College basketball is just days away, and its return has made the sport a trending topic in recent weeks. From my former teammates and coaches to die-hard fans and casual watchers, the general consensus is that everyone is ready for the full re-integration of fans being back in seats to give home courts more a natural feel. As predictable as that may have been, I can’t invalidate their words. After all, I played at Creighton University where we averaged somewhere between 17,000 and 18,00 fans per night, so I know a thing or two about how fun and helpful a raucous arena can be.
But a colleague of mine recently asked me what it’s like going on the road and playing in front of these crowds. My initial thoughts were, “it’s fun.” However, I really digested the question and after a few minutes, it really got me thinking, “What are the disadvantages of playing college basketball in unfamiliar territory?
Before you place your bets on college games this season, I took a trip down memory lane, reminisced on my experiences, and came up with a few things that I always kept in mind when gearing up for road games.
