Now that everyone has had a day or two to live with the selection committee's bracket, it is finally time to start playing some games. The first big day of the tournament is on Thursday, when we will have a full slate of action.
However, on Tuesday and Wednesday night we will see two play-in games, otherwise known as the First Four. Two of the matchups will be between 16 seeds who will likely lose their next game against a one seed, but they still can have the satisfaction of having won an NCAA tournament game. The other two games are between 11 seeds that will be playing for the right to take on a six seed.
In the past, teams that have come out of the First Four have gone on deep runs, so these games are certainly not without meaning. Without further ado here is your preview for all four games.
Tuesday night:
Florida Gulf Coast vs. Fairleigh Dickinson (6:40 Eastern time)
Florida Gulf Coast is best known for that amazing run they went on in the tournament a couple of years ago when they were hailed as "Dunk City." This year, the team isn't quite as good as they finished second in the Atlantic Sun, but you never know. The player to watch for the Eagles is Marc Eddy Norelia, who leads the team in scoring (17.2 points per game) and rebounding (9.2 rebounds per game).
Fairleigh Dickinson, on the other hand, finished second in the NEC this season before upsetting top-seeded Wagner in the championship game of their tournament. FDU's record is just 18-14, but they are battle tested as they have faced Villanova and Temple this year, (both losses) two teams that are in the tournament field. The player to watch for the Knights is sophomore guard Darian Anderson, who leads the team in scoring (15.4 points per game) and assists (3.7 per game).
Vanderbilt vs. Wichita State (9:10 Eastern time approximately)
This is being considered one of the best games in the history of the First Four and there are many people picking the winner of this game to beat Arizona in the next round. Vanderbilt is loaded with talent, but has underperformed for the most part this year. Wichita State is an experienced team that has had success in the tournament before, but struggled early on due to injuries. Wichita State is the slight favorite over Vanderbilt in this one.
The player to watch for the Commodores is sophomore guard Wade Baldwin IV. Baldwin leads the team with 14.3 points per game and knocks down threes at a 41 percent clip. For the Shockers, the player to watch is Ron Baker. Star point guard Fred VanVleet had a down year due to injuries and other factors, so Baker led the team with his 14.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Wednesday night:
Holy Cross vs. Southern (6:40 Eastern time)
Holy Cross is the most surprising automatic qualifier in the field as they have a record of just 14-19 and were just 10-19 before the Patriot League conference tournament. Holy Cross finished the regular season in second-to-last place in the conference during the regular season but they come in hot. Junior forward Malachi Alexander leads the Crusaders with his 12.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and makes 43 percent of his threes, so he is who Southern will have to focus on.
Southern's record is much better than Holy Cross (22-12), but they too were not expected to make the NCAA tournament. Southern finished fourth in the regular season in the SWAC but beat the one and three seeds on the way to the conference tournament championship. The Jaguars did beat some major conference teams this year - Mississippi State, Tulane and Wyoming - so they are a threat and come in as the favorites. Their player to watch is senior guard Adrian Rodgers as he leads the team with 16.6 points per game and also grabs 5.4 rebounds per game.
Michigan vs. Tulsa (9:10 Eastern time approximately)
Michigan may have earned its bid into this tournament with its win over Indiana in the first round of the Big Ten tournament. The Wolverines are a talented bunch, but they have been without their best player for most of the season in Caris LeVert. Michigan comes into this game as the favorite and keep your eye on Derrick Walton, Jr. The junior guard may be the team's most important player as he does a little bit of everything. If he makes shots, the Wolverines could be a threat in this tournament.
Tulsa was the most debated entries in the tournament. Nobody expected it to get in, but here it is. The Golden Hurricane are coming off a 22-point loss to Memphis in the AAC tournament, but they finished the season 20-11 and tied for third in the conference. Senior guard James Woodard leads the team in scoring (15.6 points per game) and is also a very good three-point shooter (36 percent) so he is the guy Michigan should be keying on.
These First Four games will air on truTV but to watch them online head on over here and enjoy all of the action.
