Georgetown was sputtering back in November, until coach John Thompson III made DaJuan Summers a starter. A year ago, the 6-8 Summers was at McDonogh. Now, the Hoyas are the chic pick, over North Carolina, in the East.
paul.mcmullen@baltsun.com
Breakdown
TERPS' TRAIL
If the bracket holds up, Maryland's second-round foe would be Butler, which has gotten a major boost from Mike Green, a transfer from Towson. The Terps would face defending champion Florida in the Sweet 16 and Wisconsin in the regional final.
STRONGEST REGIONAL
West: UCLA reached the 2006 championship game. It's the No. 2 seed in this regional, where the 8-9 game is Kentucky against Villanova.
WEAKEST REGIONAL
South: Coming off losses to Wake Forest and N.C. State, Virginia has an RPI of 55, normally NIT territory. It's the No. 4 seed here.
SOMETHING WE SAID?
Air Force, Florida State, Syracuse and West Virginia are among the teams left out. None has as big a gripe as Drexel, which won at Villanova and Syracuse.
THIS YEAR'S MASON?
George Mason reached the Final Four as an 11th seed last season. The teams on that line this time are George Washington, Stanford, Virginia Commonwealth and Winthrop.
THIS YEAR'S 'MELO?
Syracuse was a No. 3 seed when it followed Carmelo Anthony to the title in 2003. Texas, seeded fourth in the East, has a similarly charismatic, precocious talent in Kevin Durant, who would be a shoo-in for national Player of the Year if he weren't a freshman.
Paul McMullen
