First Four
First four games of the tournament
Example
u watching the first four
yeah, i love these games bc the competition is so pure
agreed. these kids will do anything to get into the tourney
First Four definition by Slang.net - The Slang Dictionary
This page explains what the slang term "First Four" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been manually compiled and written by the Slang.net team.
We are continually updating our database with new slang terms, acronyms, and abbreviations. Want to suggest a new term or an update to this page? Let us know!
How well do you know your texting slang?
First Four is a term used in the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament (also known as "March Madness") to describe the four opening games of the tournament. Eight teams compete in these games, and the four winners advance to the main 64-team bracket. The concept began in 2011 when the tournament expanded from 65 to 68 teams, adding extra play-in games to complete the bracket.
The NCAA officially adopted the "First Four" term in 2016, incorporating it into the Men's tournament as a bookend to the "Final Four" (the women's tournament adopted it in 2022). These early games usually feature a mix of lower-seeded automatic qualifiers and bubble teams just making the field. Fans and commentators often highlight the First Four for early drama, and occasionally, a winning team rides that momentum deep into the tournament, producing memorable Cinderella runs.