Syracuse, bustling metropolis?

Not quite. The Salt City boasts a population of 147,306, which would make it the smallest city to host a Final Four since the borough of East Rutherford, N.J. — population: 7,902 — entertained the nation in 1996. Mind you, the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford calls the New Jersey Nets their home team and also is part of the Meadowlands Complex in which the New York Giants play.

But towns lacking the big-city allure have hosted the Final Four in years past. Here’s a list of ’em:

Evanston, Ill. – 1939 (first NCAA Tournament)Louisville, Ky. – 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1969College Park, Md. – 1966, 1970Greensboro, N.C. – 1974Albuquerque, N.M. – 1983Lexington, Ky. – 1985Charlotte, N.C. – 1994East Rutherford, N.J. – 1996

Compiled by Staff Writer Jeff Passan

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