Slate’s mascots bracket and a rundown of every team in the tournament’s mascot

During March Madness, college basketball fans spend hours poring over websites, magazines, newspapers, anything that will give them the edge when it comes to filling out their bracket. People will spend hours in front of a computer screen comparing teams’ 3 point FG percentage, offensive efficiency and turnovers forced per possession until their eyes fall out, and for what? Despite all of our basketball knowledge it always seems like the clueless fan who spends 2 minutes to fill out their bracket wins the pool. So, if all else fails, you can always resort to the trusted method of picking the team with the cooler mascot. Without further ado, the Top 10 Mascots of teams in the 2011 NCAA basketball tournament.

1. (#3 seed) Syracuse Orange

Still no one cooler than Otto the Orange.

2. (#15) Akron Zips

Absolutely no idea what an Akron Zip is. Google search yielded no results.

3. (#3) Purdue Boilermakers

Lunch pail sort of guy.

4. (#7) Temple Owls

That is one badass owl.

5. (#15) UC Santa Barbara Gauchos

Not technically a mascot, but the logo is sick.

6. (#8) UNLV Running Rebels

Gotta love the stache.

7. (#16) UT San Antonio Roadrunners

Who doesn't love a giant blue bird?

8. (#16) Hampton Pirates

A little creepy? Possibly. Awesome? Definitely.

9. (#6) St. Johns Red Storm

A cross between a red bird and that rock dude from "Fantastic Four."

10. (#12) Richmond Spiders

Kinda lame actually. Looks more like a friendly dracula than a spider, but whatever.

The Worst:

A few of the scrubbiest mascots in this year’s March Madness.

1. (#14) Indiana St. Sycamores

Hands down "Sycamore Sam" is the worst mascot in the tournament.

2. (#16) Boston University Terriers

The Wofford Terriers mascot sucks, too.

3. (#14) St. Peter’s Peacocks

I don't even think they have a mascot it would be so bad all they have is a logo.

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