This year's final finds the Sioux against the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns.
"The fans are all wearing sunglasses," said Karolyn Roebuck, wife of Sioux coach Gene Roebuck.
They want to protect the Sioux from the Golden Suns.
Pine Bluff service-industry workers call them the "Green People." They are about 500 Sioux fans who made the trip to Pine Bluff to watch their team go after the school's third straight national championship.
Some drove here. Some flew here. Most came from north of here. A few snowbirds came from south of here. What they have in common is a love for Sioux basketball.
"There are a lot more than last year," Karolyn Roebuck said.
Like last year's group, they are having a good time. So is the Arkansas Tech contingent. On Friday at the Wilson World Hotel and Suites, Arkansas Tech fans placed two clever signs on the glass elevators. One of the side-by-side elevators had an arrow pointing up and a sign read: "ATU Golden Suns Goin' Up." The other elevator had a sign and an arrow pointing down and read: "UND Sioux Goin' Down."
Amy Solberg and Mariah Hager, Sioux fans from Grand Forks, decided to embellish one of the signs with, "If you really believe this, call: 1-800-HA-HA-HA."
Yes, Sioux fans are having some fun in Arkansas, which is playing host to the event for the second straight year. They've pretty much taken over the Wilson World hotel. They even have some hotel workers and barmaids wearing Sioux T-shirts.
UND's school colors, green and white, stand out. Pine Bluff will remember the "Green People."
One of them is Dave Solberg of Grand Forks. He and his wife, Bonnie, drove their four children to Pine Bluff in their Plymouth Voyager. Matt, Amy, Mark and Megan all stayed busy. While Matt went golfing with Dad on Friday afternoon, Amy was making signs in the hotel pool and game area.
The Solbergs usually take two weeks of family vacation in the summer. This year they decided to take one in the winter and one in the summer. Before they arrived in Pine Bluff, they spent two days in Branson, Mo., and a day in Little Rock, Ark. After today's game, they will jump in their van and drive straight through to Grand Forks.
"I think the game (Thursday) was the highlight," Dave Solberg said, referring to UND's semifinal victory over Emporia State.
Fans will gather today for a pregame pep rally in the hotel, then head to the connected Pine Bluff Convention Center for the championship game. The rally was in a hospitality room before Thursday's game. Baby pictures of coach Roebuck and all the players were placed on a mirror in the room.
Carmen Richards, mother of Sioux standout Katie Richards, had Sioux parents send her the photographs.
Karolyn Roebuck gave Richards a picture of a young Gene Roebuck and a little girl each holding the hand of a baby doll.
Her husband hopes to be holding another national-championship trophy today. He and the rest of the "Green People" won't be satisfied with anything less.