Georgetown gained an easy bracket. American drew a nightmare. George Mason’s seed is just right.
No complaints here over seeds for the three local teams headed for the NCAA Tournament. The selection committee did a good job overall aside excluding Virginia Tech. The Hokies should have made it, but you can’t hide a poor RPI.
The second-seeded Hoyas couldn’t ask for a better path to the Final Four. Maryland-Baltimore County on Friday is a 20-point game. Gonzaga or Davidson on Sunday should be settled with five minutes remaining. Wisconsin would be a tough possible third-round opponent, but a potential Midwest region final versus top-seeded Kansas is the best foe for Georgetown of the four No. 1 seeds.
AU draws second-seeded Tennessee on Friday. The Eagles gained some respect from the committee as a 15th seed instead of 16th, but it doesn’t matter much. AU is one and done. No shame in it. The victory was just making the tournament. Now build on it in the coming years like Mason did.
Mason has a chance to reach the Sweet 16. The Patriots are a 12th seed, one less than their 2006 run to the Final Four regarded as the greatest underdog showing ever. Mason can beat No. 5 Notre Dame on Thursday. The Patriots could surprise No. 4 Washington State in the second round. But unlike its shocker over North Carolina two years ago, it’s lights out for Mason against the overall No. 1 seed Tar Heels in the third round.
If you have time to head to Verizon Center on Thursday and Saturday, the NCAA panel gave Washington fans some decent games. Playing in the West bracket — who knows the psychology there — it’s Duke-Belmont, West Virginia-Arizona, Xavier-Georgia and Purdue-Baylor on Thursday with winners returning Saturday.
Duke will feel like it’s playing on the opponent’s court given the Blue Devils are hated by Maryland, Virginia and Georgetown fans. Duke is overrated as a second seed. It should have been a fourth. West Virginia will beat Duke in the second round while Xavier emerges over Purdue.
If you’re filling out your bracket, my Final Four is Georgetown versus North Carolina and Memphis against West Virginia. That sets up a North Carolina-Memphis final and Memphis as national champions.
Remember, no cheating. One bracket per pool, please. If your sister beats you picking colors, so be it. Only a punk hands in sixbrackets.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
