It starts at 12:20 p.m. this afternoon. Tip-off. For some, the pinnacle of sports fandom rests in these next few days. They are epic: 12 hour days that capture some of the very reasons why we watch sports. The NCAA Tournament has the most exhaustive field in major U.S. sports, giving 65 teams a shot at glory in the national spotlight. Year after year, the Big Dance provides buzzer beaters, star turns, Cinderella stories and clashes of titans.

This year, area fans are spoiled by the inclusion of three local and seven regional teams in the field of 65. To kick things off, we’re going to analyze the chances of the three local teams. There’s GW, whose 11-seed was famously occupied by last year’s Cinderella, George Mason. Will Mason’s slipper fit their cross-river colleagues? Then there is Maryland, a team eager to match its 2002 championship triumph. Could they be this year’s Snow White*? Lastly, we have Georgetown, the powerhouse whose momentum has some experts believing they can go all the way. Do they have what it takes to be King**?

We’ll break it down for you, sans Disney references, after the jump.

*Snow White was once a princess. Then she had to live with the dwarves, which is kind of like making the NIT. She eventually becomes a princess again.
**Lion King, that is. Georgetown has a proud lineage, and is comprised of maturing players that were destined to be great. Just like Simba!