March Madness kicks off this week launching three weeks of college basketball insanity. Last year, the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Kansas Jayhawks in the final to claim the Division I NCAA title. This year, New England basketball fans have a number of rooting interests. Take a look at the teams, players, and coaches from New England who will compete in the 2013 NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Last year was Harvard University's first time making it to the NCAA Tournament since 1946 and this year, they get to do it again. Harvard took on Vanderbuilt in the first round of 2012, but lost 79-70. This year, Harvard won the Ivy League and its automatic berth in the tournament, and is seeded 14th in the West region. Harvard will take on third-seeded New Mexico in the first round.

Notre Dame sophomore Pat Connaughton, a 6-5 guard/forward from Arlington, played high school ball at St.John's Prep. He is averaging 9.0 points per game for the Irish, who face Iowa State in their NCAA Tournament opener.

Zach Auguste (left), is a 6-10 freshman forward at Notre Dame who is from Marlborough and the New Hampton School. He has appeared in 24 games and is averaging 3.6 points per game. Another Notre Dame player, 6-10 senior forward Tom Knight, is from Dixfield, Maine, and is averaging 5.2 points in 27 games.

Alex Murphy (pictured in blue) and his brother Erik (not pictured), both play for teams destined for the NCAA Tournament this year. Alex, a freshman forward for the Duke Blue Devils, and Erik, a senior forward for the Florida Gators, attended St. Mark's in Southborough and are originally from South Kingston, R.I. Other notable players from St. Mark's include Nik Stauskas (Michigan), 7-footer Kaleb Tarczewski (Arizona), and Southborough’s Nate Lubick (Georgetown).

A Bentley College graduate, 36-year-old Jack Perri is in his first year as LIU Brooklyn's head coach, and has gotten his team to the NCAA Tournament after winning an automatic bid through the Northeast Conference. Perri has spent the past seven seasons with LIU, but also served as head coach of D3's Rhode Island College from 2004-2005, and as the top assistant coach of his alma mater from 1998-2004.

Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams (pictured left) spent his freshman year of high school at Hamilton-Wenham before going to St. Andrew’s School in Barrington, R.I. His mother is Ipswich girls’ coach Mandy Zegarowski.

Boston native Gerard Coleman traded his position at Providence College for a chance to play at Gonzaga University, the No. 1 seed in the West region. Averaging 13.2 points during his time as a Friar, Coleman transferred to Gonzaga, but has not played in any games this season.

Andy Enfield, head coach of the South region’s No. 15 seeded Florida Gulf Coast University, may have his sights set on an upset in the NCAA tourney now, but from 1998 to 2000, he was an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics. During his time in Boston, the Celtics were the most improved free-throwing team in the league in the 1999-2000 season.

Worcester native Naadir Tharpe plays point guard for Kansas, which placed first in the Big 12 Conference, beating Kansas State 70-54 for the title. Before his college days, Tharpe played at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., averaging 13 points a game, and St. Peter-Marian High School before that.

James Madison head coach Matt Brady spent time in New England during the earlier years of his career as an assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island from 1987-1989. Under head coach Tom Penders, Brady helped the team to a "Sweet 16" year in 1987-1988.

Missouri guard Phil Pressey (pictured left) started his career at Waltham high school while his father, Phil, was an assistant with the Celtics.

Missouri's Alex Oriakhi, a 6-9 forward from Lowell, played at Connecticut before moving on to Missouri. Oriakhi has started all 33 games for Missouri and averaged 11.6 points and 8.6 rebounds. Missouri faces Colorado State in its first NCAA Tournament game.