NCAA tournament mascots gain fan attention this March

March Madness features a variety of school mascots that fans may grow fond of during the NCAA basketball tournaments. This year, notable mascots include Frankie the Friar from St. Francis University and King Triton from UC San Diego, both making significant tournament debuts. St. Francis University, with a record of 15-16, is participating in the tournament for the first time since 1991. UC San Diego is also competing for the first time after moving up to Division I. Other mascots like Zippy the kangaroo from Akron and Thunder the Antelope from Grand Canyon University add to the excitement. St. John’s Red Storm returns to the men’s tournament with its Thunderbird mascot, Johnny. The tournament has a history of memorable mascot moments, including ejections and antics that have entertained fans over the years.