Arena #155: Daskalakis Athletic Center - Drexel vs. Delaware

While my trip to Philly for Arena #154 was an aggressive 8-hour drive from Greensboro, my trip to Arena #155 was one of my shortest as I remained in Philly for a visit to the Daskalakis Athletic Center on the campus of Drexel University for a Colonial Athletic showdown between the host Dragons and the visiting Delaware Blue Hens.  While this was my first time inside the Daskalakis Athletic Center, it wasn’t the first time I’d seen it from the outside having walked past it during my visit to the Palestra just 13 months prior.  This was a much more normally set up and designed arena, especially at the mid-major level, compared to yesterday’s stop at La Salle.  The crowd wasn’t huge for this game, but the few Drexel students that were at the game were definitely into the game and the Blue Hens brought themselves up a strong contingent from Newark, who were also quite boisterous when Delaware was playing well.  The atmosphere was also helped by the fact that this game was pretty competitive throughout.  Drexel led by 10 at half before Delaware made a bit of a run and the game was played within a 4-8 point window throughout most of the second half.  Ultimately, the home fans were able to go home happy as Drexel won the game by 6.

The dragon eyes are a nice touch inside the main entrance 

Pregame inside the seating bowl of the arena

There were a lot of students at this game, but had to get a picture of the few that were there trolling the Blue Hens

Opening tip between Drexel and Delaware

Arena #118: Finneran Pavilion - #8 Villanova vs. #18 Michigan

Sixth game in as many days took us to the Northwest suburbs of Philly this time and the campus of Villanova University for a highly anticipated National Championship rematch between the defending national champion Villanova Wildcats and the Michigan Wolverines from the newly refurbished Finneran Pavilion.  While this was technically the second game at The Finn as the locals call it now, it was the first big game and the fact that it was a national championship game rematch increased the excitement that much more.  I don’t know too well what Finneran Pavilion looked like before the refurbishment and before GQ Jay brought home two national titles in three years, but the entrance and concourse was a great display of Villanova’s basketball prowess over time and especially over these last 3 years with their trophies and championship banners on display.  The game however, was much more of a disappointment for both myself and all the Villanova fans in the building as the Wildcats were thoroughly pounded by the Wolverines from the opening tip.  The capacity crowd of 7000 or so was fully engaged at tip and the student section was going crazy, but all that ended quickly as Michigan jumped to an early lead and Villanova couldn’t buy a bucket.  I knew Villanova lost a lot over the summer, but Michigan was utterly impressive on the road in a very hostile environment for this one.

Main entrance to the newly refurbished Finneran Pavilion

Numerous banners honoring Villanova men's and women's Big East Championships hanging on the concourse 

Ribbon cutting ceremony pregame (naming donor Bill Finneran holding the scissors next to Jay Wright)

Capacity crowd hyped before the tip for this 2018 National Championship rematch

Scrum for the ball during the second half of action

Arena #117: The Palestra - Pennsylvania vs. Lafayette

Fifth game in five days brought me to one of my remaining two bucket list venues; the Palestra in Philly for a matchup between the Pennsylvania Quakers and the Lafayette Leopards.  When one thinks of college basketball history, three venues probably come to mind immediately: Allen Fieldhouse at Kansas, Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke, and the Palestra.  I myself would add Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler to that list as well.  Anyhow, since this was my first visit to Philly, a visit to the Palestra was a must, even if the game being attended was likely going to be subpar.  It’s amazing the feeling you get walking into such a venue with so much history and that was before checking out all the history displayed on the walls and in cases throughout the concourse!  As for the game itself, it wasn’t one of the more competitive affairs I’ve ever seen, but was fun to see the Quakers lighting it up from 3 early and often throughout the contest.  It was also awesome to have scored some pretty affordable second row seats at such an historic venue, but wasn’t too surprising when the crowd probably numbered in the hundreds on a Tuesday night for this contest... 

Outside the historic Palestra

Decades of history captured on the walls throughout the concourse

Spacious, but cozy seating bowl with banners honoring all the Philly Big 5 schools

Pregame introductions inside the historic Palestra

Lafayette taking it to the hoop and getting rejected!