The First Four games in the NCAA Tournament have come to an end, narrowing down the field to 64 teams. North Carolina and West Virginia led the list of winners, while several 16-seed teams faced early exits.
The Tar Heels defeated San Diego State 95-68, quieting critics who questioned their selection. Meanwhile, West Virginia lost its first game in the Big 12 Tournament to Colorado, further muddying the waters surrounding the Mountaineers’ tournament hopes.
The history of First Four games suggests that teams winning these play-in matches can make a deep run in the tournament. VCU and UCLA have both advanced to the Final Four after winning their respective First Four games.
In other news, North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham is set to receive a bonus for his team’s NCAA selection, with potential earnings of over $75,000. However, his presence on the selection committee has raised questions about bias and its impact on the tournament selection process.
The 16-seed teams that faced early exits included St. Francis and American, both of whom lost their play-in games to Alabama State and Mount St. Mary’s, respectively. San Diego State also underperformed against North Carolina, suggesting that it may be the team most people forgot about in Selection Sunday.
With the First Four out of the way, the focus shifts to the main event: March Madness. The winners from this week’s games will face higher-seeded teams in the first round, with many fans eagerly awaiting their matchups.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2025/03/20/march-madness-first-four-bracket-north-carolina/82545800007