March Madness Setup Begins in South Philadelphia Preparations for the NCAA Tournament in South Philadelphia are underway as the city prepares to host the event for the first time since 2022. Workers began the process of transforming the arena floor on Monday, removing the existing Sixers court to make way for the NCAA’s custom court. The installation involved dismantling the old floor and assembling 250 individual pieces delivered in 16 pallets to create the tournament-specific playing surface. The games scheduled to take place in Philadelphia include several high-profile matchups. On Friday, March 20, the tournament will feature No. 3 Virginia facing No. 14 Wright State at 1:50 p.m., followed by No. 6 Tennessee competing against the winner of a matchup between No. 11 Miami (Ohio) and No. 11 SMU at 4:25 p.m. Later that day, No. 7 UCLA will take on No. 10 UCF at 7:25 p.m., and No. 2 UConn will play No. 15 Furman at 10 p.m. These games mark the start of the tournament’s opening rounds in the Delaware Valley, with four local teams set to compete. For athletes, the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament is a rare and cherished experience. Corey Fisher, a former Villanova standout, emphasized the significance of stepping onto the court during the event. “Once you see that blue patch—NCAA patch on the floor, on your jersey—you can never take it for granted,” Fisher said. He noted that the tournament is an honor for players, as only a few get the chance to compete at this level. Fisher, who made the tournament all four years during his Villanova career, described the experience as even more special when the opening rounds were held in South Philadelphia during his sophomore season. “It was another home game, with the atmosphere and crowd,” he said.#ncaa_tournament #south_philadelphia #villanova #corey_fisher #delaware_valley
