Lincoln has had a complicated road to travel this season in returning to the Sweet 16. The Lions put together back-to-back wins to return to Virginia Beach. You likely already know about the infamous 201-78 December win against Ohio State-Marion, but it's hardly the only adversity the Lions have put themselves through or faced this season.

Lincoln has used 24 players and 16 starting lineups this season, necessitated by long suspensions in an attempt to instill discipline on a team that pushes it up the floor. Keith McMillan has more in his Road to Salem feature.

We'll spare you the tired old metaphors about fairy tales and dancing and just lay out the facts. Carroll wasn't favored to win its own conference's tournament, but won two games away from home to take the Midwest Conference automatic bid, then went on the road to take down No. 7 Augustana and No. 5 St. Thomas. The Pioneers are in the Sweet 16 in just their second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

It's almost as if the team D3hoops.com ranked No. 17 in the preseason was finally putting it all together, but as Andrew Wagner points out in his Road to Salem feature, the run actually started earlier, during one of those MWC weekends of back-to-back games on the road.

So if the Pioneers go into UW-Stevens Point against No. 10 Hope, don't expect them to feel intimidated. It can't be like going into UW-Madison and playing in front of 17,000 Badger fans.

Scroll down for Around the Nation and Gordon Mann's weekly podcast for features on teams from each of the other six Sweet 16 men's and women's brackets.