2nd-seeded Cal takes on Fresno St, while Texas Tech battles South Florida in NCAA 1st round

LUBBOCK, Texas – Cal players think it's cool that President Barack Obama's bracket has the Golden Bears in the Final Four.

The Bears are preparing to face 15th-seeded Fresno State as they try to regain their stride following a hiccup in the Pac-12 tournament two weeks ago that broke a 16-game win streak. Players say Obama's Final Four pick won't be a distraction for the second-seeded Bears.

The two teams, whose campuses are 185 miles apart, traveled 1,400 miles to Lubbock, Texas, to lead off first-round play in the NCAA tournament Saturday.

Afterward, 10th-seeded South Florida takes on seventh-seeded Texas Tech, the host team that's appearing in its 20th NCAA tournament two decades after bringing the national title to West Texas.