Texas Southern has embraced taking on college basketball's heavyweights early in recent seasons in hopes it pays off in March, but this year the program took that philosophy to the extreme. Making their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last five seasons, the Tigers attempt to snag their first ever victory in the Big Dance on Wednesday in a First Four matchup in Dayton, Ohio, against fellow West Region No. 16 seed North Carolina Central.

Louisiana Lafayette has won its last 18 games against in-state opponents dating to December 2015, but none has been bigger than this one. The sixth-seeded Ragin’ Cajuns travel to No. 3 seed LSU for a Pelican State showdown Wednesday in the first round of the NIT.

Passed over by the NCAA Tournament, No. 2 seed Marquette will try to make the best of playing in the NIT beginning Wednesday against visiting No. 7 Harvard at the Al McGuire Center. The Golden Eagles will be playing in the NIT for the first time since 2005, while the Crimson will be making their second appearance in the tournament.

Penn State made headlines by defeating Ohio State -- a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament -- all three times they met this season. However, it wasn't enough to get the Nittany Lions into the Big Dance, so they'll have to settle for a first-round NIT matchup with visiting Temple on Wednesday.

Many teams enter the postseason NIT with a chip on their shoulder, but it seems Nebraska’s might be larger than most - and with good reason. After being one of the last teams bounced from the NCAA Tournament bubble, the Cornhuskers drew a surprising No. 5 seed and will open the NIT at Mississippi State on Wednesday.

Utah has made it to the postseason for the fifth straight year but has had to settle for its second consecutive NIT appearance. The Runnin’ Utes tip off play Wednesday night with a home game against Big West Conference regular-season champion UC Davis.

Arizona State defeated four eventual NCAA Tournament teams en route to a school-record 12-0 start, but Pac-12 play proved to be a different animal. The Sun Devils hope to resume their dominant play in non-conference action when they meet fellow Midwest Region No. 11 seed Syracuse in a First Four matchup Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio.

Two of the most dynamic forwards in the West square off Wednesday in the first round of the NIT as Yoeli Childs and BYU visit Reid Travis and Stanford. The third-seeded Cardinal finished in a third-place tie in the Pac-12 standings while No. 6 seed BYU lost to Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference championship game.

Washington had a decent NCAA Tournament resume through the first 23 games, but it struggled down the stretch and now attempts to make a run in the NIT when it hosts Boise State on Wednesday night in the first round. The fifth-seeded Huskies beat Kansas, Arizona State and Arizona en route to a 17-6 start but lost six of their final nine and dropped a 69-66 overtime decision to Oregon State in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament.