For George Mason, Selection Sunday was a relief. For George Washington, it was the worst-case scenario.

The Patriots — a bubble team thanks to two recent losses to Hofstra — didn’t have to sweat too long on Selection Sunday, as they were named the 11 seed in the second bracket announced. This was much to the dismay of CBS basketball announcer Billy Packer. The Patriots’ regional will be played in Washington, but GMU has plenty of work to do to get back home. They play Thursday in Dayton, Ohio, with a game against Michigan State. The Spartans are a veteran squad that return several key players, including a couple of starters, from last year’s Final Four team. The Spartans finished just 8-8 in the Big Ten, but played a brutal non-conference schedule and are tournament tested. If GMU can pull off the upset, they’ll likely face North Carolina in the second round. The Tar Heels are the defending national champions, and though they lost almost everyone from that team, their young guns have matured quickly. UNC finished second in the ACC and beat Duke — the top-ranked team in this tournament — just a few weeks ago.

Speaking of Duke, George Washington has a potential matchup with the Blue Devils in the second round of the Atlanta bracket. The 26-2 Colonials were apparently punished harshly by the committee for their first-round exit in the Atlantic Ten tournament, pulling an eight seed, and will face North Carolina-Wilmington (winners of the Colonial Athletic Association). Getting by the Seahawks on Thursday in Greensboro, North Carolina, is no sure thing, but if GW does make it through, they’d pose an interesting matchup for the ACC champs. Both teams play an up-tempo style, but GW is deeper.