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Message: [QUOTE="MD#12Fan, post: 3763287, member: 8636"] I have a theory that playing with no fans levels out the competition. Hence perhaps an explanation for the early upsets. The really good teams get attention wherever they play, home or away. (when there are fans) I think that helps separate the "wheat from the chaff". Before I moved to Alaska, I would make an annual trek to Philly to see UConn-Temple. Temple women for a normal game would get "parents and boyfriends". (Sorry Owls) When UConn came in they would get great crowds. Helped UConn on all fronts. You could always tell that Temple was nervous. Now, all the games feel like pickup games with no crowds. In college pickup games, the best team didn't always hold the court. The tougher, scrappier teams did. This atmosphere or lack thereof may again favor UConn. UConn is trained to be consistent, methodical, almost robotic. Geno preaches for kids to try to win every drill. Not Iverson's philosophy. (on those Philly trips, after stopping off for a cheesesteak, I would get to the arena early to watch the Huskies warm up.) So, I think the no fans will not affect UConn as much as it might another top-10 team. ( Game of the Week: Louisville at Duke. Louisville into a dead, fan-less Cameron Indoor Stadium versus an upstart undefeated team with a sharp, new coach. Watch out!) [/QUOTE]