George Mason Basketball announces 2018-19 non-conference schedule

There is a lot to be excited about regarding the George Mason basketball program. How does the non-conference slate look for 2018-19?

Last season, George Mason Basketball showed it could compete in the tough Atlantic 10 conference. They finished the conference season at 9-9 and saw the growth of players like Otis Livingston II and Jaire Grayer. The Patriots would have four players finish the season averaging double figures in scoring. Goanar Mar played well above his age and developed into a legitimate inside-outside threat.

For this upcoming season, not only is the core of the team returning but the Patriots will also add Jarrod Reuter, a UVA transfer. The 6-7 Reuter will give Paulsen another big body to play along with Greg Calixte and the athletic AJ Wilson.

With the Patriots poised to make a run to the top of the Atlantic 10 Conference, a strong non-conference schedule will play in their favor. The Atlantic 10 has become a multi-bid league so a ‘signature win’ or two will help. The schedule provides that opportunity.

Complete Out of Conference Schedule (home in bold):

Nov. 6 – Penn

Nov. 9 – American

Nov. 13 – at Georgia Southern

Nov. 17 – Southern (Emerald Coast Classic Opening Game)

Nov. 20 – North Carolina Central (Emerald Coast Classic Opening Game)

Nov. 23 – vs. Cincinnati (Niceville, Fla.)

Nov. 24 – vs. Baylor or Ole Miss (Niceville, Fla.)

Nov. 28 – Morgan State

Dec. 1 – at William & Mary

Dec. 3 – Vermont

Dec. 7 – James Madison

Dec. 21 – Navy

Dec. 29 – at Kansas State

Opening night, George Mason will face last season’s Ivy League champ, Penn. The home date with the Quakers is a solid chance to get a resume builder that will help in March.

Later in the schedule, the Patriots will get a crack at Cincinnati in the Emerald Coast Classic and could face Baylor or Ole Miss. Being able to get a split would be sufficient. Like Penn, the home date against Vermont is a critical one. The Catamounts are always floating around the top of the America East Conference and could easily be a quality win by tournament time.

The non-conference schedule then ends with Kansas State. The trip to Manhattan, Kansas is important, win or lose. It’s a game you don’t want to lose by 20+ points. A single digit loss would still look decent on the resume.

This is one of the many benefits George Mason receives when they moved to the Atlantic 10. The opportunity to build strong rosters and play quality out-of-conference schedules. If all goes as planned, George Mason and March Madness will be used in the same sentence this season.