NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WAFF) – March Madness begins for four Alabama men’s basketball programs, who learned their NCAA Tournament opponents on Sunday evening.
Auburn and Alabama were seeded fourth in their respective regions. Meanwhile, for the first time in 25 years, both Birmingham teams, Samford and UAB, get to the tournament.
The Auburn Tigers won the SEC title Sunday afternoon, defeating the Florida Gators 86-67 and ensuring a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers finished the regular season with a 27-7 record and will play Yale (29-9) in the first round of the Eastern Regional.
Meanwhile, despite falling early in the SEC Tournament, Alabama (21-12) had a great regular season, which helped them earn the No. 4 seed in the West Region. Alabama will begin March Madness against the No. 13 seed College of Charleston.
The first two games will be played in Spokane, Washington. Auburn’s game starts at 3:15 p.m. Alabama at 6:30 p.m.
Two Birmingham teams are heading to the tournament. UAB won the AAC Championship this afternoon, earning an automatic invitation. The Blazers will also go to Washington, where they will face San Diego State, the fifth seed.
If both Auburn and UAB win, they will face off in round two.
Samford is packed their bags for Salt Lake City, Utah, after winning the Southern Conference on Monday. The Bulldogs will face the No. 4 seeded Kansas Jayhawks.
