THIS IS AN ARTICLE, by Luke Maiers who is a member of Team Joey Freshwater.
There is nothing like the home court advantage, especially when it comes to college basketball. The roar of the crowd, the obscene chants from the student section, and of course, storming the court after a big win. Aside from places like Cameron Indoor and the Dean Smith Center, the Big Ten has the best home courts in the game. One of the more memorable games I can remember is watching Indiana splash a left wing three for the win over a top ranked Kentucky team and seeing a sea of red storm the court. There is nothing like it, and if you don’t get goosebumps from moments like that, you don’t love college basketball enough. I ranked the top eight Big Ten home courts, and here is the list.
Top Eight Big Ten Arenas:
1. Assembly Hall-
That win over Kentucky will forever be fried into my brain. The pull up jumper highlights what is so great about this arena. What makes Assembly Hall so amazing is the set up of the seating. The seats are stacked up on the sidelines with basically no seating behind the hoops so there is only one direction for all of the sound to go, and that is right to the floor. Along with that, you will have trouble finding a more historical building in the Big Ten and the nation.
2. Kohl Center-
If you have never attended a game at the Kohl Center, you should. This arena feels like it is an NBA arena. The size of this building is unreal. When I went to a game there, I sat as high up as you could go, and I still liked my seat. Plus, having the student section right behind the hoop opens up an endless amount of possibility to heckle the opposing players. And since I can’t remember the last time the Badgers were a bad team, this building has been loud.
3. Williams Arena (The Barn)-
With a nickname like The Barn, how can’t you love this building. This place looks like it is loud. Throughout the years at this arena, Minnesota has been able to pull out many upsets over some very good teams. The way the building is shaped, which is like a lowercase n, the acoustics on the inside are great for diehard fans to scream their little hearts out. This building rocks with the best of them in the Big Ten.
4. Breslin Center-
The Spartans have given their fans a lot of reasons to cheer since Tom Izzo took over at Michigan State. What makes the Breslin Center so cool is how the students line up behind the benches, kind of like Cameron Indoor. Having the students that close to the bench allows for the home crowd to get into the head of the visiting team. The fans are right on top of the floor, keeping them involved throughout the whole game.
5. Carver Hawkeye Arena-
If you have never been to Carver, it is just a big hole in the ground. You walk in on ground level and the only direction you can go is down. This also allows for the sound to have no place to go. Another good description of it is picture the crowd as a wave in the ocean. Once the wave starts moving, there is no stopping it. The fans cheering is that wave, and it is hard to get them down. Also, Iowa fans don’t treat the officials the greatest.
6. Mackey Arena-
Purdue’s recent success has revealed the monster that is their home floor. Mackey Arena can hang with the best arenas especially when the Boilermakers are lighting it up from deep. This arena is in the shape of a circle, pointing all the fans towards the floor. Unlike the Kohl Center where you aren’t always pointing directly at the floor.
7. Crisler Center-
Michigan fans are about as passionate as they come and that might be as to why this arena is so great. Similar to Mackey Arena, the building is pointing everyone towards the floor. As of recent, the Wolverines haven’t had a lot to cheer about, but when that time comes, this great arena will roar again.
8. State Farm Center-
Illinois’ home floor recently got renovated, but the feeling when you are at this arena is kind of refreshing. It almost feels like there is fresh air moving through it while you are taking in the game. The student section lines the sidelines as well, plus they have the coolest student section name in college basketball, the Orange Krush.
