Gators, Wildcats, Shockers earn top billing

EDDIE PELLS

Florida is the overall top seed in the NCAA tournament, and will be joined on the '1' line by Arizona and Wichita State.

The selection committee released its pairings Sunday, not long after the Gators defeated Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference tournament final to bring their winning streak to 26 games

Florida is seeded first in the South. On Thursday, the Gators play the winner of a First Four game between Albany and St. Mary's.

Arizona got top billing in the West despite losing to UCLA in the Pac-12 final Saturday. The Wildcats will open Friday against Weber State.

Wichita State is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest — a region that includes Michigan and Louisville, who joined the Shockers in the Final Four last year. The Wolverines were seeded second and the defending-champion Cardinals were fourth.

Kansas earned the No. 2 seed in the South and Wisconsin was No. 2 in the West.

First Four matchups involving bubble teams are Iowa against Tennessee and North Carolina State against Xavier.