While the person running your office bracket pool may insist that the NCAA Tournament begins on Thursday, there are eight teams that beg to differ.
The 2013 NCAA Tournament officially tips off on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio with the "First Four." Spread across two nights, the "First Four" includes four games and eight teams that just landed a spot in the field of 68. The winners advance to second round, which most people consider the "first round"
Of course, the presence of 20-loss Liberty in the opening game of the first round might not force longtime tourney viewers and bracketologists to adjust their habits just yet.
That doesn't matter to Liberty coach Dale Layer, who said he doesn't care who his Flames play after winning the Big South Conference Tournament title.
After the Liberty tangles with North Carolina A&T in the opener, Saint Mary's takes on Middle Tennessee State for a chance to play No. 6 Memphis. The Gaels and Blue Raiders both hope the First Four can be their launching pad for journey to the Final Four. VCU navigated the unlikely route from Dayton to the Final Four in 2011. Can any team in this group follow their lead?
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