SITE: Cleveland

TIME: 2:10 p.m. EDT.

TV: TNT

ANNOUNCERS: Gus Johnson play-by-play, Len Elmore analyst

THE SPREAD: Villanova by 1

RECORDS: George Mason 26-6, Villanova 21-11

ENROLLMENTS: George Mason 32,067; Villanova 6,240.

THE BUZZ: Villanova stumbles into the tourney having lost five in a row and nine of 13. Can the Wildcats regain their footing, or do they just want this season to be over? Villanova has as talented a quartet of guards as there is in the nation, but chemistry appears questionable and you wonder if the players truly ever accepted their roles. Mason shoots the 3-pointer well, plays solid defense and works the boards hard. G Cam Long is the Patriots’ best player, and his size (6-4/187) could give ‘Nova some problems. Mason has a short bench – just six guys average double-digit minutes – and Villanova has the ability to wear you down defensively. If, that is, the Wildcats still care.