March Madness First Four is underway

The GIST: And they’re off. As you read, March Madness is underway after last night’s opening men’s First Four action, with two more games and the tip-off of the women’s First Four fun on deck tonight.

The context: The First Four features eight squads (the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams) duking it out for spots in the official 64-team men’s and women’s tourneys.

• A fun fact? First Four squads historically fare well in March Madness. Two First Four men’s squads — the 2011 VCU team and 2021 UCLA team — have advanced to the Final Four. Never say die.

Men’s: Wagner earned a No. 16 seed with their first-ever March Madness win, defeating Howard 71–68 last night, while Colorado State nabbed a No. 10 seed by throttling Virginia 67–42.

• Now March Madness begins in earnest for both teams tomorrow: Wagner has a date with No. 1 seed UNC at 2:45 p.m. ET, while Colorado State faces No. 7 seed Texas at 6:50 p.m. ET.

• But before that, there are two more men’s First Four games. Grambling State battles Montana State for a No. 16 seed tonight at 6:40 p.m. ET, before Pac-12 tourney runners-up Colorado plays Boise State at 9:10 p.m. ET with a No. 10 seed on the line.

Women’s: The women’s First Four begins with tonight’s 7 p.m. ET No. 16 seed battle between Sacred Heart and March Madness first-timer Presbyterian. Then all eyes will be on the 9 p.m. ET fight for a No. 12 seed between Vanderbilt and Cinderella story Columbia, who are led by inspiring senior Abbey Hsu (pronounced SHOO).

• And last but not least, the First Four rounds out tomorrow with No. 11 seeds Auburn and familiar March Madness face Arizona battling at 7 p.m. ET, and No. 16 seeds Holy Cross and UT Martin at 9 p.m. ET. All the hoops, please.