The final matchup of the First Four belongs to Xavier and Texas, who take the court at 9:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 19. It’s the second time the two teams have met in the tournament. In 2023, Texas and Xavier met in the Sweet 16, and the Longhorns delivered a 83-71 victory to improve to the Elite Eight.

Both USC and UConn have strong cases to make it to the Final Four, and win a national championship, but with Paige Bueckers starring a professional basketball career in the face, and UConn without a national title in a decade, the sense of urgency should favor the Huskies.