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Ryan Berryman wasn't even born when a young Jim Valvano frantically sprinted around the court looking for someone, anyone, to hug on that April evening in 1983.

But, like the 30-something former North Carolina State men's basketball coach, the 30-something first-year University of New Mexico athletic director has a deep belief in the power of the Pit.

Valvano's improbable, and now iconic Pit moment came when he coached NC State to one of the all-time NCAA Tournament upsets over the "Phi Slamma Jamma" Houston Cougars in the 1983 NCAA Tournament's national championship game.

Berryman is leaning into moments like that and the rich history and six decades of proven community passion that fill the wildly unique arena dug 37 feet into New Mexico soil as he spearheads the effort from UNM and the city of sa国际传媒官网网页入口 to get the NCAA Tournament in the Pit for the first time since 2012.

But securing the NCAA Tournament's return to an historic arena some say is structurally ill-equipped to host such an event won't be easy when the pitch is pitted against modern facilities across the country also eyeing a taste of March Madness.

"This is a special place," Berryman said. "Obviously, we've shown we're capable of hosting unconventional events, particularly with professional bull riding, and I think if there's a will, there's a way, and we, we'd explore every option to make that work."

Preliminary round push

UNM hasn't hosted the NCAA Tournament since 2012 when it was home to select games in the first two rounds 鈥� the rounds of 64 and 32. Facility limitations have stalled attempts to host since then.

But with the NCAA's recent decision to expand the tournament field to 76 teams, there is now a need for two "preliminary round" sites to host the first 12 games of the tournament 鈥� games played Tuesday and Wednesday of the first week.

Six are being played in Dayton, Ohio, where "First Four" games have been played since the tournament expanded to 68 teams in 2011.

Starting next season, there will be six other "preliminary round" games played at a site the NCAA says it wants out west.

Berryman, UNM and Visit sa国际传媒官网网页入口 think there is an opening for the Pit to get back in the mix and will submit a bid by the June 12 deadline.

UNM mailed to media across the country a pamphlet making its case. Data included in the mailing were notes about the nearby airport (and its recent $90 million renovation), sa国际传媒官网网页入口 being the 48th largest television market in the country, adequate hotel accommodations and plenty of references to the community's strong attendance in the Pit, for the Lobos and past NCAA and NIT games.

"sa国际传媒官网网页入口 is ready to deliver a standout destination experience for NCAA basketball tournament fans," the brochure states. "In addition to the excitement of being in the iconic Pit, fans can explore a culturally rich city, enjoy flavorful cuisine and enjoy exploring scenic landscapes. That combination will drive attendance, enhance the tournament atmosphere, and strengthen the overall March Madness experience. In addition, beyond the in-person fan experience, sa国际传媒官网网页入口 also will create fresh visuals and storytelling opportunities that are perfect for broadcast television."

But, about the arena

The NCAA's 77-page "Site Selection Process" manual issued to schools looking to make bids to host tournament games in 2029, 2030 and 2031 is the most up-to-date set of guidelines on what might be needed. Notably, the new preliminary round games are not addressed in the manual.

The Pit and sa国际传媒官网网页入口 meet almost all requirements in terms of things like media and corporate sponsor space accommodations, travel and hotel requirements, infrastructure to handle ticket sales, game day matters, concessions and electrical requirements.

And, even that common misconception about arena size is dispelled as the Pit's 15,411 capacity is far more than what the NCAA manual says it is looking for: "The competition venue must have a saleable seating capacity of at least 10,000, though preference may be given to sites with a larger capacity."

However, the Pit court's physical dimensions could be an issue.

"The typical court provided by the NCAA is 60 feet wide by 116 feet long for the First Four and first-/second rounds and 60 feet wide by 120 feet long for regional rounds."

The Pit's available floor space is 70 feet by 114 feet around most of the court, and even slightly less in the southeast corner where the Pit ramp meets the floor.

On the one hand, the Pit simply doesn't meet those specs.

On the other, the NCAA already showed a precedent for flexibility when it made an exception for Dayton to host preliminary round games without the standard 120-foot court, adjusting down to 116 feet.

Also, as is now fairly well known in sa国际传媒官网网页入口, the way the Pit was constructed in the 1960s didn't include a roof that can support a hanging video board or special lighting structures.

While preferred, the NCAA hasn't said that is a deal-breaker.

"Consideration will be given to those competition venues with center-hung video boards and scoreboards displaying the score, time remaining, team fouls and timeouts remaining," the manual states.

The Pit has locker room availability and the Rudy Davalos Practice Facility adjacent to the arena, which can host cheerleaders and bands, as well as the media workroom, like it did in 2012.

UNM would make any and all other accommodations within reason to host the event, Berryman said.

But even if the NCAA was game, would hosting an event like this actually be worth it?

"For us personally, the UNM Athletic Department, probably not (a money maker)," Berryman acknowledged. "But I think it's a holistic investment into economic development in our city and the tourism impact, and I think that's very, very real, including the kind of the noneconomic exposure for the school, the city and the state.

"So, I don't know that we would experience a windfall, but I think it would be great for our university and our state."

Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) .