Have you ever been to an NCAA Tournament Game?

[Fox Chapel Lion II]

Yes, I have been to 2 Final Fours in Philadelphia and Indianapolis. Also to 1st round and play-in games in Dayton (UD Arena). UD Arena is one of the best basketball venues in America. Fans in Dayton love college Bball and always turn out for NCAA tournament games.

Rick I remember opening with UD on their floor in '85 in the 8-9 game. UD had a strange floor then - it was like a rubber composite, not the traditional hardwood. Don't remember any of the Flyboys players, we won something like 57-54. Then Michigan with Roy Tarpley and Leslie Rockymore, Maryland with Branch and Bias, Carolina with Kenny Smith and Brad Dougherty, Memphis State with Keith Lee and Baskerville Holmes, and then of course Georgetown with Ewing, Williams and Martin.

I still don't know how the hell we won. We had good players, our best guy was Ed Pinckney who lasted a dozen years or so in the NBA, but nobody had the power like our opponents did. We had good talent, but just played tremendous for three weeks.

And it all started at UD Arena.

 

[4IUSox2]

I can barely recall what I did yesterday, but remember NCAA games attended many years ago vividly.

'81 Assembly Hall, St Joe's (after upsetting #1 DePaul) wins a yawner vs Dr Tom, with asst Bruce Pearl and BC. Dr Tom's last game before going to Stanford. IU beats UAB (who upset UK the wknd b4). Isiah and the Hoosiers blast St Joe's on Sunday in Mideast final.

'87 Final 4 in New Orleans. Nosebleed seats or not, Can you think of a better place for a college guy and his 4 friends to watch their school play for a championship? Didn't think so. Barely slept for 4 nights. Orange easily beat Providence and a young Rick Pitino. Nightcap is a classic, IU defeats Tark and UNLV, 97-93. Monday championship, another classic, IU wins on a Smart jumper from the corner.

'92 Final Four at the Metrodome. UM squeaks past Cincy. IU blows a 14 point first half lead vs Hurley, Laettner and Hill (with some help from Teddy V).

'93 at the Rosemont Horizon (now All-State Arena). KU beats BYU. And a young Jason Kidd leads a surprising Cal team past Duke in Hurley's last game.

'93 Final 4 in New Orleans. UNC over KU; UM beats UK in OT; then webber calls a TO, ending the last chance of the Fab 5.

 

[LionJim]

@LionJim there was another thread about the BE - I could not remember who won the very first BET at Hartford Civic Center the year BEFORE Villanova joined the conference.

Was it Georgetown? Sleepy Floyd and Ed Spriggs years.

Yes, it was Georgetown, but that team was lead by John Duren and Craig Shelton. 1980, my favorite Hoya team, lost in the Elite Eight .

 

[Ski]

I was thinking of going to session1 in Pittsburgh on Thursday. I'm not a fan of any of those teams, but I thought it could be a neat experience.

If you went because PSU was in it that makes things a little different than going as someone seeing Duke vs Iona and Oklahoma vs Rhode Island.

Saw Georgia upset UNC in Syracuse in 1983 to make the Final Four. Was stationed in Syracuse at the time and the locals were all excited because if Syracuse won its first two games in the tournament then they would play the Regional at home in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse managed to get knocked out by OSU in the 2nd round, which gave me much pleasure. The tournament was fun, but anymore if my team isn't playing I'd just as soon watch basketball on TV if I have to sit in the nose bleed section.

 

[YeOldeCup]

I was thinking of going to session1 in Pittsburgh on Thursday. I'm not a fan of any of those teams, but I thought it could be a neat experience.

If you went because PSU was in it that makes things a little different than going as someone seeing Duke vs Iona and Oklahoma vs Rhode Island.

Saw two second round games at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore in 1995. Got to watch Bryant Reeves, aka "Big Country," lead Oklahoma State over Alabama in one of the two games I saw. Had a great time with a fellow Nittany Lion alum.

 

[auxgym]

I was thinking of going to session1 in Pittsburgh on Thursday. I'm not a fan of any of those teams, but I thought it could be a neat experience.

If you went because PSU was in it that makes things a little different than going as someone seeing Duke vs Iona and Oklahoma vs Rhode Island.

Yes. Ford Field fourth row. Steph Curry & Davidson vs Kansas. Great Day.

 

[kgilbert78]

Never done it for basketball, but have for some of the other sports (volleyball, gymnastics, swimming, soccer).

 

[novaclassof90]

Been to a bunch, sites include

Greensboro, saw sweet 16/elite 8 including UConn and Rip Hamilton
Winston Salem, 1st and 2nd round, saw Nova and also saw Dean Smith get the wins record. Saw a stacked Nova team lose toTony Gonzalez and a lousy Cal team.
Atlanta, 1st/2nd round
Philly, 1st/2nd round in 2009 and 2006
Boston, 1st and 2nd rd
Denver, saw Gerry Mac score 42 in 1st rd game.
Minneapolis, Homerdome for sweet 16/elite 8 when in 2006 when Nova lost to FL in elite 8 after beating BC in OT.

 

[PennStateNate]

Been to 3..

First one was 2009, me and a buddy drove to Dayton. Stayed at his sisters and went to the first round. Siena was a 9 seed and beat Ohio State, which was awesome. Even though Ohio State as a 9 seed was basically at home, everyone was rooting for little Siena. We stayed for Sunday and Siena took #1 Louisville to the end, but lost.

Second time was 2011 drove to DC to see Pitt as I knew they were overrated and they lost to Butler.

Third was first round in Pittsburgh in 2012 to see Gonzaga. They beat WVU, but lost to Ohio State. That night UNC Asheville as a 16 almost beat 1 seed Syracuse.

Never saw a coach complain to the refs as much as Boheim that night.

 

[aquapong]

I went to Psu and Temple in Tucson a few years ago.

 

[psugisher]

Been to Philly twice for 1st and 2nd round games, Pittsburgh 3 years ago for day 1 and Raleigh at the start of Steph Curry's run where they beat Gonzaga and Georgetown. Everyone became a Davidson fan those two games. Dunk City rolling all over Georgetown was awesome. In Philly the first time I was there, 16 seed Albany led 1 seed UConn by 10 in the second half before UConn went on a run but it became a home game for Albany.

Definitely go and enjoy the games. The first time going to Philly was a cruel surprise when we realized they were not selling beer..

 

[redbyrds]

I went when it was in Pittsburgh 3 years ago and will be there again this time. If you like college hoops, it's a great time.

If you're going Thursday, don't buy tickets in advance. Just haggle one of the licensed scalpers outside the place. 3 years ago I got both Thursday sessions in the lower bowl on the baseline for $40/ticket.

The atmosphere likely won't be what you expect on Thursday though. There are thousands of empty seats in those sessions. Saturday when teams are fighting to get into the Sweet 16 is when the place is packed and the tickets are expensive.

The evening session will be a tougher buy as Villanova and Va Tech will travel well, plus people are off work. I am going to check out the Sexton kid from Bama as he will be something very special at the next level ala Kyrie Irving.