MIDWEST REGIONAL AT A GLANCE

* How they got here: No. 1 Massachusetts struggled at times--doesn’t it always?--in victories over Central Florida and Stanford. The Minutemen know about crunch time, having won four games in overtime, and are 5-0 against teams still in the tournament--Kentucky, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Louisville. No. 12 Arkansas ignored the hue and cry about it not deserving a bid with an 18-12 record and then drop-kicked No. 5 Penn State and No. 4 Marquette with four freshman starters. Despite 28 regular-season victories, No. 3 Texas Tech had to shatter a backboard and bring down a legend to get some respect. The Red Raiders did nothing to sway naysayers with a one-point first-round squeaker over Northern Illinois, but left their calling card by beating Dean Smith’s Tar Heels by 19. No. 2 Georgetown undressed Mississippi Valley State, then sent New Mexico screaming back to the WAC.

* Difference maker: Georgetown’s Allen Iverson, sophomore guard. He can single-handedly get the Hoyas to the Final Four and create his own highlight reel on the way.

* Four questions: Can UMass’ Marcus Camby, who has made only 62 of 157 shots (39%) in his last nine games, break out of his shooting slump? Can Arkansas pull off another shocker with four freshmen, including point guard Kareem Reid? Will Texas Tech cool off after shooting 59% against North Carolina? If Iverson fouls out, can Georgetown guard Victor Page come to the rescue as he did in the Big East Tournament, in which he was the MVP?

* Looking forward to: UMass vs. Georgetown would be a game of national championship caliber, and the Minutemen’s stiffest test until a possible Final Four showdown against Kentucky.

* Glimpse at the coaches: UMass’ John Calipari is the one with the motto, “Refuse to lose,” and also the one who was relieved when his team lost to George Washington. Arkansas’ Nolan Richardson is the one making his sixth Sweet 16 appearance of the 1990s. Texas Tech’s James Dickey is the one who would need a name tag at a coach’s convention. Georgetown’s John Thompson is the one who hasn’t won a national title since 1984, but sometimes acts as if he has.

* How it shakes out: UMass and Georgetown, no contest. Experience has to come into play at some point, so the pick is UMass over Arkansas. Georgetown-Texas Tech? The heart says Red Raiders, the head says Hoyas.

* Final prediction: Georgetown over UMass as Iverson dribbles through Camby’s legs to make the game-winning basket.