SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – If you grew up in western Mass, you know that basketball was born here. That legacy is alive, with families creating new memories where the game began. The MGM Springfield Basketball Hall of Fame Classic took place Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
There was a lot of liveliness here at the MassMutual Center, all eyes are on the hardwood here in downtown Springfield, as Wednesday marked the opening day of the Hall of Fame Classic.
College hoops fans from all over made their way to downtown Springfield for a couple of regional matchups. University of Albany tipped off against Yale at 4:30 p.m. and then for the next match up, UMass Amherst is set to face off against the Boston College Eagles at 7 p.m.
This is the first time they’ll meet on the court in 11 years, when UMass beat Boston College at TD Garden. For UMass and BC fans, isn’t just a game, it’s bragging rights for possibly the next 11 years.
Right now, the Minutemen have a 3-game winning-streak against the Eagles. However, one Boston College alumni, Andrew Nicholson, traveled all the way from Albany, New York to see his alma mater face off against UMass right here in the birthplace of basketball and he’s hopeful Boston College will take the win.
“This is a great event. I mean, like, yeah, Springfield’s the first place in basketball, right? So, like, it’s cool, especially, like, to have teams from the region. And, like, hopefully, you know, like, I walked by, there was, like, a father and son here. And, like, I overheard the dad. It’s nice to just have basketball in the state of Massachusetts, like, bringing it back to its roots And, yeah, I hope there’s a lot of, like, kids here tonight, you know?” said Nicholson.
Isn’t just about who wins or loses, it’s about keeping basketball’s legacy alive, right where it all began.
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