This was one of those few times.

I finally started to believe when I walked in 45 minutes early, and there were signs posted at the doors to advise that the student section was too full for more occupants. And there was no doubt they were packing about two to a seat in that section like the late MWC days, plus an overflow of seats behind the cameras that are not even supposed to be sold. It’s just really hard to play against that kind of energy from 7,000 engaged college students pumping up the crowd and literally creating havoc in the building. It was an incredible sight.

Add into that the fact that nearly every one of the other 12,000 seats was filled to the rafters, with the noise such a crowd can generate and how tight it’s all packed together... I don’t know how that wouldn’t affect opposing players and even staff. Psychologically, it’s very difficult to overcome that sheer amount of negative energy directed at your team. You don’t get that type of energy, of a 19,000-person stadium led by 7,000 students, just about anywhere else in the country. It’s not something you can simulate or predict beforehand. Our team has to play well to bring out the energy but, when they do, it can really mess with most psyches to play against it.

The Marriott Center has the potential to have one of the best home court advantages in the country. Tonight, it was a huge factor in one of the biggest wins in the building’s history. The fans brought it tonight. And, for one night, they deserve all the credit in the world.