Could neutral site work for tournament?
Pandemic forced games away from home arenas
Staging the women’s NCAA Tournament in one place has led Iowa coach Lisa Bluder to ponder if a permanent neutral site is the way to go for the sport.
The entire women’s tournament is being played this month around the
San Antonio area because of coronavirus concerns and precautions. That’s a departure from the recent pattern of upper-bracket seeds hosting early round contests, and sometimes the regional semifinal and final, or at neutral sites not far from some of the favorites’ campuses.
Bluder has seen the setup work for the Hawkeyes but acknowledged it gave her team a competitive advantage. And she likes how this year is leveling the playing field.
“I think what we’re seeing right now, with neutral sites, it can be done,” Bluder said Wednesday. “I think people didn’t think it can be done. It can be done. And it can be done well.
“I go back to Debbie Antonelli’s from years and years (ago) saying that we should be playing a Sweet 16 all at one place and one neutral site. We’re seeing it right now and it’s working and it’s going to be done well.”
Though these are unusual circumstances — everyone wants the arenas mostly empty because of COVID protocols.
For last weekend’s first two rounds, players, coaches and game officials were the only voices heard at host sites with each participant allowed up to six tickets.
With schools hosting on-campus sites, while creating a disadvantage for visiting teams, the upside was playing in a loud, charged atmosphere.
Baylor coach Kim Mulkey remembers the downside of playing at neutral sites.
“We tried that and nobody showed up at the games,” she said.
Uconn coach Geno Auriemma echoed Mulkey’s comments, noting what works for men’s basketball might not work for the women’s game.
“If you could say, ‘Hey listen, if you have these things at neutral sites, the fans will show up, then I think I’m all for it and I think that would be great for the game, if you can do it,” Auriemma said Wednesday.
“But I think if you don’t have fans in the building, then you don’t have an NCAA Tournament either, because you’re missing the atmosphere that goes with being part of an NCAA Tournament game.”
Greeting Geno
Auriemma is still amazed at the reception he got after arriving late in San Antonio.
“Part of me was really appreciative and, ‘Yeah, wow, I can’t believe how much they miss me,’” Auriemma said Thursday. “The other part of me recognized right away, ‘Oh, here’s another opportunity for them to post something on their accounts,’ you know. They just need content.”
Auriemma said it felt great to be mobbed by his team when he showed up at their hotel in San Antonio on Wednesday after 10 days isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19. The Hall of Fame coach said it was surreal watching the Huskies’ tournament games from home and not being able to have any impact on what happened on the court.
“A couple times, I just got up and said, ‘I can’t watch this,’ and I just left,” he said. “You know, they played better when I wasn’t watching.”