How Will Denver Altitude Affect the Final Four?

[ChicagoGG]

They don't call it the "Mile-High" City for nothing.... Could any of our expert prognosticators take a stab at how much the altitude will affect the games? I am guessing that your better conditioned teams will be less affected...but I would hope that the coaches would get the teams there sooner rather than later to acclimate a tad. Or there might be more than one last gasp going on...

Your thoughts??

 

[Sonny44]

You can't practise altitude.
My experience in the mountains (hunting, fishing and hiking) 10,000 - 12,000 ft. is that some people are affected and some aren't and there didn't seem to be much correlation with previous conditioning. But I gree it can't hurt to get there a couple days early.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Good question. Conditioning and pace of the games could be factors. Also, are shots slightly long there?

 

[Wonkster]

Good question. Conditioning and pace of the games could be factors. Also, are shots slightly long there?

Good question on your part, too.

There's a tradeoff between longer distance because of weaker gravity (yes!) + thinner air's lowered wind resistance versus weaker muscles due to less oxygen. I'll bet some Gyro Gearloose at the University of Denver has calculated all this stuff, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna look it up.

Notre Dame could arrive in Denver with some Big East Tournament baggage. You could say they might have a bad altitude.
.

 

[Phil]

The gravity delta rounds to zero. The reduced wind resistance is meaningful for footballs and baseballs, but I'll bet dinner it is negligible for basketballs (barring a DT 3/4 court attempt.) The O2 is meaningful.

 

[jsloanjr]

Uptemp teams will do just fine and if you get there 2 or 3 days before your games and practice hard, you will be just fine.....

 

[Wonkster]

The gravity delta rounds to zero...

Phil, have you forgotten the extaordinary broad jumping records set in 1968 at Mexico City? My understanding is that it was attributable to lower gravity.
.

 

[cohenzone]

Clearly Griner will be the most affected, being at a higher altitude than everyone else. And I'd say without the gravitational limits, Tiff will dunk on one of her drives to the hoop. But seriously, the teams that will be the least affected by the altitude will be the teams that don't make the FF.

 

[Phil]

Phil, have you forgotten the extaordinary broad jumping records set in 1968 at Mexico City? My understanding is that it was attributable to lower gravity.
.

I do remember Beamon's jump. I remember a trailing wind and lower air resistance contributed, not gravity.

 

[zakalex]

We vacationed in Denver/Boulder when my younger son was around 12. He had debilitating altitude sickness the entire time (vomiting, nausea). He's now 34 and still feels ill when he skiis at high altitudes. You never know you're susceptible until the first time it happens.

 

[Phil]

Altitude and wind effects on long jump performance with particular reference to the world record established by Bob Beamon.

 

[Phil]

The formulas, but I'm too lazy to do the math

 

[Phil]

Gravity comparison.

As hard as this is to believe, Storrs isn't on the list, but if we compare New York to Mexico City, we see 9.802 versus 9.779, a difference of a fraction of 1%. For a typical person, this is worth about half a pound. More than I would have guessed, but not much.

 

[Wonkster]

You can't practise altitude...

Actually, you can if you're an astronaut working for NASA.
.

 

[Vowelguy]

Denver is 5,000 feet above sea level. Mexico City is nearly 7,500.

You hear about its effect on the Colorado Rockies baseball team the time (more homers). I've never heard anyone comment on stats being different for the Denver Nuggets.

 

[alexrgct]

Tough to predict. May be a factor, maybe not. The top seeds are all very well conditioned, so they SHOULD be ok unless a specific kid has the type of negative response zakalex describes above.

 

[alexrgct]

Denver is 5,000 feet above sea level. Mexico City is nearly 7,500.

You hear about its effect on the Colorado Rockies baseball team the time (more homers). I've never heard anyone comment on stats being different for the Denver Nuggets.

one member of the Steelers defense had to stay home for the playoff game due to serious health issues the previous time he'd been in Denver.

From the fan's perspective, you get drunk easier!

 

[pap49cba]

Well, 3 of our players - Step, Bria and KML - all practiced in Colorado Springs with USA Basketball. Colorado Springs is higher altitude than Denver so I would think the players will be fine once acclimated. Speaking from experience, however, sleeping can be problematic.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Clearly Griner will be the most affected, being at a higher altitude than everyone else. And I'd say without the gravitational limits, Tiff will dunk on one of her drives to the hoop. But seriously, the teams that will be the least affected by the altitude will be the teams that don't make the FF.

2 0r 3 days in town will definitely reduce risk of altitude sicknes head aches etc on game day. Hydration needs are greater too, but I'm sure the coaching staffs of these programs will be up on all that stuff.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think that golf shots in Denver travel about 7% farther. For basketball shots, it can't be that high or every shot would be long--by a lot.

 

[blackbird]

Shooting is likely to be terrible. Which is good and bad for us. (Helps our defense but we're a jump shooting team.)

 

[Vowelguy]

Denver is 5,000 feet above sea level. Mexico City is nearly 7,500.

You hear about its effect on the Colorado Rockies baseball team all the time (more homers). I've never heard anyone comment on stats being different for the Denver Nuggets.

 

[easttexastrash]

We vacationed in Denver/Boulder when my younger son was around 12. He had debilitating altitude sickness the entire time (vomiting, nausea). He's now 34 and still feels ill when he skiis at high altitudes. You never know you're susceptible until the first time it happens.

The same happened to my brother-in-law. He was sick the entire time he was here visiting. You never know until you are exposed to it.

I can tell you that I watched the Williams sisters in an exhibition match here and they both commented on how the altitude affected their shots and their breathing.

 

[easttexastrash]

I think that golf shots in Denver travel about 7% farther. For basketball shots, it can't be that high or every shot would be long--by a lot.

I saw Courtney Paris play against Stanford here in Denver. If she can survive an entire game here anyone can.

 

[Aluminny69]

All teams will be playing at the same altitude.