"A 12 seed Western Kentucky is going up against the almighty UCLA", it was announced on ESPN2 on Thursday morning.

Everyone is talking.

"We're the Cinderella story I think," says WKU student, Nick Hardesty.

They're talking about the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Fans around the area are gearing up to support their team by cheering them on at home from Diddle Arena and Double Dogs during the game.

"We're offering that to anyone. All fans who want to come out and support the Hilltoppers,"says Ginny Hensley, the Associate Director of the WKU Alumni Association.

While these fans will do this from home, there are many more doing this nationally!

"I was just watching ESPN and all the sports commentators are talking about maybe we'll upset UCLA," says WKU student, Seth Short.

"It's been great, especially with all the Internet coverage and all the news," says WKU student, Shelby Cannon.

"Especially players like Courtney Lee have been in the paper alot. USA Today," says WKU student, Nick Hardesty.

"It's put us on the map", says WKU Athletic Marketing Assistant, Paula Davids.

Paula Davids is an Athletic Marketing Assistant at WKU and has been monitoring the websites daily for story's on the Hilltoppers and Big Red.

"It's just more and more articles every day and it's just unreal," says Paula Davids.

From ESPN, The Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times, the coverage is everywhere for the Hilltoppers, Big Red, and even those familiar with them.

"Someone who's very familiar with this 12 seed Western Kentucky, joining us now, James Brandenburg is the sports director at WBKO in Bowling Green. He covers the Hilltoppers", said an ESPN sports Thursday morning as he talked on ESPN2 with WBKO's James Brandenburg.

Making WKU a place that everyone is talking about.

"We always knew it was there, but we're just making everybody else appreciate what we already knew," says Paula Davids.

Which has even been a surprise to some Hilltoppers themselves.

"I didn't really know we were that big of a deal and now we're in the Sweet 16 so that's pretty cool," says WKU student, Seth Short.

A big experience with some national coverage that has certainly made this a "Sweet 16" for the Hilltoppers and Western Kentucky University.

"It's a big deal. It's a big deal and I'm so happy that I'm a freshman at WKU. Go Tops!", says WKU student, Trana Andrews and friend Shelby Cannon.

For those interested in watching the game at Diddle Arena Thursday night, doors open at eight with free parking in structure number two and concessions will be open.

Double Dogs in Bowling Green will also be showing the game.

As for Big Red, he even made it to Sports Illustrated and is in his own competition right now against other mascots in the NCAA tournament. You can vote for him at the following address.

click here.