HDNet
Arrival of the Fittest
November 23 2011 1:07 AM ET
Well after dark Tuesday night, players and coaches roamed the retail-splendored hallways and jingly casinos that snake through the plush Atlantis resort. Some of the boys were browsing: gold watches, pretty girls, sparkling jewelry. Some paused and grinned for fan photos. Several scanned the blackjack tables. But at least one team took a few minutes to study up.
Any guesses?
Yep: Harvard. Near the entrance to the Imperial Arena inside the Coral Towers, about half of the Crimson squad asked a security guard if they could get a quick peek at the court – a reconfigured ballroom that normally hosts pop concerts and business conferences. “No, sorry,” the uniformed man told them. “It’s closed for the night.”
The Harvard players decided to stay for a moment anyway to look over the Battle 4 Atlantis bracket, printed on a cardboard stand about 100 feet from the arena’s curtained doorway.
Junior Guard Dee Giger pointed to their opening matchup against Utah on Thanksgiving night – “We’re in the late game,” he said – as his teammates perused other possible foes. HDNet will carry that showdown live with the tip at 9:30.
“I think you guys will handle Utah,” I told them. None of them took the bait.
But they will. I like Harvard’s chances for possibly two wins in Nassau – including, just maybe, a victory over Florida State, the second-highest-ranked squad in the tourney, after No. 4 UConn.
At about the same hour, the University of Central Florida team filed into the Royal Towers, dragging suitcases. Coaches also had their families in tow – pointing out the giant water slides out in the darkness. The team sported their silver and gray warmups. And at about 10 p.m., Bobby Cremins and his Charleston Cougars meandered through the Coral Towers lobby with wide eyes and wider smiles, some lugging bags, none looking weary.
The Charleston pack moved as almost a single unit through the bustling Atlantis crowd of tourists, causing one tween girl to excitedly whisper to her friend: “I just got slammed by a giant basketball player!”
What do you think? Is Harvard a true dark horse in the sunny Bahamas? Or is this field set up for a UConn sweep? Post your answer now on our HDNet Facebook wall, or using your twitter feed!
SEE EARLIER BLOG COVERAGE OF BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS:
We’re Here & We’re Ready to Play Hurt: Battle 4 Atlantis
ATLANTIS: THE PERFECT TOURNAMENT AIRS ON HDNET
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