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Which Sweet 16 team should you be rooting for?
North Carolina Tar Heels guard Brandon Robinson (14) and forward Luke Maye (32) cheer during the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks.  Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Which Sweet 16 team should you be rooting for?

A week ago, your team made it into the NCAA Tournament and you were excited at the possibilities. Do this, beat them, hold on, make a run and you'd be in the Final Four in no time. Some teams were doing a little dreaming while others fully expected a great shot at a national championship. Sixteen of those teams remain while fans of the other 52 schools are left to wonder what happened.

I know, I know. It is so hard to get back into watching a tournament you are no longer a part of. It stinks to watch teams you think you are better than play on the biggest stages and survive and advance. So why not adopt a school for the next couple of weeks? Maybe you won't fall in love with them, but they'll give you just enough of a reason to keep watching some basketball in between all of the "Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" commercials.

North Carolina


North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) shoots the ball against Arkansas Razorbacks forward Moses Kingsley (33) in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

You've spent all season loving the fact that you were in the greatest conference in all the land. You'd see fans of teams in other conferences and bark about how the ACC is just so good that winning the conference tournament was tougher than winning the big dance. It's akin to bragging about the awesome neighborhood you live in, even if it's the smallest house. However, all the neighbors prematurely were evicted before their time and everyone is throwing that shade back at you. So you need the one left standing to make their run to flex your strength again.  That is, unless you are the hated rival right next door.

Recommended for Notre Dame, Virginia, Miami, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest fans.

Kentucky


Kentucky Wildcats forward Edrice Adebayo dunks against the Wichita State Shockers during the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.  Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

You like the one and done movement. The splashy game. You like the sly John Calipari. Really, you empathize with the whole "everyone hates you so you hate everyone" deal. Like two big time rivals that have respect for each other.

Recommended for Duke and Iowa State fans.

Kansas


Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III reacts as the game ends against the Michigan State Spartans in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament Kansas defeated Michigan State 90-70.  Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Jayhawks are Kentucky without all the hate. It helps if your old coach used to work there.

Recommended for Maryland and Florida State fans.

UCLA


UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) drives to the basket against Cincinnati Bearcats guard Jacob Evans (1) during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.  Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

You love the high-flying offense but don't really care about the defense? You want in on the next big NBA star and already have your money (an allegiance) ready for whoever drafts Lonzo Ball.

Recommended for Oklahoma State and Florida Gulf Coast fans.

Gonzaga


Gonzaga Bulldogs players react following the 79-73 victory against the Northwestern Wildcats. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Mid-major power schools everywhere have got to be rooting for Gonzaga. The Zags have been the jewel of a mid-major having consistent success for going on 20 years. The problem is that they have yet to make a Final Four or win a championship and that can keep the stigma of the mid-majors down. But a Bulldogs win is your win. You want this

Recommended for Wichita State, SMU, Nevada, Dayton and Kent State fans.

Michigan


Michigan Wolverines guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (12) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Louisville Cardinals in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2017. Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

How about a team that is riding high and playing as well as anyone towards a title run? While not technically a Cinderella, it's hard not to root for them.

Recommended for Middle Tennessee, Princeton, East Tennessee, Winthrop, Vermont and South Dakota State fans.

West Virginia


West Virginia Mountaineers forward Elijah Macon reacts after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. West Virginia won 83-71.  Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

You really like "Press" Virginia and love to see guards swarming in the backcourt. When it looks like there are eight defenders on the court. Force turnovers and get huge dunks! Love it! Fans of schools who love to press should enjoy watching the Mountaineers.

Recommended for Louisville, Arkansas, VCU and UC Davis fans.

Purdue


Purdue's Isaac Haas and the bench celebrate after defeating Iowa State 80-76 on a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament on March 18, 2017. AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato

Okay, the Boilmakers are boring. They play hard, tough defense and the offense isn't shiny. The play old school in many ways which is quite all right and has been working so far. But you really, really, really wish you had a guy like Swanigan.

Recommended for Saint Mary's and Seton Hall fans.

Wisconsin


Wisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes drives to the basket against Villanova Wildcats guard Mikal Bridges in the second half during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Wisconsin is a solid team that has been to two Final Fours in the last three years. A solid program that hasn't yet taken its place among the elites but has become a sound, reliable program.

Recommended for Villanova and Michigan State fans (even if your team just lost to the Badgers – sorry Nova, fans). 

Butler


Butler's Tyler Lewis drives past Middle Tennessee State's Reggie Upshaw during the second half of an NCAA college basketball tournament second-round game on March 18, 2017. AP Photo/Morry Gash

Just a few years ago Butler was just some Horizon League school that caught fire and somehow made it to the national championship game. They did it again the following year. Just a couple of years later and they are members of the Big East conference. Now they are No. 4 seed facing North Carolina. Schools who are sitting just on the brink of either getting to a power conference or one who just did should be rooting for the Bulldogs.

Recommended for Cincinnati and Marquette fans.

Xavier


Xavier Musketeers guard J.P. Macura and guard Trevon Bluiett react after defeating the Florida State Seminoles.  Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Xavier is in the same boat, except only BYU has more NCAA Tournament appearances without getting to the Final Four. There are other schools out there that know that kind of pain.

Recommended for Creighton and Vanderbilt fans.

Oregon, Baylor and Arizona


Oregon Ducks guard Tyler Dorsey (5) celebrates with teammates after the win against Rhode Island Rams during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

You don't really care who wins the tourney, but you love teams who have nice threads. Oregon and Baylor rock those neon unis while Arizona is sparkling on the court. 

Recommended for UNC-Wilmington and Marquette fans plus NBA All-Star Game jersey fanatics

Florida


 Florida Gators guard KeVaughn Allen reacts during the first half against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Florida has won national championships but is deep down a football school. While you have one eye on the tournament, you're really just waiting for spring practice.

Recommended for USC fans.

South Carolina


South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell celebrates after beating the Duke Blue Devils in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Hey! We're a school from a power conference that doesn't get here very often. In fact, the Gamecocks haven't won two games in a tournament – ever – until this year. We only party once in a while, but we sure do it up!

Recommended for Rhode Island, Northwestern, Minnesota and Kansas State fans.

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