KSR Explains: Why is it Hard to Win College Basketball Road Games? Referees!

It’s never a bad idea to bet on the home team, particularly in college basketball. No sport wields a greater home-court advantage. But why is it so hard to win on the road?

That’s the kind of simple question that sends Steven Peake into a Deep Dive. In his latest KSR Explains series, KSR‘s inquisitive videographer explores a common college basketball narrative by relying on the data, rather than exclusively anecdotal evidence.

First and foremost, in this feature, you will learn that home-court advantage is a decisive advantage in college basketball. After setting the table, Peake explores three potential reasons why: Fatigue, Familiarity, and Influence.

“Research suggests that shooting percentages drop on the road, but it’s not because of the crowd,” says Peake. “Free throw shooting barely changes. So if it’s not that, what do fans influence?”

The answer: Referees. Learn the phrase “intrinsic recognition” and how it impacts an official’s decision-making in rowdy road environments by taking a closer look at the latest in the KSR Explains series.

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