TAMPA, Fla. (WWSB) – The first round of March Madness for NCAA Men’s College Basketball begins today in Tampa, with the first of four games tipping off at Benchmark International Arena.
Fans poured into the arena ahead of the first game, with music playing and excitement building before tipoff.
Four teams from Florida made the March Madness field this year: the UCF Knights, USF Bulls, Miami Hurricanes and Florida Gators.
USF Bulls’ season ends with first-round NCAA tournament loss to Louisville
The Bulls were eliminated from the tournament after losing 83-79 to Louisville in their matchup Thursday.
Benchmark International Arena will host eight teams for the first two rounds of the tournament.
Texas Tech takes on Akron in the first game this afternoon, followed by Alabama against Austria. Clemson faces Iowa in the evening, and the Florida Gators take on Prairie View A&M in the final matchup. The Gators are the number one seed out of the South region.
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