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NCAA Basketball: 20 best current home court advantages in college hoops

By Carmine Carcieri

Feb 13, 2016; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils fans also known as Cameron Crazies get pumped up before the start of their game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; Durham, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils fans also known as Cameron Crazies get pumped up before the start of their game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 17, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Remy Abell (10) celebrates with the student section at the end of the game against the Providence Friars at the Cintas Center. Xavier won 85-74. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Remy Abell (10) celebrates with the student section at the end of the game against the Providence Friars at the Cintas Center. Xavier won 85-74. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports /

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

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