Louisville, Pittsburgh and Connecticut helped the Big East, a group originally created for basketball only, become the first conference to put three teams on the top line. North Carolina, the regular-season Atlantic Coast Conference champion, was the other top seed.

Louisville was the top overall seed in the tournament and will play in the Midwest. The Cardinals will open against the winner of an opening-round game Tuesday between Alabama State and Morehead State.

The rest of the tournament starts Thursday and Friday.

The Final Four is scheduled for Ford Field in Detroit on April 4 and 6.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AN NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT BRACKET.

CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN GAINEVILLETIMES.COM's BRACKET BUST '09. (The winner will be profiled in The Times following the tournament.)