The 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket and field has been announced, and the Saint Mary's Gaels will receive a No. 7 seed in the Midwest region. Saint Mary's first opponent will be the Purdue Boilermakers, and they will play on Friday, March 16, in Omaha, Nebraska. If Saint Mary's wins their first matchup, they will face the winner of No. 2 Kansas and No. 15 Detroit on Sunday, March 18.

St. Mary's earned the seven by winning the WCC Conference and the WCC Conference Tournament, besting Gonzaga in the standings and in their head-to-head matchup in Las Vegas in the WCC Tourney Final, triumphing in overtime.

Here's a look at the Midwest region of the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket:

No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 16 Lamar/Vermont, Friday

No. 8 Creighton vs. No. 9 Alabama, Friday

No. 5 Temple vs. No. 12 California/South Florida, Friday

No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 13 Ohio, Friday

No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 15 Detroit, Friday

No. 7 Saint Mary's vs. No. 10 Purdue, Friday

No. 3 Georgetown vs. No. 14 Belmont, Friday

No. 6 San Diego State vs. No. 11 NC State, Friday

Brackets on the brain? Us too! Play Yahoo! Tourney Pick'em and be a part of the craziest month of college basketball. It is fun, easy, and free. For more coverage of St. Mary's in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, visit the SB Nation Bay Area NCAA Tournament Storystream. Click here for a link to our 2012 NCAA Bracket. And of course, make sure and get your printable bracket!