In 2006 the Patriots reached the Final Four as an 11th seed – tying as the lowest seed to ever make it – by dispatching three former national champions on the way. GMU (26-6) won the CAA regular season with a 16-2 record but was upset in the tournament final by VCU – those same Rams easily handled USC of the Pac-10 in a First Four game on Wednesday night. A No. 8 is the highest seed the Rams have ever gotten. Their star is Cam Long, a first team CAA selection. He is the team’s top scorer (15.3 points per game) and three-point shooter (42.6 percent). Long, a senior, has a 30-point game and six 20-plus point nights to his credit this year.

The Patriots have amassed a record of 4-5 in NCAA Tournament play, including a 68-50 loss to No. 5-seed Notre Dame in the 2008, their most recent tournament action. All four of Mason's victories came during the 2006 run.

Villanova (21-11, 9-9 Big East) was in the Top 10 in the nation for a while but had that skid at the end that saw the Wildcats finish tied for ninth in the Big East. The Wildcats need star Corey Fisher to step up in the Big Dance. He leads the team, averaging 15.4 points and 4.8 assists this season and was a second-round All-Big East selection. But knee tendonitis has contributed to his inconsistent play. In the last five games, all losses, Fisher's numbers dipped to 10.8 points and 3.8 assists in 33.6 minutes per game. Villanova is making its seventh straight appearance in the NCAA tournament, making its current string of selections match the longest in school history.

These two teams have met four times previously over the years, with Villanova having a 4-0 edge. The last meeting was just last year, a 69-68 Nova win in Puerto Rico.

Madness would not be betting on the NCAA Tournament at Bodog!