March Madness sweeps Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Fans from across the country made their way to the Frank Erwin Center on Friday to catch part of the magic of March Madness.

The University of Texas is hosting the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.  Austin has hosted the big “dance” four other times.

This year there are no Texas teams in the tournament, but many Texans, especially alumni form schools out of state, are excited to have the tournament in their own backyard.

“This is great, we love anytime the Gators come to town closest thing last time was College Station when they came to play football it’s a fantastic weekend,” explained Scott Quarmby who lives in Austin and the University of Florida alum.

Fans of basketball may not be fans of the traffic snarls these events cause.

Illini fan Ken Nagley says, "I couldn't even find a parking place. Champagne, Illinois, come visit us, we've got plenty of parking."

But some Austin residents don't mind. Todd James says, "I don't mind it because I know it's a boon to the economy. And it lets people see the greatness of our city."

The Erwin Center will be hosting some of the big seed teams such as Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Gators. There will be two final games Sunday before the regional moves on.

2013 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament

Second/Third Rounds

March 22 & 24

• (2) Miami vs. (15) Pacific 1:10 p.m.
• (7) Illinois vs. (10) Colorado 30 minutes after
• (3) Florida vs.  (14) Northwestern State 6:27 p.m.
• (6) UCLA vs. (11) Minnesota 30 minutes after

There are some Cinderella stories where smaller schools such as Northwestern State University from Natchitoches, LA made it to the dance along with University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA.

"We're very, very, very excited," explained Chuck Weaver, whose Alma Mater is Northwestern State University.  "There are a lot of Alumni here in town and they are crazy about the game and we're hoping to eat some Gator tonight."

The NSULA Demons last went to the NCAA Tournament seven years ago and upset the third-seeded Iowa 64-63

The Pacific Tigers will take on the second-seeded Miami Hurricanes Friday afternoon.

Even fans from Wisconsin showed up to the Live Music Capital of the World to enjoy the madness.  The ten men have been  going to March Madness games for 22 years. 

"In Milwaukee 1992 we went we had fun and we said let's go South, so we just go South from there that's all we’ve done,” explained Scott Bevers.

Tickets are still available for Friday and Sunday’s game at the Erwin Center.  For more information click here.