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<\/a>Here’s some March Madness to ponder. The background. . . Ever since I watched the Pekin Chinks defeated the Cobden Appleknockers in Illinois\u2019 1964 high school basketball championship game, I\u2019ve been fascinated by nicknames. (Fortunately, the objectionable Pekin nickname was abandoned in 1980).<\/p>\nThe interest continued when my first roommate at Wisconsin was a former standout with the Monroe Cheesemakers, who had a rivalry with the Freeport Pretzels. Talk about a Snack Bowl. . .<\/p>\n
I also found it entertaining when my alma mater, Deerfield High School, played Central Suburban conference rival Maine West. It was Warriors vs. Warriors, which provided all kinds of cheerleader confusion: “Come on, Warriors! Beat those Warriors.\u2019\u2019 . . . Hey, it was the Vietnam era.<\/p>\n
And so, with March here, and March Madness fast approaching, here are some NCAA tournament pods I would like to see.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Arizona, Kentucky, Northwestern and Villanova<\/p>\n
–The Wildcat Invitational<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Texas A&M, Utah St, New Mexico State, North Carolina A&T<\/p>\n
\u2014The Aggie Invitational<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Cal Golden Bears,\u00a0Marquette Golden Eagles,\u00a0Minnesota Golden Gophers<\/p>\n
\u2014Play-in game: Kent St. Golden Flashes vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane<\/p>\n
All games played at Oracle Arena, Oakland.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Duke Blue Devils<\/p>\n
DePaul Blue Demons<\/p>\n
Wake Forest Demon Deacons<\/p>\n
\u2014Play-in game: Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils. . . . Devil of a time for play-by-play announcers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
UConn, Northeastern, Northern Illinois, Washington<\/p>\n
\u2014Huskies Invitational. . . Bonus: * Name the coach who took two of these dogs to the tournament (answer below).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Butler, Gonzaga, Georgia, Mississippi State<\/p>\n
\u2014Another canine quartet. Woof, woof, Bulldogs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
BYU, Houston, Washington State,<\/p>\n
Play-in game: College of Charleston vs. Chicago State<\/p>\n
\u2014Wouldn\u2019t CSU love to reach the Cougars\u2019 play-in game?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Kansas<\/p>\n
Kansas State<\/p>\n
Oklahoma<\/p>\n
New Mexico State<\/p>\n
\u2014With Bill Self, Bruce Weber, Lon Kruger and ageless emeritus Lou Henson under one roof, Papa Del\u2019s should cater\u00a0\u00a0pizza for this Illini Alumni coaches pod. Assuming Papa Del’s has reopened. Lots of changes\u00a0going on in Champaign these days.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
St. John\u2019s Red Storm<\/p>\n
Texas Tech Red Raiders<\/p>\n
Miami (Ohio) Red Hawks<\/p>\n
Play-in game: Harvard Crimson vs. Alabama Crimson Tide<\/p>\n
\u2014Apologies to Rutgers\u2019 hapless Scarlet Knights. They can\u2019t even make this Seeing Red play-in game.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Cornell Big Red<\/p>\n
Illinois State Redbirds<\/p>\n
Louisville Cardinals<\/p>\n
Stanford Cardinal<\/p>\n
\u2014You don\u2019t make this one, either, Rutgers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fighting Illini<\/p>\n
Fighting Irish<\/p>\n
Fighting Christians (Elon)<\/p>\n
Fighting Camels (Campbell)<\/p>\n
\u2014Might need a penalty box for this pugilistic pod.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Auburn, Clemson, LSU, Memphis, Princeton<\/p>\n
\u2014Tony the Tiger throws up the ceremonial jump-ball. With a spoon.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Michigan State Spartans<\/p>\n
USC Trojans<\/p>\n
Idaho Vandals<\/p>\n
San Diego State Aztecs<\/p>\n
\u2014In this Ancient Warriors pod, Will Ferrell leads all four teams through Tom Izzo\u2019s shoulder-pads practice, wearing only a Speedo.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
UCLA, UNLV, UAB,<\/p>\n
\u2014Play-in game: UIC vs. UWGB.<\/p>\n
Apologies to South Alabama. Love your “USA\u2019\u2019 chant. But you\u2019re not a City-State. Or should that be State-City?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Miami Hurricanes<\/p>\n
Iowa State Cyclones<\/p>\n
Iona Gaels<\/p>\n
Pepperdine Waves<\/p>\n
\u2014All games on the Weather Channel<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles<\/p>\n
Bob Jones Bruins<\/p>\n
Liberty Flames<\/p>\n
Providence Friars<\/p>\n
\u2014Do not miss the invocation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
New Mexico Lobos<\/p>\n
N.C. State Wolfpack<\/p>\n
Nevada Wolf Pack<\/p>\n
South Dakota Coyotes.<\/p>\n
–Howl at the Moon Invitational<\/p>\n
——<\/p>\n
* Master dogsledder Jim Calhoun coached the Northeastern and UConn Huskies to NCAA tournament success. Bonus point if you picked up on UConn (as in Yukon) Huskies.<\/p>\n
——-<\/p>\n
Follow me on Twitter @HerbGould<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"