Ed Graney: Las Vegas is still king for March Madness viewing

Ed Graney, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Mar 21, 2026

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LAS VEGAS — CJ is 31 and from Omaha. He has been a Nebraska fan his entire life and attended the university.

He is well aware of the basketball team’s’ struggles over the years and, that before this latest edition of March Madness commenced, the Cornhuskers had never won an NCAA Tournament game.

“Everybody knew it,” he said. “It wasn’t a secret. All anybody cared about for years and years and years was the football program. No money, no resources, no support for basketball. But the passion has been brought back.

“Go Big Red.”

Go indeed.

He spoke just a short time after Nebraska on Thursday had indeed made history by snapping that oh-for-forever streak by beating Troy, 76-47, spoke from inside the Exhibit Hall at the South Point.

It’s where 2,200 chairs were assembled around hundreds of tables and one of if not the town’s biggest NCAA parties was in full hoops mode.

And if you found an empty seat, you were a fortunate soul.

Brick shots

Where beer flowed from buckets and folks began congregating at at 4 a.m., some five hours before the first tipoff.

Where the escalators needed to be halted for a time so as to ensure everyone’s safety.

Where there were betting windows and kiosks and lines long enough to place wagers that you began looking for the nearest TSA agent.

Where a basketball court was set up on one side of the hall and contests for free-throws and 3-pointers were held.

Where there were enough bricks being thrown up that you realized all that beer flowing from the buckets was being put to good use.

Where we once again learned that Southern Nevada does these sorts of gatherings better than anyone.

Only in Las Vegas: There was a time early in the Duke-Siena game when one of the day’s largest cheers went up throughout the hall. It was a bet realized by many about which of the two teams could reach 15 points first.

The underdog Saints pulled it off and the South Point bettors rejoiced. Yes. First to 15.

Its moniker was the Most Massive Madness Party in Vegas and you could see why. It’s also really just a taste of what you can expect in 2028, when the Final Four is scheduled to drop into Allegiant Stadium.

Some might believe nothing beats a Super Bowl gathering in the life of a casino party, but the NCAA Tournament can more than hold its own.

It was tough to find a team participating in this year’s bracket where someone wasn’t wearing the school colors.

Even some who didn’t make the field were represented.

“It keeps getting bigger and bigger every year,” said Steve Stallworth, general manager of South Point Arena. “Once we brought this into the Exhibit Hall, it just blew up.”

You knew there would be some upsets and the first of the day saw No. 12 High Point edge No. 5 Wisconsin, 83-82, out of the West Region.

And there was a committed Badgers fan, red and white striped overalls and all, having to watch the madness play out.

Having to watch the cruelty of High Point’s Chase Johnston score his first 2-point basket of the season to complete the upset.

“I thought (Wisconsin) played tough,” said Matt, the overalls-wearing supporter. “There was going to be a 5-12 upset and unfortunately it was the Badgers. That’s the tournament. Every year you think your team is going to make a run but …”

Repping UNLV

If you looked hard enough, and back by that basketball court is where you discovered them, was a table of UNLV fans.

Rob Mullaney played golf at the school and his son and daughter also graduated from it. The Rebels haven’t been dancing since 2013 but that hasn’t stopped Mullaney, who proudly wore his shirt with UNLV scrawled across one side, from keeping the faith.

The Rebels are off to Tulsa on Sunday for a second-round game in the NIT under first-year coach Josh Pastner.

“I was happy they won their (first-round) game against UC Irvine,” Mullaney said. “I think the program is going in the right direction right now. It was a little slow to start the season but we’re making progress. They were better at the end than the beginning and I’m happy we’re in a tournament.

“There’s still some work to do to get back to (the NCAAs), which would be great. I’ve been in (Las Vegas) for 48 years. I love March Madness. It’s time for us to come back to it but I guess we’ll take the NIT for now.”

Yes. Even those whose team didn’t make the madness found a silver lining at the South Point on Thursday.

Go Big Red.