After UCLA’s 0-3 start in Big Ten road games outside the Pacific Time Zone, coach Mick Cronin expressed concerns about the logistical challenges faced by West Coast teams in the expanded conference. He noted the significant travel differences compared to traditional Big Ten schools, emphasizing that while teams from the East visit Los Angeles, West Coast teams have to navigate lengthy trips to play in colder time zones.
Despite UCLA’s recent success in games played on the West Coast, their overall record in the East is concerning, highlighting the difficulties associated with time zone travel amid league realignment. The trend of teams from different time zones confronting scheduling challenges has intensified since the addition of teams from the West Coast to the Big Ten and other conferences.
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is particularly affected, with its teams struggling in road games against West Coast teams, showing a poor record in multiple time zone games. Coaches, including Wake Forest’s Steve Forbes, cite complications from travel logistics that impact their teams’ performances. Madsen from Cal proposes that teams should adapt their travel strategies, modeling them after NBA teams by consolidating games in a single trip rather than spreading them out.
Overall, the reorganization of conferences has led to new and challenging travel dynamics that require teams to learn new ways to manage long-distance journeys while maintaining player performance and academic responsibilities. The discussion around coping strategies for extended travel continues to evolve as teams navigate this new reality in college basketball.
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