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The 10 creepiest mascots of the 2018 NCAA tournament

The Duke Blue Devils mascot, Blue Devil attends the game against the Iona Gaels during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
By Abby Hamblin
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While some of the world’s best young basketball players will be in fierce competition on courts around the country during the NCAA Tournament this month, devils, tigers, wolves, pirates and something called a “shocker” will be creeping around the sidelines.

We’re talking about the mascots that represent the colleges and universities that participate in March Madness. There are some truly sketchy ones out there, and that includes one that was created after a college’s previous mascots kept dying.

Read that full story from Providence College here.

Here in San Diego, we’ve had a bit of a mascot controversy ourselves surrounding the Aztec Warrior, but at least San Diego State’s mascot doesn’t have a soul patch. We’re looking at you, Duke Blue Devil.

We’ll leave the creepy mascots to universities like Texas Tech and Arizona State. Here are the 10 creepiest mascots of the 2018 NCAA Tournament in no particular order.

University of Arizona: Wilbur Wildcat

Arizona Wildcats cheerleaders and mascot Wilbur pose before the team’s semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the UCLA Bruins at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Providence College: Friar Dom

(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

University of Miami: Sebastian the Ibis

Miami Hurricanes mascot on the field in the second quarter at Lane Stadium on Oct. 23, 2014.
(Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

Duke University: Blue Devil

The Duke Blue Devils mascot, Blue Devil attends the game against the Iona Gaels during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Texas Tech University: Raider Red

The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot performs during a game against the Kansas Jayhawks at United Supermarkets Arena.
(Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)

Arizona State University: Sparky

Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky celebrates during the second half against the UCLA Bruins at Wells-Fargo Arena.
(Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports)

Ohio State University: Brutus Buckeye

The Ohio State Buckeyes mascot and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits mascot perform during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Purdue University: Purdue Pete

(Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

University of Arkansas: Tusk

Arkansas Razorbacks mascot takes the wig of of a fan as they celebrate following the game against the Auburn Tigers at Bud Walton Arena.
(Nelson Chenault USA TODAY Sports)

Iona College: Killian

Killian the mascot for the Iona Gaels performs against the St. Peter’s Peacocks during the final of the MAAC men’s conference basketball tournment at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard on March 7, 2011 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
(Chris Chambers/Getty Images)

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin

Health | Fitness
Abby Hamblin

Abby started her career with the Union-Tribune as a college intern in the arts and entertainment section, but over the years has been a writer, blogger, digital and social media producer and podcaster. She also served for one year as a member of the editorial board. Outside of the U-T, she has been an audience engagement editor, city reporter, government reporter, social media producer and features writer at various publications in California, Indiana and Washington, D.C.

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