SAN FRANCISCO — The sirens from Duke's police escort sounded in the distance before three black buses turned down Mason Street and slowly pulled alongside the curb in front of the Blue Devils' team hotel on a sunny and warm Tuesday afternoon.
"I think that's them," a man outside said to one of his colleagues, "if you want to go ahead and get everyone lined up." Soon enough the people that worked inside hotel formed two lines outside the entrance while the buses arrived and began to empty.
Duke had arrived in San Francisco for the NCAA Tournament's West Regional, which begins Thursday. The arrival set off a buzz of anticipation among the hotel employees, who did not seem the most familiar with the NCAA Tournament or their guests from the other side of the country.
