Bob Farley/f8photo

Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex employee Darrell Alldredge puts a  final coat of paint on the goal post Wednesday morning in preparation for this weekend’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Regional. They’ve been working on improvements to the facility since January in preparation for this weekend’s action.

First round games start Friday at 12:15 p.m. with Tennessee (29-4) vs. American (22-11), then 30 minutes later, Butler (29-3) vs. South Alabama (26-6). At 7:10 p.m. ?Oklahoma (22-11) vs. Saint Joseph’s (21-12), and 30 minutes after the end of that game, Louisville (24-8) vs. Boise State (26-6).

Single game tickets go on sale this morning and you’ve still got time to fill out your brackets – at least until 10:55 p.m. (and that’s if you’re playing along with the NCAA).