Eyeing history, George Mason makes name for itself

	Lamar Butler and George Mason have toppled nationals powers Michigan State and North Carolina along with Wichita State to reach the Elite Elight. Travis Lindquist/Getty Images
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WASHINGTON -- When what was likely the first individual news conference of his career had concluded Saturday afternoon, Lamar Butler picked up the card with his name and NCAA logo that had been sitting in front of him, turned to the moderator and asked, "Can I keep this?"

Like anyone affiliated with George Mason these days, Butler, the Patriots' senior guard, was merely looking to claim his piece of history. Sunday at 2:40 p.m. EST, we'll find out just how significant that history will be.

With its 63-55 win over Wichita State on Friday, George Mason joined the likes of Gonzaga (1999), Kent State (2002), Xavier (2004) and St. Joe's (2004) as a non-traditional power reaching the Elite Eight. Not since Indiana State in 1979, however, has a true mid-major crossed that sacred precipice onto college basketball's grandest stage, the Final Four.

"Wow," said Patriots guard Gabe Norwood when told of the stat. "It's made to be a movie -- George Mason in the Final Four in 2006."

It was only 10 days ago that George Mason was a complete unknown to all but the most rabid college basketball followers. In the whirlwind that's followed, we've watched as the Patriots knocked off two of the game's most prestigious programs, Michigan State and North Carolina; we've gotten to know head coach Jim Larranaga, the gregarious mid-major lifer never at a loss for a joke, and his cast of lovable underdogs, from the fleet-footed Tony Skinn to the behemoth widebody Jai Lewis. History tells us, however, that Sunday is when the Patriots' joyride will come to a halt.

But what if it doesn't? What if George Mason -- George Mason -- advances to the Final Four?

Now that Gonzaga is gone and the Missouri Valley has finally been wiped out, the hopes and dreams of the nation's overlooked and underestimated now rest entirely on the Patriots' shoulders. America loves the little guy, and the battle lines don't get much more cut-and-dried than George Mason going against top seed and two-time recent national champion Connecticut.

"It's us and the world vs. UConn," said Butler. "Everyone loves an underdog, and everyone probably wants to see them go down."