Back when Connecticut and Tennessee played each November, those games could be #1 vs. #2 — add those up to make 3. The lower that number, the higher the quality of the match.
Stanford’s visit to Utah in, um, six hours is an 11. In the NCAA round of 16, you get 11’s. We’re some weeks shy of the round of 16, but I’d venture that the Pac-12 conference title game is roughly that prestigious.
I’d also venture that the Utah women’s basketball team can go at least as far as their football team did this academic year (7-2 in conference, lost the Rose Bowl).
How many seats in the Huntsman Center will be full today, do you reckon? This is the biggest game they’ve hosted since Utah joined the Pacific-12!
I’ll say this for Pacific. When Connecticut passed through Stockton on their way to Palo Alto, their community *showed up*. Pacific wanted good attendance for their #1-ranked visitors, so they distributed vouchers that would’ve conferred free admittance in case Spanos Center didn’t sell out, but it did!
I felt bad for the folks who didn’t understand the deal, and arrived with vouchers but were turned away at the door… except for one family. I was sitting on press row — Pacific got 75 media requests for that game, 73 of which came from media outlets that didn’t give a fig about the Tigers until Connecticut dropped by — and this fellow steps up, two children in tow.He says he couldn’t get a straight explanation about his vouchers from the box office, and he’s looking for help from someone. Anyone.
Which was pretty funny. He and his kids got through the front entrance without tickets, made it down to the floor without interference from ushers, and reached press row without media credentials on display.
I give him an explanation. The athletic department handed out these vouchers for admission in case they didn’t sell enough tickets, but they did.
So these are worthless? he said.
Well, you’re *in* the building.