Atlantic 10 Basketball: Bonnies on top heading into conference tournament

7. George Mason Patriots

• 2020-21 record: 12-8 overall, 8-6 A-10
• Previous ranking: 11th

No team in the Atlantic 10 owns a current winning streak as extensive as the Patriots, who – after experiencing back-to-back losses to St. Bonaventure and Dayton – have romped through February with four-straight wins.

Now, three of those were not necessarily resume-boosting wins, considering they were over George Washington, Fordham, and La Salle – the latter two by over 30 points each – but George Mason picked up, by far and away, its biggest win of the season in the midst of that streak, topping VCU in overtime – on the road – 79-76.

George Mason’s success can be tied to the ongoing steady play of Jordan Miller, who has averaged 14.5 points, 8.0 boards, 3.25 assists, and 1.75 steals during the four-game win streak.  It was sophomore Josh Oduro who was the star of the win over VCU, however, behind a career-high 27 points (8-11 2PT, 11-14 FT).

While George Mason’s resume is – outside of the VCU win – still incredibly lackluster, the Patriots’ hot finish to the season has catapulted them into the 6th-seed in the conference tournament.  That will earn them a Thursday date with either George Washington or Fordham – two teams that the Patriots toppled during their four-game win streak.