The Save Mart Center was rocking during Saturday's Fresno Regional semifinals with lively fan sections for the four teams, blaring school bands and crazy supporters decked out in school colors.

But the regional drew a meager 3,658 for the two games.

Since an NCAA-worst 2,901 showed up in 1997 in West Lafayette, Ind., for an NCAA regional semifinal round, only the 2005 Kansas City Regional, with 3,143, had a lower turnout than Fresno. In 2003, Stanford's crowd was 3,678.

"It was a little disappointing, considering the caliber of teams and the caliber of basketball we saw," said Steve Weakland, Fresno State's director of media relations.

In contrast, the Greensboro (N.C.) Regional attracted 6,392 for its semifinals and the Dayton (Ohio) Regional 9,023.

A major reason for Fresno's lack of interest: no teams west of the Rockies. Louisiana State is the closest. At Greensboro, No. 1 seed Duke basically is playing home games. At Dayton, at least Tennessee, Oklahoma and Mississippi are within relatively easy traveling distance.

Another reason is the absence of Stanford, the No. 2 seed that was upset by No. 10 Florida State on the Cardinal's court in the second round.

"Stanford would have helped a lot," Weakland said, "and probably would have brought 500 to 1,000, plus the local alumni around here."

Geno Auriemma, coach of No. 1 seed Connecticut, said he expects to play before of another small crowd in tonight's regional final.

"The way the tournament is, you have to go places so the game can evolve," Auriemma said. "But you go to places where people aren't ready to embrace the game. There's got to be a way to do a little of both."

Acting Louisiana State coach Bob Starkey said maybe a change of format is needed.

"When you get good teams and empty seats, you need dialogue and to find solutions," he said. "The game has come so far and the crowds are getting better. But the game isn't there yet."

Veteran savvy

Today's game is Starkey's fourth as head man. On UConn's bench is Auriemma with his 621 wins and five NCAA championships.

Ex-Tigers coach Pokey Chatman resigned March 7 amid allegations of having a relationship with a former player.

So how does Starkey, unbeaten in his new role, feel about going up against a legend?

"I'm going to lose that tale of the tape," he joked. "Geno is a better coach. He's a better looking guy, a better dresser, and he's funnier than I am."

Auriemma's response?

"True. But he has Sylvia Fowles," he said of LSU's 6-foot-6 center destined for the WNBA. "I don't ever think coaches win games. They can do some things to help lose one. It comes strictly from talent and execution of the players. And [Starkey] has some pretty good ones, and he's been in coaching a long time."

Starkey, who's been in college coaching 20 years, told of his admiration for Auriemma and why he can't let this coaching matchup enter his mind.

"I have a ton of respect for Geno and have attended many of his clinics. He's very detail oriented and you can see it with his team's execution level. I like what he's done at UConn for our sport. But, the most important thing for me is to not get caught up in all that. We've got to go out and play the best we can, and I've got to concentrate on my kids."

Return to the spotlight

Connecticut, after reaching five consecutive Final Fours, hasn't been back since 2004.

Last year's 63-61 overtime loss to Duke in the Elite Eight especially was painful. It snapped the Huskies' 29-game NCAA Tournament winning streak in its home state.

Huskies forward Charde Houston had an opportunity to tie it, but her 6-foot shot rimmed out. Guard Mel Thomas said she and her teammates have tried to forget the loss and added that the Huskies have more faith in each other this season.

"I believe in the player standing next to me," Thomas said of Houston. "If we get in the huddle and say we're going to get a stop, we know it's going to happen. Whereas last year, we hoped it would happen."

So if the game's on the line and Houston has the ball?

"I have complete confidence in Charde," Thomas said.

Back for more?

The question had to be asked, and North Carolina State's Hall of Fame coach Kay Yow answered it directly the best she could.

Will Yow, 65 and in frail health, return for her 33rd season with the Wolfpack? She's receiving treatments for breast cancer and missed 16 games this season, her 39th at the college level.

"It's something I haven't even thought about," she said after Saturday's loss to UConn. "I'm waiting to see as we get through chemo how is everything. My whole thing is how am I going to feel. After the chemo, is the body going to respond? I need a little time to figure this all out."

And, Yow added, there are other aspects of coaching.

"I love it beyond the X's and O's," she said. "More importantly, we have young people entrusted to us. It's a great time for growth and learning, and we don't want to forget that."