Duke, Arizona, Michigan, and defending champion Florida are the four No. 1 seeds, and are heavy favorites to win their first round matchups. In the First Four, UMBC is a slight favorite over Howard and NC State are slight favorites over Texas.
Long Island University was the first team to clinch a spot in the annual tournament. The Sharks did so by defeating Wagner in the NEC Tournament Semifinals. This was because their opponent in the championship game, Mercyhurst, is ineligible to compete in the NCAA Tournament. The Sharks earned their first spot in March Madness since combining their two campuses' athletic programs (Brooklyn and Post).