By: William Smythe

The usual suspects are out-of-play here. Well, somewhat. The Dukies have defended Cameron – yet less convincingly – and several other players have emerged from the fog in a season dominated by home-court advantage. Maybe someday we’ll analyze the worst basketball environments in ‘23 – has to be the KFC! Yum Center, right? 

Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI

Home/Away/Neutral Splits for Providence: 10-0 (H), 4-1 (A), 0-2 (N)

Best Home Win: No. 4 UConn, 73-61

Not even a name change to the Amica Mutual Pavilion could destroy the legacy of the ‘Dunk. A whopping 10-0 record at home has propelled the Friars to a tie for the Big East lead – with Xavier, another team strongly considered for their home court advantage. Ed Cooley’s group lost two of their three on neutral sites – to a now-ranked Miami and a mid-major sleeper in Saint Louis – but have plugged away in Big East road play to complement their defense of the ‘Dunk.

The question remains: with away matchups looming against Creighton and no. 25 Marquette, will the Friars begin to solidify their case as a top-ten team nationally? We all know the power that the ‘Dunk holds – with key wins over then-no. 4 Uconn and Marquette – but the Friars haven’t exactly played their toughest opponents away from Providence.

Home Court Rating: 9.5/10

Neville Arena, Auburn, AL

Home/Away/Neutral Splits for Auburn: 9-0 (H), 2-2 (A), 2-1 (N)

Best Home Win: No. 13 Arkansas, 72-59

The “Jungle” has kept the Tigers in contention for an SEC crown – with a total record of 4-3 at away and neutral sites, it’s obvious that Auburn, Alabama holds a special place in their hearts. The student section – up there with the Crazies at Duke and the Kennel at Gonzaga – have made the poor buy-game opponents miserable at Neville Arena and helped the Tigers handle Arkansas in a massive 13-point win.

It’s unbelievably difficult to get a read on Bruce Pearl’s team because of their inconsistency on away courts. They dropped a game to a surprising but still-reeling Georgia team by 12 on the road, fell to an unranked USC and succumbed by nine points to Memphis on a neutral site.

Does that bode well for their chances against the likes of Tennessee, Alabama, LSU and West Virginia on the road? Absolutely not.

However, what we do know is this: Death, taxes and a win at Neville.

Home Court Rating: 9.4/10

Cintas Center, Cincinnati, OH

Home/Away/Neutral Splits for Xavier: 9-1 (H), 4-0 (A), 1-2 (N)

Best Home Win: No. 2 UConn, 83-73

If you’re tired of my Xavier talk, it’s not going to end anytime soon. The resurgence of Sean Miller has resulted in a share of the Big East regular-season lead with Providence, while the Musketeers have excelled both at home and on the road in conference play. Three-point shooting and arguably the most potent offense in the Midwest have propelled Xavier to new heights – while the Cintas Center has been the place where opponents’ dreams have come to die.

Albeit a two-point loss to Indiana at home earlier this year, Xavier has bested their last three Big East opponents – Seton Hall, then-no. 2 UConn, and a rising Creighton – in largely competitive games in Cincinnati.

They’re not quite at the level of the ‘Dunk or the “Jungle” because their wins aren’t as authoritative, yet they consistently produce. After all, a backcourt of Souley Boum and Colby Jones will always give you a chance to compete.

The Musketeers will have to up the ante in the Cintas Center to stave off the likes of Marquette and Providence down the road, but the rest of their home slate is highly manageable. A Big East title is fully in reach for Miller and company.

Home Court Rating: 9.0/10

Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA

Home/Away/Neutral Splits for UCLA: 10-0 (H), 4-0 (A), 1-2 (N)

Best Home Win: Utah, 68-49

While not the most “electric” arena in college basketball, the Bruins have arguably defended their turf better than anyone in the Pacific Time Zone – including Gonzaga and Arizona. This team has risen up the ranks quietly yet with deafening wins – including home contests against Oregon, Utah and USC – with the Bruins holding a +30 scoring differential over these three. 

The straw that stirs the drink for this UCLA unit – senior point guard Tyger Campbell – is averaging nearly five assists per game, while fellow senior and forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. hasn’t skipped a beat in his last campaign in Westwood (16.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg). There’s a scary amount of development happening under Mick Cronin right now, and Pauley Pavilion has played host to many a UCLA win thus far. 

If freshmen Adem Bona (8.4 ppg) and Amari Bailey (9.5 ppg) can continue to play meaningful minutes alongside the veterans, the Bruins have a strong case to make the Final Four for the second time in three years. 

Home Court Rating: 8.9/10

Honorable Mentions:

Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, AL

Home/Away/Neutral Splits for ‘Bama: 8-0 (H), 4-0 (A), 3-2 (N)

Best Home Win: Kentucky, 78-52

Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC

Home/Away/Neutral Splits for Duke: 9-0 (H), 1-2 (A), 3-2 (N)

Best Home Win: No. 25 Ohio State, 81-72

Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IN

Home/Away/Neutral Splits for Purdue: 8-1 (H), 4-0 (A), 4-0 (N)

Best Home Win: Marquette, 75-70