where the fate of the NCAA Division I 64 teams hangs in the balance. Regional play, a double-elimination format, intensifies this Saturday, setting the scene for a high-stakes win-or-go-home game.

Since 2011, the NCAA tournament welcomes 68 teams each year. But to get to 64, we first have to play the First Four. In those games, the last four automatic qualifiers and the last four at-large ...

The First Four is a play-in tournament to reduce the field of 68 teams by four, setting the final 64-team field for ... three more play-in games. Prior to that, the NCAA held just one play-in ...