Projo College Hoops

It is an hour to game time for the URI-Duke contest and Cameron Indoor already is rocking.

About half the student section is filled and the Cameron Crazies are razzing the URI players. Interestingly, many of the early arrivals are URI fans, who are drawing some attention because Duke fans thing their Keaney blue shirts are Carolina blue. Sean Sullivan, a URI senior and a member of the stat crew for Rams games, does not seem to mind. He is in the lobby showing off his Keaney blue.

It is 60 degrees and sunny outside so numerous people also are lingering outdoors enjoying the afternoon.

A number of URI fans made it a college basketball dream weekend. They included Jimmy Smith of Woonsocket, a former URI player in the 1960s and a longtime season ticket holder for Rhody games.

``One of the things I've had on my to-do list for a long time was getting to see games at the Dean Dome (at North Carolina) and Cameron Indoor,'' Smith related as he stood outside Cameron Indoor in the 60 degree sunshine, waiting for the doors to open. ``When the schedule came out and I saw this game. I said `This is my chance.' ''

He called URI officials about tickets, but, because he is not high enough on the list, could not get tickets through URI. Instead, he went on the internet and found tickets.

Smith, a retired school teacher, and his son, Jonathan, made it a weekend. They watched UNC beat Pennsylvania Saturday night, spent time in Chapel Hill after the game (``It's a great place,'' Smith said) and then spent yesterday touring and enjoying the Duke campus.

On a personal note, it will be maybe the first time I ever have had trouble getting to my courtside seat. There is so little room between press row and the Cameron Crazies that you literally have to squeeze by to get to your seat.

 Tags  Cameron Indoor Duke URI

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