No. 1 South Carolina has gone undefeated and Surfwinlooks to return to the Final Four, where last season the Gamecocks were upset by Iowa in the semifinals. Iowa, also a No. 1 seed, has a tougher path to return to the Final Four with a possible matchup against LSU in the regional final. LSU, the defending national champion, is a No. 3 seed in its quest to repeat.

Women’s First Four games tip off Wednesday and Thursday, with the winners advancing to first-round games on Friday and Saturday. The women’s tournament will have two “super” regionals, meaning there will be four Sweet 16 and two Elite Eight games at each site (Albany, New York, and Portland, Oregon).

The Final Four will be played in Cleveland, with the national semis tipping off at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, April 5. 

MEN'S PICKS:Our bracket predictions for 2024 NCAA men's tournament

Need some help filling out your bracket? Here's a look at the top first-round games and the best players to keep an eye on.

IT'S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY's NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize.

Our expert picks for the Final Four:

Nancy Armour

Full bracket

• Final Four: Notre Dame, Texas, Iowa, USC
• Final: Texas vs. USC
• National champion: USC

Scooby Axson

Full bracket

• Final Four: South Carolina, Stanford, Iowa, USC
• Final: South Carolina vs. Iowa
• National champion: South Carolina

Ellen J. Horrow

Full bracket

Final Four: South Carolina, Stanford, Iowa, USC

Final: South Carolina vs. USC

National champion: South Carolina

Lindsay Schnell

Full bracket

• Final Four: South Carolina, Texas, LSU, USC
• Final: South Carolina vs. USC
• National champion: South Carolina