The 2012 NCAA Tournament's First Four will pit eight of the most marginal teams selected to the 68-team field against each other for four spots in the second round of 64 teams, and it will take place in Dayton, Ohio, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, March's madness truly tips off with Western Kentucky taking on Mississippi Valley State and Iona matching up with BYU.
The Hilltoppers and Delta Devils are No. 16 seeds, and maybe most notable for their outstanding match-up of monikers. Even with a win on Tuesday, neither team is likely to be the first No. 16 to topple a No. 1 on Thursday, especially considering that No. 1 is top overall seed Kentucky.
The second First Four game on Tuesday is likely to be one of the most fast-paced contests of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Both No. 14 Iona and No. 14 BYU love to run, and then run, and possibly run a bit more, and each could conceivably threaten triple digits in points on the night.
Here's the full 2012 NCAA Tournament schedule for Tuesday:
First Four
South Region
No. 16 Western Kentucky vs. No. 16 Mississippi Valley State, 6:40 p.m. Eastern (truTV). Winner plays No. 1 Kentucky on Thursday.
West Region
No. 14 Iona vs. No. 14 BYU, 9:10 p.m. Eastern (truTV). Winner plays No. 3 Marquette on Thursday.
For more on the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket, stay with SB Nation's Selection Sunday StoryStream, and stick around SB Nation's NCAA Tournament hub for a complete printable NCAA Tournament bracket and tons of analysis on who was snubbed, who got the best bracket, and who will make it all the way to New Orleans and the Final Four.