PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh may be in the calm before the storm.
The area around the Consol Energy Arena was quiet on Wednesday but several scalpers were already on the scene and trying to find tickets.
With number one seed Syracuse University and number two seed Ohio State both within driving distance, demand for tickets is expected to be very high. Scalpers say prices for decent seats could be $300 or more before game time.
West Virginia is also playing in Pittsburgh, only a forty five minute drive for their famously dedicated fans.
The high price of tickets has some traditional rivals building alliances.
Some West Virginia fans have been reaching out to Syracuse fans hoping to split the cost of an all session ticket package so each could see their team play. Syracuse plays in the afternoon session and the Mountaineers play in the evening session.
Other fans are waiting to see who wins the early games and planning on trying to talk the fans of the losing teams into selling their remaining tickets.
Basketball fans do have one thing in their favor; there has been limited interest in the NCAA Tournament from Pittsburgh locals. The NHL's Penguins play on Thursday night and most people CNYCentral talked with are more interested in the Penguins game and the possible return of star player Sidney Crosby than anything happening on a basketball court.
