March Madness has set in around the country as 68 college basketball teams begin their journey toward this year's NCAA national championship. Cinderellas and perennial favorites alike carry their fans' hopes and the nation's attention into the tournament as brackets will be busted, but only one team can win it all.
Here is a collection of images taken so far in the NCAA college basketball tournament.
1. Ohio State Superfan: Jon 'Big Nut' Peters
Jon “Big Nut” Peters of Fremont, Ohio, a Fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, arrives for the second round games in the men's NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday in Buffalo, N.Y. Peters originated the "Big Nut" character in 1995. He dresses up for all home games and as many away games as possible. He’s been seen on ESPN, the DVD of the 2002 national championship game, and on most broadcasts of Ohio State games. The Big Nut has leveraged his star power to help various charitable causes — on Breast Cancer Awareness Day, he swaps out his scarlet and gray theme for pink.
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2. Louisville Cardinals Trounce Manhattan Jaspers
Upper photo: Manhattan Jaspers guard Michael Alvarado (31) drives to the basket as Louisville Cardinals forward Montrezl Harrell (24) defends, in a second-round March Madness game Thursday in Orlando. Louisville beat Manhattan 71-64.
Lower photo: Louisville forward Luke Hancock (11) goes to the basket over Manhattan forward George Beamon (24) and Manhattan guard Tyler Wilson (2) during the second half of the game in Orlando.
3. Texas Longhorns Beat Arizona State
Top photo: Texas Longhorns guard Isaiah Taylor (1) drives against Arizona State Sun Devils guard Jahii Carson (1) during the first half of a second-round game Thursday in Milwaukee. Texas won 87-85.
Middle photo: Arizona State cheerleaders perform during the second half of the game.
Bottom photos: At left, an Arizona State band member wears devil glasses during the game against Texas while another band member at right plays a Sun Devils tuba.
4. Baylor Bears Defeat Nebraska Cornhuskers
Top photo: Baylor Bears player Gary Franklin (4) shoots against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half of a second-round March Madness game Friday in San Antonio. Baylor defeated Nebraska 60-74.
Bottom photo: Baylor band member Shannon Blankenberker cheers as the team takes the court against Nebraska.
5. Mercer Bears Beat the Duke Blue Devils
Duke guard Quinn Cook (2) and Mercer forward Daniel Coursey (52) vie for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball second-round game on Friday in Raleigh, N.C. Mercer won 78-71.
6. Stanford Cardinals Prevail Over New Mexico Lobos
Top photo: Stanford Cardinals' Marcus Allen, in red, and New Mexico Lobos’ Hugh Greenwood reach for a loose ball during a second-round game Friday in St. Louis. Stanford won 58-53.
Bottom photo: New Mexico's Cameron Bairstow, center, tries to squeeze past Stanford's Dwight Powell, left, and Stefan Nastic, right.
7. Arizona Wildcats Win Over Weber State Wildcats
Arizona center Kaleb Tarczewski battles with Weber State center Kyle Tresnak for a rebound during a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament Friday in San Diego. Arizona won 68-59.
8. Stanford Beats South Dakota
Stanford's Taylor Greenfield (4) shoots the ball during practice for the women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Ames, Iowa, on Friday. Stanford played against South Dakota in a first-round game on Saturday and won, 81-62.
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9. Oklahoma State Cowboys Lose to Gonzaga Bulldogs
Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart (33) shoots during practice at the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday in San Diego. Oklahoma State faced Gonzaga in a second-round game on Friday: Gonzaga won, 85-77.
10. Purdue’s Dee Dee Williams Warms Up to Face Akron
Purdue Boilermakers guard Dee Dee Williams practices at the women's NCAA college basketball tournament in West Lafayette, Ind., on Friday. Purdue routed the Akron Zips in a their first-round game on Saturday, 84-55.
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