导出博客文章Over a two-week span, were answering the following question for college
basketballs 10 best conferences: Which venue in each conference is the toughest
place to play? A number of factors, not just capacity and attendance, could
affect a venues place in the order. Where does your school fall??Oh, sure, the
2015-16 season may have extended the Big Tens national title drought to the
better part of two decades, but it also extended a much less ignominious, and
borderline mind-blowing streak: it was the 40th straight year the league led the
nation in attendance.If a difficult venue is a full venue, the Big Ten has more
of both than most. Not that there arent exceptions ...14. Penn State Nittany
Lions: Bryce Jordan Center, opened in 1995Speaking of exceptions, heres one that
proves the rule. The Bryce Jordan Center is a perfectly nice and relatively new
arena that few people actually ever enter, at least for Penn State basketball
games. In a gym that seats 15,000, the Nittany Lions averaged just 6,909 per
game last season. They have a dark gym, Indiana guard Yogi Ferrell said in
March. And its a little quiet.Fun fact: In 2011, the Nittany Lions were barred
from practicing in their own gym for two straight weeks by famous rock
artists/time lords Bon Jovi (Week 1) and a career fair (Week 2). Ouch.13.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Rutgers Athletic Center, opened in 1977 Basketball is
an intimate sport, which is why a smallish arena can be its perfect setting.
(See: Indoor Stadium, Cameron.) In the past, Rutgers home gym, also known as the
RAC, was exactly that. In this world, the Scarlet Knights have won three (!) Big
Ten games in the past two seasons. They all came at the RAC.Fun fact: One of
those three wins came against back-to-back Final Four participant Wisconsin.
(Frank Kaminsky was hurt, but still.)12. Northwestern Wildcats: Welsh-Ryan
Arena, opened in 1952 Welsh-Ryan is small, most of the seats are bleachers and,
given Chicagos crush of Big Ten alumni, most league games are split more or less
50-50 between home and visiting fans. Its easy, and fun, to pretend youre at a
really well-played high school game. None of which makes it a difficult place to
play.Fun fact: Northwestern hosted the first-ever NCAA tournament in 1939, in
the old Patten Gymnasium. McGaw Memorial Hall -- which technically houses
Welsh-Ryan Arena, plus some other stuff -- hosted the Final Four in 1956.11.
Nebraska Cornhuskers: Pinnacle Bank Arena, opened in 2013 Is this a tough place
to play? Its too early to say. Pinnacle is basically brand new, and its first
season (2013-14) was a rousing success. Nebraska went 19-13, lost just once at
home and made the NCAA tournament for the first time in forever. The Cornhuskers
have regressed in the two seasons since, though, which has made it hard to
appraise, tough-venue-wise.Fun fact: Pinnacle suite-goers can enjoy 10 sushi
rolls, 12 pieces of nigiri and 12 pieces of sashimi for $204. And why not?
Nebraska is famous for its sushi, right?10. Ohio State Buckeyes: Value City
Arena, opened in 1998 Argument in favor: Ohio State has had its best, most
sustained period of basketball success since it moved to Value City Arena in
1998.Argument against: Coach Thad Matta could probably win basketball games in a
derelict Eastern European airplane hangar.Argument in favor: In 2010-11, in a
move rare among major college programs, and in the hopes of boosting atmosphere,
OSU actually listened to its fans and relocated student seats behind team
benches.Argument against: Its official title is Value City Arena at The Jerome
Schottenstein Center.Fun fact: OSU designed its current home with an eye toward
preempting Columbus own pro-arena ambitions ... which is how a program that
averaged fewer than 13,000 fans per game last season (which is a lot!) wound up
in a 19,000-seat gym.9. Iowa Hawkeyes: Carver-Hawkeye Arena, opened in
1983Carver-Hawkeye has high highs and low lows. When the Hawks are rolling and a
big opponent is in town, its one of the toughest buildings anywhere. Any other
time -- or, say, in an early-Saturday-afternoon start, when an already-small
student section has been decimated by whatever its members did at The Summit 12
hours earlier -- it can be downright dreary.Fun fact: Carvers most unique
feature is that it resides almost entirely underground, in a concrete bowl
carved (sorry) out of the side of a hill, which earned its designers the
prestigious American Institute of Architects Honors Award in 1984.8. Minnesota
Golden Gophers: Williams Arena, opened in 1928 The only reason Williams Arena
isnt higher (er, lower) on this list is because it wasnt difficult to play
Richard Pitinos team anywhere in 2015-16. Despite that 8-23 (2-16 Big Ten)
disaster, though, The Barn hosted an average of 11,000 Gopher die-hards per
game; their raucous dedication was rewarded with a cathartic Feb. 18 upset of
Maryland. It helps that The Barn is one of the nations most historic sports
venues, one so well-designed that it remains as fashionable now as at any point
in the past 90 years.Fun fact: The Minnesota Field House was built in 1928, the
same year as Butlers famed Hinkle Fieldhouse. From 1928 until 1950, Hinkle was
the biggest college hoops arena in the country; after a 1950 renovation (and a
name change), Williams Arena became the largest -- a title it held until 1971.
Good run.7. Illinois Fighting Illini: State Farm Center, opened in 1963 During
the brief Bill Self era, and well into Bruce Webers (initially) successful
tenure, State Farm Center Assembly Hall (it was renamed in 2013) was one of the
most imposing buildings in college basketball. Illinois student section, the
Orange Krush, can be as genuinely funny as any in the country, though the
on-court inspiration has been lacking of late.Fun fact: It looks like?a
repurposed vessel from a faraway alien planet.6. Michigan Wolverines: Crisler
Center, opened in 1967In 2007, for example, a first-time visitor to Ann Arbor,
en route to Crisler, could drive by Michigan Stadium in all its glory only to
find the basketball arena a drastic comparative letdown. Those days are over.
Not only are the John Beilein-era Wolverines better, and the attendance and
enthusiasm much higher than in the years preceding him, but a recent renovation
has made the building one of the Big Tens more impressive fixtures. Putting
students so close to the floor is a plus.Fun fact: Its referred to as The House
that Cazzie Built, in honor of Cazzie Russell, a two-time All-American and the
No. 1 pick in the 1966 NBA draft. Russell is the first (and only) Wolverine to
have his number retired to the Crisler rafters. Other honored jerseys include
legendary NBA coach Rudy Tomjanovich and former All-Star Glen Rice.5. Maryland
Terrapins: Xfinity Center, opened in 2002 First of all, the Xfinity Center does
not seem 14 years old. By the time you hit the parking lot, the idea that the
building opened the same year Gary Williams led Juan Dixon and Co. to a national
title seems factually impossible. Yet its true. Also true: Terps fans are every
bit as crazy in this building as they were in the beloved old Cole Field House,
a characteristic accentuated by the students courtside omnipresence. Granted,
they dont have to deal with DMV traffic, but still. They arrive early, they get
loud, and they stay that way.Fun fact: The WiFi is pretty bad. (To be fair, so
is the Verizon Centers.)4. Purdue Boilermakers: Mackey Arena, opened in 1967
Mackey Arena has seen some significant quality-of-life upgrades in recent years,
but the guts of the building remain mostly unchanged. This is a good thing.
Mackey is, as weve noted in the past, a concrete dungeon of noise, one of the
most underrated, acoustically punishing and generally inhospitable facilities in
college basketball. The students hanging over the elevated baseline stands, more
or less eye-level with the shooters angle at the basket, are a problem, sure.
But mostly, its just. So. Loud.Fun fact:?Purdue great Brian Cardinal is
installing a replica Mackey Arena floor at a public court in Valparaiso,
Indiana, an initially awkward-seeming spot. Valpo has its own hoops thing going,
which is explained by its status as the hometown of fellow Purdue alum Robbie
Hummel. Either way, as public courts go, this is awesome.3. Wisconsin Badgers:
Kohl Center, opened in 1998Since the Kohl Centers inaugural season, the
Wisconsin Badgers have won 259 of their 298 home games in the facility.
Considering the Badgers lost five of those home games during last seasons
atypical 9-9 start -- when Bo Ryan retired, Greg Gard took over, UW closed the
season with a 13-4 burst and a Sweet 16 finish -- its safe to say the Kohl
Centers uncongeniality for opponents is an ongoing concern.Fun fact: The
building itself is named after Herb Kohl, former U.S. senator and retail
magnate, who donated $25 million toward its construction, the largest donation
in the history of the Wisconsin university system. Some fans used to (or still?)
call the building Herb Garden, which is chill.2. Michigan State Spartans:
Breslin Student Events Center, opened in 1989 Look, its Michigan State. Its the
Breslin Center. Do you really need further proof? Fine: Coach Tom Izzos home
record, across 21 seasons as the Spartans head coach, is 294-38. That may not be
Bill Self-level, Ive-won-more-league-titles-than-Ive-lost-home-games-crazy, but
its close. And the fans, fed by success and led by a cacophonous lower-level
student section, ensure a difficult stay for any visiting team.Fun fact: The
Breslin Center floor is the same one upon which the Spartans, led by Mateen
Cleaves et al., won the 2000 national title.1. Indiana Hoosiers: Assembly Hall,
opened in 1971 Were this a list of the best basketball venues in Indiana, Hinkle
Fieldhouse would win. (Though there would be a few mid-century, 7,000-seat high
school arenas in the running.) Toughest, though? Thats Assembly Hall. Its
bonkers-loud, even when the team is just so-so. The sideline stands rise
impossibly, and imposingly, into the rafters. And you can forgive the student
sections incongruous split between the baseline, corners and upper deck for two
reasons:The deep-pocketed who occupy the prime sideline seats are as locked-in
and rowdy as most 20-year-olds.The 17,472-seat gym typically packs in 7,800
students a night. No setting in college basketball has more. Few are this
daunting.Fun fact: Everyone remembers the Christian Watford shot, and rightfully
so. Fewer remember the Marco Killingsworth game, for a variety of reasons. But
it was cool too.
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The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full
backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last
off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the
club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings
"maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch"
and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad.Gerwyn Price
and Benito van de Pas claimed their second Players Championship titles of the
season with wins in Coventry over the weekend. Price came into the weekend
having won the last Players event in Barnsley and he added a second consecutive
title when claiming the honours and the £10,000 top prize at the Ricoh Arena on
Saturday.With the worlds top four players absent following Thursdays Betway
Premier League Play-Offs and ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters - it was
former rugby player Price who set the standard averaging over 108 in the final
against Jamie Caven who made a welcome return to form. Price beat Terry Temple,
Dirk van Duijvenbode, Mervyn King and Cristo Reyes to book a place in the
quarter-finals and his last eight encounter with ninth seed Mensur Suljovic was
to prove his toughest test of the day.The 31-year-old came through 6-5 against
the Austrian before beating Ronnie Baxter in the semi-final to set up a meeting
with Caven who beat Paul Milford, Simon Stevenson, Matthew Dennant, Scott Dale,
Andy Jenkins and third seed Dave Chisnall on route.Price proved too strong in
the final winning 6-1 with his 108 average too much for Caven, who averaged 101.
Benito van de Pas claimed Sundays honours in Coventry Sundays event and top
prize was claimed by Dutchman Van de Pas who was also a winner in Barnsley
earlier this year when he beat Michael van Gerwen in the final.ddddddddddddThe
23-year-old whitewashed Joe Cullen 6-0 in the final to claim the first prize
having seen off Christian Kist, Andy Boulton, World Youth Championship runner-up
Nathan Aspinall and Jason Wilson to back the last eight.Van de Pas then eased
past Justin Pipe 6-3 to set up a semi-final meeting with Darren Webster who he
saw off 6-1.Cullens run to the final was impressive beating Simon Preston, Andy
Hamilton, Antonio Alcinas, Andrew Gilding before the notable scalps of Dave
Chisnall in the quarter-final and Steve Beaton in the last four.However, the
youngster will have to be content with the £6,000 runners-up prize and a second
ProTour final after running into an inspired Van de Pas in the final. Also See:
MVG claims Premier League crown Mardle hails MVG World Cup of Darts draw Darts
on Sky ' ' '
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