But this year, there are some difficult expectations to live up to: In its first year as a host site two years ago, Breslin Center drew more than 21,000 fans, the most of any site across the country.

This year, there are only four teams — compared to eight in 2007 — which equates to half as many games. And although some of the schools have ordered more than the minimum 100 tickets per game and there is a No. 1 seed competing, it doesn’t have the same regional draw as 2007 when Bowling Green was in attendance.

“Because you’ve got teams coming from a distance that may not travel as well, you’re going to see the number of fans coming through being less because you’ve also got less games,” said Shelley Applebaum, senior associate athletics director and senior women’s administrator. “There’s going to be more of a reliance on Spartans fans and people in this area to make a drive here to our beautiful campus and take in the Breslin Center. It’s going to be a lot more difficult than it was in 2007.”

Two years ago, staring at the thick binder of guidelines provided by the NCAA, Assistant Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management Rick Atkinson said he and his staff would pore over it, worrying about small aspects of the weekend. The second time around is a different story.

“There are things you want to be sticklers about that first time around and the second time, you realize that if you read the book as a book, everything’s important as everything else,” he said. “But when you go through it all, you find out what’s important and what’s not.”

A face-lift

The NCAA either pays for or subleases almost all of the equipment used in transforming Breslin into a mutual playing facility. It tells the host school exactly how the operation will run — from practice times to curtain colors to the font on box scores.

On Wednesday and Thursday, workers were busy carpeting the auxiliary gym, setting up tables, restructuring the lower bowl seating and wiring phone lines, electrical cables and wireless Internet. Corporate sponsor signs and banners have been removed or covered and NCAA floor decals and banners will show in place of the regular MSU paraphernalia.

After this weekend, Breslin Center will quickly be transformed back to its original state to host the Michigan High School Athletic Association boy’s basketball state finals.

Though the NCAA provides most of the goods, Breslin Center and MSU staff provide more services than usual.

Seth Kesler, MSU director of events and championships, said the workload increases almost exponentially and there are tasks — such as transporting referees, setting up extra equipment, providing transportation and hotel arrangements for visiting teams — that never would be considered for a typical Big Ten game.

“Instead of just managing the actual game, we’re managing the whole event with the Breslin Center,” Kesler said. “We’re used to wrestling a lot of things and now we’re wrestling a lot more.”

Crew members stayed until 2 a.m. Wednesday night setting up the media workroom and interview area in the MSU basketball auxiliary gym, and work continued through Thursday.

There are expected to be about 350 workers through the weekend, including 150 media members (40 will be part of the ESPN TV crew).

Spartan spirit

Kesler said there has been an indication that MSU fans were intent on showing support for MSU in one — maybe two — games.

“A lot of the sales came along when we were announced as being in,” he said. “People are loyal to the team, but they didn’t want to invest in this until they knew they were going to see their team. The phone’s still ringing.”

With the NCAA keeping such a close watch on the event and the by-the-book style of implementation, there isn’t much room for any MSU flavor. But, as Atkinson said, the components that the campus and local area have to offer will always go unchanged and remain vital for a successful event.

“We’re just coming out of winter and just coming out of the doldrums of no sunshine,” he said. “Spring is in the air. It’s tournament time. … And, if nothing else, you want to come here to get away from wherever you are.

“It’s a great place to escape, and you’re going to see some great basketball, going to see a beautiful campus and, hey, it’s the capital.”