Home Sweet Home in the AE

The America East does something that many of the big name conferences don't do. The championship game is played on the highest remaining seeds home court. The ACC may fill the Greensboro Coliseum and the Big East may pack MSG for their title games, but the AE brings it all home.

That home court advantage will be, just like every year, vital for teams that want to win the AE Championship. In 2010-11, BU went 12-2 at home, despite going 4-10 on the road. Stony Brook, the conference runner-up, went only 7-7 at home. Big difference! BU got the home game and the championship. Even before last season, history is on the side for the home team in the conference championship. Only twice since 2000 has a road team won the conference championship ('07 UAlbany, '03 Vermont). Home teams win championships, it's just that simple.

What is the point? Find out after the jump

Now let's come back to the 2011-12 season. Out of the current Top 4 teams in the AE (Stony Brook, BU, Vermont and UA), those teams combine for a 29-7 home record. On the road, 19-28...YIKES! Two of those teams (Stony Brook and UA) are undefeated at home. That alone should tell you how vital this weekends match-up at SEFCU Arena is for both Stony Brook and UA. Since we want to give every team in the conference a chance, when we look at all AE teams, they combine for a home record of 43-39, but only 29-73 on the road. Take out win-less Binghamton, you have a home record of 43-28 at home between the eight other programs. Again, it seems pretty clear that if you get the home court, there is a good chance you get the title.

Now I know you are saying, "JoMo...of course home court matters. You think we are stupid?" Here is the key stats to think about...AE teams are 3-4 on neutral courts this season. Four schools (Maine, UMBC, UNH and Binghamton) have not played on a neutral court this season. Vermont and UAlbany have played two games each, with UA going 2-0 and Vermont 1-1. BU and Stony Brook both lost their neutral court games. Stony Brook is 3-7 away from Long Island. UAlbany is 6-9 away from SEFCU. Vermont is 7-6 out of Burlington and BU 6-9 out of Beantown. Hartford sits at 2-3 at home against AE opponents at home while Maine is 2-2 on the road.

So, the point of this entire article? Very simple...Home court is vital, but it is one hell of a ride to get the chance to use it. The true madness of the season has not started...BUCKLE UP! Yea, it's that simple.