For the last four weeks, George Mason coach Jim Larranaga has heard the same question, usually prefaced with a different apology.
» Coach, I hate to ask you this …
» Jim, I know this is getting old …
» This sounds like a broken record …
Larranaga is all too familiar with what follows: But why can’t you win on the road?
Saturday’s 68-66 loss at James Madison was the Patriots’ latest road failure and one of the most mystifying. It came against an injury-riddled JMU squad, which had lost to Mason 10 straight times, including a decisive 71-57 verdict in Fairfax three weeks earlier.
It was the fourth straight road loss in the Colonial Athletic Association for Mason (16-7, 9-4) and second to a team it had beaten earlier in the year.
“When we play a team we’ve beaten before, I think players assume it will just be the same,” said Larranaga. “Well, the only way it will be the same is if we elevate our defensive intensity. You can’t even play at the same level because they’re going to be much more comfortable and confident at home.”
GMU at DelawareWhen » Thursday, 7Where » Bob Carpenter CenterTV/Radio » ESPNU/980 AM
Delaware (10-15, 4-9) is led by sophomore guards Jawan Carter (15.4 points per game), Alphonso Dawson (14.6 ppg), and amazing G Marc Egerson (15.0 ppg, 10.3 rpg), who leads the CAA in rebounds at 6-foot-6, 235 pounds.
Mason is 11-0 in Fairfax and 5-7 on the road. A loss Thursday night at lowly Delaware (10-15, 4-9) would be tough to swallow for Larranaga, who has often defended his team’s poor road record.
“You see that around the country, that home records are far better than road records,” said the coach.
But Mason is the extreme case. Twelve other NCAA Division I teams have double-digit home wins and are undefeated at home, but none has a worse record on the road than GMU.
The culprit has been defense. At the Patriot Center, Mason surrenders an average of 55.9 points and holds opponents to a field goal percentage of 37.2. On the road, GMU gives up an average of 65.5 points and a field goal percentage of 43.8.
“We have to look ourselves in the mirror and figure out how to make this team better,” said guard John Vaughan. “We have to do things better. It starts in practice. It starts at the top, with our seniors on the team.”
