Regular season and tournament Big East champions, Boston College is a quick, aggressive team that believes it has a lot to prove, but won't be burdened with lofty expectations. On the rise, too, is Maryland, No. 3 in the West. The Terps went into a shell in midseason. Now that they're hot again, they have the look of a Final Four contender. Except that everytime great things are expected of them, the Terps tumble.
Traditional wisdom holds that the West is the easiest region.
If so, maybe Maryland can take advantage. After the Terps trample George Mason, they will meet the winner of Wisconsin and Georgia State, coached by former Maryland legend Lefty Driesell. That's the kind of early round game the media love to promote. It doesn't have to be that way. College basketball's history is full of teams that were rejuvenated in the tournament.