Tulane "Gets it Done" as NCAA Regional Host
When a national television audience tunes in tonight (March 24) to watch the tip-off of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Southeast Regional live from the New Orleans Arena they will see the Tulane Green Wave logo on the court. As the host institution for the regional, Tulane is visible up front and busy behind the scenes to make the tournament a success.
Tulane's hosting of the NCAA Southeast Regional is a “dry run” for next year's Final Four men's tournament, also hosted by Tulane and New Orleans in the Louisiana Superdome. (Graphic from the NCAA)
As for being a good host, “that's what New Orleans does,” said Vince Granito of Tulane, tournament manager for the regional. “It's for the city of New Orleans, and it's a pride thing, for Tulane University to do these things on a national level.”
Granito is associate athletics director for internal operations at Tulane, but right now he's leading a team of 40 Tulane athletics staff members who “all pitch in and get it done,” overseeing tournament details such as game operations, equipment, the training room and media relations. Assisting them is a volunteer force of students.
In addition, Granito is drawing on staff members from the other groups in the tournament's New Orleans Local Organizing Committee, which includes the Sugar Bowl, the New Orleans Sports Foundation, the Saints, the Hornets, the Convention and Visitor's Bureau and the city of New Orleans.
He expects things to run smoothly when the Southeast Regional's four “Sweet 16” teams Butler University, the University of Florida, Brigham Young University and the University of Wisconsin play in back-to-back games tonight. Tickets are still available to enjoy the games in person.
First up tonight, at 6:27 p.m. CST, is BYU against Florida. Wisconsin and Butler will square off at 8:57 p.m. The winners will square off on Saturday (March 26) in the arena. Saturday's winning team heads to the 2011 Final Four, April 2 and 4 in Houston.
The regional tournament is essentially a “dry run” for the 2012 Men's Final Four, which will be hosted by Tulane and New Orleans in the Louisiana Superdome.
