A year ago, Fairleigh Dickinson made headlines as one of the most surprising bracket-busters in NCAA Tournament history. The 16th-seeded Knights, despite being one of the shortest teams in the tournament, pulled off a historic upset by defeating No. 1 seed Purdue 63-58. This victory marked only the second time a No. 16 seed had beaten a top-seeded team, showcasing the unpredictable nature of March Madness.
This year's First Four features intriguing matchups, including Wagner facing Howard in a bid to advance as the No. 16 seed in the West Region against top-seeded North Carolina. Colorado and Colorado State, both with 24-10 records, will also clash in the First Four. Colorado, the Pac-12 Tournament runner-up, will take on Boise State, while Colorado State will face ACC regular Virginia.
For Wagner, a school with around 2,000 students on Staten Island, this NCAA Tournament appearance ends a 21-year drought. Howard, their opponent, aims for a better showing this time around after a strong finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament.
Grambling State is set to make its first NCAA Tournament appearance after securing the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles. The team will face Montana State, which rallied from a 13-17 record to win the Big Sky Tournament championship and secure a spot in the tournament for the third consecutive year.
These matchups offer a mix of underdog stories and redemption arcs, highlighting the competitive spirit and unpredictability that define March Madness. As teams gear up for the tournament, fans can expect thrilling games and potential upsets that make this annual event a must-watch for college basketball enthusiasts.
