Sports Illustrated once called it ‘the best place in America to watch a college basketball game.’ Most people would probably guess Sports Illustrated was referring to Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke, Allen Fieldhouse at Kansas or maybe even the Carrier Dome at Syracuse.

But actually, the magazine’s praise went to Texas Hall, a 40-year-old facility at the University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, Texas, that is hardly ideal for basketball.

The plush cushion chairs that prompted Sports Illustrated’s attention are part of the reason the building is also one of the strangest venues for basketball. The facility has comfortable seats because it doubles as the school’s main auditorium and looks, and sometimes acts, just like a theater. In addition to the fancy chairs, it is fully equipped with a stage, a curtain, a lighting system and an orchestra pit.

The largest building in the city, with a capacity of 4,200, Texas Hall is home to many university and community events: men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, lecturers, speakers, concerts, shows, dance recitals, body-building competitions and even ballet.

When the building is needed for sports, a regulation-sized basketball court with volleyball lines is laid down on top of the stage and rows of bleachers are revealed behind what was the stage.

‘I had always heard about them playing on top of a stage,’ UTA Sports Information Director Bill Petitt said, ‘and I had to brace myself to see what it would be like. When you come around the corner you’re like, ‘Wow.’ You would not even know on some days it’s a court.’

The unique arrangement has been a detriment to a long-suffering basketball program.

‘I have to bring recruits into my office and show them a tape of a game first,’ coach Eddie McCarter said. ‘Next, I try to explain to them this situation, and then lastly we go over to the arena. We’ve lost many guys just because it doesn’t have the look or feel of basketball.’

As hard as it is to convince players to come to UTA, problems continue with arranging practice time and games around all the other activities.

‘We only get two weeks to schedule non-conference games,’ McCarter said. ‘That’s pretty ridiculous. The visiting team is almost as familiar with the place as we are.’

Currently, UTA is amid a two-and-a-half week stretch that finds it practicing at a small physical education facility because the Metropolitan Classical Ballet is performing the Nutcracker at Texas Hall.

‘The hardest thing is obviously coordinating with all the users and trying to fit time in for everybody,’ Texas Hall Director Kathryn Beeler said. ‘The athletic department would like to have it exclusively and they are always asking for more time. But it is not realistic.’

Contrary to his coach, junior guard Jarrett Howell thinks a home-court advantage exists.

‘I think it messes up opponents a little bit,’ Howell said, ‘because on the auditorium side, players are always looking back when they shoot since they are afraid of falling off the court.’

Indeed, while the bleachers are right behind the team benches and press row, the theater chairs on the other side are separated from the court by the orchestra pit. Petitt said many players have fallen over into the pit in the past.

The numbers suggest home-court advantage is a reality of late. Last year, UTA went 11-2 at home en route to its first conference championship, tying three other teams at the top of the Southland Conference. Winning the tiebreaker, UTA hosted the conference tournament but lost in the semifinals and missed a chance for the school’s first bid to the NCAA Tournament.

This year, UTA is 3-0 at home and 4-2 overall.

Petitt said that the university is in preliminary talks for a proposed, new sports-only facility, which, to Sports Illustrated’s chagrin, will probably lack theater-style seats. Until then, McCarter’s main focus remains on convincing players to perform their talents with a ball on stage.

‘Whereas some schools may recruit 50 guys, we recruit 150, because we know we’ll lose some,’ McCarter said. ‘The biggest selling point is the opportunity to be part of the first group in UTA history to go where the program has never been before.’

Howell doesn’t think the appearance of Texas Hall will play any factor in whether that happens.

‘I don’t notice it anymore,’ he said. ‘I mean, (the court) still has the same dimensions, right?’

NO. 14 LOUISVILLE (-5) AT FLORIDA

SATURDAY, NOON, ESPN

Both teams are trying to avoid succumbing to the hype for the second straight year. Last season, their strong starts faded into disappointing conference play as both ended up losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This year, they each have suspect defeats at home to a lesser opponent – Louisville to Iowa and Florida to Miami. While the Gators appear to be overrated again, Francisco Garcia – a sleeper pick for national player of the year – will get the Cardinals back on track.

PICK: LOUISVILLE 82, FLORIDA 74

INDIANA (+11) AT NO. 11 KENTUCKY

SATURDAY, 1:30 P.M., CBS

The Hoosiers go into their second hostile environment in a week. Last Saturday, Indiana led at UConn in the second half before watching the Huskies blow past the Hoosiers with a late 17-1 run to win by five. Kentucky and starting freshman center Randolph Morris (2-for-9 shooting, seven points) will be better in the comforts of home after last Saturday’s loss at North Carolina. These experiences will certainly help the Hoosiers down the road, though.

PICK: KENTUCKY 75, INDIANA 61

NO. 22 WISCONSIN (-3) AT MARQUETTE

SATURDAY, 8:30 P.M., NO TV

The Badgers, who struggled at times to score last year with conference player of the year Devin Harris, are searching for a new leader from a starting lineup that includes two players who did not play basketball a year ago (transfer and injury). Although the Golden Eagles have not played a tough opponent, they are 8-0 and Travis Diener is getting even better – more than 20 points a game and shooting at about 50 percent from 3-point range. Marquette nets the bragging rights to the Cheese State for now.

PICK: MARQUETTE 67, WISCONSIN 62

OREGON (+20) AT NO. 1 ILLINOIS

SATURDAY, 2 P.M., ESPN

The undefeated Illini vaulted from No. 5 to No. 1 after their convincing defeat of then-No. 1 Wake Forest last Wednesday. Four of its five returning starters are averaging double digits in scoring. The guard combination of Dee Brown and Luther Head form one of the best backcourt duos in the country. The Ducks, who are the only undefeated team left in the Pacific-10, will find Assembly Hall is one of the hardest places to play in the country.

PICK: ILLINOIS 86, OREGON 60

BINGHAMTON (+25) AT NO. 4 SYRACUSE

SATURDAY, 7 P.M., ESPN REGIONAL

The Orange begins a five-game homestand against lowly opponents in which staying focused could be the most challenging aspect. The sophomores that Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said would be essential to the team’s success will get plenty of vital playing time over the next three weeks. SU will roll.

PICK: SYRACUSE 81, BINGHAMTON 53

Published on December 7, 2004 at 12:00 pm