BYU HAS ITS HOME AURA ESTABLISHED

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Mar 1, 2008 | by JAKE SCHALLER

Raucous fans gave Air Force guard/forward Andrew Henke a lift. And playing on a familiar floor where he has launched thousands of practice jumpers certainly helped.

But the biggest advantage Henke felt at Clune Arena last season while the Falcons were in the midst of a 30-game home winning streak was a less-tangible aura created by the victories.

"To me it was more of a feeling while the game was happening," Henke said. "Like the New Mexico game, we were down at halftime by 15, and while we were playing I never really thought that we were going to lose.... When you win so many in a row, it helps you have that attitude."

Tonight at 7, the Falcons will face BYU in Provo, Utah, at the Marriott Center, a place where the Cougars certainly have an attitude similar to what Henke described.

BYU has won 45 games in a row at the Marriott Center, the longest home winning streak in the nation. BYU has not lost at home since Nov. 18, 2005, when it dropped its season opener -- and Dave Rose's first game as coach -- to Loyola Marymount, 83-71.

"I'd definitely say there's that sort of feeling," at the Marriott Center, BYU junior forward Lee Cummard said. "I think our marketing people last year had a poster that said something about 'Marriott Center Magic.' I don't know what it is, but I would say there's an intangible where there's magic in this place."

When Air Force and BYU had dueling home-court winning streaks last season, many coaches credited superior talent more than the supernatural. "The bottom line comes down to the players," former Wyoming coach Steve McClain said.

BYU certainly has those. The defending Mountain West Conference champion Cougars are back in first place with Cummard, standout 6- foot-11 junior Trent Plaisted and sophomore Jonathan Tavernari, last year's conference Freshman of the Year, forming an elite trio.

But the Marriott Center -- where the Cougars won 44 straight games from 2000 to 2003 -- has something to do with it too. With a capacity of 22,700, it ranks as the thirdlargest on-campus arena in the country, behind only Syracuse's Carrier Dome (33,000) and Tennessee's Thompson-Boling Arena (24,525).

In addition, the fans are fiercely loyal. Last year, BYU's student section was almost completely filled an hour before the Cougars' game with Air Force. And nearly all the fans wore white.

"They were crazy," Air Force center Keith Maren said.

"So loud."

It all adds up to increased confidence. BYU is shooting 6.5 percent better and averaging 15.2 more points at home than on the road this season.

"You feel like every shot's going to go in," BYU senior guard Sam Burgess said. "And no matter what the score is, you feel like you can come back."

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