The First Four has been around since 2011 and features the last four automatic qualifiers and last four at-large bids playing to whittle the field from 68 to 64. This year will see two 16-seed vs. 16-seed matchups and two 11-seed vs. 11-seed matchups, but don’t write these games off because they involve double-digit seeds.

SportsLine's model has nailed 24 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds and revealed its optimal NCAA Tournament bracket 2025

Spirited locker-room banter showed how much Bulls players, as pros, still cherish their college days — just in time for March Madness.