NCAA Basketball: 30 best arena atmospheres in college hoops

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 20: North Carolina Tar Heels fans storm the court after a win over the Duke Blue Devils during their game at the Dean Smith Center on February 20, 2014 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 74-66. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 09: Grand Canyon Lopes fans cheer. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

22. Grand Canyon Antelopes

Location: GCU Arena (7,000) in Phoenix, AZ

Easily one of the rowdiest fanbases in the entire country, Grand Canyon definitely belongs on this list. I understand the Antelopes have only been in Division-I for a limited period of time but that does not matter. This crowd atmosphere has proven that it is one of the best nationwide in a hurry. Regardless of the opponent, students and alumni alike show up in droves to watch GCU play. Seriously, this is without a doubt a premier mid-major destination to watch a game.

The “GCU Havocs” that make up the student section have several pre-game and in-game antics that generate a buzz in the arena from tip-off to the final buzzer. In just a few years of play at the Division-I level, this WAC team has compiled a 70-20 (.778) record in front of their raucous crowd. With a maximum capacity of 7,000 people, GCU Arena is not all that large but it does a great job generating a terrific atmosphere.

Grand Canyon has received plenty of national praise in recent years for its insane crowd and home environment. As the program wins more and more games in the future, you can expect that the “Havocs” will continue to mess with the psyche of opponents.

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