Chet Forte
Postdoc
Posts: 2977
Reg: 03-02-08
|
03-09-17 10:48 AM - Post#225853
The IL made a monumental mistake in using the Palestra for the initial tournament. It means that a very mediocre Penn team with a losing record gets to play a home game against an undefeated Princeton team, which, and we all know based upon our first game against Princeton, can be beaten. We all know how worked up the Penn fans are going to be. We also know how it is very tough for any visiting team to play 5 versus 8 at the Palestra. So Penn may very well upset Princeton. If that happens, Princeton will not get a second bid and it will be a footnote to history.
|
Go Green
PhD Student
Posts: 1155
Age: 53
Reg: 04-22-10
|
03-09-17 11:06 AM - Post#225860
In response to Chet Forte
May I respectfully suggest that the "nightmare" scenario is really an undefeated Princeton playing a strong #2 Penn seed? In that case, the HCA could very well be the difference in the came even if Princeton plays well.
Princeton *should* beat this Penn team. If they blow it, it will be because they played like crap, and not because of HCA.
|
palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32913
Reg: 11-21-04
|
03-09-17 11:15 AM - Post#225864
In response to Go Green
The reason they used the Palestra is pretty obvious--they have an ESPN 2 Selection Sunday final and wanted it to be someplace that they can take some pride in.
Next year it's likely to be in a different place, especially if Penn upsets Princeton, but given the time frame in planning this and obtaining TV coverage, there was no other place to play.
|
HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2701
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
|
03-09-17 11:19 AM - Post#225866
In response to Go Green
In the event Princeton wins Saturday, I wonder if Harvard/Yale could entice the returning students to fill the stands and root against Princeton? Free Pizza?
|
Go Green
PhD Student
Posts: 1155
Age: 53
Reg: 04-22-10
|
03-09-17 11:19 AM - Post#225867
In response to palestra38
Anyone who cares about my opinion, I love the Palestra and would be fine with it being the permanent location of the Ivy tournament.
Should be a good weekend!
|
Go Green
PhD Student
Posts: 1155
Age: 53
Reg: 04-22-10
|
03-09-17 11:26 AM - Post#225868
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
In the event Princeton wins Saturday, I wonder if Harvard/Yale could entice the returning students to fill the stands and root against Princeton? Free Pizza?
That's pretty much what Bucknell did for the Northern Iowa students/band after they got eliminated and Bucknell was about to play Kansas in the next game.
It worked.
|
palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32913
Reg: 11-21-04
|
03-09-17 11:27 AM - Post#225869
In response to Go Green
Well, other than my ongoing belief that we need to send our best team to the Tournament and that a playoff takes away from that goal (I would feel differently if I thought there was any chance of a 2nd bid, but I don't think there is any such chance), I agree with you. But if Penn knocks off Princeton, you have to think there will be a clamor to play in a neutral site.
|
palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32913
Reg: 11-21-04
|
03-09-17 11:30 AM - Post#225870
In response to Go Green
I don't know if Northern Iowa students have the same capacity as, say Penn students, to take over a bar and order bottle service.
http://www.phillymag.com/articles/penn-parties -pho...
Don't know if Pizza will get it done.
Then again, Penn students aren't going to be there no matter what....we alums can more easily be bribed to watch basketball. Hell, I went to the Harvard-Yale playoff game at the Palestra a couple of years ago.
|
Go Green
PhD Student
Posts: 1155
Age: 53
Reg: 04-22-10
|
03-09-17 11:33 AM - Post#225872
In response to palestra38
Sounds like the movie "The Social Network" really changed things for Ivy parties.
|
TheLine
Professor
Posts: 5597
Age: 60
Reg: 07-07-09
|
League Nightmare 03-09-17 11:34 AM - Post#225873
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
I agree with Go Green and P38. Princeton knows how to win at the Palestra, they do it with regularity.
The Palestra was an obvious place to play the initial tournament, it's the flagship basketball arena of the league. It's unfortunate that a below .500 Penn team will wind up getting home court advantage, but the alternatives were :
1) Split the women's and man's finals. But the league didn't want to do that.
2) Play at the home court of the top seed. But which top seed, the men's or women's? What if the top seed's home arena isn't big enough to host?
3) Host at generic available decent size arena. The one in Bridgeport, CT was one option offered up in a separate thread. Issues are that a) limited charm in having the initial tournament not on/near one of the campuses; b) unclear what attendance will be, the Palestra will look good for TV regardless.
4) Don't have a tournament because 'fair' would have the winner of the regular season go to the tournament.
I'm guessing if this tournament is a success then the league is going to have to figure out how to make option 3) work.
|
HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2701
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
|
03-09-17 11:48 AM - Post#225880
In response to TheLine
I'm still pulling for Mohegan Sun Arena!
Filled with bars, restaurants, pedestrian space, convention halls and even free parking. All INSIDE! Temps range from high of 33 to low of 17 degrees Saturday in Philly!
|
palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32913
Reg: 11-21-04
|
League Nightmare 03-09-17 11:49 AM - Post#225882
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Luckily, they are playing indoors. It's not as though the streets of Philadelphia will be anything like those faced by Mark Wahlberg in "The Martian" as people head out to restaurants and bars after the game.
Edited by palestra38 on 03-09-17 11:51 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
|
HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2701
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
|
03-09-17 11:51 AM - Post#225883
In response to palestra38
Yes, but parking is not good around the Palestra. Walked 15 minutes in similar weather last weekend.
Any suggestions on parking for this weekend?
|
TheLine
Professor
Posts: 5597
Age: 60
Reg: 07-07-09
|
03-09-17 12:02 PM - Post#225885
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
By the tennis court, if that's an option. It's a bit tricky to find though.
If not then there are parking facilities not far away - 34th St above Chestnut or the one across from Franklin Field on South St.
|
palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32913
Reg: 11-21-04
|
03-09-17 12:06 PM - Post#225887
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Yes, but don't tell anyone I told you this.
On the Walnut Street Bridge, between 30th and 33rd Streets, there are 12 hour meters for $5. Get a street spot, and you can walk into the Palestra from the rear entrance by descending the staircase at 32nd Street.
|
HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2701
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
|
03-09-17 12:08 PM - Post#225888
In response to palestra38
Thanks.
|
TheLine
Professor
Posts: 5597
Age: 60
Reg: 07-07-09
|
League Nightmare 03-09-17 12:18 PM - Post#225893
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
The tennis center option - which works well for Friday and Saturday night games after the tennis center is closed but not so well during the day : make right off Chestnut onto 31st St, which leads you to lower Walnut St. Make right and left. Or make left to lot by the new fields. You then need to take the walk bridge at the far side of the tennis center.
Don't tell anyone I gave you this tip.
|
HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2701
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
|
03-09-17 12:22 PM - Post#225894
In response to TheLine
I think I parked there last Sat night. Lot said all day parking for $13 and everyone was paying it. I parked on the adjacent street for $2.25 (MAX thru 8pm) and tried to advise others waiting in line to pay to do the same. Windy walk to Will Call up steps on Walnut.
|
TheLine
Professor
Posts: 5597
Age: 60
Reg: 07-07-09
|
03-09-17 12:28 PM - Post#225895
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
I used to park in the tennis center lot for free right by the base of the walk bridge - but that only ever works for low attendance games. So it won't apply this coming weekend.
|
LionFan
Senior
Posts: 398
Reg: 11-07-06
|
03-10-17 01:05 PM - Post#226081
In response to TheLine
Rather than a nightmare, I think the league should be overjoyed its first round games feature its top rivalries. What's better in the Ivies than Penn-Princeton and Harvard-Yale? (After Columbia versus anyone, I mean.)
|