna Hobbs, the only senior on the team, were also able to display the Patriots’ talent and to keep the crowd excited with their outstanding assists.

With four steals from freshman forward Janaa Pickard, the Patriots were able to find a weak spot in Norfolk State’s offense with 11 steals total. Mason scored six points from fast breaks alone.

Brittany Eley made the last jumper of the game with half a minute in the game to seal off the Patriot’s win.

The women walked off the court making their statement that they will be something to watch on the court.