The NCAA men's basketball tournament officially got started Tuesday night, with the opening pair of First Four games, the new first round format added as part of the 2011 bracket.
On Tuesday, UNC Asheville needed overtime to get past Arkansas-Little Rock, 81-77. The Bulldogs are moving on, earning a spot in what's now being called the second round. They'll face No. 1 seed Pittsburgh Thursday at 3:!0 p.m. EDT, on truTV.
In the nightcap, a pair of bubble teams met when Clemson and UAB squared off in Dayton, and the Tigers proved that they belong in the NCAA Tournament. Clemson led from start to finish and routed the Blazers, 70-52. The No. 12 Tigers are moving on to Thursday's second round, where they will meet No. 5 West Virginia at 12:15 p.m.
Wednesday night, the First Four continued with another pair of opening round games. Texas-San Antonio held off a lat-charge from Alabama State, 70-61, to advance to the second round, where it will lose to Ohio State, the overall No. 1 seed. In the night's second game, VCU pulled away from USC late to down the Trojans, 59-46. The Rams will face Georgetown Friday afternoon.
Need a printable NCAA bracket to fill out for the tournament? Download SB Nation's March Madness Bracket.