Home And Happy

There’s no question it’s advantageous to play at home. Otherwise why would a Hall of Famer like Jim Boeheim go to such lengths to make sure his teams fatten up on as much home cooking as possible?

Without question there also are budgetary and scholastic reasons for a team to play on its home floor, but competitive edge is not to be discounted, not when the NCAA pot of gold is at the end of that rainbow.

Of course Boeheim also fattens up on home cooking by playing in-state against out-of-state opponents, usually at Madison Square Garden. FSU’s Leonard Hamilton and Miami’s Jim Larranaga likewise contrive to stay within Florida, the latter even though the Hurricanes sold out at home in each of the past three seasons.

Note that the two Hall of Fame coaches not located in upstate New York are among those most willing to venture away from home, even if the one in Durham chronically avoids playing on hostile nonconference courts. Tony Bennett is similarly included to leave UVa.

For some reason, despite three losing seasons in four, Wake’s Danny Manning continues to travel more than most coaches. And to struggle doing so.