#147/341 - South Carolina Gamecocks

It's usually a challenge to find big name, or at least big conference, schools when their basketball program isn't up to snuff. The Gamecocks haven't been to the Big Dance since 2004 but do have a few NIT titles to their credit.

#146/341- USC Upstate Spartans

Okay time to drop some knowledge bombs. So there are what I'll call, directional college names. Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, names that tell you roughly what part of that state the colleges are located in. But what do you when your state already has one? I mean the name, "Southern North Carolina" is just strange. Hence, South Carolina got creative and used the word "Upstate" instead of Northern. Hence, USC Upstate or, the University of South Carolina Upstate.

But what about East/West? Well North Carolina already took East Carolina and Western Carolina, so South Carolina used Coastal Carolina for their Easterly school.

#145/341 - Pacific Tigers

Another lucky ebay find, with rich vibrant colors and a distinguished font. The Pacific Tigers have had success in the big dance including three straight appearances from 2004-06. The first two saw them pull first round upsets while the third saw them take Boston College to a memorable 3 Overtime game before falling.

#144/341 - Northwestern Wildcats

The most elusive of the BigTen schools and the country's hub for journalistic studies, the Northwestern Wildcats. If I'm being honest I hate this jersey. It looks ugly and needs to be replaced, but it's the best I've found thus far.

#143/341 - East Carolina Pirates

This is just a weird looking jersey. It's square-shaped, and is big enough for width but the length is short. I don't know if this was made for a fat child but it's mine now.

#142/341 - Nebraska Cornhuskers

I have officially joined the ranks of Team Nebrasketball.

#141/341 - Georgia State Panthers

Another lucky ebay find with so much to love about this jersey. The "C" above the Nike logo has me wondering if I lucked myself into a team-issued jersey. Any jersey with an NCAA logo is a nice plus.

Update/341 - Ohio State Buckeyes

Just an update, my original Ohio State jersey came with a lesson in learning the difference between XL and Youth XL. Found one that fits at a reasonable price.

#140/341 - Houston Cougars

Hard to believe it took this long to obtain a jersey from such a historic college basketball program. Awhile back I wrote about my struggles in avoiding "vintage" jerseys and no other school has presented this problem as thoroughly as Houston. I must have passed over hundreds of "Drexler's" and "Olajuwon's" before finding this one.

#139/341 - Rhode Island Rams

And America's first state is on the board! Despite it's size, the state of Rhode Island is home to 4 D1 schools. I really like this jersey even if the design is noticeably similar to another state-named team from tobacco road.

#138/341 - Drexel Dragons

I did it again. I bit on a jersey that is terribly out of date because the price was right and I really wanted it. Drexel is from my hometown of Philadelphia which didn't help matters.

Drexel, if you're out there, this was the best I could do. I'm sorry.

#137/341 - Richmond Spiders

Really happy to find this modern, and possibly game-used, jersey for a reasonable price. The Richmond Spiders were the first 15-seed to pull off the big upset when they defeated 2-seeded Syracuse in 1991. Before that they made the Sweet Sixteen in 1988 as a 13-seed and then again in 2011 as a 12-seed. Now they play in the Atlantic-Ten so I doubt they'll be flying under anyone's radar.

#136/341 - Memphis Tigers

Another big market school that has alluded me. This one was found on clearance from Lids. Hard to think of Memphis without thinking of a team that was a few free throws away from a title. That legendary failure to execute the fundamentals has to be a hard pill to swallow for any fan base.

#135/341 - Virginia Tech Hokies

Oh the allusive Hokies! I came across a Virginia Tech clearance sale and jumped all over it. If I had to guess I would say their rarity comes from their once prominent football program that overshadows the basketball team. This jersey puts me one away from completing a 2nd conference.

#134/341 - Mercer Bears

Having hoarded my change for a few more months I returned to the Coinstar to procure an Amazon gift card with which to break my <$20 rule and get a brand new jersey. Gift card in hand, I sought the advice of a random number generator to decide which. When the Mercer Bears were selected, a smile crept up my cheek. These same Mercer Bears, from the same Atlantic Sun Conference as "Dunk City," had just made the same 15 v. 2 upset, only this time it was Duke on the receiving end of March Madness. It only seemed fitting that I once again break my rules for them.

This year the Mercer Bears move to the Southern Conference and I can only wish them well. God speed Bears.

#133/341 - Lipscomb Bisons

Another strange find from the state of Tennessee. This was another lucky eBay find that is both recent and well fitting. Lipscomb is a recent addition to Division 1 and is part of one of the closest geographical rivalries in college basketball. Belmont is located less than 2 miles from their campus and they compete against one another in the Battle of the Boulevard.

#132/341 - Xavier Musketeers

Another non-ebay pickup from a found clearance sale. The first and last school that starts with the letter "X" and helps to fill out the state of Ohio, with its 13 D1 schools. Xavier has gotten very close to the Final Four but not quite there with 5 Sweet 16 and 2 Elite 8 appearance in the last 10 years.

#131/341 - Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks

This jersey was long overdue principally because it is the only located within an hour's drive of my own backyard. It is then, only fitting, that this jersey came from the result of generosity. For a 2nd time I emailed UMES and this time they were gracious enough to send me a beautiful basketball jersey. With that UMES joins the ranks of Indiana State, Gardner-Webb, and Montana State as being kind enough to donate to the JerseyQuest project, and in return, received a donation to the school from me in their honor.

Thank you UMES.

#130/341 - Tennessee Martin Skyhawks

It seems to be getting rarer and rarer where I find an obscure school's jersey that is the right size and modern. This is one of those rare times. I'm getting closer to having the state of Tennessee complete with is bizarre because they have a surprising 12 teams and most of them are obscure.

#129/341 - Indiana State Sycamores

This is a very important jersey to the collection. It marks the end of the first season from the start of Jersey Quest. At the end of the season I restarted the process of emailing universities asking for aid in my quest. This year Indiana State was the first to unequivocally give me a jersey. For their act of kindness, they join the ranks of Gardner-Webb & Montana State for their memorable generosity.

It's also important because the Indiana State Sycamores were especially challenging for having an incredibly famous alum. I legitimately could not track down a single basketball jersey of their that wasn't Larry Bird.

So to Indiana State University I owe a profound 'thank you.'

#128/341 - Samford Bulldogs

This jersey is the perfect storm of finding bad things. It doesn't fit, it's out of date, and it was cheap. So I can say I have a Samford Bulldogs jersey but it needs to be replaced.

#127/341 - Montana Grizzlies

How long ago was it that Montana State University were kind enough to send me a jersey? This obscure ebay find means I can now complete the state. The Grizz have been to the NCAA Tournament in 3 of the last 5 years and pulled off a 12/5 upset back in 2006.

States #6/50 - State of Montana

It's hard to decide how to count the states due to Alaska not having a D1 team. For the sake of round numbers I'm going to count them like you would a free space on a bingo sheet. So as of now I have Alaska, Minnesota, Nevada, Oklahoma, Kansas, and now Montana complete.

Conferences #1/33 - The Big 12

The addition of the Baylor Bears completed the Big 12, but somehow I hadn't noticed this. This meant arranging them nicely for a photo and buying a cheap case from Wal-Mart to store them together. This is pleasure only a completionist can know.

Reflecting on the 10 jerseys, I'm pretty happy with all of them. Kansas is a little vintage but it's a classic look. Given the chance I would only replace TCU as it doesn't fit that well. Overall, it's a nice completed set.

#126/341 - Purdue Boilermakers

Another rebuy from BFL (Before Foot Locker). For some reason, I have an affinity for the bastard stepchildren of particular states. After Indiana, Notre Dame, and now Butler, Purdue is arguably the 4th most popular basketball team in the relatively small state of Indiana. I couldn't tell you what a Boilermaker is but I know it can be a shot of whiskey and a beer served together or it has something to do with trains. So in my mind it's a mix of heavy machinery and alcohol, so apparently they are a volatile bunch in West Lafayette, Indiana.

#125/341 - Louisville Cardinals

Man this one took me awhile to get. Turns out after a team wins the NCAA title their jerseys are suddenly worth something. Staying under $20 was a challenge but I did it. Also happy to have a recent style.

#124/341 - Jackson State Tigers

Another representative of the Southwestern Athletic conference (SWAC). This conference has been nothing short of whipping boys in the NCAA Tournament for as long as I can remember. Jackson State last made the dance in 2007 where they lost by 43 to Florida.

#123/341 - Baylor Bears

Somehow this picture looks way worse than the jersey does in reality. I bought this from a retail clearance site and it's a beaut. Baylor is an interesting team that's come on strong of late but hasn't really broken through to the deeper realms of the NCAA Tournament. From what I understand, their coach is a strong recruiter but a mediocre coach. Or I could have that backwards, I don't know.

#122/341 - Portland State Vikings

Now here's a shocker for you. Not only was Portland State one of the first jerseys I got but it was complete rubbish, had to be replaced, and I actually a found a better jersey for the Vikings. Portland State hails from the Big Sky Conference and have one of the most confusing logos I've ever seen. It looks like a streaking racing helmet with horns or perhaps a green flame with a massive grin and white flame trails for eyes.

#121/341 - Michigan Wolverines

This is another long overdue replacement from before I learned about the Foot Locker knockoffs. I don't know why, but somehow the University of Michigan has their own yellow. It's so distinct and yet so.... well yellow. It's been nice to see their resurgence over the years. Hopefully they can put another decent team on the floor this year to replace the talent that left.

#120/341 - Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

I know it doesn't look like much but it was obtained through the school's bookstore in a clearance sale so it's as legit as they come.

#119/341 - North Carolina A&T Aggies

Another MEAC school checked off along with another school from North Carolina. As I've stated before, there are a lot of MEAC knockoffs so getting a legit one is always nice.

#118/341 - Colgate Raiders

Went and got another jersey I can't possibly fit into. Another one that needs to be replaced. But it was cheap and looked nice and it was from the state of New York. For whatever reason New York has 22 D1 teams and their jerseys are hard to find.

#117/341 - Kentucky Wildcats

Another long overdue replacement of an early mistake. At this point I'm confident that 'Nike' is a sign of quality while 'Foot Locket' is a sign of knockoff crap.

#116/341 - Weber State Wildcats

This jersey doesn't even come close to fitting me but it looks great and was cheap. If I had to guess I would say it's a team-issued women's jersey. Weber State does have a nice history in the NCAA Tournament. They pulled a 14/3 upset in '95 over Michigan State and then again in '99 over North Carolina. Those are two tough schools to oust in March.

#115/341 - Iowa State Cyclones

This is another acquisition from a clearance sale. Getting brand new jerseys for less than $20 is always satisfying. It's also nice to get a major conference underdog. Iowa State has looked impressive in recent years.

One of my worst tournament memories was their Elite 8 run in 2000. Facing top-ranked Michigan State was tough enough, but the game happened to be played in Auburn Hills, Michigan made it damn near impossible. Despite this, the Cyclones outplayed them for most of the game before succumbing in the end. It was a tough pill to swallow and had to have been exponentially difficult for their fans.

#114/341 - Duke Blue Devils

I didn't put this one off for any obvious reasons. In fact Duke was one of the first jerseys I acquired. Unfortunately it was one of the Foot Locker knockoffs and had to be replaced. I know it's common to hate Duke and to be honest it's a struggle to fight the urge. But the reality is that the hatred is bred out of jealousy and respect for a team that is always good and constantly competing on high levels. So here's to Duke.

#113/341 - Creighton Bluejays

I always considered Creighton to be a strong Cinderella, but I can never recall them making a deep run in the NCAA's. Sure enough, while they've had some really good teams they haven't made it out of the first weekend in the modern era. This jersey may need replacing as I don't know what era it's from.

#112/341 - Butler Bulldogs

A good time for Cinderellas eh? I found this in an online clearance sale and it just snuck under the $20 mark. For my money the Butler Bulldogs are my favorite Cinderella story in the sport's history. They weren't the first small school to make the Final 4 but the first to break through into the title game... in back to back years.

The 2nd time they played against Duke in a game that I would say was as close to being Rocky I as you'll find in sports. They hung with the more talented Blue Devils from wire to wire and were a few inches from blowing the roof off the building and the sport as we know it. I'm extraordinarily proud to wear this jersey and what that team accomplished.

States #4/50 - The State of Kansas

For a state with only 3 D1 basketball teams that's a hell of a lot of success. So here's to the state of Kansas, checked off my list.

#111/341 - Wichita State Shockers

I will have to replace this with a more modern one, but for now I'm enjoying this. As far as Cinderellas go it doesn't get much better than the Shockers of Wichita State. They tore through the tournament en route to the Final 4 and where very close to knocking out eventual champions, Louisville.

What most people don't remember about that team was that their toughest contest before the Final 4 was a 2nd-round upset of #1 Gonzaga. The Zags actually had them on the ropes late in the 2nd half before the Shockers started reigning 3's to pull it out. The following year the Wichita State would switch roles where they became the #1-seed only to lose to a team that would go onto the title game. It was a weird 2-year circle.

#110/341 - UCSB Gauchos

A lot to like about this good looking jersey. Dig the flag patch, the unique lettering, the SB on the collar. And again, it's another dent in the state of California.

#109/341 - Eastern Michigan Eagles

In general I try to avoid vintage jerseys. I ended up getting this because it was super cheap and the team's jerseys haven't changed much since then. This is a George Gervin Eastern Michigan Classics Collection jersey and wearing it is like wearing a dress. Seriously, I'm 6'0 and this thing comes down to my knees.

I was surprised to learn that in 1996 Eastern Michigan was not only good enough to earn a 9-seed in the NCAA Tournament but they throttled 8-seeded Duke in the first round. Good on ya Eagles.

#108/341 - Florida Gulf Coast Eagles

This one is a long time coming. The reason I started this journey was witnessing that monumental upset so long ago. Unsurprisingly, a basketball team that started in 2002 doesn't have a lot of second hand merchandise. I had to bite the bullet and buy this jersey new off Amazon for $60 as a birthday present to myself. It looks exactly like the jerseys I saw on that fateful night in Philadelphia.

#107/341 - UNC-Greensboro Spartans

North Carolina is another state that is especially satisfying to get a jersey from. Despite its size it holds 18 Division 1 basketball teams, more than any other southern state. Greensboro is most noted for almost pulling a 15-2 upset in 1996 against Cincinnati.

#106/341 - CS Fullerton Titans

Plugging our way through the state of California with the Cal State Fullerton Titans. Primarily a baseball school, the Titans last made the NCAA tournament in 2008 and sport an awesome elephant mascot.

#105/341 - Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions

Now we're getting obscure. With smaller schools sometimes it's a case of taking what you can get. But this jersey is gorgeous any way you look at it. The detailing up the side is especially exquisite.

The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions play out of the SWAC and went dancing back in 2010.

#104/341 - Arizona State Sun Devils

Staying in the PAC 10 we have the overshadowed child of the state of Arizona. You may remember the Sun Devils from suffering a heartbreaking buzzer beater this past year.

#103/341 - Colorado Buffaloes

I think we have another women's jersey here. There's a name on the back that I traced to a Lady Buff from the mid-2000's. The neat thing about this jersey is that I may soon be attending classes there so I'm ready.

When I think of Colorado basketball I think of the recent teams who continually show up for the Pac-12 Tournament and play hard regardless of their seed. They have been tough out every year since they migrated over from the Big 12. Go Buffs.