Team: Presbyterian College Blue Hose (Big South)
Arena: Templeton Center (Capacity: 2500)
Chill Factor: 6/10
Crowd Factor: 5/10
Cost Factor: 5/5
Food Factor: 2/5
Mascot Factor: 5/5
PA Factor: 5/5
Total: 28/40
Result: Coastal Carolina 61, @Presbyterian 41
Over the entrance to Presbyterian College's Templeton Center hangs a banner that reads, "Welcome to Hoseville." Though not quite on par with Austin Peay's "Let's Go Peay" chant, Presbyterian's nickname--the Blue Hose--is amongst the best sources of sophomoric humor in college basketball. For Presbyterian's purposes, however, a blue hose is a Scottish warrior ala Braveheart, represented in living, breathing form by the friendly Scotty the Scotsman. Scotty, with his excellent new costume, was the highlight of the Templeton Center--amongst the best looking mascots in the country.
The rest of the arena didn't live up to the lofty standards set by Scotty, but it wasn't bad by any stretch. As to be expected in the Big South, the provisional D1 Blue Hose play in a bandbox gym--it could easily become a very tough place for visitors to win if the place was packed. Unfortunately, that was not the case for the game I saw. Coastal Carolina blitzed Presby early* and took the sparse (778) crowd out of the game. The crowd's lack of involvement, however, could not be blamed on the excited but professional public address announcer or the somewhat indulgent but fun student jazz fusion band. Also of note: parking was free, food was cheap ($1 popcorn!)** but limited even by basketball standards, and tickets were six bucks. Fun place to see a game and I expect it could be a real blast once the Blue Hose start winning games more consistently.
*The 2010-11 edition of Coastal Carolina is absolutely as good as their gaudy record would indicate. Desmond Holloway is quite a player.
**Special tip of the cap to the concession girl who asked me, "are you here for Presby or Coastal?" and gave me a confused look when I answered, "just here to see the game."
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