YouTube Gold: George Mason’s 2006 Elite Eight Win Over UConn

Truly an inspirational team win.

Although people have tried to call Arkansas this year’s Cinderella, the truth is that there aren’t really any Cinderellas this year, and people clearly are missing That Team.

Since that’s clearly the case, today’s YouTube Gold is the 2006 classic between UConn and upstart George Mason, coached by Jim Larranaga who would later have a brilliant run at Miami.

First, a lot of people were critical of the Patriots even being in the field in the first place. Like genuinely upset, mostly because GMU had lost in the CAA tournament.

Mason put that talk to rest quickly with a first-round upset of #6 Michigan State, 76-65. Then they knocked off defending #3 seed and defending national champs UNC, 65-60. Then they took out #7 Wichita State, 63-55.

Finally, they played #1 seed UConn (regional and tournament) in the Elite Eight and won that one too, 86-84 in overtime.

Mason was the first #11 seed out of a non-power conference to make it to the Final Four and showed other teams like Butler, Davidson and VCU that it could be done.