BYU streaks into game vs. Rebels

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003 | 10:03 a.m.

The five longest current Division I home court winning streaks:

1. BYU 43

2. Oklahoma 31

3. (tie) Alabama and Western Kentucky 27

5. Marquette 24

BYU's 22,700-seat Marriott Center gets its name from former Utah businessman J. Willard Marriott, who helped build one of the world's most successful and respected hotel franchises.

But this Marriott definitely gets failing grades when it comes to hospitality, especially for visiting college basketball teams.

BYU (11-4) takes the nation's longest home court winning streak into Thursday night's Mountain West Conference opener against the UNLV Rebels (11-2). The Cougars have won 43 straight games at the Marriott Center, 12 more than runner-up Oklahoma's current 31-game streak.

BYU hasn't lost at home since New Mexico eked out a 78-74 victory on Feb. 17, 2000. Two nights later, BYU held on to defeat UNLV, 83-82, when Trevor Diggs missed a 15-footer at the buzzer. The Cougars haven't lost in Provo since.

The Cougars went 16-0 at home last season and 15-0 the year before that. And entering Thursday night's contest against the Rebels, BYU is 7-0 at the Marriott Center.

"It's something that's become a positive as we've built this program," BYU coach Steve Cleveland said.

But Cleveland says his team doesn't dwell on the mark.

"To be honest, we don't talk about it at all," he said. "I think the streak is probably indicative of a good home crowd, some good teams and a little luck."

"We really don't talk about it much," junior forward Mark Bigelow agreed. "But I think after winning 43 in a row, you do get some confidence from it."

So just why is the Marriott Center such a house of horrors for visiting teams?

"We usually draw a pretty good crowd," Bigelow said. "And I think the altitude here (4,500 feet) has to be tough on teams that aren't used to it."

And then there is the Marriott Center floor, which has a soft spring to it.

"It's different than any other one I've ever played on," Bigelow admitted. "It does have a give to it. It's nicer on your legs and back, though."

"It's just a great basketball environment," UNLV point guard Marcus Banks said. "Their fans like to get crazy and they're really, really loud. Last year I remember we had to use hand signs and signals out there because we couldn't hear Coach (Charlie Spoonhour) and the players couldn't hear me on the court. It's going to be crazy up there."

UNLV players know all about The Streak, but say the number they're most concerned about this week is 1-0 in Mountain West Conference play as opposed to ending the Cougars' run at 43.

"We're just trying to go there and get a win," senior swingman Jermaine Lewis said. "I don't think we care that much about their home winning streak. We just want to get off to a 1-0 start in conference."

"It's like another road game for us," Banks said. "They're the ones who have everything to lose. That's probably like a trophy or something for them up there. Now they have to try and hold it down. But I'm confident that we can go up there and get a victory."

The Cougars still have a long way to go to break the NCAA record for consecutive home court victories. That mark is 129 straight set by Kentucky from 1943-1955.

"I'm kind of looking past that," Banks said. "I'm looking toward the Mountain West championship. That's all I'm looking for. All this other stuff is nice, but I'm looking past it."

Banks ranks fourth in the nation in steals with an average of 3.6 per game.