The Sports Logo Pundit is back! It's been hard to find time to do any blogging since the birth of my first child in February, but I'm starting to get back into the swing of things.
And my first post back is a doozie. I've signed up for what seems like a million NCAA basketball brackets this year and I continue to use different methods, theories and general silliness to fill them out. For one of my brackets, I decided to pick whoever I though had the best logo. Seems like a natural thing to do for a logo blogger.
So here are my picks for the first round. They are poorly researched and most decisions were made after just a quick glance at the logo, so don't get too bent out of shape if you disagree.
To see the logo, click on the team's name...
East Regional1.
North Carolina Tar Heels16.
Mount St. Mary's MoutaineersCarolina features the classic interlocking "NC" and the foot with tar on the heel. It's an iconic college basketball logo that is simple and works on nearly all fronts. Mount St. Mary's has a triangle and the words "The Mount" for a logo.
Winner: North Carolina8.
Indiana Hoosiers9.
Arkansas RazorbacksIt's a simple interlocking IU versus a mean looking piggy. Like Carolina, the IU is classic and iconic.
Winner: Indiana5.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish12.
George Mason ColonialsIs there a more recognizable logo than Norte Dame's "ND" or their boxing leprechaun? I don't think so. Mason's logo, a green and gold shooting star, can't compare.
Winner: Notre Dame4.
Washington State Cougars13.
Winthrop EaglesThough I am a Washington Huskies fan, I do have a secret love for the Cougars logo. In fact, it's one of my all-time favorites. Poor goofy looking Eagle never had a chance.
Winner: Washington State6.
Oklahoma Sooners11.
St. Joseph HawksAgain, it comes down to the simple, iconic interlocking "OU" over a cool but perhaps overly designed Hawks logo.
Winner: Oklahoma3.
Louisville Cardinals14.
Boise State BroncosI don't know why, but I've never been a big fan of the Louisville logo. But I really don't get Boise State's dead eyed, Smurf blue bronco.
Winner: Louisville7.
Butler Bulldogs10.
South Alabama JaguarsIt's a clip art battle! But that's a pretty wicked Jaguar.
Winner: South Alabama2.
Tennessee Volunteers15.
American EaglesI hate to give the win to a bit orange "T", but that is one seriously ugly eagle. Yuck!
Winner: TennesseeMidwest Regional1.
Kansas Jayhawks16.
Portland State VikingsI want to give this to the futuristic, disembodied Viking head but I just can't. The Jayhawks logo is one of the most recognizable in all of college basketball.
Winner: Kansas8.
UNLV Runnin' Rebels9.
Kent State Golden FlashesKent State's hawk head and spine are no match for the best mustache in all of collegiate athletics.
Winner: UNLV5.
Clemson Tigers12.
Villanova WildcatsA big orange paw versus the letter V. Villanova's use of two colors secures them an overtime victory.
Winner: Villanova4.
Vanderbilt Commodores13.
Siena SaintsNothing against Vanderbilt's logos, but I'm just a big sucker for a big ole' Saint Bernard.
Winner: Sienna6.
USC Trojans11.
Kansas State WildcatsUSC has better logos, I'll admit. But I hate them with such a passion, I cannot pick them to win anything.
Winner: Kansas State3.
Wisconsin Badgers14.
Cal State Fullerton TitansWisconsin has two logos that they use all the time, the "W" and their awesome Badger. Fullerton is one of those schools that has multiple versions of their logo used for many different things and none of them really work.
Winner: Wisconsin7.
Gonzaga Bulldogs10.
Davidson WildcatsDavidson's logo looks like a charcoal sketch. Probably the worst NCAA Division 1 logo period.
Winner: Gonzaga in a landslide.2.
Georgetown Hoyas15.
UMBC RetrieversThe Hoyas have one of the best looking dog logos in the NCAA while UMBC might have the worst.
Winner: GeorgetownSouth Regional1.
Memphis Tigers16.
Texas-Arlington MavericksUgh. I have to pick between these two stinkers? I can't believe that a major university like Memphis has such a generic looking logo. But it's so much better than the horrible UTA horsey.
Winner: Memphis8.
Mississippi State Bulldogs9.
Oregon DucksMississippi State takes the win simply because they have a banner across their "M" that reads State while Oregon is simply an "O".
Winner: Mississippi State5.
Michigan State Spartans12.
Temple OwlsNow this is a major upset. The combination of their "T" and their sweet Owl beats a big green "S".
Winner: Temple4.
Pittsburgh Panthers13.
Oral Roberts EaglesThis is the upset bracket. I hate the Pittsburgh Panther's logos. The "Pitt" is fine, the panther is so nasty. Oral Roberts has a cartoon Eagle, but at least he's an agreeable fellow even if he was funded by the lies of a televangelist.
Winner: Oral Roberts6.
Marquette Golden Eagles11.
Kentucky WildcatsThe "MU" logo looks fine and is probably, on it's own, better than the Kentucky "UK". But the "UK" logo is such a major part of college basketball and is so iconic, it can't be defeated by a similar, maybe better newcomer.
Winner: Kentucky3.
Stanford Cardinal14.
Cornell Big RedStanford features an "S" with a tree, while Cornell has a big, mean, roaring bear. I'm also factoring Cornell's old, sassy bear logo and that my wife is an alum.
Winner: Cornell7.
Miami Hurricanes10.
Saint Mary's GaelsThe interlocking "SMC" that Saint Mary's unveiled last year is one of my favorite new college logos. Miami's funky looking seagull and their "U" can't match it.
Winner: Saint Mary's2.
Texas Longhorns15.
Austin Peay GovernorsLet's Go Peay! Let's Go Peay! Too bad the "AP" logo is no match for the Longhorns.
Winner: TexasWest Regional1.
UCLA Bruins16.
Mississippi Valley State Delta DevilsWhile I've never been a huge fan of UCLA's logos, they are definitely much better than MVSU's. The Delta Devils have such potential though. Someone design them a better logo. Please!
Winner: UCLA8.
BYU Cougars9.
Texas A&M AggiesWhile I like the BYU logos, it's hard to figure out which ones they are actually using right now. The A&M logo isn't anything special necessary, but at least it's consistent and well known.
Winner: Texas A&M5.
Drake Bulldogs12.
Western Kentucky HilltoppersSo many Bulldogs. I love the Gonzaga logo, but the detail in Drake's Bulldog makes this my favorite Bulldog logo. I used to think higer of Western Kentucky's logo, then I took a closer look. It's just a hand and a sash.
Winner: Drake4.
Connecticut Huskies13.
San Diego TorrerosUpset alert! San Diego's kind of effeminate Torrero takes down Connecticut's panting, fey Husky.
Winner: San Diego6.
Purdue Boilermakers11.
Baylor BearsI've always liked the way Purdue's train logo and the school's name on the cowcatcher. Baylor's bear just isn't very memorable.
Winner: Purdue3.
Xavier Musketeers14.
Georgia BulldogsThe "X" is so edgy. The G, is fine, but it's just not X-citing enough.
Winner: Xavier7.
West Virginia Moutaineers10.
Arizona WildcatsThis one comes down to a last second shot and West Virginia hits a runner from halfcourt.
Winner: West Virginia2.
Duke Blue Devils15.
Belmont BearsDuke gets the nod even though I like Belmont's cray bear logo. But for college basketball's premier program, their logo really is kind of unmemorable.
Winner: DukeThe rest of the tournament coming shortly...