It's a good thing The Bee didn't make me drive to New Mexico for the Women's NCAA Tournament regional here. This state, from my view above in the jet, is pretty desolate. There's nothing but dry land, although it's been carved out in neat shapes by floods, until you make a big left turn then, BAM!, civilization in Albuquerque.
The Fresno State women's basketball team beat me here. I believe they came on a chartered plane.
Anyway, the 'Dogs practiced at a local high school tonight in preparation for Saturday's first-round game against No. 12 Baylor. The Pit, on the campus of New Mexico, was locked up tight awaiting tomorrow's media day with the teams and their practices.
Don't let anyone tell you there's no good places to eat here. Even though the city seems tucked in a remote region of the state, it has every kind of food to meet any nationality's needs.
A question keeps coming to mind: Fresno State's 11 a.m. game Saturday is on ESPN2, but I wonder how much of it people will see? That network has a habit of bouncing around from region to region. I'll know more tomorrow and will let you know.
Also, it will be interesting to see how the Albuquerque regional stacks up against what Fresno put on a few years ago at Save Mart Center. Baylor probably will bring a good contingent of fans because it's a lot closer to Albuquerque than Fresno. But these first- and second-round regionals aren't well attended unless a home school is in it. Fortunately that's the case here. New Mexico has the good luck of playing on its home floor. Good thing Fresno State won't have to face the Lobos.