BYU’s Home Court Advantage At Marriott Center Among Best In Country
Feb 27, 2020, 11:26 PM | Updated: 11:27 pm
Photo Courtesy of BYU Photo/Jaren Wilkey
PROVO, Utah – The historic Marriott Center has always been a difficult venue for any team facing BYU in Provo. Now on the heels of the win over Gonzaga last week, BYU’s 19,000 seat venue is among the best home-court advantages in the country.
NCAA.com College Basketball insider Andy Katz ranked the top 10 home-court advantages in college hoops this season and BYU’s games at the Marriott Center checked in at number nine on Katz’ list.
#KatzRankz – Toughest Home Courts this Season, as heard on the #MM365 pod w/@TheAndyKatz! 💪
1. Gonzaga
2. Kansas
3. Kentucky
4. Maryland
5. Auburn
6. Dayton
7. Oregon
8. Baylor
9. BYU
10. Rutgers
🎧 https://t.co/5Z8ZiozePO pic.twitter.com/2zteG87Ncl— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) February 27, 2020
“At number nine, I’m going with BYU,” said Katz on his NCAA March Madness Podcast. “The Cougars have one loss at home this season that was early in the season against San Diego State, and if you watched what BYU did to Gonzaga at home on Senior Night in Provo, wow! What an atmosphere at the Marriott Center.
“If they can get that on a regular basis next season, when they’re back at the Marriott Center, forget it. I mean this is a senior-laden team, but still, I’ve been to that arena when it’s packed like that, it is a phenomenal home court. Marriott Center and BYU this season checking in at number nine.”
BYU dominates at the Marriott Center
Over the last 21 seasons, BYU has nearly an 87 percent winning percentage (260-39) in games played at the Marriott Center. With last Saturday’s win over Gonzaga as one of the greatest wins in BYU basketball history.
The Cougars capped off the 2019-20 home schedule with a 14-1 record at the cozy confines of the Marriott Center.
Speaking on Gonzaga, the Bulldogs home-court advantage at the McCarthey Athletic Center a.k.a. “The Kennel” took the number one spot on Katz’s rankings best home venues this season. Last month, BYU lost by 23 points to the Zags in Spokane.
With BYU’s home court atmosphere one of the biggest strengths the Cougars have at home is their student section, The ROC (Roar of the Cougars). For last Saturday’s game against Gonzaga, students camped out for over 48 hours to see their team take on one of the nation’s best and help set the scene for a historic win.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
