Mason's Biggest Sales Pitch Is Not Having One (VIP)

In Tony Skinn's second season, he has a culture built on authenticity

Support MTC Media by subscribing. Follow MTC Media on X, IG, and Threads

Flushed with a new logo at center court, George Mason's basketball team is standing at half court in a pool of sweat.

Second-year head coach Tony Skinn had just put the team through a workout that wreaked with expectations. The expectation is that a veteran roster could produce a 20+ win season and compete for an Atlantic 10 title. The most important expectation is to hate losing as much as Skinn, which might not be possible.

Anyone who has been around the program since Skinn took over knows how hard the coaching staff and players work. In an era of NIL, phony high school player rankings, and the transfer portal, coaches have morphed into part-time salespeople beyond basketball.

It's something you won't see in Fairfax, Virginia. There are no pitches or sales. No, "everything is going to be alright." No one to kiss your rear end. That left when your high school and/or AAU career ended.