Randy Smith: NCAA Watch Parties Have Changed

If I remember correctly when the UTC men's and women's basketball teams won the Southern Conference Tournament in years past, the venues would change occasionally for the NCAA "Watch" parties. You know what a "Watch" Party is. It's where Mocs fans will gather on Sunday evening to watch the NCAA selection show on television to see when, where and who they play in the upcoming March Madness. Many times it would be at the Big River Grill downtown but this Sunday it takes place in the UTC Arena and everyone is welcome to attend.

The event is from 5-7 p.m. with all the players and coaches on hand as well as cheerleaders and other school officials. I'm sure a couple of local TV stations will be there and WFLI Radio, the Mocs' Flagship station, will also be there to broadcast the activities live. The first hour discussions will involve the opponent for the Mocs in round one. There is always speculation as to which of the other 67 or so teams the Mocs will catch depending upon the seeding for the tournament. There is also the suspense of how high or low the Mocs will be seeded. The highest seed in UTC history was in 1983 when Gerald Wilkins, Willie White and company came into the Big Dance as the number 9 seed and faced 8th seed Maryland in Houston, TX. Maryland trailed most of the way, until Terps' freshman Len Bias hit the game winner with just a few seconds remaining for a 52-51 win.

The next best seed for the Mocs was the season before when they were the number 10 seed and upset N.C. State 58-51 in round one. UTC has been a 16 seed a couple of times and lost big on both occasions. In 1997 when the Mocs advanced to the tournament's "Sweet 16" they came in as the number 14 seed and upset Georgia and Illinois. Altogether, UTC is 3-11 in NCAA Tournament action.

  

I imagine the biggest change about selection Sunday, however, is the fact that UTC is once again relevant. This year is the first since 2016 the Mocs have held a "Watch" party and they will be doing it for the just the second time in the last 13 years. At 27-7 though this team could be really special and make a solid run in the tournament. Regardless, the "Watch" party on Sunday should be a lot of fun.