It’s not easy to win on the road anywhere in the nation but these are the top 20 home court advantages that will have a major impact on any NCAA basketball game.
It has become commonplace, especially this year with no dominate teams, for NCAA basketball schools to struggle on the road. Imagine going into a rowdy environment as an underclassman where 10 to 20 thousand people are on top of the court rooting against you, screaming at the refs and trash talking for two long hours.
Coaches and players can prepare for their opponents with film study, scouting reports and taking a peak at recent stats, but there is no possible way to game plan for the opposing team’s fans. It takes poise, composure, confidence and experience to make plays on the road, but there are 20 gyms in America where even the top players in the country have their fair share of issues.
And while there are notable arenas left off this list that deserve an honorable mention – including the Kohl Center (Wisconsin), WVU Coliseum (West Virginia Mountaineers), The Pavilion (Villanova), Mackey Arena (Purdue), Brimlage Coliseum or “The Octagon of Doom” (Kansas State) and Pauley Pavilion (UCLA) – these 20 home court advantages should be on a college basketball fans’ bucket list.
They don’t just rank as the best atmospheres in college hoops but they are some of the best, most historic places in all of sports.
So enjoy, sit back and just think about how difficult for your team to play on the road.
Next: Hinkle Fieldhouse
20. Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler Bulldogs)
Holding 9,200 fans, Hinkle Fieldhouse was built in 1928 and is one of the oldest home court advantages in all of college hoops. It is considered a National Historic Landmark and was the home of two of the best Butler Bulldog teams ever.
Under Brad Stevens, who has moved onto coach in the NBA, the Bulldogs embodied a “team mentality” on their way to making the 2010 National Title game before losing to the Duke Blue Devils on a Gordon Hayward half court heave. A year later, the Bulldogs were back in the big game, losing for a second straight time to Kemba Walker and the UConn Huskies by 12.
Hayward, Shelvin Mack, Matt Howard and Andrew Smith brought out the best in the Butler fans as Hinkle developed into one of the more rowdy atmospheres in the nation.
Moving to the Big East in 2013 and undergoing a $34.9 million renovation only increased the status of a legendary place where seven American Presidents (from Herbert Hoover to Barack Obama) have spoke. And who can forget the 1986 movie “Hoosiers?” That Hollywood story was fictional but it was based off the run made by Milan High (named Hickory High in the movie) that ended with an Indiana state championship victory on a buzzer beater at Hinkle.
So not only are the fans some of the best, most knowledge in all of college basketball but the history makes this a heck of a home-court advantage.
Next: Siegel Center
19. Siegel Center (VCU Rams)
Between the VCU Peppas (the team’s excellent Pep Band) and the die-heart students (the “Rowdy Rams” as they call them), the Siegel Center is by far the toughest place to play in the Atlantic 10. George Washington ended the Rams 12-game home winning streak in early February but they are 14-2 overall in Richmond and have scored 85 points in their last three outings against St. Louis, URI and Richmond.
The Siegel Center holds about 8,000 people and the school is looking into future plans to expand the seating to 10,000.
One of the impressive awards this gym has received is the 2012-2013 Naismith Student Section of the Year Award, beating out the likes of Kansas and Gonzaga. Their well known ‘Let’s Go Rams’ chant shakes the building and back in 2012, the building started to be the center of attention.
Shaka Smart’s ‘Havoc’ defense used to only increase the intensity in the building, but even with Will Wade taking over as head coach this year, the ‘Half-Court Havoc’ defense has kept the fan base on it’s feet and the crowd coming in full-force.
It also doesn’t hurt that VCU is 20-7 this season, good for first in the Atlantic 10.
Next: Hilton Coliseum
18. Hilton Coliseum (Iowa State Cyclones)
All of the Big 12 knows that when you travel to Hilton Coliseum something magical is about to happen. The unfortunate part for those opponents is it won’t be in the road team’s favor. Iowa State always seems to pull of magnificent upsets and impressive comebacks at Hilton with the best example coming this season with two wins over the top teams in the nation: Oklahoma and Kansas.
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Last season, the Cyclones pulled off a 21-point comeback against then 15th ranked Sooners by surging on a 22-0 (!) second half run in front of one of the best crowds you’ll ever see.
Hilton Coliseum, which opened in 1971, holds 14,384 fans and the Cyclones are 62-5 in the last four years at home. They surprisingly lost to West Virginia and Baylor this season but with a new head coach (Steve Prohm) and limited depth, the Cyclones and their fan base have to be pleased that they have two of the more impressive wins in all of college basketball.
Basically, never count out Iowa State when they play at Hilton. Now, only if they could play the NCAA Tournament there, right?
Next: CenturyLink Center
17. CenturyLink Center (Creighton Blue Jays)
This is one of the most underrated home courts in America. Even after Doug McDermott (the National Player of the Year in 2013) graduated and headed to the NBA, 5,000 plus fans continued to show up in full force despite Creighton finishing in ninth place in the Big East standings a year ago and the team finding itself right off the bubble at the end of February this year.
The Jays are a completely different team in Omaha because their offensive punch relies heavily on the long ball. Of course, every team is more comfortable shooting the ball from the perimeter at home.
A week ago, Creighton smacked Xavier at the CenturyLink Center, 70-56 and even though they did not have the talent to compete against top notch Big East squads last season, they lost multiple games on the final possession at home.
Omaha doesn’t have football and they don’t have professional basketball so the fans are absolute junkies when it comes to Greg McDermott and the Blue Jays.
Next: Cintas Center
16. Cintas Center (Xavier Musketeers)
If you talk about “dressing” for the occasion, the Musketeer students do it as well as any student section in the land. Painting their bodies blue and white has been a staple of Xavier basketball at the Cintas Center and also on the road during the Big East Tournament.
The 10,250 seat arena, which opened in 2002, has hosted multiple major rivalry games, including the “Crosstown Shootout” versus Xavier, and the new hyped match-ups with Villanova. The Musketeers just joined the Big East in 2013 but the Cintas Center has already developed into the best home court advantage in a deep conference with a lot of rich basketball history.
Xavier is 24-3 on the season and is in the running for one of the number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Holding serve at home has been critical for Chris Mack and company as they have dealt with some close calls, including squeaking out wins over Marquette and St. John’s, two of the worst teams in the league.
The Musketeers only loss at home this entire season was versus Georgetown, when the Hoyas carved up Xavier’s 1-3-1 zone.
The crowd could be a major factor on Wednesday when Mack’s unit tries to get revenge on Villanova, who beat the Musketeers by 31 in Philadelphia earlier in Big East play.
Next: Purcell Pavilion
15. Purcell Pavilion (Notre Dame Fightning Irish)
Purcell Pavilion, which was formally called the Joyce Center, opened in 2009 after $26.3 million renovations and ground breaking ceremonies in 2008. Holding 9,149, the beautiful arena has been a tough place to snag a road win for ACC opponents because of the Irish’s consistency in the building.
The Irish don’t have much depth and normally rely heavily on their outside shooting, so playing in a team-friendly environment helps their offensive sets. Notre Dame, which is more of a football school, receives excellent attendance and it shows with wins over North Carolina and Louisville in two of their last four games.
Also, Notre Dame’s weak link is their defensive energy and their ability to stop other teams from getting out in transition. They are much better on the defensive side of the ball at Purcell Pavilion than on the road.
Next: Viejas Center
14. Viejas Arena (San Diego State Aztecs)
Looking for a hot spot to watch some Mountain West hoops? Viejas Arena is a perfect fit for you.
The arena, which holds 12,414 booming fans, was built on the site of the old Aztec Bowl football stadium on the San Diego State campus and was originally named Cox Arena before agreeing to 10-year naming rights in 2009.
While the Aztecs have struggled for the majority of the year, their grind it out style under Steve Fisher fits perfectly with a nightly sold out crowd that harasses their opponent. San Diego State is one of the best defensive teams in the nation year after year and credit doesn’t just go to Fisher, the players execution and the scheme but also the fans.
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The Aztecs lost a number of tough close games at home this season, including Kansas, but they still remain the top team in the Mountain West Conference, in part because of their excellent support at home.
Next: Dean Smith Center
13. Dean Smith Center (North Carolina Tar Heels)
The baby light blue. The transition attack. The arena that is filled to the max even when the Tar Heels are playing a tune-up game in November. The great memories.
North Carolina has a truly special home court advantage.
The Tar Heels lost earlier this week to the Duke Blue Devils on their home floor but before that meltdown, the last time Roy Williams’ squad was defeated in Chapel Hill was March 14 of last year versus Jerian Grant and Notre Dame. They also rebounded in their confines, demolishing the Miami Hurricanes, one of the more underrated defensive teams in the country, on Saturday.
The colors are awesome – especially the shape of the state being capped off with a Tar Heels logo at mid-court – and the fans thrive off the fast break attack. The Dean Smith Center became the home of the Tar Heels in 1986 and has molded into an iconic venue in college basketball.
UNC has been in the top five in terms of attendance every season but one and that was the team’s first full year in the Dean Smith Center back in 1986. To top it off, Roy Williams is 143-18 in the building and legendary, Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith (who the building was named after) went 133-17 at home.
ACC hoops lives in North Carolina!
Next: Rupp Arena
12. Rupp Arena (Kentucky Wildcats)
John Calipari is an excellent coach regardless of what critics say. He can develop players (Willie Cauley-Stein), put together a solid X’s and O’s game plan (although he could develop improve in that fasciate), but most importantly the Hall of Famer can recruit.
Bringing in John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Tyler Ulis, Willie Cauley-Stein, Karl Anthony Towns and numerous other professionals or soon to be NBA players, is an invitation to attend a party. Considering Rupp Arena as a unique atmosphere is no surprise because if the fans didn’t show up to see the most load team in the nation talent wise, it would be a major disappointment. The ‘Cats fans travel in packs to road games, showing just how passionate they are about their Wildcats.
Named after former Wildcats head coach Adolph Rupp, the arena opened in 1976 and is capable of holding 23,500 fans on a nightly basis.
Kentucky has led the nation in home attendance 25 times since the 1976-77 season and they boast a remarkable winning percent of 89.
Next: The Pit
11. The Pit (New Mexico Lobos)
More Mountain West hoops!
WisePies Arena (better known as The Pit) was built in 1966, which has launched the Lobos to a stunning winning percentage of 82. Prior to the 2015-16 season, New Mexico recorded a total of 13,175,685 who have showed up to the arena to watch the Lobos play over the years.
During the previous season (2014-15), New Mexico ranked 18th in the country in attendance, but the noise level at The Pit is difficult to manage as a road opponent.
The unique design of the arena also stands out as games are played 37 feet below street level and hold 15,411 rowdy fans. The seats are normally more than 95 percent filled and the Lobos push the limit with standing room tickets.
Remarkably, according to the St. Petersburg Times, the noise level in The Pit reached 118 decibels in 1998 and have been measured as loud as 125 decibels.
Next: Carrier Dome
10. Carrier Dome (Syracuse Orange)
At the start of every Syracuse home game, all 35,000 in attendance at the Carrier Dome stand and clap until the Orange score their first basket of the game. But that amazing energy is shown throughout the game and ‘I bleed Orange’ is a true statement when it comes to upstate New York.
When the Orange moved from the Big East to the ACC in 2013, they played their first home game against the Duke Blue Devils in February of 2014 and the atmosphere was one of the best in recent memory. The Carrier Dome set a record for college basketball regular season on-campus crowds with 35,446 people in attendance.
That is just flat out ridiculous.
The Carrier Dome, which holds 50,000 people for football events, is the largest domed stadium on any college campus and it’s the largest on-campus arena in college hoops.
Next: Petersen Events Center
9. Petersen Events Center (Pittsburgh Panthers)
The ‘Oakland Zoo’ (the Panthers student section) creates another incredible ACC atmosphere at “The Pete.” A 12,508 arena on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, “The Pete” opened in 2002. The Panthers and Jamie Dixon have lost only five non-conference games in the building and have one of the strongest attendance ratings in the nation.
The student sections are spread out throughout the lower bowl all around the arena and these passionate fans have witnessed numerous remarkable games throughout the Big East and now the ACC.
The Panthers have lost just one home game in conference play this season (to North Carolina State), but they also don’t have many quality wins (just Syracuse). They have two major opportunities versus Louisville and Duke next week so the lack of quality wins in front of some of the best fans in college basketball could change quickly.
This was a great moment at the Petersen Events Center:
“They just don’t lose at home.”
Next: McCarthey Athletic Center
8. McCarthey Athletic Center (Gonzaga Bulldogs)
When a team has just 12 losses on their home court since 2004, that makes for an unbeatable (unless your the top seven teams on this list) advantage. Sure, Gonzaga plays in a mid-major conference that only possesses two legit threats in Saint Mary’s and BYU, but they annually play one of the more difficult non-conference schedules.
The Bulldogs, who have been lacking in the backcourt, have three of their 12 losses at McCarthey Athletic Center this season. They lost to both Arizona and UCLA in December while they also were defeated by Kyle Collinsworth and BYU in mid-January. Before this season, the last loss in their own building was against Illinois in 2012 and their last home loss in WCC play was January 2011 (!!).
The “Kennel,” which seats around 6,000 fans, is a true West Coast basketball environment and the consistency of the Bulldogs year after year is what the fans thrive on.
Next: Charles Koch Arena
7. Charles Koch Arena (Wichita State Shockers)
Another true “mid-major” home court advantage. This time it’s Wichita, Kansas.
The Shockers have a 10,000 seat arena that was built in 1953 and has developed into a place that no Missouri Valley Conference opponent wants to play. Every game holds some meaning to Shocker fans but the 2013-14 team, featuring Cleanthony Early, Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet, likely holds the best memories in Charles Koch Arena. Gregg Marshall’s team went a perfect 31-0, capping off perfection in their own building against Missouri State (68-45).
That squad went on to make the third round where they lost to a hungry eight seeded Kentucky.
This season the Shockers had a 43-home winning streak snapped to Northern Iowa, but they have knocked off Utah, an underrated Evansville team and beat down New Mexico State by 30.
The Shockers have one more home game remaining before Championship Week and the NCAA Tournament as they will face Illinois State in a revenge game on February 27. The Red Birds shocked Wichita State earlier this season, handing them their first loss in conference play.
Next: Breslin Center
6. Breslin Student Events Center (Michigan State Spartans)
The Breslin Student Events Center opened in 1989, holds up to 15,000 fans on Spartan game days and has been the home of Tom Izzo’s tremendous team’s that so often make long runs during March Madness.
The $43 million arena has all the tradition and the crazy, passionate students that a college basketball team could ask for. The “Izzone” is one of the largest student sections in the nation (ranked as the fourth best section in the nation in 2006) and is named after the legend and future Hall of Famer Izzo.
The Spartans maintained a 53-game home winning streak from 1998 to 2002 and a 28-game winning streak from 2007 to 2009.
The Spartans have lost two home games this season but the first loss against Iowa was without National Player of the Year candidate Denzel Valentine and the second loss against Nebraska was Valentine’s first game back (he was clearly rusty). Izzo’s unit has beaten Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland, Florida and Louisville at the Breslin Center so far this year with a chance to earn another somewhat quality win against Ohio State in a couple weeks.
Next: McKale Center
5. McKale Center (Arizona Wildcats)
The Wildcats lost to Oregon at the McKale Center in late January but that loss snapped a 49-game home winning streak, which was the longest active home winning streak in the country at the time.
Arizona has won 74 of their 85 games in their home arena since Sean Miller took over as head coach.
More impressively, the Wildcats put together the 10th best all-time home winning streak, 71 consecutive victories, from 1987 to 1992. Sean Miller’s overall record in the building is 525-102 and Arizona’s overall record is 220-38.
Despite losing four out of five starters from last year’s squad, the Wildcats have been consistently good at home, beating UNLV, UCLA, Washington and USC.
The Wildcats will close out the season with a bang at home as they play both California (a likely NCAA Tournament team) and Stanford (who is on the outside looking in).
Next: Assembly Hall
4. Assembly Hall (Bloomington) (Indiana Hoosiers)
Assembly Hall, a 17,472 seat arena on Indiana’s campus, is known as one of the loudest venues in all of college hoops. Between the passionate fans and the design of the building, the Hoosiers home court is nothing that Big Ten opponents want to mess with.
The Hoosiers have built winning streaks as long as 50 and 35 and of course, no one can forget the match-up versus the Kentucky Wildcats.
On December 10, 2011, Christian Watford nailed a three at the buzzer and the Hoosiers went on to beat number one Kentucky in what can be considered one of the greatest moments in Assembly Hall history.
But that’s not all. Indiana has already beaten Creighton, Wisconsin, Iowa and Purdue in their house with a game still to come against sixth ranked Maryland.
Big Ten coach, when I asked about Indiana: "Can they play all their games in Assembly Hall? If they could, they'd win the title."
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) February 21, 2016
Tom Crean’s team is normally not known for their defense (they have had some UGLY performances this season), but when they are at home, they are capable of being competent on that end of the floor. And that’s huge because they have one of the most potent offenses in all of college basketball with Yogi Ferrell, Troy Williams and company.
Next: Xfinity Center
3. Xfinity Center College Park (Maryland Terrapins)
If your looking for an energetic crowd that is always engaged, College Park is the place to be. The colorful sections have put together epic flashmob performances during television timeouts, but they also cheer on their Terps like there is no tomorrow.
Maryland had a 27-game home winning streak snapped on February 13 (of this year) against Wisconsin and that was the lone loss they have suffered at the Xfinity Center since they moved to the Big Ten in 2014.
The Terps have beaten Georgetown, Ohio State, Iowa (the first top ten match-up in the history of the Xfinity Center), Purdue and Michigan in the arena that holds 17,950 fans and was formally known as the Comcast Center.
Some notable performances at the Xfinity Center include, the Terps knocking off fifth ranked Wisconsin last season, Maryland upsetting Duke in 2013 (the video above) and the 2009 game against North Carolina. The Terps trailed by 16 points with less than nine minutes remaining.
Next: Cameron Indoor Center
2. Cameron Indoor Center (Duke Blue Devils)
You only have to know two words about the Cameron Indoor Center: Cameron Crazies. This is by far the best student section in the ACC and certainly is right up there with any school in all of America. Whenever the opposing team is inbounding the ball, the Cameron Crazies lean over and shake their arms in the direction of the player. They show up nightly (whether they are playing the top team in the ACC or a cupcake) with face paint, body paint and blue wigs.
The Cameron Indoor Center is also filled with rich history, including numerous close exciting, and victories.
The Blue Devils are 832-154 all-time in their building and Coach K has lost just 59 games during his time in Duke. They are stunningly 266-17 since the 1997-98 season (!!).
At the excellent wins, the exciting environment and the crazy fans onto the fact that the Blue Devils hold multiple entertaining, hyped rivalries. North Carolina versus Duke could very well be the best in all of sports and Duke also used to hold a rivalry with the Maryland Terps. Add that onto Louisville, Notre Dame, Syracuse and other big time draw games and the Cameron Indoor Center is the place to be throughout the college basketball season.
Next: Allen Fieldhouse
1. Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas Jayhawks)
“The Phog” is the best place to watch college basketball in the entire country. What more is there to say?
The fans? Remarkable. The noise level? Amazingly loud. The competition? They play in the best conference in America. The rivalries? Oklahoma. Baylor. Kansas State. Iowa State. Texas. You could go on and on.
But what really sticks out about Allen Fieldhouse is how much of an advantage it gives the Jayhawks. This team is almost unbeatable when they step on the court in Lawrence. Bill Self took over as Kansas’ head coach in 2003 and he has lost a total of NINE games at home. Think about that… NINE games.
And what makes it even more impressive is that Kansas normally doesn’t have the “stars” or the “one and done” talents similar to Duke or Kentucky. Kelly Oubre Jr., Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid have been some of the exceptions, but if you look at the team this season, there is not a dominate player on the court.
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They work together as a unit and they feed off the best crowd in the nation. There’s nothing better than that.