by Danny Lawhon, Rapid City Journal staff
RAPID CITY --- It's no secret that a basketball team's home court can provide a substantial advantage. On the NCAA Division I level, there are reasons that places such as Kansas' Allen Fieldhouse, Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium and "The Pit" in New Mexico have carried a fearful reputation.
Wild crowds, special atmospheres and an aura of history are just a few.
No one is saying that the South Dakota School of Mines' Goodell Gymnasium belongs in that same category. But lately, it hasn't been easy for visiting teams to come away with a win.
Going back to the start of last season, Mines has won 23 of its past 27 home games. This year alone, they took down defending national champion Rocky Mountain, Mont., College in their first game. They have wins against Dakota Wesleyan, No. 11 in NAIA Division II, and NCAA Division II's Chadron State College.
Their four losses in those two years are nothing to sneeze at, either. They lost to Rocky Mountain's national title squad last year. Two of them have come to Black Hills State in rivalry environments, and this year's other loss is to the University of Sioux Falls, which is ranked No. 16 and has been in the top 10.
Several Mines players say a natural ease of being at their gym allows them to put added focus and energy into their game.
"For one, we're just all really comfortable playing here. We rarely have to think about it," senior guard Robbie Fedor said. "We can all stick to our own routine, and everything seems to come together when we're at home."
Hardrockers head coach Jason Henry's perspective on the home advantage is one of a coach who always sees room for improvement.
"On the road, every little mistake you make gets exposed," he said. "Plus, on the road it's hard to match the energy and comfort you have at home. But at home you also get more chances to overcome those mental mistakes."
Other factors of playing in the Dakota Athletic Conference also can contribute to a nod in the home team's favor. With the exception of the Yellow Jackets, many DAC teams travel substantial distances to reach Rapid City, and the prospect of playing road games in consecutive days can have a cumulative effect.
Senior forward Kyle Turpin said that every little bit of familiarity helps, from being intimately aware of the setup of the gym to knowing the reaction of the court's rims.
"Even the simple fact of sleeping in your own bed at night is important. You're not at a hotel, you're not traveling, and you don't have to eat out if you don't want to," he said.
In addition, it's hard to top momentum. Just as other players can feed off the good vibes of a hot shooter, so too can teams build added confidence as a good stretch piles up.
"It starts to become a mental thing," Henry said. "You know that you've been taking care of business and you just start to think that you're going to get the job done."
