It’s official. The most important month of basketball is upon us, and every student will soon be glued to whatever screen they can find to watch Villanova make its return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years. With an entirely new set of students on campus since Villanova last accomplished this feat, there is no doubt that everyone will be tuning in, in some way or another. Now, nothing in March Madness is ever guaranteed, meaning each game could be the last time we watch the Cats play this season. To make matters worse, without our tried and true (most of the time) lotteries to get us primetime, in-person seats, it is entirely up to students to figure out where to catch the next game.
But a little complication doesn’t have to be the end of your fun. There are plenty of other ways to watch the game to replace the experience of being there.
Stay In Your Dorm
That’s right, sometimes it can be just as simple as getting all your friends together and putting the game on in someone’s dorm. Bonus points if someone has an apartment with a TV or a projector that can cast the Wildcats on a wall. Wear your merch for good luck, assemble some gameday treats and get your cheer on.
Watch In Conn
Okay, it’s not ideal. But I can guarantee that if Villanova is playing, the Conn TVs will have the game on for students to enjoy. Get your gameday Wawa and settle in to experience every play from smack in the middle of the student center. Plus, there is no way you’ll be watching alone. With the team playing all across the country, watching from Conn will be a much more common experience, unlike when you’ve been left behind on an Xfinity game day.
Rent a Classroom
If your dorm room just isn’t cutting it and there’s no free table in Conn, then there is always the option to book a study room where the game can be projected from a laptop. These spaces are for student use, and what better way to use them during March than by getting a group together to watch the latest March Madness round on a bigger screen than your laptop can provide you alone.
Go Out On The Main Line
If you are over 21, the campus isn’t the only place one can watch the game. McSorley’s and the Grog both broadcast big games and are great places for students to enjoy basketball in a fun setting, especially if you’re missing the Xfinity Live environment from our own arena games.
Get Into Philly
The train line directly into Philly is not something one should take for granted, especially if you’re looking for some basketball excitement. Again, if you are over 21, there will undoubtedly be sports bars in the city showing the Villanova game. Get geared up in your merch and take over.
As round one approaches, Nova Nation must be prepared to get up, get excited and get watching. We may not have the force of our usual in-person student section supporting the team at each game, but tuning in from campus is just as important to let the country know that we are engaged and rooting for the ‘Cats for as long as they can fight it out.
