The lowdown on Florida, Oregon, Butler and UNLV

In anticipation of this Sweet 16 weekend's games, SIOC is checking in with students from all 16 schools to gage the reaction on campus.

FLORIDA

	Florida has its share of stars, but none shine brighter than Joakim Noah. Bill Frakes/SI
	More Campus Reports East South Midwest West

Conference: SEC
Location: Gainesville, Fla.
Enrollment: 50,000
Last time in Sweet 16: 2006 (won national championship)

Big Man on Campus: Exuberant forward Joakim Noah is loved by everyone in orange and blue and hated by almost all opposing fans. Before each game fans chant Noah's name as he readies for the opening tip. Noah pays them back with his emotional play.

This is the best thing to happen to my school since: The football team's national championship. No matter what Billy Donovan and Co. accomplish, Florida will always be a football school. (It just so happens that spring practice began Wednesday for Urban Meyer's team.)

Buzz on campus: Everyone is just off spring break and didn't pay much attention to the first two games last weekend. And why not? The Gators showed up for about 10 minutes in both to move on to the Sweet 16, but the excitement will pick up as the team moves on.

Place to be for the games: The Swamp Restaurant, an aptly named eating environment adorned with sports collectibles on its walls. The restaurant sits across the street from Florida's sports complex area, making it a popular postgame stop.
--Nick Zaccardi

OREGON

Conference: Pac 10
Location: Eugene, Ore.
Enrollment: 20,000
Last Time in Sweet 16: 2002 (lost to Kansas in Elite Eight)

Big Man on Campus: Aaron Brooks and Tajuan Porter... little men with big games

Best Thing to Happen to school since: Walt Disney legally let us use the Duck as our mascot.

Buzz on campus: Since the conference brackets were announced, Duck gear sales at the UO Bookstore has gone up about 60 percent. More than 1,200 Duck shirts and sweatshirts were sold in the second week of March alone.

Place to go for the Games: Taylor's Bar and Grill or Rennie's Landing, two bars practically on campus, within a block of each other.

What it means to school to be in Sweet 16: The legitimization of Oregon basketball. In the Pac-10 conference, we've traditionally been considered minnows. Now we're sharks.
--Stefanie Loh

BUTLER

Conference: Horizon League
Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
Enrollment: 4,200
Last time in Sweet 16: 2003 (lost to Oklahoma in Sweet 16)

Big Man on Campus: A.J. Graves may be one of the smallest guys on the team, but he has been the big man on campus all year. Pete Campbell has used his three-point shooting to win over a lot of hearts as well. But the great thing about Butler players is that when they are not on the court, they are just the regular kid who sits next to you in class.

This is the best thing to happen to my school since: Tony Hinkle made the basketball orange!

Buzz on campus: Things are actually pretty subdued. There are no big banners or signs, but there are blue and white streamers attached to almost everything outside Hinkle. But the tournament is what everyone is talking about. Walking across the mall, all you can hear is people talking about the team, and most classes are starting with basketball talks instead of lectures. People talk about our players' Basketball IQs, but now everyone is getting it!

Place to be for the games: Campus is small, so if you are not at the games the bar Moe and Johnny's (formerly the Bulldog) is always a popular hangout.

What it means to school to be in Sweet 16: It means a lot for Butler to make it back to the Sweet 16. Butler has a strong basketball history, but doesn't often get the chance to even make the Big Dance since it is a mid-major. The last time Butler made the Sweet 16 in 2003, we were the Cinderella team. But after the tremendous season we've had, going into the tournament we had already proven we have what it takes. We won the NIT Season Tip-Off, won the Wooden Tradition, received Butler and the Horizon League's highest-ever ranking (No. 10) and set a school record for wins. We may be Bulldogs, but we are not really underdogs this year. The state of Indiana is known for its love of basketball, and it is good to say that Butler is finally the best team in the state.
--Ashley Martin

UNLV

Conference: Mountain West
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Enrollment: 31,000
Last time in Sweet 16: 1991 (lost to Duke in Final Four)

What it means to school to be in Sweet 16: It means a lot for Butler to make it back to the Sweet 16. Butler has a strong basketball history, but doesn't often get the chance to even make the Big Dance since it is a mid-major. The last time Butler made the Sweet 16 in 2003, we were the Cinderella team. But after the tremendous season we've had, going into the tournament we had already proven we have what it takes. We won the NIT Season Tip-Off, won the Wooden Tradition, received Butler and the Horizon League's highest-ever ranking (No. 10) and set a school record for wins. We may be Bulldogs, but we are not really underdogs this year. The state of Indiana is known for its love of basketball, and it is good to say that Butler is finally the best team in the state. --Ashley Martin

Big Man on Campus: This is a tough one since you can choose among three guys: Kevin Kruger, Wendell White and Mike Umeh.

This is the best thing to happen to my school since: The National Finals Rodeo left town to free up massive amounts of parking.

Buzz on campus: Everyone is talking about the Sweet 16. The giant screen at the Thomas & Mack Center flashes every couple of minute, "Congratulations Runnin' Rebels on making it to the Sweet 16." Fans went to the airport to greet the players as they returned; this is not only the biggest thing on campus, but in the Las Vegas area. People are proudly wearing Rebel Red.

Place to be for the games: If you're on campus or near it, the Freakin' Frog is one place to be.

What it means to school to be in Sweet 16: For UNLV, this is a sign of a return to national prominence. The last time UNLV won an NCAA tournament game was in 1991. So to win one, let alone two, including an upset of the No. 2-seeded Wisconsin Badgers, means a lot to people who have watched UNLV from the early '90s. Fans have wondered when UNLV will get back onto the college basketball map, and this has put them back on it -- only without the controversy.
--Paul Delos Santos