But even then, attendance was mindblowingly high with 5,179 in an arena for 16,000 people. At least the students who came and the men’s basketball team stormed the court due to an upset win of a 9 seed over a 1 seed, but you can also add the subplot about Coach P being the former coach at MSU.

There is a reason why schools regardless of seed get to host 1st and 2nd round or regional games at their arena. It is because women’s basketball fanbases don’t travel well until the Final Four. Also, ask most casual UConn women’s basketball fans what they think of the men’s basketball team, and many of them may not even care that UConn has a team that has won two national championships and got into the Sweet 16. Then again, ask casual UConn men’s basketball fans if they follow the women’s team and they may say “at least we’re number one” but not much else.

Men’s basketball fanbases travel well regardless of school in the NCAA tournament unless it’s a “down year” at a good program perhaps, and I dunno how many of those fans would go to the women’s tourney if their school was also dancing.