NCAA Tournament - First Four

The 2011 NCAA Tournament officially tips off Tuesday night with the inaugural "First Four" games. These games will be played Tuesday and Wednesday night. The games feature the bottom 4 conference champion winners squaring versus one another, and the bottom 4 at-large teams versus one another. Tuesday night's games are UNC-Asheville playing Arkansas-Little Rock in the early matchup, and night cap will be Clemson versus controversial at-large pick UAB.

16 UNC-Asheville -3.5 vs. 16 Arkansas-Little Rock

UNC-Asheville and Arkansas-Little Rock square off in the first game of the expanded 68 team field in Dayton, Ohio. Asheville got here virtue of the Big South championship, while Little Rock took home the Sun Belt title. With 8 teams playing in Dayton over the next 2 nights, this game has more of a tournament game feel than the previous "play-in" game. Both team are eager for the chance to move on to Washington, DC and play the Pittsburgh Panthers - but they know they must win this one first. The Bulldogs of UNC-Asheville have rattled off 6 consecutive wins to reach the tourney for the first time since 2003. Arkansas-Little Rock made a surprising run through the Sun Belt Tournament capped by conference Player of the Year, Solomon Bozeman's game-winning 3 with one second remaining in the title game. Look for a slow start from both teams, but for Asheville to eventually impose its will.

Prediction - UNC-Asheville 68 Arkansas-Little Rock 59

12 Clemson -4.5 vs. 12 UAB

This game features two teams that many feel don't deserve to be here. Clemson hasn't heard quite as much, but the Tigers went just 2-7 versus tournament teams in the regular season with their wins coming against Florida St. and Wofford. Meanwhile, UAB's admission into the tournament has been described as laughable. Despite winning the regular season title in Conference USA, the Blazers went just 1-5 versus tournament teams. UAB fell off many pundits' radars after an opening game loss to East Carolina in their conference tournament. Both teams have a point to prove in Dayton. There was a lack of big time wins for either team, but that does not mean there is a shortage of talent. Demontez Stitt of Clemson will be the most talented of the bunch on Tuesday night. Look for him to take control of the game and lead the Tigers to a victory and a shot at West Virginia on Thursday in Tampa.

Prediction - Clemson 65 UAB 60