Friday is always the longest day of the Big Ten tournament, with two sessions and four games. The eight teams play for the chance to advance to the final four in the conference tournament. With a lot at stake, it makes for an eventful day of college basketball.
I had a conflict and was unable to attend the first day. Didn’t miss much on the first day, other than a Indiana in-state clash with Purdue just edging Indiana in the final minute. Thus day two of the tournament, is day one for me.
The unexpected
One of the best parts of a conference tournament, is the team that comes out of nowhere and makes a run; this year is no different. Illinois, the lowest seed of the tournament, knocked off No. 3 Michigan Friday 55-47. With a 24 point lead at one time, the game wasn’t as close as the score indicates. This happened one day after the Illini upset No. 6 Wisconsin 63-56. With two tremendous wins, a team that had just seven wins entering the tournament, faces Penn State Saturday afternoon.
Food
For normal standards at Conseco, the food was very good…and surprisingly free. A big cutback sweeping the NBA and WNBA is in the media room with meals. For example with the Pacers, visiting teams get a select number of food passes. Broadcasters and writers alike have to whip out their wallet and charge the $8 meal to their company’s expense account.
Lunch featured salad, grilled cheese, baked potato and rolls. Dinner was much better led by lasagna, salad, green beans, and scalloped potatoes. The amount of beverages available are staggering: Pepsi fountain drinks, coffee, water and a larger cooler full of other options like Sunkist and 7Up.
(It’s also important to note that no bottles or cans are allowed on the court and everything must be poured in a cup with the Big Ten logo.)
Intangibles
There is so much that makes this tournament run—things you don’t even think about. First of all, logos and signage have to be completely changed for the tournament. The new Big Ten logo is all over the place and I admit, with some time, I’m finally digging it. Also, the setup is a bit different than say a Pacers game. A completely new court is brought in, and the first five rows of fan seats are taking out, replaced by media tables on either side. For the women’s tournament, the balcony level is blocked off limiting to fans to lower and club levels only.
This tournament is run primarily with volunteers like myself. Today for example, I will work about eleven hours without payment, not even for gas! But it’s all worth it and it certainly is a fun experience.
Because the Big Ten Network holds the rights to the entire women’s tournament, they also have a set in the north end of the fieldhouse. Mike Hall and Stephanie White (Indiana Fever assistant coach) dissect each game and go over highlights. The network brings in crews to record locker room speeches and a pair of researches for the on-air talent.
There are so many elements to put on a show like Indianapolis does—a memorable one that brings the conference tournament here year after year.
Michigan State’s AD Mark Hollis noted that, “Back-to-Back weekends in Indy for the Big Ten Tournaments. Can eat somewhere new every night, never get in a car, and always be satisfied.”
Penn State’s Tony Mancuso wrote, “I say this every time I’m here, but Conseco Fieldhouse is an awesome facility for basketball. Definitely a must for hoops fan.”