Sophomore guard Roger Mason Jr. decided to put on a show for an old recruiter with the best game of his young career.
"It's hard having a guy you recruited beat you," Coastal Carolina coach Pete Strickland said.
Strickland saw a more versatile Mason yesterday in Virginia's 117-78 rout over the Chanticleers. Sharing the point position with senior Donald Hand, Mason set career-highs with 28 points and seven assists.
"He's a heady player," Strickland said. "He's got the respect of his teammates and poise, and that's two things you need in a point guard."
Add humility to that list. Mason refused to take credit for the Cavs' win, barely noticing he led the Cavs in scoring yesterday night.
"I'm not an individual player, not a statistics guy," Mason said.
|
Throughout the entire game against Coastal Carolina, Mason seemed in charge. Before the game was even five minutes old, Mason already had slashed his way through the Chanticleer defense for nine points, two assists and a steal.
"I just wanted to play and assert myself early," Mason said. "I got it going early, and my teammates kept giving me the ball."
With his performance last night, Mason showed positive signs of becoming an adequate replacement at backup point guard for the injured Majestic Mapp. Mason finally looked comfortable running the offense. Even when Hand was on the court, Mason occasionally took the reigns to guide the Cavs up the court, which allowed Hand to see more shots.
Cav coach Pete Gillen said Mason would continue to see around 7-10 minutes at the point each game.
"It's a work in progress, but I think he did a good job," Gillen said.
If Mason continues to improve, Virginia will have two excellent point guards who can lead an offense while being a scoring threat. Losing a player like Mapp is certainly a blow to the Cavaliers, but fans need not worry. Mason is showing the same early-season flash that had him being mentioned as a possible ACC rookie of the year last year.
For one game at least, Mason put his skeptics to rest. Tackling a new position has re-energized him, as he matures as a player. Mason is determined to chart a new course to success.
Rest assured he has a map to guide him.
"Majestic reminds me to control the tempo and move the ball around," Mason said.
Looking at the early returns, Mason is indeed a fast learner.
Read More
Virginia baseball boasts the best catcher in the country — a Division III transfer
By Xander Tilock | 12 hours agoFerence has replaced Teel admirably, and will look to lift Virginia back to the College World Series.
Lacrosse defenseman Cole Kastner announces transfer to Stanford basketball
By Michael Liebermann | YesterdayKastner is reviving a hoops career that has lain dormant since he graduated high school.
Virginia gets second Notre Dame rematch in a dynamic ACC Tournament bout Friday
By Michael Liebermann | 2 days agoThe Cavaliers will get a shot at redemption against a vaunted ACC foe, in a game with serious postseason seeding implications.
