2024-2025 B1G Basketball Thread

[medinabuckeye1]

Let's have a closer look at that across the board so they have:
Newark, New Jersey:

• #1 Dook vs #4 Arizona
• #2 Alabama vs #6 BYU (#3 was Wisconsin)

San Francisco, California:

• #1 Florida vs #4 Maryland
• #3 TxTech vs #10 Arkansas (#2 was St. Johns)

Atlanta, Georgia:

• #1 Auburn vs #5 Michigan (#4 was aTm)
• #2 Michigan State vs #6 Ole Miss (#3 was ISU)

Indianapolis, Indiana:

• #1 Houston vs #4 Purdue
• #2 Tennessee vs #3 Kentucky

As I see it, ticket demand in Indianapolis is going to be off the charts.  Purdue is in-state, Kentucky is a border state and the Wildcats are known for travelling extremely well, Tennessee is not all that far away, and the #1 seed will always bring some fans just because they are a #1 seed. 

I was curious so I checked and per events365 the cheapest all session tickets are:

• $353.41 for the West Regional in San Francisco, California (Thursday/Saturday)
• $416.62 for the East Regional in Newark, New Jersey (Thursday/Saturday)
• $491.00 for the Midwest Regional in Indianapolis, Indiana (Friday/Sunday)
• $832.25 for the South Regional in Atlanta, Georgia (Friday/Sunday)

It makes sense to me that the West Regional is relatively cheap.  Florida, Maryland, TxTech, and Arkansas are all reasonably large public Universities and three of the four are the "flagship" University of their State but none of those states are close to California.  The trip isn't realistically drivable for any alums that live close to those schools.  

I am not surprised that the South Regional is so expensive.  Atlanta is a short drive of less than two hours from Auburn.  Plus Atlanta is also drivable for Ole Miss fans (~6.5 hours) and it isn't all that far from Ann Arbor (~10.5 hours) and East Lansing (~11.5 hours) either.  Additionally, I'm sure a fair number of tickets were grabbed by Michigan retirees living in Florida.  

I am shocked that the Midwest Regional isn't a LOT more expensive.  Other than Houston, the schools are all pretty close:

• 1:21 from Mackey
• 2:49 from Rupp
• 5:34 from Thompson-Boling (Tennessee)
• 15:35 from the Fertitta Center (Houston)

I expected Purdue and Kentucky fans to push ticket demand in Indianapolis through the roof.  

[medinabuckeye1]

Lets look at the games/schedule:
Thursday, March 27:

• #2 Alabama -5.5 vs #6 BYU, 7:09pm, CBS from Newark
• #1 Florida -6.5 vs #4 Maryland, 7:39pm, TBS from San Francisco
• #1 Dook -9.5 vs #4 Arizona, 9:39pm, CBS from Newark
• #3 TxTech -5.5 vs #10 Arkansas, 10:09pm TBS from San Francisco

Friday, March 28:

• #2 Michigan State -2.5 vs #6 Ole Miss, 7:09pm, CBS from Atlanta
• #2 Tennessee -4.5 vs #3 Kentucky, 7:39pm, TBS from Indianapolis
• #1 Auburn -8.5 vs #5 Michigan, 9:39pm, CBS from Atlanta
• #1 Houston -7.5 vs #4 Purdue, 10:09pm, TBS from Indianapolis

As a league we have one slight favorite and three underdogs.  With the two Michigan schools both playing in Atlanta, they can lock up a F4 spot for the league on Friday by both winning.  Alternatively, if they both lose on Friday that locks up a F4 spot for the SEC.  Florida/Arkansas could do the same thing for the SEC in San Francisco.  

Based on the lines, MSU/Ole Miss is the closest to a coin flip and Dook/Arizona is the biggest mismatch.  

Based solely on betting lines, Maryland has the best chance of the three B1G underdogs to spring the upset.  Additionally, if they DO manage to knock off Florida the #2 seed from that region (St. Johns) is already gone so they'd face either #3 TxTech or #10 Arkansas in the E8.  That seems like better odds than either Michigan (who would likely face #2 MSU) or Purdue (who would likely face #2 Tennessee).  

[847badgerfan]

This seems like a good landing spot for the old crank.

[FearlessF]

yup, he'll bother me MUCH less there

[medinabuckeye1]

I was curious so I checked and per events365 the cheapest all session tickets are:

• $353.41 for the West Regional in San Francisco, California (Thursday/Saturday)

Hey @SFBadger96 are you going to any of the games?  

Anyone else?  

I've been to opening round games in Cleveland and to a F4 in Atlanta but I've never been to a Regional Final so I'm curious what it is like?  

For reference, if you buy the "all session" ticket you get:
Opening round site:

• Four games (two sessions) either Thursday or Friday, one session will be afternoon and the other evening with a break in between during which you have to leave the arena.  
• Two games (one session) either Saturday or Sunday

Regional site:

• Two games (one session) either Thursday or Friday, this will be in the evening
• One game (one session) either Saturday or Sunday

Final Four:

• Two games (one session) on Saturday evening
• One game (one session) on Monday evening

As near as I can tell, crowds vary a LOT.  It depends on how big the schools at your site are and how big their fanbases are and geography.  


Also, a note about the F4, you *might* be able to get tickets on the cheap depending on what happens in the semifinals.  Obviously two of the four fanbases are going to be disappointed after the semis.  Depending on what portion of the tickets they bought and whether or not they are within driving distance, they might just leave and go home in which case they'll dump their tickets.  Example:

When I went to the F4 in Atlanta the four teams were Florida, Ohio State, UCLA, and Georgetown.  The fans in the arena (the old Georgia Dome) were in that order of size.  Florida fans made up probably around half of the crowd.  Ohio State was next and the balance of the seats were filled with a smattering of UCLA and Georgetown fans plus some just "general BB fans" that were there for the event rather than following their team.  As it happened, Florida and Ohio State won their semifinals so the CG was PACKED.  We sat next to a two UCLA fans and they came to the CG even though their team wasn't in it because they had flown to Atlanta and weren't going home until after the CG anyway.  Conversely, my buddy and I drove to Atlanta and if the Buckeyes had lost their semifinal, I'd have watched the CG from my living room.  

I would surmise that if the CG had been G'Town vs UCLA, the arena would have had a LOT of empty seats because a LOT of Florida and Ohio State fans would have headed home on Sunday after their teams were eliminated on Saturday.  

[SFBadger96]

Don't think so. Too expensive to watch teams I don't care about. 

[SFBadger96]

Jeez, now that I have to think about Minnesota sports more actively, any opinions on their new basketball head coach (a MN grad, coming from Colorado State)?

[847badgerfan]

Jeez, now that I have to think about Minnesota sports more actively, any opinions on their new basketball head coach (a MN grad, coming from Colorado State)?

He came in second place in the MWC this season, to Minnesota's old coach, Little Ricky. Seems perfect.

[MarqHusker]

The Indy regional is at Lucas Oil, and not the Pacers arena, thus 3x supply of tix. 

Only regional at a football dome.

[grillrat]

Some smoke that Willard is leaving Maryland for Villanova.

[847badgerfan]

Some smoke that Willard is leaving Maryland for Villanova.

Last night! Skipped the team dinner.

[bayareabadger]

Last night! Skipped the team dinner.

Feels like that would be a very stupid move. Skipping the dinner, I mean. 

[FearlessF]

Nova might have offered a larger steak

[847badgerfan]

If I was a CBB coach I'd want to coach at a school with no major football program.