LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Basketball fans at Rupp Arena are watching two tournaments at once — the boys Sweet 16 on the court and the University of Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament on their phones.
Mark Campbell Sr. summed up the strategy.
“Always have one eye on the phone, one eye on the basketball court,” Campbell said.
Dual viewing becomes a necessity
During the third quarter of a tight game between St. Xavier and North Laurel, UK tipped off against Santa Clara at 12:15 p.m. For basketball fans, watching both games became a necessity.
Mark Campbell Jr. said it’s manageable.
“It’s a little bit crazy, but the state tournament kind of runs its own thing and you just kind of got the draw that Kentucky plays at 12:15, and you kind of just gotta watch both. It can be done? Absolutely,” Campbell said.
A family tradition with a backup plan
The Campbell family has made attending the Sweet 16 a tradition for the past 15 years. They come prepared with phone apps and four portable chargers to ensure they don’t miss any action.
“And so you come prepared — you bring battery packets to power your phone, and then you have your phone with you so you can keep up to date what’s going on in the NCAA, and you watch games between sessions,” Campbell Sr. said.
Eyes up, eyes down
Fans shifted their attention between the live action on the court and the streaming game on their phones. Campbell Sr. said the dual focus can create confusion in the arena.
“C-A-T-S, Cats, Cats, Cats — you’re liable to hear that cheer going on sometime during the game, and there might be some cheering happening because they are watching UK and it has nothing to do with what’s going on on the court,” Campbell said.
Campbell said the timing of the UK game doesn’t matter — his eyes would be on the Wildcats anytime.
“You love basketball so much and you love sports so much you just recognize that’s what’s going to happen, so you come prepared to take it in no matter when they play,” Campbell said.
St. Xavier beat North Laurel 46-42.
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