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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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 9: Xavier Musketeers fans cheer. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

12. Xavier Musketeers

Location: Cintas Center (10,250) in Cincinnati, OH

The Cintas Center has seemingly always been one of the toughest places to play in the country. Regardless of whether or not the Musketeers were affiliated with the Atlantic 10 or the Big East, it is never easy to go on the road and face this team. With an incredibly rowdy fanbase, Xavier basketball is known for making life extremely difficult for opponents trying to leave the Cintas Center with a win.

Over the last 10 years, the Musketeers have compiled a 139-20 (.874) home record and have claimed many top-25 opponents as victims. Over this same time period, the Cintas Center is 15-7 against ranked opponents and has three wins over the AP top-10, including an upset of then-No. 1 Villanova in 2015-16.

Opened in 2000, the Cintas Center has been one of the best atmospheres in NCAA basketball for some time. For those video game fanatics in the world, you may even remember that the arena was named the No. 3 toughest place to play in NCAA Basketball ’10.

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