With Many Brackets a Bust, Fans Cheer on Surprise Final Four Teams

With the college basketball season coming to a close, fans headed out to bars throughout New Jersey Saturday to watch college teams compete in the NCAA Final Four as UConn and Butler advanced to Monday's championship game.

Joe DiChiara, owner of the Green Knoll Grille in Bridgewater, said a lot of people come out to the bar to watch the games.

“It’s always a good crowd, especially for the Final Four,” he said. 

Matt deWolf, of Hillsborough, said he was routing for  “everyone but UConn.”

“My brackets are shot,” he admitted.

As Virginia Commonwealth University took on Butler in a semifinal matchup, a VCU alum watched the game with interest. Warren resident Nancy Sapanara, a graduate of VCU Medical College of Virginia, joined others at the , to watch the game.

“We never thought we’d be affiliated with a school in the Final Four,” said Sapanara, who graduated in 1996. “It’s nice to be on the map. It used to be 'VC Who.'”

Across the bar, Michigan State alumni Gerry Prentki, of Bedminster, and Gary Jackett, of Princeton, watched the game. Prentki said he favored VCU because Butler beat Michigan State.

Basking Ridge resident David Cutler, a graduate of the University of Kentucky, placed a University of Kentucky gnome he named “Baby Rupp” on the bar in a place of honor.

“I’m very excited, of course,” he said. “I love my Wildcats.”

Fellow Kentucky graduate Faye Britsch, of Bridgewater, was also excited about the Wildcats as fans flocked to Green Knoll Grille in Bridgewater to watch the Final Four on Saturday.

“They’ve done well for a young team,” she said.