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Watch: The official start of NCAA March Madness 2023
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: The official start of NCAA March Madness 2023

By Andrew Kulha  |  Last updated 3/14/23

It's the most wonderful time of the year if you're a college hoops fan. March Madness is finally here. The brackets are hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Sister Jean soon would be there.

The action will tip-off in earnest on Thursday morning with the start of the first round, but in the meantime, there are "First Four" games to be played, which means Southeast Missouri State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi got to officially kick the tournament off.

Here's what it looked like:

It may not look like much, but these are two of the eight teams fighting for the chance to get into the first round.

In the South, SEMO and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi are battling for the opportunity to face the tournament's No. 1 overall seed Alabama. Good luck with that, friends.

In the Midwest, Mississippi State and Pitt will play for the chance to face the sixth seeded Iowa State Cyclones. 

In the West, Arizona State and Nevada are fighting for a chance to play sixth seeded TCU. 

In the East, top seeded Purdue will be waiting for the winner of Texas Southern and Fairleigh Dickinson. 

More must-reads:

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