Dayton and the NCAA Tournament: A History of Firsts and Memorable Runs

The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament is a highly anticipated annual event, and the city of Dayton, Ohio, has played a significant role in its history, particularly with the First Four games. This article delves into the history of Dayton's involvement with the NCAA Tournament, focusing on the First Four and the performances of the Dayton Flyers.

The Genesis of the First Four

The First Four is a play-in round of the NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments. The game was conceived after the Mountain West Conference, which had been formed in 1999 following the split of the Western Athletic Conference, was given an automatic bid for its conference champion, which made it the 31st conference to receive an automatic berth into the men's tournament. Unlike the women's tournament, which accommodated this change by eliminating an at-large bid to keep their field at 64 teams, the organizers of the men's tournament elected to keep their at-large entries at 34.

In 2011, the NCAA tournament expanded to 68 teams, and the First Four was created to trim the number of teams from 68 to 64 for the first round. Upon the adoption of this format, the opening round games were now referred to as the "first round games", and the round of 64-the tournament's first round proper-was now referred to as the "second round".

Prior to the proposal of expansion, Syracuse University coach Jim Boeheim had advocated for an expansion of the tournament from 64 to 76 teams, which would include four opening round games for all of the 16th and also added opening-round games for the 14th- and 15th-seeded teams. The expansion of play in games faced logistical challenges and lukewarm acceptance from then-NCAA President Myles Brand and the corporate and media partners of the NCAA.

The First Four Format

In its current format, the First Four consists of eight teams - the four lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the four lowest-seeded at-large teams. Two games played between the four lowest-ranked teams (usually the four lowest-ranked conference champions) (No. 65 vs. No. 66; No. 67 vs. No. From 2011 to 2015, the NCAA officially referred to these games as the "first round" of the tournament; it believed that the use of terms such as "play-in game" would diminish their stature, since they are considered official tournament games.

The teams are not the eight lowest-ranked teams in the field; the four lowest-ranked at-large teams usually have higher rankings among the entire field of 68 than several of the automatic-bid teams coming from the smaller conferences. The four games are held to determine which teams will assume a place in the first round. Unlike other early games in the tournament, the teams are not matched with disparity intended. Rather, equality governs match-ups (e.g., in one game, two teams-usually two of the four lowest-ranked automatic-bid teams-might play for a No. 16 seeding in the first round, while in another game, two teams-usually two of the four lowest-ranked at-large teams-are usually trying to advance as a No.

While most NCAA tournament games are played Thursday through Sunday (with the final game on a Monday), the First Four games are played earlier in the first week, between Selection Sunday and the First Round on Thursday and Friday. As of 2017, two games are played on the Tuesday following Selection Sunday, and the remaining two are played on Wednesday. Once the First Four games are played, the four winning teams assume their places in the bracket of 64 teams, and must play again later that week, with little rest. The two Tuesday winners are paired with their next opponent on Thursday; and, the Wednesday winners play on Friday.

Dayton: The Home of the First Four

Since its inception, the First Four of the men's tournament has always been hosted at the University of Dayton, in Dayton Ohio, except in 2021, when the entire tournament was moved to the state of Indiana due to COVID-19 concerns. Unless noted otherwise, the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, has hosted all games.

The opening-round games have also been criticized as a handicap for teams among the historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In every game from 2002 to 2010, one team was an HBCU, and at least one HBCU (two in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024) has participated in every First Four.

The NCAA acknowledges the Dayton region’s commitment to the First Four by extending hosting agreement through at least 2028. The Dayton region produces a first-ever First Four sellout as part of 10-conseuctive games played in front of a sold out crowd during the opening week of the NCAA Tournament. The Local Organizing Committee hosts the first-ever First Four Festival which draws 15,000 on Selection Sunday to downtown Dayton.

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Memorable Moments in Dayton

A first-ever visit from the US President, British Prime Minister & Ohio governor join fans from the Dayton region at UD Arena on the first night of the NCAA Tournament in March 2012. UD Arena becomes the first-ever host site to surpass 100 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament games hosted in March 2013.

Impact and Significance

The games are prominent by attracting viewers on nights on which no other NCAA games are played. ESPN, which had not shown NCAA Tournament games since the early rounds of the 1989 tournament, then signed a deal to show the Opening Round game beginning in 2002. With the transition to the new CBS/Turner contract and the new First Four format in 2011, the round has been broadcast exclusively by TruTV.

Despite the term play-in being used colloquially, the loser of the opening round game was still considered to have been in the tournament, as both teams met the qualifications for "automatic tournament entry" as stated in the NCAA bylaws. At first, only the loser received credit for being in the game for purposes of its conference receiving a share of the NCAA Division I "basketball fund"; however, starting with the 2008 tournament, both teams received credit for playing.

Success Stories from the First Four

With the exceptions of 2019 and 2025, at least one of the men's First Four winners has advanced past the First Round of the tournament every year since the format's inception. All winners in the inaugural women's First Four in 2022 lost their First Round games.

The standard-bearers are the 2011 VCU and 2021 UCLA squads, which are the No. 11 seeds that made it to the Final Four after starting in the First Four.

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VCU's Unlikely Run in 2011

In the first 68-team field, No. 11 VCU knocked off No. 11 seed USC in the First Four, then downed No. 6 seed Georgetown, No. 3 seed Purdue, No. 10 seed Florida State and No. 1 seed Kansas to reach the Final Four, where they fell to No. VCU was the only team to go from the First Four to the Final Four until 2021. The 2011 First Four consisted of UTSA, Clemson, UNC Asheville, VCU, Alabama State, UAB, Arkansas-Little Rock and Southern California.

UCLA's Cinderella Story in 2021

In 2021, UCLA overcame an 11-point halftime deficit to beat Michigan State in the First Four to win in overtime. That set up a magical run where the Bruins knocked off No. 6 BYU, No. 14 Abilene Christian, No. 2 Alabama and No. 1 Michigan to advance to the Final Four, where the Bruins lost in overtime to No.

Dayton Flyers in the NCAA Tournament (2014-2024)

Wondering how the Dayton Flyers have performed in the NCAA Tournament recently? Read on for the Flyers' year-by-year performances from the last 10 years of March Madness.

Appearances: 5
Most recent appearance: 2024
Games played: 11 (6-5)
Highest seed: 7
Lowest seed: 11
Best finish: Elite Eight

Dayton NCAA Tournament Record (since 2014)

2024

Seed: 7
Overall record: 1-1
How far they went: Second Round
Who they beat: No. 10 Nevada
Who they lost to: No. 2 Arizona, 78-68

2017

Seed: 7
Overall record: 0-1
How far they went: First Round
Who they lost to: No. 10 Wichita State, 64-58

2016

Seed: 7
Overall record: 0-1
How far they went: First Round
Who they lost to: No. 10 Syracuse, 70-51

2015

Seed: 11
Overall record: 2-1
How far they went: Second Round
Who they beat: No. 6 Providence, No. 11 Boise State
Who they lost to: No. 3 Oklahoma, 72-66

2014

Seed: 11
Overall record: 3-1
How far they went: Elite Eight
Who they beat: No. 10 Stanford, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 3 Syracuse
Who they lost to: No.

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