First Four Brings Quirky Storylines to March Madness

Underdogs, overtime heroes, and a 31-win team facing skeptics highlight the First Four lineup

Mar. 18, 2026 at 2:26am

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The First Four matchups on Wednesday feature a variety of compelling storylines, from Prairie View A&M's improbable tournament run, to Lehigh's tight-knit roster, to the 31-1 Miami RedHawks facing doubters, to SMU trying to spoil the Miami homecoming. These teams capture the essence of March Madness with their unique paths to the Big Dance.

Why it matters

The First Four games often showcase the most intriguing narratives of the NCAA Tournament, highlighting the unpredictable nature of March Madness. These opening matchups showcase the tournament's ability to bring together underdogs, Cinderella stories, and teams with something to prove, setting the stage for the madness to come.

The details

Prairie View A&M, once 11-17 this season, scrambled through the SWAC tournament to earn a spot in the First Four. Lehigh, a roster without a single Division I transfer, played seven overtime games and won their conference tournament on a last-second half-court shot. The 31-1 Miami RedHawks have been a national talking point, with questions swirling about their seeding and schedule, but they'll have a home-court advantage in Dayton. Meanwhile, SMU will try to play the role of villain and spoil the Miami story.

  • Prairie View A&M was once 11-17 this season before winning seven straight games to reach the NCAA Tournament.
  • Lehigh played seven overtime games this season and won their conference tournament quarterfinal on a last-second half-court shot.

The players

Byron Smith

The head coach of Prairie View A&M, who initially had concerns about his team's ability to reach the NCAA Tournament but was won over by their quiet confidence.

Nasir Whitlock

A player for Lehigh who hit the game-winning half-court shot in the Patriot League tournament quarterfinal, saying "God put His hands on that ball, and I'll take a win."

Brett Reed

The head coach of Lehigh, who is in his 19th season with the program and sees similarities between this team's unity and the 2012 Lehigh squad that upset Duke in the NCAA Tournament.

Brant Byers

A player for the 31-1 Miami RedHawks, who has been surprised by the national attention on their team this season.

Andy Enfield

The head coach of SMU, who previously led Florida Gulf Coast's "Dunk City" team to the Sweet 16 as a No. 15 seed in 2013.

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What they’re saying

“They've said from the very beginning that we're going to be here in the NCAA tournament. I had my concerns. Obviously, when you don't win a game, I had my concerns, like, are you guys sure? They had a quiet confidence about them, and if you see them right now, they're looking at me like `Coach, why were you worried? I told you we were going to be here.'”

— Byron Smith, Head Coach, Prairie View A&M

“I didn't know it was going in. God put His hands on that ball, and I'll take a win.”

— Nasir Whitlock, Player, Lehigh

“It's been a pretty unreal experience just opening your phone and seeing a Miami logo or a picture of someone. I can't say it's something that any of us expected.”

— Brant Byers, Player, Miami

“My daughter will decide on that shirt. She's the boss in our household. Three-year-olds, if anybody has any daughters, you guys will figure out that real quick. I have a feeling she's going to pick out a different one (from what he wore at the MAC tournament loss), which is good. We might have to burn that other one. We lost a game; the world is ending in our household.”

— Travis Steele, Head Coach, Miami

“I was watching TikToks. It popped up on my page not too long ago. I took a moment just to soak that in. It's a shock. It was really lob city, Dunk City. It was actually true.”

— Corey Washington, Player, SMU

What’s next

The winner of the Miami (OH) vs. SMU matchup will advance to face the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

The First Four games showcase the unpredictable nature of March Madness, bringing together underdogs, Cinderella stories, and teams with something to prove. These quirky storylines capture the essence of the NCAA Tournament and set the stage for the madness to come.