The set-up: It's first round action Wednesday in C-USA from the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. Charlotte comes in 13-16 (7-11 in league play) and as a 10-seed, while UAB is 16-15, with its 9-9 league mark making the Blazers a 7-seed.

Charlotte: The 49ers enter having lost seven of 10. Charlotte is a guard-oriented team with four all scoring in double figures. Davis (19.4 & 4.0 APG) is the best of the bunch, joined by Ajukwa (11.7 & 5.0, White (10.9 & 4.1) and Ojbuze (10.3). The team's best "big man" is Vanhook, a 6-4 small forward who averages 9.1 & 6.1. Defensively, the 49ers are a sieve, allowing 80.4 PPG (331st).

UAB: The Blazers have a huge edge inside, led by the 6-9 Lee (13.0 & 6.6) and the 6-8 Coakley (12.3 & 5.6). Four guards chip in between 6.2 and 10.2 PPG, led by Williams (10.2) and PG Lavender (6.2 & 3.6 APG).

The pick: This is not UAB's home arena but the tourney is in its home city. The 49ers are a money-burning 4-17 ATS their last 21 as an underdog, making UAB a 10* play.