Emma Behrman VU '26
2026 Round of 64 San Diego, California
I took the 6am flight to San Diego with a quick layover in Denver, fueled by the kind of excitement you only get during March Madness. Having attended the Big East tournament every single year, I was finally getting the chance to watch Villanova in the Big Dance as a student for my senior year. After the past three years of watching the team narrowly miss the tournament, I knew I had to find a way to get to San Diego to see the Cats in person.
When I finally arrived, I was greeted by a perfect, warm sunny day and the sight of palm trees right at the airport. On the ride to my hotel, I passed the USS Midway battleship and the beautiful shoreline, which really set the stage for the trip.
After checking in, I headed straight to Viejas Arena on San Diego State’s campus to catch the first game on my ticket: LIU vs. Arizona. Viejas Arena was especially cool because the concourse is outside in the San Diego sun, while the actual court and stands are enclosed, creating an electric atmosphere with almost every seat filled. The stadium was initially buzzing with Arizona fans decked out in red, but after they took care of LIU, the crowd shifted. Most of the Arizona fans left, leaving the Utah State and Villanova fans to fill about half the stadium.
Utah State brought a good sized student section, and because of the distance, the Villanova band and cheerleaders were the only students I saw. However, our alumni and families came out in great numbers, making a impressive showing for being on the opposite coast. It was great to see Jay Wright and Randy Foye make the trip out to support the team as well. Right before tip-off, my brother joined me; he had come straight from his own spring break with friends to be there. It was a special moment since he’ll be a freshman at Villanova this fall, and this was his first real taste of the tournament.
The game itself was a high-stakes battle that stayed competitive until the very end. I felt confident going into halftime with a close game. We were lethal from the perimeter, hitting 14-of-30 from three-point range, led by Bryce Lindsay who dropped 25 points with six triples. Tyler Perkins and Duke Brennan both stepped up with 15 points each, and our discipline was so high that we didn’t commit our second turnover until the second half. We were tied at 73-73 with just 3:54 remaining, but the physical toll of a short rotation without Matthew Hodge and being outscored 42-26 in the paint eventually caught up to us. Utah State closed the game on a 13-3 run to win 86-76. The Utah State fans chants of “Utah” and “State” echoed from one side of the arena to the other. As the Villanova band played the fight song, my brother and I slowly made our way from our seats to the exit. It was a tough end to a season that revitalized Villanova basketball.
After the final buzzer, despite the disappointment, my brother and I made sure to stop by the stands to grab tournament shirts. I wanted something tangible to remember the day, not just the game, but the fact that we had actually made it there together. We then headed back to the hotel, exhausted but still riding the high of the tournament energy. We spent the rest of the night ordered in, stretched out on the beds, and watching the remaining slate of March Madness games. There’s something about being in a tournament city while watching other upsets unfold that makes you feel like you’re right in the center of the sports world.
Although we couldn’t pull off the victory, I felt incredibly fortunate to watch the Cats play in March. It was a tough loss that stung, but experiencing that atmosphere was the opportunity of a lifetime. My brother and I made the most of our time in San Diego, and I am so grateful to Mr. Jerry Quinn for making this trip possible. This has been a dream of mine to attend March Madness as a student and I am fortunate enough that Mr. Quinn’s help has allowed me to experience it for my senior year.
2026 Round of 64 San Diego, California
I took the 6am flight to San Diego with a quick layover in Denver, fueled by the kind of excitement you only get during March Madness. Having attended the Big East tournament every single year, I was finally getting the chance to watch Villanova in the Big Dance as a student for my senior year. After the past three years of watching the team narrowly miss the tournament, I knew I had to find a way to get to San Diego to see the Cats in person.
When I finally arrived, I was greeted by a perfect, warm sunny day and the sight of palm trees right at the airport. On the ride to my hotel, I passed the USS Midway battleship and the beautiful shoreline, which really set the stage for the trip.
After checking in, I headed straight to Viejas Arena on San Diego State’s campus to catch the first game on my ticket: LIU vs. Arizona. Viejas Arena was especially cool because the concourse is outside in the San Diego sun, while the actual court and stands are enclosed, creating an electric atmosphere with almost every seat filled. The stadium was initially buzzing with Arizona fans decked out in red, but after they took care of LIU, the crowd shifted. Most of the Arizona fans left, leaving the Utah State and Villanova fans to fill about half the stadium.
Utah State brought a good sized student section, and because of the distance, the Villanova band and cheerleaders were the only students I saw. However, our alumni and families came out in great numbers, making a impressive showing for being on the opposite coast. It was great to see Jay Wright and Randy Foye make the trip out to support the team as well. Right before tip-off, my brother joined me; he had come straight from his own spring break with friends to be there. It was a special moment since he’ll be a freshman at Villanova this fall, and this was his first real taste of the tournament.
The game itself was a high-stakes battle that stayed competitive until the very end. I felt confident going into halftime with a close game. We were lethal from the perimeter, hitting 14-of-30 from three-point range, led by Bryce Lindsay who dropped 25 points with six triples. Tyler Perkins and Duke Brennan both stepped up with 15 points each, and our discipline was so high that we didn’t commit our second turnover until the second half. We were tied at 73-73 with just 3:54 remaining, but the physical toll of a short rotation without Matthew Hodge and being outscored 42-26 in the paint eventually caught up to us. Utah State closed the game on a 13-3 run to win 86-76. The Utah State fans chants of “Utah” and “State” echoed from one side of the arena to the other. As the Villanova band played the fight song, my brother and I slowly made our way from our seats to the exit. It was a tough end to a season that revitalized Villanova basketball.
After the final buzzer, despite the disappointment, my brother and I made sure to stop by the stands to grab tournament shirts. I wanted something tangible to remember the day, not just the game, but the fact that we had actually made it there together. We then headed back to the hotel, exhausted but still riding the high of the tournament energy. We spent the rest of the night ordered in, stretched out on the beds, and watching the remaining slate of March Madness games. There’s something about being in a tournament city while watching other upsets unfold that makes you feel like you’re right in the center of the sports world.
Although we couldn’t pull off the victory, I felt incredibly fortunate to watch the Cats play in March. It was a tough loss that stung, but experiencing that atmosphere was the opportunity of a lifetime. My brother and I made the most of our time in San Diego, and I am so grateful to Mr. Jerry Quinn for making this trip possible. This has been a dream of mine to attend March Madness as a student and I am fortunate enough that Mr. Quinn’s help has allowed me to experience it for my senior year.
Essay #6
Looking back, my past 4 years haven’t been a highlight reel of wins; they’ve instead been about showing up for my people. I’ve realized that being a Wildcat isn't just about the championship runs, it’s about the loyalty when things get tough. Rarely missing a home game, I’ve hopped on the train to the Big East tournament every year, even when March Madness felt like a far away fantasy. That disappointment hurt, but it never kept me away from the stands.
Sports defined my life here, from the intensity of intramural basketball and volleyball to just losing track of time playing spikeball on the quad. But what really made my story different was finding the Filipino American Student Association. FASA gave me a space to dive into my heritage and understand my culture in a way I never had before.
I’ve learned that the Villanova community is wonderfully unique. It’s the hype in the student section, but it’s also the personal growth that happens when you finally find your people. My time here taught me that community is something you have to build for yourself, whether you’re on the court or just learning who you are.
Looking back, my past 4 years haven’t been a highlight reel of wins; they’ve instead been about showing up for my people. I’ve realized that being a Wildcat isn't just about the championship runs, it’s about the loyalty when things get tough. Rarely missing a home game, I’ve hopped on the train to the Big East tournament every year, even when March Madness felt like a far away fantasy. That disappointment hurt, but it never kept me away from the stands.
Sports defined my life here, from the intensity of intramural basketball and volleyball to just losing track of time playing spikeball on the quad. But what really made my story different was finding the Filipino American Student Association. FASA gave me a space to dive into my heritage and understand my culture in a way I never had before.
I’ve learned that the Villanova community is wonderfully unique. It’s the hype in the student section, but it’s also the personal growth that happens when you finally find your people. My time here taught me that community is something you have to build for yourself, whether you’re on the court or just learning who you are.