Does it really matter or not if you have home court advantage?

There are some schools where it is a very important factor

I don't think that it is as important as it used to be because teams travel so much in the summer and go to so many camps. Sometimes it helps the visiting team because there are fewer distraction than playing at home.

It's not too much of an advantage when teams who are from the same region are playing one another, but if teams travel to another region, then it becomes a big disadvantage. One reason for this is that coaches rate their own region's officials for the post season tournament assignments.....and most referees aren't going to upset a coach from their own region, who in return may give them a low rating.

Coaches and their teams may not get hit too hard when out-of-region, but they're not going to get any judgement calls that could have gone either way, the toss up calls.....the home team will get those. And the host usually can play more than usual aggressive press defense, and not worry too much about being whistled for many fouls.

There are certain schools where it is a huge advantage. When I talk about homecourt advantage, I think of overall atmosphere, bands, gym size and layout.

Homecourt advantage only matters under 4 conditions:

 

1.) The visiting team has to travel a considerable distance

2.) The atmosphere at the homecourt is disruptive (crazy student section, loud band, great fans, etc etc etc)

3.) Officiating

4.) The homecourt has some sort of disruptive feature that the home team is accustomed to and the visiting team isnt (bad lighting, extremely small gym where stands and the wall behind the goal are basically on the floor, etc etc etc)

 

I think all these things have an effect on the game....it may be small or large, it may be imaginary or literal ...... but they each have some sort of effect that aids the home team and hurts the visiting team.

Actually, home court advantage is a MUCH bigger advantage than most think. There are a lot of schools that shoot around 30% on the road and close to 50% at home. If you shoot in a gym everyday you are obviously going to be more familiar with the background, rims, backboards, etc.

 

I agree that some atmosphere's don't matter however the court layout and perception the shooter gets is a huge advantage.

It's not too much of an advantage when teams who are from the same region are playing one another, but if teams travel to another region, then it becomes a big disadvantage. One reason for this is that coaches rate their own region's officials for the post season tournament assignments.....and most referees aren't going to upset a coach from their own region, who in return may give them a low rating.

Coaches and their teams may not get hit too hard when out-of-region, but they're not going to get any judgement calls that could have gone either way, the toss up calls.....the home team will get those. And the host usually can play more than usual aggressive press defense, and not worry too much about being whistled for many fouls.

 

Professor, you're not suggesting that an official would lean toward the home team in these situations. Isn't that dishonest?

Yes Frankfort high VS Western hills great example.

what about kelly Mckeown from Scott i heard he is tearing it up this year

Professor, you're not suggesting that an official would lean toward the home team in these situations. Isn't that dishonest?

I'm not suggesting they should, but I think it's a psychological thing....the refs from inside a region already know all most of the coaches, are familiar with them, and the outsiders are foreign to them. So, psychologically the toss up calls will probably go the home team's way. These officials have to see these same coaches throughout the year, not the visitor's coaches. The visitors coaches are not the ones that will be rating them in February. So if a ball goes out of bounds and could have been out on either player....well, most of the time the home team will get to keep possession (of course sometimes they will call a jump ball and go to the alternating possession) That's the sort of thing I was trying to say....not that someone would deliberately cheat someone. I believe most officials would be too professional to simply "take" a game because a team is not from their region. But the home team will usually get the 'benifit of the doubt' calls.

You're absolutely right. Its just human nature.

Actually, home court advantage is a MUCH bigger advantage than most think. There are a lot of schools that shoot around 30% on the road and close to 50% at home. If you shoot in a gym everyday you are obviously going to be more familiar with the background, rims, backboards, etc.

 

I agree that some atmosphere's don't matter however the court layout and perception the shooter gets is a huge advantage.

 

This is true

Home court does matter with every team. However, it can vary from very minor to substantial depending on the team. In some instances, teams play better on the road and in other instances teams cannot win unless they are playing at home. So I guess it just depends on the school!

depends on if you have a cheering section...