The exact moment the SEC became a basketball conference is still up for debate. What Rick Barnes can tell you is when his league was barely known for basketball. It was 1987, the beginning of what will someday be a hall of fame career for Tennessee's current coach.

The last at-large team in the NCAA field, UNC couldn’t replicate its wire-to-wire spirited play from its First-Four win. The 11th-seeded Tar Heels fell behind early to No. 6 Ole Miss and never fully recovered.

No. 3-seed LSU will look to reach its third consecutive Elite Eight on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT when the Tigers take on No. 2-seed NC State in Spokane Memorial Arena on ESPN. Pam Ward, Stephanie White and Holly Rowe will call the action on ESPN,