Madalyn Godfrey/Fourth Estate
Five crucial games for the Patriots in Tony Skinn’s second season
BY GABRIEL KING, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
With the 2024-25 college basketball season tipping off on Nov. 4, there is hope that Mason men’s basketball can return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. Under second-year head coach Tony Skinn, the Patriots are predicted to finish sixth in the Atlantic 10, per the conference’s annual preseason poll.
To ensure a return to the postseason, the Patriots will need to pick up resume-building wins in the non-conference and avoid falling back to the middle of the A-10 standings. Here are five games to watch that could determine the direction of Mason’s season:
- At No. 18 Marquette – Nov. 8, 9:00 p.m., Peacock
As part of the Marquette Challenge, the Patriots will look to notch a signature victory in year two under Tony Skinn against the nationally-ranked Golden Eagles. Mason’s first big test of the season will reveal a lot about the team and the direction this season could take.
- At No. 7 Duke – Dec. 17, 7:00 p.m., ACC Network
Mason will play national title contender Duke for the first time since 2006. While a win isn’t expected, a strong showing on a national stage could propel the Patriots to the top of the pack in the A-10. The Patriots and Blue Devils have only met once before, with Duke winning 69-53 in the 2006-07 season, the year after Mason made it to the Final Four.
- At VCU – Feb. 22, TBA, CBS Sports Network
Before even thinking about postseason play, the Patriots have to prove they belong with the best of the A-10. A late February road test against preseason conference favorite VCU will present Mason with an opportunity to gain momentum heading into postseason play.
- At Dayton – Jan. 15, 7:00 p.m., CBS Sports Network
In another tough road game for the Patriots, they will face the Flyers for the first time since their upset win in February. While Mason proved they could be Dayton last year, beating them again, this time on the road, could solidify them as a top team in the conference.
- Vs. Saint Joseph’s – Feb. 15, 12:30 p.m., USA Network
In their biggest home game of the season, the Patriots will face the third-ranked team in the A-10, Saint Joseph’s. The Hawks boast a roster full of potential NBA talent, including Preseason All-Conference selection Erik Reynolds II. Saint Joseph’s ended Mason’s season in last year’s A-10 Tournament, so the Patriots will be looking for revenge on their home floor.
Mason’s season gets underway at home against North Carolina Central on Nov. 4 with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m.
