Arizona's Grand Canyon, also playing in the men's and women's NCAA tournaments, started its Antelope nickname in 1949, later shortened to the Lopes. A hairy mascot known as the “Purple People Eater” was replaced in 1981 with the antelope mascot, which didn't get its current name until Thunder stuck in 2008.

The women's NCAA Tournament is here. Here's a prediction at which teams could surprise the field with first-round March Madness upsets: