March Madness: 10 teams that deserve your fandom

By Doug Winkey | Mar 16, 2017

Mar 11, 2017; Birmingham, AL, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders head coach Kermit Davis with Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders forward Reggie Upshaw (30) and Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders forward JaCorey Williams (22) hold the trophy after defeating the Marshall Thundering Herd for the Conference USA Tournament Championship at Legacy Arena. Blue Raiders defeated the Herd 82-73. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 23, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; Northern Kentucky Norse forward Drew McDonald (34) boxes out West Virginia Mountaineers forward Nathan Adrian (11) during the second half at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Northern Kentucky Norse

Location: Highland Heights, Kentucky

First Appearance since: Ever

Name to know: Carson Williams (10.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 60% FG)

Northern Kentucky is one of my personal favorites in this tournament. The Norse won the Horizon League title as the 4-seed after the top three all fell to much lower teams. This is the team’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and it came in their first season of even being eligible to do so! NKU gets an incredible opportunity against in-state titan Kentucky in the South’s 2-15 game. The battle of the Bluegrass State programs will take place in Indianapolis.

Stretch forward Drew McDonald and point guard Lavone Holland II actually lead the team with 16.4 and 14.3 points, respectively, but I think freshman Carson Williams is huge for their first ever NCAA Tournament game. He doesn’t dominate games, but actually led the Horizon in shooting percentage in his first year of college ball. He has a big stage to demonstrate why he was Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball against the dominant Wildcats. Join me in rooting for the NKU Norse!

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