Temple set for wide exposure as host of Philadelphia Regional of women's NCAA tournament
Despite the Temple women's loss in the second round of the NCAA basketball tournament, the Owls are still getting plenty of exposure.
Despite the Temple women's loss in the second round of the NCAA basketball tournament, the Owls are still getting plenty of exposure.
That's because Temple's Liacouras Center will host the Philadelphia Regional. Top-seeded Connecticut will entertain fifth-seeded Georgetown in Sunday's noon Sweet 16 matchup, and third-seeded DePaul will take on second-seeded Duke at 2:30.
The winners of those games will meet in Tuesday's 7 p.m. regional final for the chance to advance to the Final Four.
This marks the fifth time an NCAA women's tournament event will be held in Philadelphia.
"You can't buy that," Kristen Foley, Temple associate athletic director and senior women's administrator, said of the exposure the university will receive. "On ESPN, the teams are talking about the Philadelphia Region, about how the Philadelphia Region is hosted by Temple University and the Liacouras Center.
"And I think Temple is certainly going to put its best foot forward and get some great exposure."
Foley, who is serving as the regional director, said the university and fans throughout the area were also anticipating some great basketball to watch.
Two-time defending national champion Connecticut (34-1) has won 112 of its last 113 games. Stanford snapped Connecticut's 90-game winning streak on Dec. 30, in Palo Alto, Calif. The Huskies responded by heading into Sunday's game with a 22-game winning streak.
Like Connecticut, Georgetown and DePaul are members of the Big East Conference.
The Georgetown Hoyas (24-10) advanced to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1993, while the DePaul Blue Demons (29-6) are making their second appearance in six seasons.
Duke (31-3) is making its second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance.
The four teams are set to arrive in Philadelphia on Friday. It's an arrival for which Temple has been preparing since shortly after being named the host site in October 2009.
"It's been a year of hard work, to be honest with you," Foley said. "It just doesn't start with March Madness for us."
On Wednesday, Liacouras Center workers spent the day laying down the playing surface that Temple received from the NCAA. Foley said most of the preparation - finding host hotels, transportation, and supplying practice facilities - is complete.
"Right now, we are just working with the team hotels," she said. "We are making sure that they got all their signage, all their banners that they have to put up."
Foley conceded that there are always problems behind the scenes when hosting a regional.
"Like receiving a late shipment here and there," she said. "But to be honest with you, we got some great people" helping out.
She mentioned how Temple's athletic department is working with Liacouras Center employees, the City of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Police Department to make things go smoothly. Fifty volunteers from other local universities will also help out.
"So it has really been a phenomenal joint effort," Foley said. "It's been really neat."
Philly as Women's NCAA Host
Philadelphia has hosted an NCAA women's regional or Final Four four times since the tournament began in 1982. This year's regional is at the Liacouras Center.
Year Event Where
1986 East Regional Palestra
1991 East Regional Palestra
2000 Final Four First Union Center
2005 East Regional Liacouras Center
- Mel Greenberg
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