Every yr , the NCAA men ’s basketball tourney field features at least a handful of squad that impart casual sports fan puzzled as they start to fill out their brackets . The motion usually is n’t how far one of these teams will advance , but rather , " Where the heck is that?“ This year is no elision . Here ’s a primer " “ only part of which is basketball game - related " “ on seven of the lesser - known schools in the plain .
1. Morehead State
localisation : Morehead , Kentucky
How They have Here : Freshman Steve Peterson made a baseline sweater in the second overtime of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship " “ his first points of the biz " “ to lift the Eagles to a win over Austin Peay . Morehead State plays Alabama State in today ’s Opening Round secret plan ; the winner moves on to act top - seeded Louisville .
Tournament account : Morehead State is pee its sixth appearance in the NCAA tourney and its first since 1984 . Coincidentally , the Eagles defeated North Carolina A&T in a preliminary round biz that year before losing to Louisville , 72 - 59 .
Notable : Morehead State ’s players and jitney were recognise by both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly last calendar week . Seven MSU graduate serve in the Kentucky House , including Rep. Rocky Adkins , the legal age floor leader . Adkins was the start tip guard on the 1982 - 83 Eagles squad that win the OVC championship .
Famous Alum : Former New York Giants field general and current spreader Phil Simms , legendary game show horde Chuck Woolery , and area Isaac Bashevis Singer Billy Ray Cyrus all attended Morehead State , as did one of the most recognisable voices on the radio today . Steve Inskeep , host of NPR’sMorning Edition , forge as a radio sportscaster while attend MSU . He graduate in 1990 .
Reason to Cheer : You’ll be in safe companionship . The Eagles ' coed cheerleading team has won 19 national title , including eight in a rowing .
2. Binghamton
positioning : Binghamton , New York
Tournament chronicle : Binghamton , which join the Division I ranks eight years ago , is making its first appearance in the NCAA tournament . The No . 15 seed bearcat play No . 2 seed Duke on Thursday .
Notable : In a recentNew York Timesarticle , Pete Thamel question whether Binghamton ’s first head trip to the NCAA tourney has occur at a price . Thamel calls head carriage Kevin Broadus ' recruiting of certain player into question and summons a litany of catch and suspensions that have plagued the private instructor ’s tenure . On a lighter note , Binghamton blow a 182 - acre on - campus Nature Preserve , which includes 20 acres of wetlands .
Famous Alum : FormerWashington Postcolumnist and currentPTIco - host Tony Kornheiser graduated from what was then called Harpur College in 1970 . Kornheiser , who also provide color - commentary forMonday Night Football , cavort a Bearcats jersey during an episode of PTI last week .
understanding to hearten : Everyone hump a Cinderella story and D.J. Rivera could wear the meth slipper well . Rivera led the America East in scoring but did n’t receive a single balloting for Player of the Year because the conference ’s coaches dislike Broadus . He ’ll have to play the biz of his lifetime if the Arctictis bintourong have any chance of incur past Duke .
3. Siena
Location : Loudonville , New York
Tournament account : If Siena sounds conversant , it ’s because the Saints pulled off one of the great disturbance in last year ’s first troll when they downed No . 4 seed Vanderbilt . Siena is make its 5th NCAA tourney appearance .
Notable : Siena , which is locate two miles north of Albany , was plant by seven Franciscan friars in 1937 .
Famous Alum : Ron Vawter , a founding member of the theater corps de ballet The Wooster Group . Vawter , who appeared inSilence of the LambsandPhiladelphia , pall of a nitty-gritty attack in 1994 .
reasonableness to Cheer : Traditionally , the Siena man ’s basketball course of study has produced legitimate student - athlete . Eighty - six percent of Siena workforce ’s basketball game players who enter the school between 1998 and 2001 earned their degrees in six year or less , harmonise to the NCAA ’s latest Graduation Success Rate report . The interior norm is 62 pct .
4. Robert Morris
Location : Moon Township , Pennsylvania
Tournament History : Robert Morris is reach its sixth NCAA tournament coming into court and its first since 1992 .
Notable : Named after the ego - made millionaire and signatory of the Declaration of Independence who help finance the American side during the Revolutionary War , RMU was in the first place founded in 1921 as the Pittsburgh School of Accountancy . The shoal became Robert Morris College in 1969 and Robert Morris University in 2002 .
Famous Alum : It ’s been a pretty good yr for Pittsburgh Steelers general handler Kevin Colbert . One month after watch the football squad he helped build win its second Super Bowl in the last four years , Colbert gets to look on his alma mater in the NCAA tournament .
5. Radford
Location : Radford , Virginia
Tournament History : Radford is making its 2nd NCAA tournament visual aspect . As a No . 16 semen in 1998 , the Highlanders lost to Duke , 99 - 63 , in the first round .
Notable : Radford was founded in 1910 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women . man were first admitted to the school in 1972 . Penelope Kyle , who was named the school ’s first female president in 2005 , launched the " 7 - 17 Strategic Plan" in 2007 . The plan outline the schooltime ’s 10 - year effort to make Radford one of the top 50 sea captain ’s universities in the U.S.
Famous Alum : Actress Jayma Mays , who starred alongside Kevin James inPaul Blart : Mall Cop .
Reason to Cheer : The Highlanders ' centre , 6 - foot-11 , 260 - pound Artsiom Parakhouski ( artistic creation - SEE - um pair - uh - COW - ski ) , is almost as fun to find out as his name is to say . The Belarusian , who was the Big South Conference Player of the Year , average a double - double .
6. Morgan State
Location : Baltimore , Maryland
Tournament History : Morgan State is making its first NCAA tourney appearing .
Notable : The Morgan State University choir , which was led by renowned instructor Dr. Nathan Carter for 34 years until his destruction in 2004 , is one of the most prestigious collegial choral ensembles in the nation . The consort performed at the White House , at an outdoor Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II , and took a misstep Russia during Carter ’s tenure at MSU . Last year , the group perform twice at Carnegie Hall .
Famous Alum : William C. Rhoden , who go as an associate editor atEbonyafter calibrate from Morgan State , has provided sports commentary as a columnist forThe New York Timessince 1983 .
reasonableness to chirk up : Jermaine " Itchy" Bolden , the Bears ' 5 - foot-9 senior full point guard , who earned the nickname from his mother because he was antsy as a baby .
7. Stephen F. Austin
Location : Nacogdoches , Texas
Tournament History : Stephen F. Austin is name its first NCAA tournament appearance .
Notable : Stephen F. Austin was found in 1923 as a teacher ’s college and is named after Stephen Fuller Austin , one of Texas ' founding fathers .
Famous Alum : Though he did n’t graduate , vocalist / ballad maker Don Henley study English and school of thought as a student at SFA .
Reason to Cheer : Stephen F. Austin has a coolheaded byname and an even cool rally watchword : Axe ‘em Jacks !
