Jeff Green arrived at Georgetown’s NCAA Tournament Selection Show viewing party Sunday without the T-shirt, hat and watch he won the evening before at Madison Square Garden. The Hoyas junior forward had already given his Big East championship gear to his father.
“That’s the past,” said the Big East tourney MVP after hearing the Hoyas earned a No. 2 seed and will face Atlantic Sun Conference champion Belmont in Winston-Salem, N.C., in Thursday’s first round.
CBS analyst Seth Davis called Georgetown, “One of the best No. 2 seeds I’ve ever seen,” and claimed the Hoyas have an easy bracket.
“I don’t know how they got that thought that we have an easy road to get wherever they think we’re going to get, but I feel like the first round is going to be tough against Belmont,” said Green.
Hoyas coach John Thompson III said he doesn’t mind playing where the East Region’s top seed, North Carolina, will be the hometown favorite. Players echoed the sentiment.
“I like that, the whole arena’s going to be against you, and we get a backdoor cut,” said Georgetown junior center Roy Hibbert. “It’s going to be nice.”
Maryland and Virginia each drew No. 4 seeds. This despite the Terrapins’ loss to Miami in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament’s first round.
“I think we earned the four seed,” said Maryland head coach Gary Williams. “We won seven of our last eight. Our league was rated the best league all year in power ratings. I think our 10-6 record in league play is probably the biggest reason.”
The Cavaliers face No. 13 Albany in Columbus where Virginia Tech, a No. 5 seed, will meet Illinois.
Fresh off its Atlantic 10 title, George Washington earned a No. 11 seed, but must travel to Sacramento, Calif., for a first-round game against No. 7 Vanderbilt.
The underdog Colonials can exorcise some demons after suffering two key early season losses on the West Coast.
“It’s some nice weather,” said Colonials senior guard Carl Elliott. “We’re going to have a couple days to get prepared for Vandy, and then try to win a basketball game. As long as we rebound and play defense, we’ll be fine.”
