Cool’ start to best month

WHY DO I love this time of year? Because a seventhseeded afterthought from Stony Brook can end up one shot from sending Long Island dancing. Because a six-day span can transform a sub-.500, six-seed from Wagner into Staten Island’s first NCAA Tournament team in 21 years.

Because any sport bold enough to ignore an entire season for the sake of instant gratification should take a bow.

Georgetown (+11) over Providence: The Friars need a win to feel optimistic entering Selection Sunday. They should secure it, facing a team whose only wins in the new year have come against DePaul. But this game may be even more meaningful for Ed Cooley, who has absorbed a mountain of criticism and derision since leaving his hometown team for D.C. It wasn’t a coincidence that the underequipped Hoyas kept it close for most of their two regular-season meetings against Providence. Cooley hasn’t forgotten how to coach.

Virginia Tech (-3) over Florida State: With time running low and the season on the line, the disparity in free-throw shooting — the Hokies are ranked sixth in the nation, while the Seminoles are 265th — will steal the spotlight.

Texas (-4.5) over Kansas State: The Longhorns haven’t played to their potential this season, but Max Abmas — whose first of two NCAA Tournament trips produced Oral Roberts’ Cinderella run to the Sweet 16 — is made for March.

Lehigh (+7) over COLGATE: Matt Langel’s team is in a familiar spot, but this version of the reigning Patriot League champs isn’t built to run away with the title game. The Raiders’ offense is their worst in seven years and playing at the nation’s 303rd-slowest pace.

DePaul (+23.5) over Villanova: The Blue Demons are an embarrassment to basketball. They should have been banished from the Big East years ago. But their annual struggles often pay off with house money at this time of year, having pulled outright upsets in the conference tournament opener in three of the past four years. It’s a good bet that Villanova — the league’s greatest underachiever — has already begun planning for a season-defining quarterfinal matchup with Marquette.

Last season: 30-25-3

2011-23 record: 349-308-12