NEW ORLEANS (AP)- Despite losing the SEC tournament final to Vanderbilt 71-64 yesterday, the Kentucky Wildcats have secured the No. 1 overall seed and top ranking in the South Regional of the 68-team NCAA Division I men's basketball field announced yesterday. Kentucky will play Thursday against the winner of Tuesday's Mississippi Valley State/Western Kentucky first round game.
ATLANTA (AP) - Similarly, the North Carolina Tar Heels fell to Florida State 85-82 in the ACC tournament final but still snared the No. 1 seed in Midwest Regional. The Tar Heels' first NCAA tournament action will come Friday in Greensboro, N.C., when they play the winner of the Vermont/Lamar first round game.
UNDATED (AP) - Syracuse, which fell in the semifinals of the Big East tournament, nevertheless was rewarded with the top seed in the East Regional. The Orange open up Thursday in Pittsburgh against North Carolina-Asheville.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The only No. 1 seed coming into the NCAA tournament off a victory is Michigan State. Tom Izzo's Spartans won their first Big Ten tournament title since their 2000 national championship season by knocking off No. 7 Ohio State 68-64 behind Brandon Wood's 24 points.
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) --The 67-game NCAA tournament gets started with a pair of doubleheaders Tuesday and Wednesday night in the "First Four" games in Dayton, Ohio. BYU, a Sweet 16 team last year, plays Iona and Mississippi Valley State takes on Western Kentucky Tuesday night while Wednesday night's twinbill features Lamar vs. Vermont and South Florida taking on Cal.
