But under Eric Musselman, the program has been reinvigorated, and thats brought the Hogs out in a big way the last couple of seasons. It's consistently one of the most well-attended arenas in the Pac-12, and why not? I can think of several games Ive watched at this arena over the years that felt like my TV was vibrating. How historic is this building? McKale Memorial Center (Arizona) This is The Pit of the New Mexico Lobos. I lost partial hearing for days on multiple occasions after basketball games, and sometimes my voice would go, too. As a kid growing up in Columbus, Ohio, I was an Ohio State fan. Gay was fouled shooting a three with his team down two and one second remaining. This is a list of arenas that currently serve as the home venue for NCAA Division I college basketball teams. We have the VGK and Raiders (who themselves would hardly ever play at the same time as a UNLV hoops game), whoo hoo. As visiting teams will agree, it can be more intimidating than it looks especially when filled to capacity as the sound is contained well due to the building's configuration. As if playing a possible two-platoon Wildcat team isnt intimidating enough, the fans in Lexington bring the noise. This article was originally published on Fivestar News. Celebrities and athletes are often in attendance in the historic arena that now holds over 23,500 people, which makes it the largest arena in the country for indoor sports. The Musketeers boast one of the nicer and more multifunctional venues in the college game. Utah State may not be a headliner on the basketball court, but don't tell its student section that. The student section at men's basketball games, known as the Buckeye Nuthouse, is seated behind the team bench as well as behind the basket that the opponent shoots at during the second half, which allows them to be visible during television broadcasts. Though the Panthers have been down the past three years (but off to a 7-2 start in 2019-20), the students are still at their creative best, tastefully (of course) finding ways to mock the opponent. The "WatShot" against Kentucky. The Detroit Redwings throw octopi on the ice, so why dont Hoosier fans throw chairs onto the court? "The Phog" exudes basketball history upon entrance and remains a must-see for any college hoops fanatic. Kentucky has won 89.5% of its all-time games at Rupp and has only lost eight of the 132 games it has played there under John Calipari, to give you an idea of just how much of a home court advantage the Wildcats enjoy. Unfortunately, I have always been too short and Jewish to play at a high level, so I instead settled for watching and reporting from the sideline. Not many venues can claim they play in a dome, but thats what the Syracuse Orange do. "The Barn" opened in 1928, and thanks to several renovations and upgrades over the years, it stillupholds the strong tradition of Golden Gophers basketball. If Arizona doesnt get back to the upper echelon of the Pac-12 in the next handful of years, the atmosphere at the McKale Center might lose some luster and dip in these rankings. The placement of your student section is crucial to building a top atmosphere, and Michigan State has set itself up perfectly. By, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. There might not be a better experience for a sports fan than catching a college basketball game at a campus arena. When looking at the east coast venues, Dukes Cameron Indoor Stadium stands above as the loudest and most turbulent environment to play. McKale Memorial Center (Arizona Wildcats) February 1, 2023 will mark the milestone 50-year anniversary of the McKale Center's opening. Its no doubt in large part due to its dedicated and famous student section, dubbed the Cameron Crazies. The group is known for many things, including camping out in Krzyzewskiville, covering themselves in blue and white paint and taunting opposing players with signs, chants and their signature move where the entire student section reaches out an arm while an opposing player is inbounding the ball. A loud court makes it impossible to communicate. Fans in the famous student section, called the Cameron Crazies, are known for painting themselves blue and white and doing signature moves, like reaching out an arm while an opposing player is inbounding the ball. It was renamed in 1986 as the Louis Brown Athletic Center but the nickname stuck through . For big games especially, Rupp can get very, very loud. Its been a minute since the Panthers were nationally relevant, having last made the NCAA Tournament in 2016, and with every passing year that they remain near the bottom of the ACC, the worse the atmosphere will get. Thats Metallica-concert loud, or just a shade below. Cameron Indoor Stadium 3. The building continues to provide a strong home-court advantage for both Maryland's men's and women's programs. This is my article. Opened in 2000, Cintas Center is one of the newer arenas on this list, but it very quickly became one of the most daunting for opposing teams to enter. They put the "wild" in Wildcats. So loud," Mike Roberts, radio voice of the Lobos from 1966 to 2008, said in an ESPN story, "you can feel it in your bones.". Many sell-out arenas will average about the same noise level, but vitriol adds an extra slice to the tympanic membrane, and now they take that venom from the ACC to the Big 10. Opponents can attest to the fact that the arena seems smaller and more intimidating when all 19,300-plus seats are filled. Now thats what you call home court advantage. Full disclosure: I attended Maryland, including many mens basketball games, including many mens basketball games in the student section. Home of the Izzone, the well-known Michigan State student section (named afteryou guessed it, Tom Izzo), the Breslin Center is always a tough trip for opponents to make. If you haven't been . Opened in November 2004, the Kennel is the smallest arena on this list, but its atmosphere has made Gonzaga one of the most successful programs at home. Regardless of the team, the atmosphere has the potential to be electric, especially if the matchup is right. Any opposing team that steps into the arena in Ames, Iowa, has to deal with the looming threat of Hilton Magic, the belief that theres something extraperhaps even unexplainablethat joins with the fans to boost the Cyclones to victory at home. Back in 2012, Nebraskas Brandon Ubel made specific mention of Michigan States Breslin Student Events Center. When it opened in September 1980, it was famously nicknamed, "The Loud House.". Sports' Jeff Eisenberg, former Wake Forest star Ish Smith said: I know people will automatically say Cameron and we never won in Cameron, but Cameron was fun to play in. Dash and steal the ball from your opponent in head-to-head matches! The 12th-ranked Volunteers announced that Zeigler tore his left ACL in a win over Arkansas. The arenas serve as home venues for both the men's and women's teams except where noted. The Palestra 7. 15 Best College Basketball Arenas 2. We also have 10 times the population as we did during Tark's heyday. Shockers fans are riotous about their team and are constantly filling their roughly 10,000-seat gym to the rafters. Opened in November 2004, the "Kennel". The following is a list of German indoor arenas for handball games. Playing at home can make all the difference in college basketball. The famous "C-A-T-S, Cats, Cats, Cats" and "Go Big Blue" cheers are usually heard in the crowds. The Spartans have won 86.9% of their home games since the arena opened in 1989, as the fans in East Lansing have given a team that is annually among the sports elites a further advantage. That said, Kentucky fans are animalistic about their Cats. It is loud, so much so that it agitates the marrow buried deep within. The fearsome and historic Cameron Indoor, which opened way back in 1940, earns the top spot on our list. The arena broke the Guinness World Record for the loudest indoor roar on Feb. 13, 2017, against West Virginia at 130.4 dB, breaking the record Rupp Arena established less than three weeks. The atmosphere at the Spectrum isnt what it was in the 2000s, and for that it just barely misses out on my top 25. The arena is named after Dr. Forrest C. "Phog" Allen, a former player and head coach of 39 years for the Jayhawks. Only 14 D-I men's teams have won less than 50% of their games in their current homes. The Allen Fieldhouse, at the University of Kansas, is home to the Kansas Jayhawks men's and women's basketball teams. Nothing epitomizes the state of Indiana's love of basketball more than Butler's legendary fieldhouse. It might not have the historical value or intimacy of its rival down Tobacco Road, but the "Dean Dome" can hang with any other in the game in terms of noise or intimidating the opponent. Not only is the trip out to West Virginia a long one for any of the other nine (current) Big 12 teams, the environment that awaits them is unfriendly, to say the least. During the Big 8 Conference finals, former OKU wrestling coach Myron Roderick said, "It got s loud, lot f the lights busted n Gallagher. Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall opened as Assembly Hall during the 1971-72 season is one of the most notorious arenas in basketball. When Cody Zeller made a key steal against Michigan State, Assembly Hall earned a 115.3 dB reading. That seems to have changed, and the environment in Champaign has improved, but theres still some room to grow before I can put Illinois back in my top-25 best atmospheres. Students have prime seating behind the bench areas and stretching to behind one of the baskets, which is very helpful to creating one of the most raucous atmospheres in college basketball. Students are given absolutely priority at Cameron Indoor, and it makes all the difference. Named after famed Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp, the home of the Wildcats is one of the most recognizable arenas in all of sports. ESPNs Anne Catherine Clemmons writes, But to feel a record crowd of 22,125 shaking the much larger dome that is the Smith Center (which soaks in enough sunlight for the Tar Heels to practice without electric lighting when open in the early afternoon) is something else entirely. Thats quite a lot of people who can pack inside the Domes doors and scream obscenities at opposing players and coaches. The Pit is renowned for being one of the loudest places to play in college basketball, with sound levels reaching up to 125 decibels, about as loud as a jackhammer. Watch popular content from the following creators: Live life To The Fullest(@ballisendless), Live life To The Fullest(@ballisendless), cbbcr3(@cbbcr3), cameronhellgeth(@cameronhellgeth), Ryan Hammer(@ryanhammer9), cameronhellgeth(@cameronhellgeth), Caroline(@cmakauskas), Cooper Deck(@cooperdeck . But you wont find many arenas in this sport with a better atmosphere at its best. Also known as The Barn, Minnesotas Williams Arena is one of the most unique in the sport. 10. I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and have loved basketball for as long as I can remember. Add in that people in Kansas really, really, really care about college basketball, and then also add in the aura and legend of Allen Fieldhouse, and you begin to understand why opponents must beware of the Phog. San Jose State's Provident Credit Union Event Center: When you can count the actual attendance by hand, you know the atmosphere leaves something lacking. Mackey Arena is also one of the loudest college basketball arenas in the country. Like we did for the top 10 upsets of the last decade and the 10 best uniforms in college hoops, we arrived at this overall top 10 ranking by averaging the responses, with more weight given based on the 110 scale. For a long time, Syracuse has had one of the best atmospheres in college basketball, I suspect thats something that will remain true for a long time. From 2005 to 2018, Kansas won every single Big 12 regular season title, and while its teams are usually very good, the fans also cultivate a difficult environment for opposing teams to handle. The Jack Breslin Student Events Center is a 16,280-capacity venue that is home to the Michigan State Spartans men's and women's basketball teams. The arena is named after Phog Allen, a former player and head coach for the Jayhawks whose tenure lasted 39 years.The arena's nickname, The Phog also pays homage to Allen. It has been called The Loud House and once registered a decibel level of 120. 2018-2021 All Rights Reserved Nothing But Nylon is powered by, News & gear by players, for players Powered by. The huge multi-level arena doesn't . Hinkle Fieldhouse is basketball not college basketball, but basketball. for the loudest crowd roar at an indoor sporting event (130.4 decibels). Opened in 1989, the mayflower shaped . New Mexico has taken a step back in recent years after making four of five NCAA tournaments from 2010 to 14, but opponents would never be wise to underestimate The Pit. 1. Lets go to the decibel meter. McCarthey Athletic Center - Gonzaga The McCarthey Athletic Center is a 6,000-seat indoor arena on the campus of Gonzaga University that is home to the university's Bulldog basketball program. You could argue Maryland should be a bit lower if you want, but you cant say its inclusion on this list and at least near the top 10 isnt warranted. 14. Come on: "Hoosiers" was filmed here. The same goes for the University of Kansas, who recently won the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship in 2008. The atmosphere is even more special during afternoon games when the daylight shines through the windows amid the throngs of spectators. The airlock doors Thats how they get you first. Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke Blue Devils) Home Record Since 2000: 284-22 (.928) Advertisement. No, not Banes pit prison from The Dark Knight Rises. Purdues Terone Johnson said in The Gazette, It gets ridiculous. Hoosier fans can dial it up. It was Hilton Magic that helped propel Iowa State over Oklahoma three years ago, coming back from a 21-point second-half deficit for the win. According to BGB, the duo of Jordan-Hare Stadium and Neville Arena is the loudest in all of college sports. If your teams arena didnt make this list, it doesnt mean your atmosphere is bad. However, the Cameron Crazies make it one of the loudest and most intimidating places to play in college basketball. That team, led by Sean May, erased a nine-point deficit in the final three minutes. I can remember watching many Arizona home games over the years where the crowd was absolutely out of its mind, with Derrick Williams game-saving block against Washington in 2011 the first example I think of. MacKey Arena 9. Zeigler is leading the Southeastern Conference in assists, averaging 5.4 per game. ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, KANSAS 2. Its first game pitted Iba's Oklahoma A&M (the school's name at the time) squad against Kansas, coached by Phog Allen. Just ask Jimmy Chitwood. At its peak, like for a Duke game or other big-time opponent, the Dean Dome can offer the greatest atmosphere in college basketball. Georgia's Sanford Stadium is home to electrifying fans and a great atmosphere. nd tht s the loudest I've ever heard it. Mar 8, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard D.J. Up high are the season ticket holders, down low are the Smurfs, better knows as the Cameron Crazies. The 30 Toughest College Basketball Arenas to Play In By Bex Walton - July 3, 2016 There's something about some arenas in basketball that make it almost impossible to win a game in. That has got to have Bill Self, Kansas head coach, screaming for joy. Cameron Indoor Stadium The loudest arena in college basketball has given the Duke Blue Devils the best home-court advantage for more than a decade. In a more formal test of how loud Cyclones fans can get, they measured a 109 reading. I've been to Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Arizona and around the country. Unlike most of the buildings on this list, McCarthey Athletic Center isnt very old. As Virginia has improved under Tony Bennett, so too has the atmosphere at John Paul Jones Arena. And conversely, Maryland fans will wholeheartedly agree and wear their reputation as a badge of honor. Not too long ago, GIA would have been unquestionably in the top 25. Which 10 schools create the most challenging atmospheres for opponents? Opened. The Cats have led the nation in . The school allows wealthy donors to have the best seats in the house, and those fans dont have a reputation for getting loud. Mackey Arena is one of the biggest best college basketball arenas since it has a capacity of over 14,000 fans. The Razorbacks are celebrating the 25th season of basketball at their arena named after Walmart's co-founder. If there was one place I dreaded the Buckeyes going to every year, it was the Breslin Center in East Lansing. 3. From the team benches on the baseline to the expanded court area, the home of the Commodores is something to behold. They put spells on opponents. Updated December 05, 2019 A tremendous venue for college basketball. That makes Duke tough and loud, but not the toughest and loudest (though one man likened the crowd to that of a jet engine). Mackey Arena is a concrete barrier built for capturing as much sound as possible. From being the part-time home of St. John's basketball to hosting the Big East Tournament (and even the Big Ten Tournament in 2018) and the final rounds of the postseason NIT, MSG has just about seen it all. Sure, the program isnt where Indiana fans want it to be and hasnt been for some time now, but with walls of humans that dont seem to end towering over top of the court, all of whom are very, very passionate about the sport of basketball and the Hoosiers in particular, Assembly Hall can be a nightmare. From the "Cameron Crazies" on top of the action to the "Krzyzewskiville" commune outside, the intimate 9,300-seat venue offers the greatest home-court advantage in the country. College basketball arenas, both big and small, make for some of the best atmospheres in sports thanks to eccentric student sections, unique venues and never-ending tradition. Theres a reasonable chance this arena will move into the top 25 if the Cavs keep up their spot near the top of the ACC. The students are given almost every section nearest to the court, which is a prime setup to surround the opposing team. With March Madness approaching, here's a look at some of the loudest college arenas in the NCAA: 10. If the fans are up for a game, even if Indiana isnt ranked or particularly good, Assembly Hall will be deafening. Honorable mentions are at the bottom. That said, Louisville can be electric for the right opponents, and you shouldnt take a trip there lightly if the fans have a reason to get up for you. Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Mackey Arena has a secret to its rowdiness that not many venues can Thats about as loud as Rupp Arena gets, which is still pretty darn loud. But the potential is still there, and Utah State is still one of the toughest places to play in the Mountain West. But when the Bulldogs have a marquee game in the building, theres nothing welcoming about the environment. 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