The Stetson Hatters are off to March Madness

The city of DeLand is inviting residents and fans to help send off Stetson University’s men’s basketball team as it heads to its first-ever NCAA tournament.

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The university hasn’t advanced to this stage of men’s basketball since becoming a Division I program in 1971.

Fans can wave the team goodbye before they head to New York for the big game.

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The Hatters are set to take on the defending national champions, the UCONN Huskies, on Friday.

Stetson fans are invited to cheer them on from the Edmunds Center on campus at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

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Before the Hatters leave town, the team’s buses will drive down Woodland Boulevard through downtown DeLand on its way to the airport.

The DeLand Police Department will be providing an escort for the team.

Watch the Hatters sendoff on Channel 9 at 4 p.m

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