Impact of playing NCAA tournament in a Football Stadium

[Mags]

This weekend I noted how much difficulty teams playing the Southern Region had shooting from the outside due to playing in the large football stadium, with spectator seating so far from the court (it was obvious on TV how far the fans were away). The announcers on Thursday kept talking about how poorly the teams (in both games) were shooting from the outside - and how difficult it was to shoot in that type of environment. Contrast this to the West Regional - where the games were played in a basketball arena - and how well teams shot out there (including Wisconsin against Arizona).

Seems almost unfair to the teams to be playing in a football stadium, where it is much harder to shoot from the outside. It obviously benefits teams that get their points inside, or ones that fast break a lot. And it hurts teams that depend on outside shooting all year - and then they can't when they play in football stadiums.

Given that Wisconsin depends a lot on the three point shot, and KY gets more of their points inside the arc, how much impact will this have on the Final Four game on Saturday?

My feeling is that all NCAA games should be played in basketball arenas, as most teams have played in all year. It is quite a change to play in a football stadium - and impacts the outcome in my opinion.

Thoughts?

 

[Shleprock]

Watching sam Dekker interview and his eyes rolled when he mentioned playing basketball in a football stadium. He was one unhappy camper.

 

[Mags]

Watching sam Dekker interview and his eyes rolled when he mentioned playing basketball in a football stadium. He was one unhappy camper.

Don't blame him. I was in Indy in 2000 when the Badgers were in the Final Four. Back then, they put the basketball floor closer to one side of the stadium - kinda tucked it in a corner. That way, the court was much closer to the permanent stands - and then the other side of the court they had temporary stands. They didn't hold as many people, but it felt like a baskeball game/arena - as much as a big football stadium can.

This year (and probably the last few) they have put the court in the middle of the stadium. Which makes the permanent seats (the football ones) very far away from the action. It will feel much bigger - and my hunch is, it will impact WI much more than KY.

But I sure hope I am wrong. Go Badgers!

 

[#cruncher]

Sounds like it might affect the total/under also?

 

[shawn555]

http://kenpom.com/blog/index.php/weblog/entry/the_nrg_effect

 

[Mags]

Sounds like it might affect the total/under also?

It might - unless the books have that figured in already. Might be worth looking at the scores/shooting percentages the last time the Final Four was in Indy....

 

[yyz]

Wisconsin can score from anywhere, and Bo Ryan will coach them to whatever level he needs to.

 

[Handi Capper]

Wisconsin can score from anywhere, and Bo Ryan will coach them to whatever level he needs to.

:facepalm:

 

[yyz]

:facepalm:

My point being, Wisconsin isn't a "one trick pony" like Kentucky. They certainly don't 'rely' on the 3 point basket, either. Kentucky will need to respect the fact that Bucky can score from outside with regularity, and that will open up the inside.

I am just worried about the Wisconsin starters getting into foul trouble when the Wildcat players drive the lane. You just can't give them two free points every time down the court, so it might be an issue with fouls. If it ISN'T........Kentucky will be in for a long , last night!


:00hour

 

[Handi Capper]

Wisconsin isn't a "one trick pony" like Kentucky

:shrug:

 

[Four Corners]

:shrug:

You beat me to it HC!!:facepalm: I would rephrase "not an eight trick pony!!"