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Team
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Region
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Comment
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1. Arizona
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Midwest (2)
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We started 'em No. 1; 'Cats look poised to prove us right on April 2.
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2. Duke
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East (1)
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Boozer will be back, but his return won't be enough in title game.
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3. Stanford
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West (1)
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Will, we repeat, will get out of second round. Just not past Duke.
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4. Michigan State
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South (1)
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Should become sixth program to reach three straight Final Fours.
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5. Kentucky
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East (2)
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One of 3 teams to win power conference's regular season and tourney crowns.
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7. Maryland
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West (3)
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Terps pushed Duke like nobody else, later than anyone, late in season.
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8. Illinois
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Midwest (1)
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After Friday, it just gets brutal in Illini's side of the bracket.
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8. North Carolina
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South (2)
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Figures Heels would be in Friday-SUNDAY bracket. Ugh!
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9. Iowa State
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West (2)
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Who was wearing those Cyclones jerseys in K.C.?
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10. Boston College
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East (3)
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Big East champs reward? Duke, Kentucky & No. 3 seed ...
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11. UCLA
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East (4)
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... not to mention a Bruins club that's won 9 of last 11.
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12. Indiana
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West (4)
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Hot Hoosiers will reach first Sweet Sixteen since '94.
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13. Florida
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South (3)
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Wright goes under knife, but why should postseason be any different?
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14. Oklahoma
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South (4)
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Sooners sneaky good; Winners of 5 straight and 14 of last 16.
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15. Kansas
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Midwest (4)
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If health holds up, could go further than first Sweet Sixteen since '97.
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16. Gonzaga
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South (12)
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What's a Sweet Sixteen without the Zags? The obvious "5-12" upset special
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18. Virginia
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South (5)
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Getting past the Zags is half the battle ... to at least Sweet Sixteen.
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18. Mississippi
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Midwest (3)
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Rebels will have to double all-time NCAA victory total to be in next ranking.
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19. Notre Dame
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Midwest (6)
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Murphy won't let his first (and only?) trip to dance be short one.
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20. Texas
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South (6)
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We say Longhorns will be first to 50 in first-round victory.
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21. Iowa
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East (7)
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Who are we to tell Iowa City the Hawkeyes can't make run after Big Ten ride.
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22. Wisconsin
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West (6)
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Badgers must face most dangerous 11th seed first, then Terps second.
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23. Ohio State
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East (5)
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May want to save a few first-round points for possible matchup with UCLA.
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24. Cincinnati
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West (5)
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Logan will get his points, but Bearcats must find other options in offense.
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25. Arkansas
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West (7)
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Rollin' with Nolan not advisable; Hogs forced over 600 TOs this season.
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26. Syracuse
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Midwest (5)
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'Cuse got good news, Shumpert's shooting eye is fine. They'll need his sweet touch.
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27. Charlotte
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Midwest (9)
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Who needs the "UNC"? 49ers may just be third sweet team from Carolinas.
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28. St. Joseph's
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West (9)
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Player-pool tidbit: Marvin O'Connor could last three games at 21.6 ppg.
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29. USC
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East (6)
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Underrated, but won't have many fans outside SoCal rooting for 'em in first round.
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30. Wake Forest
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Midwest (7)
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If Songaila keeps hands to himself, Deacs can make some noise.
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31. Providence
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South (10)
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You like tight man defense? Watch John Linehan lock up Joe Crispin ...
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32. Penn State
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South (7)
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.. then again, if you like pure shooters? Watch Crispin shoot over Linehan.
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33. Georgia
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East (8)
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OK, time to see if that strength of schedule argument holds water.
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34. Tennessee
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Midwest (8)
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Will either ruin your bracket early, or make you envy of office later.
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35. Fresno State
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South (9)
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Tark's talented WAC pack must get consistent play out of Maddox.
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36. Missouri
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East (9)
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The one second-round game we'd pay to see: Synder vs. his mentor.
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37. Georgetown
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West (10)
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Hoyas height should test Hogs, but only in a halfcourt game.
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38. Temple
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South (11)
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Seven straight wins got Owls in, but do they have enough 'O' to get eighth?
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39. Oklahoma State
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East (11)
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Wouldn't surprise us to see Sutton's sentimental choice in Sweet Sixteen.
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40. Georgia Tech
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West (8)
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Jackets showed in ACC how dangerous they've become under Paul Hewitt.
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41. California
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South (8)
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Going all the way to Memphis to play foe just 90 minutes down I-5.
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42. BYU
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West (12)
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Cougars won just 1 game four seasons ago. Just may match that this week.
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43. Butler
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Midwest (10)
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No Mike Miller around to foil any upset bid this season.
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44. Xavier
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Midwest (11)
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David West may outscore Murphy, but Musketeers don't figure to do same to Irish.
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45. Georgia State
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West (11)
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Not a typical TAAC champ. But Panthers haven't faced a 'D' like one in Badgers.
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46. Indiana State
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South (13)
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Even Bird didn't go to two straight NCAAs. But he nearly won the one he played in.
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47. Creighton
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Midwest (10)
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Jays could be nice Cinderella pick, if not for that first-round matchup. |
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48. Princeton
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South (15)
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Should be interesting; Richardson III is seventh son to follow father into NCAAs.
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49. Utah State
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East (12)
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"The Rock" says ... it doesn't matter what Ohio State did in Big Ten.
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50. Hawaii
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Midwest (12)
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The longer the Warriors stay on mainland, the better they seem to get.
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51. Kent State
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West (13)
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The MAC survivors will need good guards to play great to keep Hoosiers honest.
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52. Hofstra
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East (13)
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Nation's longest winning streak (18) figures to end in Greensboro.
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53. N'Western St.
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Midwest (16)
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Hey, the Demons won an NCAA Tournament game. Those below won't.
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54. CS Northridge
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Midwest (13)
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Sorry, but Jayhawks haven't lost in first round since '78.
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55. Iona
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Midwest (14)
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Maybe if Ruland suited up, Gaels would give Rebels a scare.
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56. Southern Utah
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East (14)
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Come from conference that gave us Valpo, so if game comes down to a final shot ...
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57. George Mason
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West (14)
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Don't let the 35 points in Colonial title game fool you; Patriots can score 40.
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58. W. Kentucky
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South (14)
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If Gators could add Chris Marcus after first round, they would get back to title game.
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59. Hampton
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West (15)
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Boise isn't San Diego, but at least Pirates are finally part of NCAA experience.
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60. Eastern Illinois
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Midwest (15)
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Points shouldn't be a problem vs. Arizona with 2 of nation's top 3 scorers in lineup.
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61. Holy Cross
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East (15)
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Committee played cruel trick on Williard in this deja vu matchup.
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62. UNC Greensboro
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West (16)
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Lost by five to Cincy back in '96 tourney. Won't be nearly as close vs. Cardinal.
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63. Alabama State
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South (16)
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Hornets get first shot at dethroning Spartans. Yeah, right.
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64. Monmouth
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East (16)
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New Jersey fans asked for it ... they got it ... now deal with it.
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Thursday, March 15
ESPN.com
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