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| At Staples Center after all the excitement ended. |
An Oregon State fan from birth and eventually attending for my undergrad, I was never impressed by the basketball team, making it hard to get into the culture of college basketball. I've never found a way to relate to the team or get into the season. It's just been hard for us Oregon State fans.
But for me, it's hard to pay attention to a sport if I don't have a grip on a team or player that I feel like I can follow. Oregon State hasn't made it to the tournament in 23 years (last appearance was in 1990 when they lost to Cal State Fullerton in the opening round, I was a year old), so they're due for a winning, nationally ranked team and rebirth of a great program, and we as fans are ready for it too. I love an underdog story, but it's hard to root for a team who has all the makings of greatness and can't seem to pull it together to produce a winning season.
That being said, I have nothing against the Oregon State men's basketball team, I'm just explaining why my allegiance to college basketball has been weak. I hope that Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson and his squad can make some magic happen next year now that they have a brand-spankin' new practice facility. I know I'm not alone when I say it'd be great to see them make a run for the tournament next year.
Watching teams like LaSalle and Wichita State come out and practice March 27 at open practice day was special in itself. I watched one of the LaSalle players line up for a three-point shot, and right before the ball left his hands he grinned and said, "Man! This is where Kobe plays!" Even though LaSalle lost to Wichita State, nothing can ever take away that experience that LaSalle player had. It was his own little moment.
Teams like LaSalle, Florida Gulf Coast University, and even Wichita State, get to experience the possibility of making it all the way and that is special all on it's own. It gives the team and the school more visibility. They're not thinking about brackets or TV time, they just want to get as far as they can.
I made a bracket for the first time this year and basically filled it out with my eyes closed. I didn't watch much of the regular season outside of Sports Center highlights and sports tweets. I favored the PAC-12 throughout my whole bracket, putting Gonzaga and UCLA in the finals with 'Zags winning (obviously my bracket went six feet under very quickly). My bracket had a short life span, but it helped me get warmed up for the four days I spend at the West Regionals — I felt a little more dialed in.
What I can say after living at Staples Center, watching the teams go through the motions of practice, press, and games, the bracket became meaningless to me. I still found myself rooting for the underdog, LaSalle. After they lost, I rooted for Wichita State even though they were not in my bracket (neither was LaSalle). These teams took each day at a time, trying to stay as focused and rested as possible. Forget percentiles, seeds, who had Kobe's locker, it was anyone's game.
Wichita State made that very clear during their Elite 8 game against Ohio State. With a 20-point lead early in the second half, it was clear they were here for a reason, and have since earned their spot in the Final Four.
All that being said, I want to throw a big shout out to all the media who attended the West Regional as well as the volunteers and Pepperdine staff that spent countless hours putting it all together. It was a great experience for me and has only broadened my knowledge and passion for my sports media career.
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