After months of action and weeks of speculation, the field is set for the 2009 NCAA men's basketball tournament.

The 65-team field was announced Sunday, when Louisville earned the overall No. 1 seed in the tournament. The Cardinals, which, top the Midwest region, secured their top seeding by winning the Big East tournament.

Louisville will open play against the winner of the play-in game between Alabama State and Morehead State.

Two other Big East teams also earned top seeds in the tournament. Pittsburgh, who finished the season with a 28-4 record, lost to West Virginia in the quarterfinals of the Big East tourney. The Panthers will play East Tennessee State in the first round.

UConn earned the top seed in the West region. The Huskies compiled a 27-4 record this season, but three of their losses came late in the season, including a six-overtime loss to Syracuse in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament. Connecticut will face Chattanooga in the first round.

"Obviously, we are very proud and pleased to be the first conference to receive three No. 1 seeds," Big East Commissioner Michael Tranghese said. "Now comes the hard part. We have to play games against some terrific opposition. I know our coaches and players will be ready to compete. We wish them well."

The final No. 1 seed went to North Carolina. UNC, which tops the South region, entered the week as the nation's top team in the polls but then lost to Florida State in the semifinals of the ACC tournament. The Tar Heels will open play against No. 16 Radford.

Michigan State will join Louisville in the Midwest region as the No. 2 seed. The Spartans will open play against No. 15 Robert Morris. In the West region, Memphis took the No. 2 seed. The Tigers, which flirted with a No. 1 seed after winning its fourth-straight Conference USA title this week, will take on Cal State-Northridge. Duke took the No. 2 seed in the East. The Blue Devils won the ACC tournament Sunday for the eighth time in 11 seasons. They will face Binghamton in the first round. Oklahoma, which received the No. 2 seed in South region, will open play against Morgan State.

The defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks received a No. 3 seed and will open play against No. 14 North Dakota State.

Tournament play begins Tuesday with the play-in game between Alabama State and Morehead State. First-round action begins Thursday.