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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SAN DIEGO, CA – MARCH 07: Head coach Steve Fisher of the San Diego State Aztecs helps cut down the net in celebration. (Photo by Kent C. Horner/Getty Images) /

21. San Diego State Aztecs

Location: Viejas Arena (12,414) in San Diego, CA

San Diego State is another team that has been incredibly successful at home over the past 10 years. During this stretch, the Aztecs hold a top-10 home winning percentage in the country at .884 (145-19), something that should not be easily overlooked. In terms of performance against top-25 teams, SDSU also holds a 9-5 record over this time period. However, this ranking is about more than just on-the-court success.

In total, the Viejas Arena puts plenty of fans in the stands for each game and the Aztecs use this to their advantage repeatedly. While the arena might not have any interesting quirks itself, the fans inside of it certainly do. The student section, known as “The Show”, is widely regarded as one of the most creative in the country. One of the most popular distraction techniques in college basketball is the big head, which was originated by this student section in the early 2000’s. In addition, there is an entire website dedicated to this rambunctious group.

The art of distraction is one that often goes overlooked in NCAA basketball but it is an important part of every fanbase. As a student attending games, there are few better feelings than seeing an opponent missing a free throw thanks to a distraction method. “The Show” is one of the best in the nation when it comes to creative distractions (and also one of the more controversial at times as well).

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