LOS ANGELES — When USC faces Providence in an NCAA Tournament play-in game Wednesday night in Dayton, Ohio, it will not be the first time the Trojans have appeared in the so-called “First Four.”
In 2011, USC also was one of the last teams to grab an at-large berth in the tournament and met VCU there.
It was the first season that the setup had been implemented, serving as an added preliminary round to take place mid-week due to the tournament’s expansion to 68 teams.
The last four teams to be given at-large bids by the selection committee are paired up, with another victory needed in order to make the first round, a matchup held elsewhere later in the week.
MEN'S BASKETBALL Trojans looking to emulate 'First Four' teams that had lengthy NCAA runs
