Deseret News | Hoops fans will travel how far?

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Hoops fans will travel how far?

SoCalUteFan | 12:11 a.m. March 17, 2009

Forget a lot of travel time spent by the YEWT fans.

We know we are lucky to be playing at #5 and if it hadn't been for Dr. Hill, we would have been #7.

We're lucky to have cut down the nets already, 'cause it will be one and out for us, so why waste the travel dollars?????????

Duke + UNC = favored status | 4:56 a.m. March 17, 2009

"While organizers of the NCAA men's basketball tournament say they try as best they can to place teams in areas of the country that will minimize travel costs for schools and fans, two of Utah's three teams in the Big Dance aren't so lucky."

In the meantime DUKE and CAROLINA are playing in Greensboro. They never play more than fifty miles from home, no matter what seed they get.

Paul | 4:58 a.m. March 17, 2009

What time Thursday and what TV stations will be broadcasting the BYU game?

Comments continue below

MWC | 5:54 a.m. March 17, 2009

I will be cheering for USU, I hope they do well against Marquette. As for BYU and Utah, well stick a fork in them!

RE: Duke + UNC | 7:27 a.m. March 17, 2009

For those that have watched the selection show they know that the top 4 seeds in each region get protected so therefore they get a closer home game. This then means that the team that they woudl play in the 2nd round has to go to that site by default! Yes they try to keep teams close to home but sometimes it just doesn't work!

Luxury | 7:50 a.m. March 17, 2009

As much as I like sports, I know that traveling to see a team play, as well as buying tickets to the event, are a luxury. In these tough economic times, everyone should be cutting back on luxuries and getting back to basics.

Last minute airline ticket prices can be outrageous. Due to a death in the family, I have to travel in just a couple days. The normal $250 fare is going to cost me over $900. While I don't blame airlines for trying to stay in business, they have made it very painful for those who have to travel at the last minute. Bereavement fares at reasonable prices no longer exist.

True Blue | 7:51 a.m. March 17, 2009

Get Smart!!! Any true Cougar or Ute fan needs to realize that a win for either school is a win for the MWC and ultimately helps each other. Utah's 5th seed was helped, in part, by the amount of respect the country has for the MWC (some, not much). Whether we like it or not, conference respect plays a part in Big Dance seeding. If BYU and/or Utah loose in the first round, it hurts the conference and affects next years perception of the MWC.

Think SMART! Bite the bullet and at least hope your rival school wins as many games as possible in the Big Dance. It ultimately helps your school.

Go Cougs! Go Utes! Go Cougs! (I have to cheer more for BYU)

Re: True Blue | 8:41 a.m. March 17, 2009

I taught my sons many years ago that you never cheer for the Utes. Even when they played Kentucky for the national championship you never ever cheer for the Utes.

True Blue Through and through | 8:51 a.m. March 17, 2009

Go Cougars!!
As a true blue cougar fan I am just so happy to be a part of the NCAA tournament.
The cougars will represent us well in Philadelphia, I only ask that Lee Cummard flex one more time in front of the cameras. In a way his big white arms help show the nation what BYU Basketball is all about.

P.S. I hope the yewtes(I like to spell their name wrong:) )LOSE!!

McGurkus | 8:55 a.m. March 17, 2009

In this economy, absolutely no one is justified in traveling to these games. At a time when people are going hungry, it is an extravagent waste of resources to travel thousands of miles to view a mere sporting event. The shame of it all is disgusting.

Utah rolling! | 8:58 a.m. March 17, 2009

Utes are headed to the Sweet 16. They had a good tournament primer last week and are ready. If BYU can get out of the first round they play UConn. Tough break.

Re: Luxury | 9:06 a.m. March 17, 2009

"In these tough economic times, everyone should be cutting back on luxuries and getting back to basics."

If "everyone", as you stated, cut back on their luxuries, the economy would get even worse. I agree that those who cannot afford to take trips should not take the trips, but those who can afford it should feel free to. Stop complaining about how others are spending their own money.

to SoCalUteFan | 9:10 a.m. March 17, 2009

" SoCalUteFan | 12:11 a.m. March 17, 2009

Forget a lot of travel time spent by the YEWT fans....
We know we are lucky to be playing at #5...
We're lucky to have cut down the nets already,"

So Cal Ute Fan? Riiiiight.

Your posts reeks of that of a jealous cougar fan. we've seen your failed attempt at posturing before. FAIL.

Fortunately, we've had way too many opportunities to see that this year, with the dismal state of Cougar athletics.

Re Gurky | 9:12 a.m. March 17, 2009

Boise isn't even 5 hours. If I lived in the valley I would get my Aggie Blue butt up there in a hurry. I see people every week spend $8/bottle on beer and another $6 on nachos. Now, that is a waste of resources when you have Taco Bell around. Wait, isn't that the arena we're playing in? Aggies will win there.
Go Aggies

Dallas Aggie | 9:13 a.m. March 17, 2009

In my mind, the best seed actually went to USU..practically a home game for us in Boise....Gotta love it! I hope that both the Utes and Cougs win their games as well. It would be nice for the state to gain even more respect. Go Aggies!

Mikey | 9:22 a.m. March 17, 2009

Seriously McGurkus shut up. In this economy sometimes people like to spend a little bit of money to take the stress off of their lives and enjoy sports. Sports are wonderful and provide so much to those who play them and watch them. Also, spending money will stimulate the economy, which last time I checked, is a good thing. If you don't want to spend the money to go watch sports, then don't, but quit raining on everyone elses parade.

Re: McGurkus | 9:30 a.m. March 17, 2009

If I chose to travel to see one of these games, I am assisting in providing a job to those who work at the airlines, the hotel I would be staying at, the car rental company, the stadium I would be attending, and all of the various places I would be eating at.

The disgusting thing here are those who ridicule others who have the means and spend it. You and others like you are assisting in driving down the economy even more.

McGurkus | 9:58 a.m. March 17, 2009

My attackers have missed the point. The point is not that sports are bad, the point is that traveling thousands of miles to watch a GAME in when people are suffering is unjustified. The economy will be stimulated just as much if you use your purchasing power to buy food and clothing for the poor.

Another Re: McGurkus | 10:06 a.m. March 17, 2009

"At a time when people are going hungry, it is an extravagent waste of resources to travel thousands of miles to view a mere sporting event."

That's quite a blanket statement to make. If a husband and wife or parent and child could afford to make that trip together, I would say that quality time is money well spent (provided that they have the financial resources to do so). We shouldn't judge others. Unless you patronize no restaurants, have given up your cell phone, are living in the tiniest living quarters you can, have no high speed internet and no cable service, then you, too, still have luxuries that could be foregone in the interest of feeding others. Even many of the poor seem to find a little discretionary money to use on an occasional movie or other non-necessity.

I don't want to belittle the plight of those less fortunate. Hopefully we are all sacrificing more to help the many in need, and I appreciate your reminder that we should do be aware and contributing MUCH more than most of us are (myself included).

Go Aggies | 10:11 a.m. March 17, 2009

Let's watch USU show byU how to win a tourney game.

what we need | 10:22 a.m. March 17, 2009

Not all requirements for well being are to nourish or protect our physical selves. We also need balance in emotional and mental wellness. Recreation in moderation is just that "re-creation" or allowing us to put ourselves back together after the daily stress of life that we are more capable of proceeding.

McGurkus.... | 10:23 a.m. March 17, 2009

Hey, why don't you let folks spend their money however they want. They earned it, it's their's to use anyway they care. Unless, I missed the memo, and we have a new King...King McGurkus...ummm...I don't think so. Go back to picking 4 leaf clovers, or pouring shamrock shakes at McDonalds.

RE: SoCalUte(Cougar)Fan | 10:54 a.m. March 17, 2009

Umm....
Maybe you can refresh our memory with when the last time BYU won a tournament game was. Most of us can't remember that far back.
And maybe Utah's #9 RPI has something to do with their seed. (In fact, my math could be wrong, but I believe that would actually translate into a #3 seed if the NCAA used strict RPI ratings for seedings.)
But go ahead and console yourself by trying to mock Utah for a couple of days if it will take your mind off of BYU getting knocked out in the first round again.

Mikey | 11:34 a.m. March 17, 2009

So Mcgurkus let me get this straight. Because it is a bad economy, every time we get any extra money, we should just give it to the poor and help people. What do you do with your extra money. To you only buy the cheapest things at the grocery store? Have you eliminated TV, Internet, going to the movies, going out to eat, and any other form or entertainment that is not needed to survive? I am not against giving to those who need things more than I do, but to say that I shouldn't spend my money the way I feel is just plain stupid. Please stop posting your unintelligent banter.

The Old Days | 11:40 a.m. March 17, 2009

Before travel was cheap and the money was big, the NCAA was a true regional tournament that went national for the final four. You played in your conference first. The champ went to the regionals. Regionals were even held in Salt Lake City and the Marriott center. The best team from each region went to play in the championship.

Today's tournament talks about regionals, but they are not. Anyone remember the regionals in Pocatello, Salt Lake, Provo?

Today's NCAA Tournament is a love fest for the "power" conferences. By changing the character of the Tournament it is no longer a national championship. Why should 2 ACC teams be given an overwhelming advantage in the tournament? It's easy. More money for the big boys.

I don't even watch the tournament once the local teams are out. The whole things is so filled with bias and a false consciousness about the "power" conferences created by the sports "journalists" at ESPN that it's not worth watching anymore.

Most of what we hear from the committee is a bunch of tepid post hoc rationalizations meant to mollify all of us stupid people out here in mid-major country.

Dotyman | 1:03 p.m. March 17, 2009

Re: McGurkus...

Obama, is that you?

re: to SoCalUteFan | 1:31 p.m. March 17, 2009

"dismal state of Cougar athletics." Huh? 21 in football and 30 in b-ball is dismal? For BYU fans it is mediocre, but for Ute fans (I think I have to go CLEAR back to the last college year) they would have wet their pants with excitement just to have a BYU dismal year.

Ken | 1:32 p.m. March 17, 2009

"...and with the economy the way it is, a lot of people appear to be settling for watching it in HD on their couch."

Watching a sporting event in high-definition from the comfort of your couch. Wow, sounds like some serious economic...."suffering."

Real 64 | 1:36 p.m. March 17, 2009

The NCAA needs to get rid of the 20 or so automatic bids to lesser conferences. You know, the ones that have absolutely no shot at winning even their first round games. Now I know what many of you are thinking, that that's what makes The Dance so fun, to watch how excited these little South Dakota Bison State schools get that have never made it before. But wouldn't we and they be better off if they were in a tournament in which they actually belonged? It's time for the NCAA to establish a two-tier division-1 system in basketball, just like they have in football. So then a 16 seed would actually have a shot of upsetting a #1 instead of what we see today. It would make the whole 64 team tournament (and no, not 65. Get rid of the ridiculous play-in game already!) a lot more interesting. Did you see that the worst at-large team got a #12 seed? That means every automatic bid conference school that got a #13 seed or worse doesn't belong, and the New Mexicos, San Diego States and UNLV's are much more deserving.

RE: Real 64 | 2:07 p.m. March 17, 2009

You sound an awful lot like the BCS. It's fine the way it is, every team has a shot at the championship.

re: paul | 2:09 p.m. March 17, 2009

For what is probably the 20th to 25th straight year, the tournament is on CBS. Its really not that hard to find unless you're a Zoobie.

Jacob | 2:29 p.m. March 17, 2009

DNEWS moderator... Please go through and remove EVERY comment that is off topic. Anything that doesn't address the financial aspect of the NCAA tournament should be removed so that people can read the comments RELATED to your article.

Bottom line is that the NCAA doesn't give two cents for anyone's dollar except for their own. It is only what is best for the NCAA that is ever considered. If the organizers are saying things differently they need to snap out of denial and actually show that it is even remotely true. Where are the top 10 teams in the nation playing? Are they close to home? Ratings... Money..... All what's best for the NCAA and only the NCAA

bee | 6:35 p.m. March 17, 2009

I'll be there!

jms | 7:37 p.m. March 17, 2009

You can choose to play on Sundays or choose to play closer to home. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

First Four Out | 8:44 p.m. March 17, 2009

Team (game start time)

Brigham Young University (12:30PM ET)
Cal State Northridge (12:25PM ET)
Butler (12:30PM ET)
Northern Iowa (2:30PM ET)

Enjoy, Utah fans!!!

RE: True Blue | 10:47 p.m. March 17, 2009

Couldn't of said it better except that I cheer a bit louder for the Utes.

Go Utes!!!

I'm rooting for all Utah teams | 11:00 p.m. March 17, 2009

I would even make the drive to Boise from downtown Salt Lake if I didn't have to pay the $65.00 to get into the game. That is way to pricey for a poor college student.

Go all Utah teams...especially the Utes!!!

I'm afraid | 11:31 p.m. March 17, 2009

USU will embarrass themselves against Marquette. I hope they lift and at least make it competitive for the most part.

edaw33 | 1:06 p.m. March 19, 2009

Hey I'm Afraid...

Just like your Cougs right?

Go aggies. Making the trip to Boise myself. Should be a good game. Win or lose it's been a great season for the Aggies and the rest of the Utah teams. glad to see it.

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