Fresno State buzzing with March Madness

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Excitement is building for the Fresno State Men's Basketball team.

The team is headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 15 years, where the Bulldogs will be facing Utah's Runnin' Utes on Thursday in Denver.

"I think it is a big deal it's getting Fresno State out there," Fresno State student Bibi Ruiz exclaimed.

The excitement started Saturday when the Bulldogs pulled off an upset over San Diego State, winning the Mountain West Conference for the first time and earning a trip to the big dance.

"I think it looks really good for the school," student Aldo Chevare said. "I think it's pretty awesome to see our school go pretty far in basketball."

"Obviously for the team, the university and the entire Valley it's big news," Paul Ladwig with Fresno State Athletics exclaimed. "It's national news, its March Madness."

The Bulldog Foundation has 350 tickets, but a big chunk of those go to the team, cheerleaders, coaches and the band -- leaving about 200 for the general public and those are going fast.

"Fans have been very excited," Terry Johnson with the foundation explained. "Not only local people looking for travel opportunities but Bulldog alumni, fans in the Colorado area have been calling as well.

Those who can't get tickets in Fresno can contact the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Ladwig says fans are scrambling to make travel arrangements to the Mile High City. "We know we have a bunch of people chartering planes to go to Denver to be there for the game and things of that nature," he said. "So ,the people of this town are pretty pumped up about March Madness."

Travelers are booking airline flights from Fresno to Denver and also finding less expensive flights from the Bay Area and southern California.

Even those who aren't going are excited.

"I think it's a really cool thing because it hasn't happened in such a long time," student Benjamin Cuevas said. "And I think it's going to be a pretty big event for the school."