Who are we kidding? “First Four” still sounds more like an educational toy than the prelude to three of the best weeks in sport.
But because of the pandemic, it’s been 710 days since last we saw the NCAA Tournament — who’s counting? — so let’s not quibble over names and go straight to the opening-night review: Pretty, pretty good.
In the finale pitting two of college hoops’ marquee programs, UCLA outlasted Michigan State 86-80 in overtime. Two other games were decided by a single point: Drake beat Wichita State 53-52, and Norfolk State squeezed Appalachian State 54-53.
In Thursday's opener, Texas Southern pulled steadily away from Mount St. Mary’s and won 60-52. The first four games were grafted onto the 64-team main bracket in 2011,