25. Kansas State — Bramlage Coliseum
Kicking off the list is a program on a bit of a downturn, but must be mentioned nonetheless. For years, the Wildcats held serve at Bramlage Coliseum as one of the toughest home teams in the nation. Bruce Weber’s club is coming off a dismal year which saw the Wildcats finish second-to-last in the Big 12. A 6-12 record at home marked the first time Kansas State finished with a losing home record since opening the stadium in 1998. However, 2021 may have just been a blip. From ’04-19, Kansas State went 209-53 (80.5-percent) and were routinely among the best teams in the country. It’s only matter of time until the Wildcats have Bramlage rocking once again.
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24. Louisville — KFC Yum! Center
Moving to the ACC hasn’t been the easiest transition for the Cardinals, but they’ve maintained a raucous home-court environment. Chris Mack’s group was dominant at home during the shortened 2020 season. Louisville won 17-of-18 at the Yum, including notching statement victories over Michigan, Virginia, Syracuse, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech. The program has taken a bit of a hit due to the NCAA sanctions they received, but are a team to look out for in 2022. Once Louisville regains momentum nationally, the Yum will be loud and filled with the energy of 22,000 screaming Cardinal fans.
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23. Utah State — Dee Glen Smith Spectrum
Some of the best home court environments belong to teams that aren’t among the traditional Blue Bloods. An easy way to prove this is by simply looking at the Mountain West Conference. While none of the programs are as popular as say Duke or Kansas, they each have loyal fan bases who aren’t afraid to loudly cheer their teams on. San Diego State’s Viejas Arenas just narrowly missed the cut, making way for their conference rival Aggies.
Anybody who has ever taken in a game at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum can tell you what makes it so special. The seating goes all the way down to the court level, pitting fans and players as close as realistically possible. When the Aggies go on a run, the stadium becomes deafening. It’s no wonder how Utah State has managed to lose just five games at home over the last three seasons.
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22. Virginia — John Paul Jones Arena
Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena is the perfect example of where crowd environment and team identity can work symbiotically. The Cavaliers’ home holds up to nearly 15,000 fans, and things can get a bit shaky when it’s at full capacity. The stadiums rocks and sways to the roar of the crowd. Couple the electric environment with Virginia’s pack-line defense and you have every opponents nightmare.
The fans are going absolutely nuts and it makes the defense seem even more impenetrable — leading to mental errors from visiting teams. Over the last eight years, Virginia is 64-9 (87.6-percent) at home against ACC opponents — the second best in-conference home record in the nation during that span.
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21. Arkansas — Bud Walton Arena
Arkansas is another program that has weaponized its noisy stadium for better on-court results. The Razorbacks have always preferred to play an up-tempo, end-to-end style to put pressure on their opponents. It’s not uncommon to see Arkansas throwing up a barrage of threes and employing a full-court pressure defense on the other end — much to the delight of their fans.
Players feed off the crowd and are more likely to jump a little bit higher or hustle a little bit more for a loose ball. It’s a major reason why Arkansas has been significantly better at home than on the road in past years. Since 2011, the Razorbacks are 168-33 at home (83.5-percent) including a stellar 30-5 mark in the two years since Eric Musselman took over.
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20. Butler — Hinkle Fieldhouse
It doesn’t get much more historic than Hinkle Fieldhouse. Built in 1928, Hinkle Fieldhouse has become a college basketball landmark. There are only five courts still being used that are older than the 93-year-old safe haven. The hardwood itself is one of the most iconic floors for any basketball aficionado. The 1986 classic Hoosiers was filmed inside Hinkle Fieldhouse, and the current court is the same as the one featured in the movie’s final game.
The Butler Bulldogs have lived up to the underdog status of the film’s fictional Hickory High School. Brad Stevens, Gordon Hayward, Shelvin Mack, and Matt Howard helped lead the team to back-to-back NCAA title game appearances in ’10 and ’11. Butler lost just two home games over that memorable two-year run.
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19. VCU — Siegel Center
VCU had always been a strong team at home, but it reached new height after the program made it all the way to the Final Four in 2011. It sparked a new era of Ram fans, and ignited a spark underneath the cavernous Siegel Center. The deafening crowd can get in the head of visitors — playing into the hands of VCU’s opportunistic defense. College basketball analyst Jon Rothstein stated that a VCU home game at the Siegel Center was “More life altering than a 10-day trip to Europe.” We tend to concur. No opponent leaves the same way after being blitzed by VCU’s high-pressure defense for 40-straight minutes.
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18. Xavier — Cintas Center
Xavier has quietly been one of the more consistent teams in all of college basketball. A major part of the success has been their ability to take care of business at home. Since 2000, the Musketeers have reached the NCAA Tournament 16 times — with seven Sweet Sixteen appearances to boot. The fan base is rabid and enthusiastic. Some of the most creative chants in recent memory were crafted by the Xavier student section. It seems like they have a new and innovative way to get under the opponents skin each game. The Musketeers are a pristine 281-48 (85.4-percent) at home since the Cintas Center was opened.
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17. Maryland — XFINITY Center
Maryland is a team that has disappointed relative to its expectations in recent years. That is primarily due to their lousy road record. Since 2017, the Terps are 17-25 on the road (40.4-percent) compared to a sterling 57-13 mark (81.4-percent) in home games. They are twice as good at home than they are on the road! It’s possible that the constant badgering of opponents by the student section causes visitor to play worse than normal. Nonetheless, the Terps boast a considerable home court advantage that will only become more apparent as they further establish themselves in the Big Ten.
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16. Oregon — Matthew Knight Arena
There are several reasons why teams find it difficult to win on Oregon’s home floor. For one, the court’s unique design can be a bit of an eye-strain. Players can lose sight of where they are relative to the court’s line. Secondly, the crowd plays a major factor. Eugene loves their Ducks and show up in massive numbers to Oregon basketball and football games. Lastly, Oregon almost always fields a quality basketball team. They are regularly among the most talented teams in the Pac-12, and take great pride in protecting Matthew Knight Arena. The Ducks have gone undefeated at home three times since 2016. The entire rest of the Pac-12 has one such undefeated home season during that span (Cal, ’16).
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15. New Mexico — Dreamstyle Arena “The Pit”
A stadium doesn’t get a nickname like “The Pit” without good reason. Opponents will feel like they’re doing battle with Lobos fans and players in this intense environment. New Mexico hasn’t boasted a particularly good team in recent years. They haven’t been a threat in the Mountain West since Steve Alford left the program. Their last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2014. Still, it cannot be understated how impressive of a home court advantage they hold. Even though the fans aren’t pleased with New Mexico’s results in recent years, they still show up in droves. “The Pit” regularly ranked in the top-10 in attendance from the year it opened in 1966.
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14. Indiana — Assembly Hall
Holding the largest student section in the nation (7,000-plus), Assembly Hall is one of the most lively environments in the sport. The program is home to some of the most diehard fans in the country who truly appreciate great basketball. That’s a shame because Indiana basketball has been trending down in recent years. The Hoosiers haven’t made it to the NCAA Tournament sine 2016, and haven’t broken through to the Final Four in 20 years. Still, the fans have no issue showing up to Assembly Hall each and every season despite the team’s struggles.
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13. Pittsburgh — Petersen Events Center
The Panthers (and, as a result, the Pete) are on the rise in 2021. It’s been a down few years for Pittsburgh basketball as a program. The Kevin Stallings era was a disaster, as Pitt endured arguably its worst season in history in ’18 (0-18 in ACC play). With the program potentially making a comeback under new head coach Jeff Capel, we can expect the Petersen Events Center to be rocking once again. This is an arena that regularly topped attendance leaderboards throughout its history. A more quality basketball product will almost certainly lead to more sell outs for an arena that notoriously makes it difficult on visiting teams.
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12. Wichita State — Charles Koch Arena
The Shockers have graduated to the big-time and are now regarded as one of the most consistently strong programs in the Midwest. They have their diehard fan base to thank for that. During Wichita State’s ascent, they’ve been incredibly difficult to defeat at home. The Charles Koch Arena holds a max capacity of 10,506, and there are few arenas that sell out more often. A former Missouri Valley Conference member, the Shockers moved to the American Conference in 2018 for better competition. In its first year in the American, Wichita State led the entire conference in attendance.
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11. Arizona — McKale Memorial Center
In recent years, we’ve seen teams like Oregon, Washington, and UCLA dominate on their home floor. However, the Arizona Wildcats have historically boasted the best home court advantage in the Pac-12. It wasn’t that long ago that Arizona went 35-0 at home over a two-year stretch (’14-’15). It’s no surprise that was around the last time Arizona was a threat nationally. When the Wildcats are on top, the McKale Center is electric. They sell out nearly every game and the fans are loud and proud. 2020 marked the 36th straight season that Arizona led the Pac-12 in total home attendance and average home attendance.
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10. Wisconsin — Kohl Center
The Kohl Center is a special place. Any Wisconsin fan can tell you that the records don’t do it any justice. Since opening in 1998, the stadium has been the host for countless big games. The Badgers boast one of the most loyal fan bases in all of college basketball, and it shows each and every night. Even when the team isn’t very good, Wisconsin still manages to win more games than not at home.
Anytime the Badgers boast a strong roster they’re basically unstoppable on their home floor. Wisconsin failed to make the NCAA Tournament in 2021, but still went 11-5 at home. In 2020, the Badgers won a share of the Big Ten championship thanks in large part to a 17-1 mark at the Kohl Center.
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9. Iowa State — Hilton Coliseum
Iowa State was one of the teams that suffered a massive blow from having fewer fans in 2021. A program that typically dominates on their home floor, the Cyclones were one of the worst home teams in the country last season (2-10). With fans projected to be back in the seats this year, expect the Cyclones to be back in a big way. Iowa State feeds off the energy of Hilton Coliseum and its 14,000-plus inhabitants. The arena has seen several late-game comebacks over the years, creating the phrase “Hilton Magic” for the Cyclone’s tendency to win unexpectedly on their home floor.
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8. Purdue — Mackey Arena
The last few years for Purdue basketball have followed a fairly similar trend. On a neutral court, the Boilermakers are susceptible. At home, the opponent has virtually no chance. Purdue has had some of the best home performances of any team in recent years. In ’16, an on-the-rise Purdue squad went 17-1 at home. The next year, Purdue rode a 15-2 home record to a Big Ten regular season title.
In ’18 and ’19, Purdue won 31-of-32 home tilts en route to being a borderline top-10 team nationally. They went 11-1 last year when the stadium was barely occupied. Imagine what they can do when fans return to a full capacity arena in 2022.
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7. Michigan State — Breslin Center
The Spartans have almost always been in the National Title mix under legendary head coach Tom Izzo. Izzo will forever be apart of the program’s history, and has been immortalized by Breslin Center’s student section which is aptly nicknamed the “Izzone.” The Breslin Center has been the host for a number of crucial Michigan State wins over the years. Though the Spartans are typically capable of beating any team in any stadium, they have been particularly stout at home over the years. In a down season last year (Michigan State finished ninth in the Big Ten), the Spartans still won 12-of-15 at home. From ’16-19, Michigan State sported a stellar 59-6 record at the Breslin Center.
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6. North Carolina — Dean E. Smith Center
Though there’s another arena in the same state that can get a bit louder, the Dean E. Smith Center also deserves plenty of credit. The Tar Heels have always been tough to beat on their home floor. Perhaps it’s based upon the intimidation factor. Opponents walking onto UNC’s home floor will look up and see names like Jordan, Worthy, and Hansbrough in the rafters alongside six National Title banners.
Of course, North Carolina Tar Heel basketball boasts one of the most devoted fan bases in all of sports. While it might not be quite as noisy as some of its counterparts, the arena itself carries a legacy and will always be one of the toughest places to try and escape with a road win.
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5. Gonzaga — McCarthey Athletic Center
Gonzaga has established itself as a juggernaut nationally. Though it still hasn’t captured that elusive National Championship, the Bulldogs are regularly among the top teams in the country. McCarthey Athletic has always been a tough place to play, but it’s been an impenetrable fortress for the Bulldogs in recent years. They haven’t lost at McCarthey since January of 2018 — a 51-game home winning-streak. The Zags are familiar with lengthy home winning-streaks. The program’s previous record was 50-straight home wins set back in 2007. With the team now becoming a major factor in the recruiting department, there’s no telling how long their current streak will last.
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4. Kentucky — Rupp Arena
It’s been a rough 12 months for the Wildcats. The 2021 season was a disaster which saw Kentucky endure its first losing season (9-16) since 1989 — the year before Rick Pitino took over. John Calipari has his work cut out for him after an embarrassing showing last season. One thing is for certain, Kentucky fans will remain loyal no matter how bad it gets.
The program announced that it will return to full capacity for the 2022 season, and you can bet that it will be a near sell out each and every game. Maybe a packed house is all Kentucky needs to get back on track. The Wildcats were 5-6 at home during a pandemic-riddled season. They hadn’t lost more than two games at home in a year since 2009.
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3. Syracuse — Carrier Dome
Opponents visiting the Carrier Dome are faced with two clear obstacles every night: Cracking Syracuse’s zone and ignoring the raucous crowd. The Orange utilize the electric Carrier Dome atmosphere to their advantage. Syracuse’s signature zone defense coaxes opponents into turnovers. The crowd roars in approval each time Syracuse is able to capitalize on its opponents mental mistakes.
Visiting teams dig themselves into deeper and deeper holes. It eventually feels like the Orange are somehow getting away with putting more than the allotted five defenders on the floor. Opponents think they’re “seeing ghosts,” when in reality it’s the loud noise and tricky defense that’s causing unforced errors.
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2. Kansas — Allen Fieldhouse
Kansas basketball has been a pillar of consistency over the last several decades. The Jayhawks have made the NCAA Tournament 31 times in a row and won 14-straight Big 12 regular season titles from ’05-18. Having excellent players and an all-time great coach in Bill Self certainly helps. As does boasting one of the nation’s best home-court advantages.
There is a case to be made that Allen Fieldhouse deserves the top spot. After all, Allen Fieldhouse was named the loudest college basketball arena by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2017 when it reached a decibel level of 130.4 dB during an overtime victory over West Virginia. However, there is only one arena worthy of the top spot…
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1. Duke — Cameron Indoor Stadium
There’s nothing like Cameron Indoor Stadium. It’s the most recognizable site in college basketball, and has been the host of games that have had a lasting impact on the sport’s landscape. The famed Blue Devil loitering in the stands, the signature “D” painted at mid floor, the “Cameron Crazies” bringing the noise, and the most recognizable coach in college basketball patrolling the sideline — everything about Cameron Indoor feels historic and familiar. The storied history of the program plays into the stadium’s legacy.
We’ve seen some of college basketball’s most iconic players call Cameron their home, including (but not limited to) Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, J.J. Redick, and Zion Williamson. The 9,314-capacity arena is sold out every night. Being a smaller stadium, the noise is trapped inside which makes it even more difficult to play in. Duke is tough to beat anywhere, but they are nearly invincible at Cameron Indoor.
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