Welcome to A10 Talk’s Top 25 Player Countdown. Each day, we publish a new article counting down the 25 best players in the Atlantic 10 this past season. Today, we continue our countdown with #18 Otis Livingston II.
Marquise Moore may have been the one getting all the credit this season, but Otis Livingston II has been a rock for George Mason throughout his tenure. From freshman to sophomore year, Livingston II improved in nearly all facets of his game, including his work on the defensive end. The rising junior has helped bring George Mason back to relevancy in the Atlantic 10; the Patriots finished in the top half of the league this year, and without some questionable losses, they’re looking at a potential trip to the NIT. Otis Livingston II is a fan favorite who still hasn’t played his best basketball. He’ll be back next season to lead this George Mason team like he’s already done.
Best Performances:
Ironically, one of Otis Livingston II’s best performances of the season came in one of George Mason’s most disappointing losses. The sophomore dropped a career-high 29 points on Saint Louis, but the Patriots would go on to lose in double overtime. Perhaps one of Livingston II’s most gutty performances this past season came on the road against Massachusetts, where his 22 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals willed George Mason to a 2 point victory over the Minutemen. He also had 19 point conference performances against Fordham and La Salle in which he was perfect from behind the three point line in both games.Despite a tough loss to Loyola MD in the CBI, Livingston II led the way with 19 points.
Key Stats:
Otis Livingston II was second on the team in scoring (14.3 PPG) and assists (3.0 APG) this past season behind Marquise Moore. He also grabbed 3.1 boards per contest and led the team in steals at 1.1 per game. His defense proved to be pretty good, especially under a coach like Dave Paulsen whose teams don’t really create turnovers. Otis Livingston II forced his fair share of giveaways this past season. He also did a superb job defending without fouling, as his 2.0 fouls committed per minute ranked 2nd in the Atlantic 10 this past season.
Perhaps Otis Livingston II’s most impressive feat this past season was free throw shooting. Not only did he drastically improve his free throw shooting percentage, but he also got to the line more frequently. Otis Livingston II shot 92.2% from the charity stripe this past season, and that number is no fluke. He made 118-128 free throw attempts and was absolutely flawless in non-conference play. He also had the 19th best free throw rate in the league, so he was getting to the stripe and capitalizing with efficiency. Otis Livingston II shot just 76.3% from the line his freshman season. That’s one heck of an improvement for the rising junior.
Team Effort:
Otis Livingston II played the 12th most available minutes per contest in the A-10. Needless to say, this George Mason team took full advantage of their star guard. He did a little bit of everything for this team, and without Marquise Moore in the equation next season, he’s going to be called upon to do even more. There are few players that practice the fundamentals as well as Otis. He scores, distributes, defends, and when he gets to the line, he’s cash. Look for the rising junior to work on his three point shooting this offseason, as that area of his game lacked a bit this season, at least compared to his freshman year. Otis Livingston II is the future of George Mason, and the Patriots better be pretty glad they have him for another two seasons.
Previously: #19 Mo Alie-Cox
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