Let me first say that no one from either the NCAA or Springfield asked me to do this. I want to get that out of the way because this is going to sound like an advertisement, though you’re on your own as far as getting the necessary phone number or web link for more information goes.
It’s likely that the women’s Final Four isn’t going to fill Blake Arena to capacity as it did last season. Last year’s games had three schools that draw huge fan support- Hope, Southern Maine, and Scranton- and for two of those schools, travel was pretty easy. This year’s contest has only one school- NYU with both a huge fan base and a location within three hours of Springfield, Mass.
It’s too bad, because last year’s Final Four was the most fun of the six I’ve covered for this site. There was an energy in the building that greatly enhanced the event. The players felt it. The coaches felt it. And the fans felt it.
So I’ll say this, and hopefully it won’t sound like shilling. If this event has even the slightest bit of significance to you, you should go.
If you’re a fan of any of these teams, it goes without saying that you should be there. This is a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity and if cost/work/school doesn’t get in the way, you should be there, loud and proud.
If you’re a basketball fan, go to “ooh” and “ah,” which is what I remember most from the first one of these I attended, when Washington University and St. Benedict went toe-to-toe for 40 minutes in Danbury, and my 28k dial-up connection on my laptop allowed for the occasional listing of game updates on “Posting Up” (how far we’ve come since then). There was a buzz in the building, particularly when 3-time national player of the year Alia Fischer hit a couple hook shots, one with each hand.
If you’re a player, go to see what your game is missing. That’s what Eastern Connecticut’s Allison Coleman did, driving all the way out to Terre Haute, Ind. to watch the Final 4. The next year, she was playing in the game, and despite the team’s loss to Trinity, her efforts in sparking comebacks in both the semifinals and title game, made her and her team the story of the tournament.
If you’re a coach, go to take notes. One told me last year of sitting close enough to the Southern Maine bench to hear the team’s coaches making in-game adjustments and finding the process fascinating. The coach sitting next to me at this year’s Sweet 16 at Emmanuel, pulled out pen and paper every few minutes and started diagramming the plays run by DePauw with machine-like precision. One listening to our coverage on the internet said they were so inspired by our descriptions that they were thinking of making a last-minute 1,000 mile trip to check out what they were missing.
You may recall that in this space a few weeks ago, I wrote about my 80-mile trek to catch scoring maching Mike Hoyt’s final collegiate game for Mount St. Mary. The weather wasn’t too great that day, but while sitting in a parking lot outside a Barnes & Noble in Hartford, Connecticut, I thought to myself: “Is this something I’m going to wish I had seen?” Next thing I knew, I was sitting next to Hoyt’s family, 2 rows from the court. I’m glad I went that day and I think you’ll be glad you went if you find your way to Springfield.
I’m still planning to trek the 1000 miles but just checked the weather and the word is that white stuff and we southerners have a little trouble with that. Everytime we go to DePauw it snows and we lose. Maybe this is good for DePauw. Hope to see you Friday, weather permitting. Could be a good road trip with the Big Dance going on. Pick up games on my sat. radio as I drive. My friends think I’m crazy DRIVING 1000 miles for a bball game. I have to agree with them but my season is over and I need a road trip alone for a change. Taking your word that tickets are available!
I hope that Ron will consider a visit with Hoopsville.
Here’s a thought.
How about an archive of podcasts that you can post in the off-season so we can learn more about the coaches and the teams across D3!
There ought to be an easy way to get several hours of content that way!
i did 890 miles each way from connecticut to terre haute, and the other 2 members of our crew drove similar distances…applause to anyone who does something similar for either final four
i believe the women’s final four record, in my time is 1,200+, by the st. bens fans who drove to danbury and upon entering proclaimed “I’ve just been on a (bleep)ing bus for 20 hours…LETS GO BLAZERS!!!!”
I’m driving 60 to get to the airport in an hour, flying 2600 miles, and then driving 230 to get to Salem… do I win a prize for distance? 🙂
Speaking of driving to the airport, maybe I should pack… 😀
I am considering coming over to Springfield (DePauw alum)… how is the gym? Bleachers or seats? How’s parking?
the gym is nice…lot of good work done to make it look final-4 caliber
bleacher seating.
parking exists 🙂 Seriously speaking, there should be enough such that you won’t have more than a short walk to gym.
The National Weather Service has posted a winter storm watch for Massachusetts for Friday AM through Saturday. The cities of Boston and Springfield are both expected to get significant amounts of snow out of this particular storm system. The storm starts as rain today and tonight in Boston, but will change over to snow by Friday morning and is expected to intensify early Friday afternoon.
I still expect to be in Springfield for the weekend, as I am scheduled to leave South Station–Boston on the 8 AM Peter Pan bus to Springfield. Scheduled arrival time in Springfield Friday for my bus is 10:10 AM, as the bus makes one stop at the Worcester, MA train station along the way.
Naturally, people who are going to Springfield will probably want to tour the Basketball Hall of Fame if they have time, but I also recommend the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden on State and Chestnut Streets in downtown Springfield– if you are hardy enough to walk through some snow, that is. (Theodor Geisel, known to the world as “Dr. Seuss”, grew up in Springfield, MA.) Engraved on a tablet in the middle of the garden is Dr. Seuss’s story “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”
Yeah, I fly in on Friday mid-morning to Hartford, and I’m just hoping that my flight isn’t going to be delayed due to the weather. A 1700 mile flight to get to see no game would be a shame. Everyone cross your fingers mother nature holds out so we can get everyone safely to Springfield!
Go Tigers!
The National Weather Service has now upgraded the winter storm watch to a winter storm warning for Massachusetts.
The winter storm warning is in effect for all of Massachusetts from 10 AM Eastern on Friday to Noon Eastern on Saturday. The storm is expected to dump between 8 to 15 inches of snow in the Springfield, MA area, and is expected to start late Friday morning.
All 4 women’s basketball teams arrived in Springfield on Wednesday, and the practices for all 4 teams were today. Tonight, there will be the women’s Championship Banquet at the Hall of Fame.
I expect that since all 4 teams and the game officials are currently on site, that Friday’s games will go off as scheduled. All 4 teams are staying at the Marriott, which is in downtown Springfield, within 3 miles of Blake Arena.
I should be able to make it to Springfield safely on Friday, since I am leaving Boston at 8 AM. I hope that everyone going to Springfield will get there safely.
Yeah, there’s no doubt they’ll be playing. The snow is an added hindrance, but it isn’t gonna stop the event unless it’s an epic storm
Do any of you New Englander’s know how good Bradley International Airport is to fly in – I guess my question is, do they close shut down very often, get delayed a lot due to weather?
Bradley is usually one of the last New England airports to close for snow. Since it’s not directly on the coast, it often gets the diverted traffic from NYC in bad weather. It’s a decent airport, although it closes down early at night (around 8) when the late flights are almost all gone. Easy access to I-91, which takes you right up to Springfield. Delays are more likely caused by planes not taking off from other cities.
I’ll be a little more optimistic on the weather – the Springfield tv station (Channel 22) predicts 4-8″. http://weather.wwlp.com/localforecast
Hartford (www.wfsb.com) says 3-6″.
Heavier snow in the Berkshire hills, but Springfield is in the Conn. River Valley. I’m driving…
From this morning:
WCVB TV (Ch. 5) in Boston predicts 6-10″ of snow for Springfield area, with 5-8″ of snow for Boston. Weather in Springfield will change to a wintry mix of snow and sleet Friday night, while the snow will change to all rain Friday night into Saturday. After the changeover in Boston, 2 to 4″ of heavy rain is expected on top of the accumulation.
I’m heading out– see you in Springfield.
Driving wasn’t a good idea. I’m spending the night in a hotel… maybe get in tomorrow.
Driving was worse than a good idea. Very nasty outside.
I stopped counting accidents when I approached 20.