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Selection Sunday: Both UC, Xavier to play in Nashville

By: WCPO Staff

Posted

and last updated

CINCINNATI -- You ready for Cincy, Nashville?

After much speculation, it was officially announced the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University will both play their first NCAA Tournament games in Nashville.

The Bearcats got the No. 2 seed in the South Region and will face No. 15 Georgia State at 2 p.m. Friday.

The reaction from the #Bearcats as they found out where they were headed for #MarchMadness.#SelectionSunday pic.twitter.com/xGn2flHujO
— Cincinnati Men’s Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) March 11, 2018

Xavier scored the top seed in the West Region for the first time in school history. The Muskies will take on the winner of a Wednesday "First Four" game between North Carolina Central and Texas Southern at 7:40 p.m. Friday.

When you find out you’re heading to Nashville! #LetsDance #SelectionSunday pic.twitter.com/Y8TVx8GnQa
— Xavier Basketball (@XavierMBB) March 11, 2018

Brackets for the 2018 NCAA Tournament were officially announced at 6 p.m. on Selection Sunday.

The Bracket: https://t.co/Jr1kdnP4HV #SelectionSunday pic.twitter.com/ynxB0hfOso
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 11, 2018

Xavier fans were in need of good news after the 75-72 loss to Providence in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament Friday. The Muskies made the Elite Eight last year as a No. 11 seed.

No. 8 Cincinnati topped Houston 56-55 Sunday thanks to senior Gary Clark’s free throw and a Houston turnover in the final seconds. The win marked the team’s first conference tournament title since 2004.

UC was a No. 6 seed in the tournament last year and lost to UCLA in the second round.

As No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, the odds of advancing to the second-round Sunday are heavily in Xavier's and UC's favor. A No. 16 seed has never beaten a No. 1 seed. No. 15 seeds are 8-124 against No. 2 seeds.

Xavier and UC would face each other in the semifinals if both teams get to the final Four.

No. 5 Ohio State University will also be dancing this year. The Buckeyes will take on No. 12 South Dakota State in Boise, Idaho.

✈️ Hello Boise!
We'll be taking on @GoJacksMBB in the first round of #MarchMadness❗#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/4fD4FaDops
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) March 11, 2018

The No. 5 University of Kentucky Wildcats will also travel to Boise Thursday to take on No. 12 Davidson in the first round.

#LetsDance #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/2shx52bNIa
— Kentucky Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 11, 2018

No. 14 Wright State will face No. 3 Tennessee in Dallas Thursday.

Wright State earns a #14 seed, facing #3 seed Tennessee on Thursday in Dallas! #NCAATournament #SelectionSunday #RaiderUp #thatsWright pic.twitter.com/vaYnj8V5dY
— Wright State University (Dayton, OH) (@wrightstate) March 11, 2018

Though Northern Kentucky University didn't make it to the Big Dance, the Norse will take on the University of Louisville in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament. NKU, a No. 7 seed, plays the No. 2 Cardinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Yum Center.

See the NIT bracket.