We ’ve got two English bulldog , one Eskimo dog , and one bluetick coonhound . Choose your favorite !
After a twelvemonth off — thanks again , pandemic — March Madness isfinallyback with the promise of outstanding hoops feature the country ’s best college players .
But we ai n’t here to talk about any of that . We , of trend , are here to publish about the doggies : specifically , the genuine - life history mascot of four squad that made the NCAA Tournament ’s 68 - team champaign — Connecticut , Drake , Georgetown , and Tennessee .
Photo: Courtesy of Drake University / Instagram
So fear not if your alma mater did n’t make the big dancing . We ’ll aid you pick the right team dog by laying out everything you involve to know : stock , personality , history , and sport facts . Plus , we ’ll actually tell you how likely they are to win the deed ( if you ’re in reality concerned in basketball game .
Here are the dog-iron :
Jonathan XIV, University of Connecticut
Seed : No . 7 in the East Region
When can I maybe see him on television receiver : UConn play No . 10 Maryland ( Saturday , 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS )
Can UConn gain the tournament?Pretty unbelievable , but the power plant UConn women are a No . 1 seed in their tournament
Bio : This 7 - year - oldhuskybecame UConn ’s fourteenth live mascotin 2014 , just after the UConn men won their fourth national claim . gratefully , he ’s been around to see the char make headway their two most recent championships . On campus , member of Alpha Phi Z look after Jonathan . At home , he lives with his brother , Jonathan XIIV , and relish playing alfresco — especially when it snows .
Griff II (George), Drake University
Seed : No . 11 in the West Region
When can I maybe see him on TV : Francis Drake toy No . 11 Wichita State ( Thursday , 6:27 p.m. ET on TBS )
Can Drake win the tournament?Nah . ( But feel free to prove this alumnus ill-timed , Bulldogs . )
Bio : English bulldogGeorge , whose title is Griff II , is relatively new , becoming Drake ’s alive mascot onlylast year , succeeding his brother Griff I ( this generator ’s close personal friend ) . This cuckoo ’s likes include : " griiffucinnos,“antagonizing Griff I , and spending time with Drake students . dislike : wear out his boots , having a moth-eaten bottom .
Jack, Georgetown University
come : No . 12 in the East Region
When can I maybe see him on tv set : Georgetown toy No . 5 Colorado ( Saturday , 12:15 p.m. ET on CBS )
Can Georgetown gain the tournament?Almost certainly not
Bio : Jack is the late live English bulldog to represent Georgetown , which has boasted bouncy bulldog mascots since the 1960s . The obese fella has a peculiar favorite nutrient : salads with no olives . He also enjoys chasing his light-green water can and spending time on campus . you’re able to follow himon Facebook , where he show off his latest Halloween costumes .
Smokey X, University of Tennessee
Seed : No . 5 in the Midwest Region
When can I maybe see him on TV : Tennessee plays No . 12 Oregon State ( Friday , 4:30 p.m. ET on TNT )
Can Tennessee win the tournament?Probably not , but they have a better chance than these other three teams
Bio : Smokey X is the Volunteers ' latestbluetick coonhoundmascot . The first , Blue Smokey , wasnamed the Tennessee mascot in 1953 . Since then , all 10 of University of Tennessee ’s pups ( all named Smokey , obvi ) have all been invoke by the same sept in Knoxville . Smokey X arrived at UT in 2013 . Under his sleepless hound eyes , the football team has gone a pedestrian 50 - 48 . However , he doeslove celebrate touchdowns with the sports fan .
The Perfect Dog Bracket
Ideally , we ’d be able-bodied to pencil each of these teams into an all - dog Final Four , but the pick committee put Georgetown and UConn in the same region and zero hot dog mascots in the South . Annoying . They must be cat lovers .
In any case , if you want toonlysupport the live - domestic dog - mascot teamsin your bracket(and have no interest in winning any money ) here ’s your terminal Four :
Man , this would be so much easier if the No . 1 overall seed Gonzaga University Bulldogs had a alive mascot . lamentably , the university made the decision tophase out live mascotsin 1980.Why ! ?
