WBB in Cincy: Media Monday

By Weinman

On Monday, Vanderbilt returned to the Cintas Center for 30 minutes of media availability and 90 minutes of practice.

Prior to his VU-Blog debut this afternoon, Charlie Mattos sat down with senior guard Merideth Marsh for an interview that will be featured on his pre-game show before tomorrow's second round game against Xavier (Tuesday, 6 p.m. CT, WNSR 560-AM).

That video is above, with audio from the afternoon's press conference (which featured Marsh, juniors Hannah Tuomi and Jence Rhoads, and Coach Balcomb) also available, along with quotes from VU and Xavier. Our obligations are done for the day, with dinner and a movie to Commodores' only set plans for the rest of the evening.

Click Here to Read Press Conference Quotes

Listen to Press Conference

WBB Cincy: Charlie's Hotel Tour

(Guest blog: Charlie Mattos, the play-by-play voice of Vanderbilt women's basketball since 1993, is Weinman's roommate on the road and was gracious enough to write a blog today)

So often on the road we find ourselves at very nice hotels located in the “middle of nowhere”… why they build hotels in non-descript office parks is beyond me… so it was a thrill and pleasure to find that the NCAA placed us at the historic “Netherland Plaza” Hilton in downtown Cincinnati.

Completed in January of 1931 this is truly a palace of a hotel. Originally built for 7 million dollars, the hotel has received a pair of facelifts in the past two decades that ran around $43 million! Just about anywhere you turn you’re bound to find something interesting… molding, artwork, sconces, vintage signage, it’s all here… there’s a reason this place has achieved “Landmark” status on the National Historic Register.

The photos show the “Palm Court” restaurant, perhaps Cincinnati’s finest; a lobby chandelier, the “piano stage & fountain” just up from the lobby bar, and the lobby & seating area….

Photo Gallery

Elvis, President Kennedy & first lady Jackie, Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt and Bing Crosby are among the many high-profile guests who have stayed here. This place was truly groundbreaking in its early days. It was one of the first of the “city within a city” projects, complete with hotel, office space and an upscale shopping mall, plus – get this -- a totally automated parking garage!