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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LEXINGTON, KY – NOVEMBER 01: A general view of Rupp Arena home of the Kentucky Wildcats. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

4. Kentucky Wildcats

Location: Rupp Arena (23,500) in Lexington, KY

You had to know that Rupp Arena was going to be a lock for the top-5 in this piece. Behind the combined efforts of thousands of members of Big Blue Naton (BBN), Rupp is one of the best places to watch a college basketball game in the country. Really, there should be absolutely no doubt about this. The Kentucky Wildcats and Rupp Arena check just about every box for a high ranking on this list.

Historical relevance as a program: Check. With coaches like Adolph Rupp, Joe Hall, Rick Pitino, and now John Calipari, the longevity of this program is almost unmatched. A blueblood by every definition of the term, Kentucky has historical relevance on lockdown. In addition, Rupp Arena opened in 1976 and has seen more than its fair share of elite games.

As far as recent success goes, UK has reached four Final Fours in the past eight years. Yup, can’t really complain about that. Kentucky is, in my opinion, the first team on this list so far that can make a claim for the potential No. 1 overall spot. However, there are still three teams ahead.

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