College Hoops Rundown: Tourney Time, Part I

What to Expect: Of course, a run on par with that of Mason's magical sprint to the Final Four two years ago would be foolish to assume - however, there is reason for anticipation. Folarin Campbell and Will Thomas, starters on that 2006 team, have been one of the best swingman tandems on the East Coast. The two seniors, who represent almost 45 percent of the team's total rebound and point production - combined with Dre Smith's ability to knock down the three (he made an NCAA-record 10 straight without a miss in a January win against James Madison) - clearly indicate the talent level of the team offensively. Add in the fact that the team is well-coached and allowed a mere 50.6 points per game in the CAA Tournament defensively, and George Mason could be a nightmare draw for a higher seed in the first round. Most bracketologists project Mason as a 13-seed. Can they pull off another long run from an even deeper position? Patriots coach Jim Larranaga likely would be pleased with a first round win - but we wouldn't be shocked to see them in the Sweet 16.
-Aaron Morrissey

Georgetown University Hoyas (25-4, 15-3, #9)
If history is any indication, Saturday's 55-52 win over Louisville gave the Georgetown Hoyas not only their second consecutive Big East regular season crown, but the tournament title as well: each of the four previous years the Hoyas have entered the conference tournament as the top seed, they've won the event. Of course, this is college basketball in March, where history is never an indication. Georgetown's road to its second consecutive Big East crown is a rocky one. The tournament tips off today at Madison Square Garden with four play-in games, but Georgetown's regular season performance earned them a bye into tomorrow's quarterfinals (noon, ESPN). The Hoyas await Villanova, winners of this afternoon's first-round match against Syracuse. The Wildcats sit atop the NCAA tournament bubble, needing another win to seal their invitation to the Big Dance. The Hoyas won't be particularly happy to see them; they needed a little help from the refs to beat Nova in D.C. in March. It won't get any easier should the Hoyas survive tomorrow. Connecticut, who, in sophomore Hasheem Thabeet have the only player in the conference capable of stopping Roy Hibbert, loom as one possible foe in Friday's semifinals. Another is West Virginia, who nearly beat Georgetown in Morgantown in January. The Hoyas would likely then have to beat either Louisville or Notre Dame (and Big East Player of the Year Luke Harangody) in the finals.

What to Expect: As many of the close losses already mentioned attest, the Hoyas haven't always played as well as their 25-4 record suggests. With most believing that the four top seeds to the NCAA Tournament already spoken for by some combination of North Carolina, UCLA, Memphis, Tennessee, and Kansas, Georgetown is probably looking to solidify its position as a number-two seed -- the same seed it held during last year's run to the Final Four. A repeat performance of last year is certainly possible, though the wrong bracket could land the Hoyas in a world of trouble by the second round. Our prediction: Georgetown gets ousted in the Sweet Sixteen.
-Hayden Alfano