Busting Brackets
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NCAA Basketball: Ranking the nation’s 25 best home-court advantages

By Brian Rauf

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 09: Lagerald Vick #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks pumps up the crowd prior to the start of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Allen Fieldhouse on January 09, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 09: Lagerald Vick #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks pumps up the crowd prior to the start of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Allen Fieldhouse on January 09, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KY – JANUARY 26: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals dunks against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on January 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won 66-51. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY – JANUARY 26: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals dunks against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on January 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won 66-51. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

17) Louisville – KFC Yum! Center

The place affectionately known as The Yum is an NBA-caliber arena that features a college basketball atmosphere. Opened in 2010, it is the third-largest arena in Division I with a 22,090-seat capacity, putting it only behind Syracuse and their in-state rivals in Lexington.

And, while it’s a new facility, it hasn’t wasted any time in becoming one of the signature arenas in college basketball.

It’s big, it’s loud, and it’s packed for most games – why isn’t it ranked higher? Part of it comes with being a newer facility, but the Cardinals have yet to really make consistent statements on their home court. Heck, you could say the biggest moments to happen there recently are De’Andre Hunter’s buzzer-beater and Duke’s 23-point second-half comeback. They play well there, but not amazingly better than they have away from home.

Attendance numbers have also been down recently, roughly 26 percent below what they were during Louisville’s national championship season in 2012-13. Part of that comes with the program’s recent struggles caused by NCAA punishments and sanctions but, when you’re splitting hairs here, it matters.

There are few places as loud and electric as The Yum when the Cardinals have a notable game at home. However, consistency keeps them out of the top 16.

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