The show is about to start
Photos by Jeff Fannon and UD Athletics March 17, 2022
UD women's and men’s basketball teams finish preparations for the NCAA Tournament
In their last rehearsal before taking the big stage with all the lights on, University of Delaware women’s and men’s basketball team members practiced on NCAA Tournament courts and answered questions with March Madness logos plastered and printed everywhere, including next to their names at news conferences.
“Just really getting here and just seeing all the March Madness signs and logos, that's really what did it for me, just getting here,” said UD men’s team member Jameer Nelson, Jr., pointing toward his name on a card in front of his microphone at a news conference on Thursday, March 17, at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. “That’s when it really hit me.”
The 15th-seeded men’s team will play second-seeded Villanova in a first-round contest at 2:45 p.m. on Friday, March 18, at the PPG Paints Arena. The game is scheduled to be broadcast by CBS.
Also on Friday, the 13th-seeded UD women’s team will play fourth-seeded University of Maryland at 5 p.m. at the Xfinity Center in College Park. The game is scheduled to be broadcast by ESPNU.
The University of Delaware's radio station, WVUD-FM (91.3), is scheduled to broadcast both games, with student broadcasters describing the action.
Newark and College Park are only 90 miles apart and several members of the UD women’s team grew up in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C.
“A bigger factor is that it’s like up the street, so we have fans coming in,” said UD women’s team member Paris McBride, who grew up in Woodbridge, Virginia, south of Washington. “A lot of people on our team are from this area, so there's more fans coming in, so it'll be a better atmosphere for Delaware basketball.”
On Wednesday, as UD departed for College Park, guard-forward Jasmine Dickey received honorable mention when the Associated Press named its 2021-22 All-American teams. Heading into the NCAA Tournament, Dickey is third in the nation in scoring, averaging 25.1 points per game. A senior, Dickey hopes to play in the WNBA.
“My time here [at Delaware] has been amazing,” Dickey said at the news conference when asked about playing in the WNBA. She looked to her left at Lizzie O’Leary and to her right at McBride and said, “I've gained sisters. The coaches have been great. We got a CAA [Colonial Athletic Association] championship, so that's always good. And we still got more basketball to play. Even though it's coming to an end, we still play Friday, and we're hoping to survive and advance, and that's the main focus right now.”
Pre-game festivities
UD is coordinating several receptions and watch parties on Friday for students, alumni and other fans of the Blue Hens.
On the Newark campus, students only can watch both games with fellow students at the Scrounge and West Lounge of the Perkins Student Center. Food and giveaways will be available.
In College Park, UD President Dennis Assanis and Eleni Assanis will host UD fans at a pre-game reception at The Hotel at the University of Maryland from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
In Pittsburgh, Chrissi Rawak, director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation services, will host UD fans at a pre-game reception at the AC Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh from noon to 2 p.m.
On Main Street in Newark, Klondike Kate’s Restaurant and Saloon will host a watch party, starting at 2:30 p.m. and running through the end of the women’s game.
For more information about the Blue Hen basketball teams, please visit bluehens.com.
Contact Us
Have a UDaily story idea?
Contact us at ocm@udel.edu
Members of the press
Contact us at 302-831-NEWS or visit the Media Relations website
ADVERTISEMENT
Resources
Office of Communications & Marketing 105 E. Main St. Newark, DE 19716 ocm@udel.edu Phone: 302-831-2792