Who Can Win on the Road?

(St. Louis, MO) – The Missouri Valley Conference team that learns how to win road games, will likely be hoisting the league’s conference title trophy at the end of the season. Valley teams won over 88% of their home games during the non-conference schedule and have won over 74% of their league contests played at home.

As we approach the half-way point in the league schedule, home teams are 26-9 and stealing wins on the road seems increasingly difficult. Four Valley teams are yet to win a road league contest, while three teams haven’t dropped a conference home decision.

Why is it so hard to win on the road? Why do teams play better at home? There are simple factors that favor the home teams. Familiarity with shooting site lines, the emotional boost that comes from the home fans, they have the chance to be more well rested because they’re not traveling, etc.

When you speak to Valley coaches, their answers differ from one another.

Loyola’s Porter Moser says, he never even talks about playing on the road or at home. While he pursues and appreciates the support of the home fans, and this weekend he is paying for some fans to make the Ramblers’ trip to Valparaiso, his philosophy seems to be working. LU is 4-3 on the road this season and 2-1 in Valley road endeavors.

 

 

Moser’s Ramblers will be tested Sunday at Valparaiso. The Crusaders (11-9, 2-5) are 7-1 at home.

Bradley’s Brian Wardle says you have to be mentally tough to win on the road. The third year head coach says adversity will come your way and every team will go through dry spells during a road game where it just becomes more difficult to make a basket.

 

 

Bradley (13-7, 3-4) are a perfect 3-0 in home conference games. They host Evansville (12-8, 2-5) who is just 1-5 on the road and are one of those winless traveling Valley squads.

The worst HOME record in the Valley is shared by Illinois State and Indiana State (6-3). Those teams meet today in Terre Haute. Evansville’s two home losses in league play were their first two defeats at Ford Center this season. Purple Aces coach Marty Simmons says Evansville’s home court is something they are proud of and the community truly supports UE basketball.

 

 

Teams with aspirations to win the league title have to dominate at home and ‘hold-their-own’ on the road. Illinois State’s Dan Muller told me these dominating home records will even out as the season wears on. He expects the conference champion to have two or three home losses.

As we head to Arch Madness 2018, solving the road dilemma will be a key factor to watch. During this week’s midweek games, only Indiana State won away from their home fans.

 

 

Saturday two of the three teams tied for the Valley’s top spot face off in Des Moines as Drake (11-9, 5-2), undefeated at home this entire season, hosts preseason favorite Missouri State (15-5, 5-2). MSU is 1-2 in Valley road contests and 3-3 overall away from JQH Arena.

Northern Iowa (10-9, 2-5) looks for its first road conference victory Sunday when they visit Southern Illinois. The Salukis (11-9, 3-4) are 8-2 at SIU Arena.

Solving the road puzzle will go a long way to determining this year’s MVC champion.

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