Very Early Look at Home Court Advantage

[DC_Area_Panther]

Without fans. Historically the Home Court Advantage as computed in the Sagarin hoops ratings has been slightly more than 3 points vs playing at a neutral site. After day #1 of this season it was only at 0.35.

It will be interesting to see if it remains that low. If so, it would show that most of the advantage is due to the home crowd and little attributable to court familiarity and not needing to travel and sleep in a hotel.

 

[BFo8]

Without fans. Historically the Home Court Advantage as computed in the Sagarin hoops ratings has been slightly more than 3 points vs playing at a neutral site. After day #1 of this season it was only at 0.35.

It will be interesting to see if it remains that low. If so, it would show that most of the advantage is due to the home crowd and little attributable to court familiarity and not needing to travel and sleep in a hotel.

I know you‘re speaking in a general sense, but for people looking at things from a wagering perspective you should always be aware that not all home court advantages are created the same. You have to do your research obviously, as some teams historically show almost little to no advantage when at home, while others play. far more than 3 points better than while on a neutral court.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Without fans. Historically the Home Court Advantage as computed in the Sagarin hoops ratings has been slightly more than 3 points vs playing at a neutral site. After day #1 of this season it was only at 0.35.

It will be interesting to see if it remains that low. If so, it would show that most of the advantage is due to the home crowd and little attributable to court familiarity and not needing to travel and sleep in a hotel.

Without fans, I don't think you're going to see much of a homecourt advantage anywhere this season. The advantage is due to mostly to the psychological bias refs have toward home teams (studies show) because they are intimated by the crowd. The other reason is that extra jolt, extra boost that home team players get from the fans. Energy has been a constant problem for our team. Without fans, I worry Pitt will be able to create enough of their own energy. They didn't on Wednesday.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

I know you‘re speaking in a general sense, but for people looking at things from a wagering perspective you should always be aware that not all home court advantages are created the same. You have to do your research obviously, as some teams historically show almost little to no advantage when at home, while others play. far more than 3 points better than while on a neutral court.

Yes. I was/am looking at it generically. Sagarin appears to do the same--he gives every team the same number.

The HCA number his computer had at the end of last season was 3.24 as compared to 0.35 for after the first day's games of this season. It will be interesting to see where Sagarin's number goes once teams have all played a significant number of games. It will give us some feel as to just how important The Oakland Zoo is to Pitt basketball.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

I know you‘re speaking in a general sense, but for people looking at things from a wagering perspective you should always be aware that not all home court advantages are created the same. You have to do your research obviously, as some teams historically show almost little to no advantage when at home, while others play. far more than 3 points better than while on a neutral court.

Knowing specific team HCAs would be very important if you are a person who bets on college basketball. That's not me. I don't gamble on anything. I just find basketball stats moderately interesting--except for the "advanced stats" which I find too complex and time consuming to play with personally.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

After day two the Sagarin HCA jumped to 3.00. Interesting and surprising change.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

After day two the Sagarin HCA jumped to 3.00. Interesting and surprising change.

Small sample size.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Small sample size.

True. But still a surprising change from game day #1 yielding only 0.35. Have to see what happens over time.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

But still a surprising change from game day #1 yielding only 0.35.

Not if you understand what "small sample size" means.