Happy July Everyone! Plenty of fireworks will be on display this week, some in the sky and some on the hardwood.

A slew of our Patriots will be playing against some of the best hoopers in the area, more new faces headed to Fairfax and fall slates are being set.

Before you get your holiday started, give today’s edition of the Brew a stir.

🏀 Floaters, Fadeaways, Fireworks
⚽️. Slate is Set
⭐️ Mondays with Marvin
​⭐ And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 In Good Company. Any time you can be in the company of players like Kevin Durant, Allen Iverson and Gilbert Arenas, you’re doing alright for yourself.

That’s exactly what 11 members of the George Mason men’s hoops program will be doing over the next few weeks as they suit up as part of the legendary Kenner League in Washington, D.C.

All games are played at McDonough Gym on the campus of Georgetown, with games beginning this past weekend and running through early August.

🔼 Get Out Those iPhone Calendars. A young, hungry Mason men’s soccer squad is ready to take on a new season.

The schedule for that new season was unveiled over the weekend, including six homes games and yet another challenge march through the Atlantic 10. 

Head Coach Rich Costanzo, who is entering his second season at the helm of the Patriots, and the Patriots kick off the regular season with a home showdown with UMBC (Aug. 24). Another home non-conference date is set with ODU coming to Fairfax on Sept. 4.

Atlantic 10 conference play begins with a visit from Davidson on Sept. 16 and goes through the end of October before the A-10 tournament, which is set for the first round at campus sites on Nov. 5.

🔼 And Another One. Make it three for me!

That’s what Mason lacrosse head coach Kara Mupo is saying after announcing the addition of a third transfer for the upcoming 2023-24 athletic calendar.

Riley Ellis will join the Green & Gold after spending last spring at Lehigh University as a midfielder for the Hawks. She comes to Fairfax with three seasons of eligibility.

In her one season at Lehigh, she appeared in 12 games, making four starts. She scored a goal, dished out an assist and scooped up three ground balls in her debut campaign.

🌠 FAMILY REUNION

This past weekend, it was an honor to have some of the all-time greats back on campus for a men’s basketball alumni weekend.

The foundation on which this program was built back at home. We can’t wait to have them back on campus for a game this year!

ONCE A PATRIOT, ALWAYS A PATRIOT!

🌠 THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

We cannot thank you all enough for being a part of the 2023 Mason Blitz Week Challenge.

As our fiscal year ended, we had an outpouring from all across Mason Nation to unlock challenge dollars for their favorite Mason team.

Your support will help enhance not only team success but the overall college experience for student-athletes. No one understands the benefits more than you as an alumni-athlete.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

🌠 MASON MEMORY MONDAYS

Nine is Fine. From 1990 to 1998, there was no more dominant team at George Mason than the women’s track & field program.

The Patriots were an absolute force to be reckon with in the CAA.

To this day, the program’s nine straight CAA titles from 1990 to 1998 are the longest string of consecutive championships in Patriots athletics history.

🤔 PATRIOT TRIVIA

Who was first? Coach Skinn has talked a lot during this offseason about returning the Patriots to championship contenders and playing deep into March.

Skinn knows all about that, helping Mason to history with reaching the Final Four in 2006.

In total, the Patriots have won six conference championships in men’s basketball.

Do you know which year was the first year for this accomplishment?

Think you got it? Scroll on down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

⭐ MONDAYS WITH MARVIN

Terp Transitions. This past weekend officially began the tenure of Marvin Lewis as the Athletic Director here at George Mason. Each Monday, we’ve been featuring a fact, tidbit, or highlight about our new leader.

We’ve talked about his playing career as a student-athlete at Georgia Tech, we’ve talked about him getting his collegiate administration start at Georgia State in Atlanta, and now, his first run through the DMV area.

That came during a short, but important stint in his career with two years at College Park in Maryland, where he served as the Associate Athletic Director for business.

His time with the Terps was aligned with their move to the Big Ten, which came in 2014.

Lewis was also instrumental in the University of Maryland’s transition to the Big Ten Conference. Lewis chaired the Business and Travel Workgroup within the Big Ten Integration Committee, which analyzed the financial impact of the conference transition.

He also developed the comprehensive 12-year financial model for the Business and Finance Workgroup of the President’s Commission on Big Ten Integration.

📬 STICK WITH US

Did someone send you the Patriot Brew? Well, the first thing you should do is thank them. The next thing you should do is subscribe here and get it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning just in time for your first cup of coffee!

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 1989.

Led by 22.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game from Kenny Sanders, the Patriots put together a 20-11 record and a 10-4 mark in CAA play.

In the CAA title game, Mason won an absolute thriller, 78-72 in overtime over UNCW at the Hampton Coliseum.

Earning the #15 seed in the West region, the Patriots took on Bobby Knight’s Indiana squad, coming up just short 99-85 in the opening round.

Let’s have a great start to the week, y’all!