March Madness usually conveys the yearly pinnacle of excitement for college basketball fans nationwide. But here in Westwood the craze has taken a back seat to academic madness. At least for this weekend.
Only 35 students have purchased tickets to the first round of games this weekend in Sacramento, a shockingly low number considering the roughly 6,500 Den members who were eligible to apply for tickets to follow the Bruins up north. The lottery system developed by the Den was moot, as all 35 members who applied were sold tickets.
The factors discouraging UCLA fanatics from making the trip abound. The foremost is final exams, looming the week after the first round. Many students, such as third-year Forrest Lockwood, saw academic stresses as the largest impediment. Lockwood and fellow third-year David Godoy are planning on going to the second round, on Saturday, if UCLA beats Weber State today.
“It’s tough to miss any time during 10th week,” Lockwood said.
“Everyone has review sessions and study guides to worry about. There’s a lot of studying going on,” Godoy added.
Expense is also a problem for students. Each round costs $61 to attend. If the Bruins win in the first round, students are automatically charged a second $61 fee for round two.
Godoy and Lockwood said they are only able to go to the second round because it is in California, and traveling to the site will be relatively inexpensive.
Priyah Kaul thought about going, but decided against it.
“It’s too much money for students, both first-round games and all the (traveling costs). And I couldn’t make it back for finals anyways,” she said.
The games begin at Arco Arena today at 11:40 a.m., with Oral Roberts v. Washington State. UCLA plays Weber State at 4:25 p.m. The time for the second-round game on Saturday has not yet been determined.
If UCLA prevails through the weekend, it will travel to San Jose for the Sweet 16. Kaul and other students are eyeing that weekend as optimal for a trip.
“I will definitely go to San Jose if I am in town,” Kaul said.
Godoy and Lockwood also plan to cheer on the Bruins in San Jose. Den member Matt Lacoff-Roberts sees the two sites as a definite advantage.
“We haven’t lost a home game all season; all of our losses have come far from home. The (tournament games) will feel more like a home game,” Lacoff-Roberts said. “If (UCLA) can beat Indiana and make it to San Jose, I think we will be going to the Final Four.”
The lack of enthusiasm among students for a potential pilgrimage to Atlanta, Ga., for the Final Four on March 31 is noteworthy. Lacoff-Roberts said he knows of no other Den members planning such a trip to end spring break.
Even with the low number of student travelers, playing in California is an advantage that Ben Howland and media pundits are quick to emphasize. When Dick Vitale asked Howland if he would prefer a one-seed in the East Regional or a two-seed in the West on a Sunday ESPN broadcast, Howland took no time in issuing his emphatic reply.
“Well, you know the answer to that, Dick,” he said. “We’ve wanted to be in California all along.”