Posted: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 7:07 PM | 6 comments |
 

Look who's coming to Philly
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For the first time since 2006, Philadelphia will be at the center of March Madness.

Saint Joseph’s is the host for this year’s first- and second-round games at the Wachovia Center, with play beginning on Thursday and continuing Saturday.

 

Villanova, as a No. 3 seed in the East, will be the main attraction. The Wildcats will face the Patriot League’s American University – the 14th seed. Villanova is allowed to play at the Center because they did not play more than three games there this season.

In the other game in that session, UCLA will make the nearly 3,000-mile journey from Los Angeles to tip-off against Virginia Commonwealth. UCLA, the sixth seed, has won 11 national championships. Virginia Commonwealth is no stranger to Philadelphia, having been in town to face Drexel during the Colonial Athletic Association regular season.

 

Connecticut grabbed the No. 1 seed in the West region, and earned a trip down I-95 from Storrs to face serious underdog Chattanooga, which won the Southern Conference championship. UConn was one of three Big East teams to grab No. 1 seeds, joining Louisville and Pittsburgh.

In the 8-9 game, the BYU Cougars will fly in from Provo to battle Texas A&M, from the Big 12.
 

 
Posted by Frank Seravalli @ 7:07 PM  Permalink | 6 comments
6
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:28 PM, 03/15/2009
    ucla would be a fun matchup for nova in second round... uconn shouldnt struggle.. kind of like 2 (or 3?) years ago when nova and uconn both came to philly, but arizona and kentucky also came so it made the 2nd round matchups even better...
    — jim715
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:49 PM, 03/15/2009
    As an AU alum and a ticket holder for the games at the Center, I'm thrilled. I just hope the Eagles give them a good game. AU has a suffocating defense and excellent outside shooters. You never know...
    — brio
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:36 PM, 03/15/2009
    UCLA has a lot of tournament experience. They haven't played well these last few weeks. Are they really a #6, or did they let up, realizing that the regular season wasn't going to get them a 1 or 2? 'Nova can go far if they can get past the Bruins on Saturday.
    — Cazptain Philadelphia
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:36 PM, 03/15/2009
    UCLA has a lot of tournament experience. They haven't played well these last few weeks. Are they really a #6, or did they let up, realizing that the regular season wasn't going to get them a 1 or 2? 'Nova can go far if they can get past the Bruins on Saturday.
    — Cazptain Philadelphia
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:10 PM, 03/15/2009
    Like Duke in 07, the storied program at UCLA is right to fall in the first round to VCU. The Rams have an excellent balance of guard leadership in Eric Maynor and a powerful front court presence in Larry Sanders. Good matchup in the first and hopefully the second against 'Nova.
    — Squiggy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:48 AM, 03/16/2009
    Go Cats !
    — Joe R.


6 comments
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