Duke's Cameron Indoor and the Top 20 Home-Court Advantages in College Hoops

In college basketball, playing on your home court is a major advantage in determining the outcome of a game. Likewise, whether it be a conference enemy or a non-conference foe, having to travel to any arena in the country and leave with a victory is a tough task to accomplish. 

To many students, home games are an opportunity to heckle opposing team's fans and players while cheering on your own school. Some colleges even go to great lengths to distract opponents when they first step foot on campus.

While road teams may be the logical underdogs when stepping foot onto the home team's floor, it is most often the team playing in front of their fans that have to live up to expectations and hold home-court. 

Which teams historically have been the best when playing at home? Which arenas around the country are the toughest for the road team to play? Which home-court advantages truly are the best?

The following is a list of the Top 20 arenas and venues in which the home-court advantage is the strongest (either for the school's strong fan base, historical record at home, or simply a place difficult to compete).

Also, the home record for each school during this season is given while listing out each of the opponents who were able to win one on the road. 

20. Bramlage Coliseum - Kansas State University

Record at home this season: 13-1

Home losses: Colorado

Kansas State began this season as the preseason-favorite to win the Big 12 conference, topping both Kansas and Texas in the early season poll. Although the team hasn't lived up to expectations, their home record at Bramlage Coliseum is one of the best in the country.  

The home loss to Colorado was a low-point in the season, but the Wildcats just recently knocked off their major rivals and current-No. 1 Kansas in front of a loud home crowd. Kansas State has historically played well at home, and comes in at No. 20 on this list. 

19. The McKale Memorial Center - University of Arizona

Record at home this season: 14-0

Home losses: None

The surprise team in the Pac-10, and one of the biggest surprises in the country this season, is none other than the Arizona Wildcat. Led by second-year coach Sean Miller, Arizona is currently the top team in the Pac-10 and holds an overall record of 22-4.

While they do have four losses on the season at this time, however, none have come in front of the home crowd at the McKale Memorial Center. The Wildcats will look to continue their great play at home the rest of this season, including a crucial game against Pac-10 foe Washington. 

18. UD Arena - Dayton University

Record at home this season: 16-3

Home losses: ETSU, Richmond, and Temple

The Dayton Flyers haven't had an outstanding year in the Atlantic 10 to this point in the season, but they have played well at the UD Arena. Although they already have three losses at home this year, the Flyers have historically played well at home, including a 30-game winning streak in the arena just a few years ago. 

While ETSU and Richmond are major blows to Dayton's season, the loss against Temple is not as bad, given the Owls strong play at the time of the loss. While the losses came against lesser-known teams, the Flyers will look to perform well at UD Arena once again when Xavier comes to town next week!  

17. Assembly Hall - University of Indiana

Record at home this season: 12-3

Home losses: Penn State, Ohio State, and Iowa

Since Tom Crean's arrival in Bloomington, Indiana, the Hoosiers have yet to put together a complete season. Although they have a few quality wins since he was first named head coach, the majority of his tenure has consisted of bad loss after bad loss.

This season has been no different, including one horrible home loss (Iowa) and a loss that should have been a win (Penn State). Yes, the Hoosiers have yet to win big games at home; however, given the historical moments that have occurred at Assembly Hall, it comes in at No. 17 on the list.  

16. Memorial Gymnasium - Vanderbilt University

Record at home this season: 14-1

Home losses: Arkansas

Memorial Gymnasium has always been a difficult place to play - just ask any SEC team who has to make the trip to Tennessee each year. The Commodores have historically played well in the confines of their home arena as well, which definitely has a one-of-a-kind set-up: The court is much like a stage, with the playing floor raised above the seats. 

This season, Vanderbilt has just one blemish at home, an 89-78 loss to Arkansas (The Razorbacks also beat the Commodores on the road the year before as well, 89-72). Although Arkansas may have their number, Vanderbilt fans and players alike will tell you there isn't another arena or home-court in the country like Memorial Gymnasium. 

15. Dee Glen Smith Spectrum - Utah State University

Record at home this season: 16-0

Home losses: None

Utah State has won 30 straight home games, including 83 of its last 85 overall, with its only losses coming against Saint Mary's on Dec. 5, 2009 and Fresno State on March 3, 2007. The loss against Saint Mary's in 2009 actually snapped USU's school-record 37-game home winning streak.

The Aggies of Utah State have won 16 of those 30 straight games this season, having yet to be seriously challenged at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. They will look to continue their winning ways when Idaho comes to town on February 26. 

14. Alaska Airlines Arena - University of Washington

Record at home this season: 13-0

Home losses: None

Formerly known as the Bank of America Arena, the Hec Edmundson Pavilion at the University of Washington recently announced that it would change partnerships and be renamed the Alaska Airlines Arena. Whatever the name, the Washington Huskies have always played well in front of their home crowd, owning one of the best home-court advantages on the entire West Coast.

Their perfect record at home this season has also propelled the Huskies to within two games of the Pac-10 leading Arizona Wildcats, who are also noted for having one of the best arenas in all of college basketball. The Huskies, 13-0 at AAA, will continue to be a force in the Pac-10 for the next few years if they continue their strong play at home!

13. Comcast Center - University of Maryland

Record at home this season: 12-3

Home losses: Boston College, Virginia Tech, and Duke

The Comcast Center, which first opened its doors to the public in 2002, has continued to be one of the loudest, and one of the toughest, venues for opposing teams to play in the entire Atlantic Coast Conference. That's saying a lot, especially since other teams and schools in the conference are well-known for their historical arenas.

Although they already have three losses this season, including a blow-out against Duke, Coach Gary Williams and the Terrapins have consistently had one of the top home-winning percentages in the conference. They will look to continue their winning ways at home tonight against as they take on the Wolfpack of NC State. 

12. Littlejohn Coliseum - Clemson University

Record at home this season: 13-2

Home losses: Michigan and North Carolina

Although the Clemson basketball program took a major hit when Oliver Purnell decided to leave the college last summer to coach Big East bottom-feeder DePaul, Littlejohn Coliseum has continued to be one of the toughest arenas in the country for opposing teams to come and leave with a win. 

Much of the credit can go to the Tiger's great fan base, which will consistently fill the arena and cheer them on regardless of the opponent. Though this season has not been stellar, Clemson has continued to dominate at home, and will continue to have one of the top home-court advantages in the country.  

11. Hinkle Fieldhouse - Butler University

Record at home this season: 11-2

Home losses: Evansville and Milwaukee

Coming off a season in which Butler made a cinderella-run through the NCAA Tournament, ending in a loss in the National Championship game to Duke, the Bulldogs have yet to perform well against teams in their conference, yet alone at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Although this season has not produced consistent results like last year, Butler has still performed well in their "Hoosiers"-like basketball arena. The small confines of Hinkle Fieldhouse consistently gives teams fits year in and year out, and will continue to be one of the most difficult places to play in the following years. 

10. Stephen C. O'Connell Center - University of Florida

Record at home this season: 13-3

Home losses: Ohio State, Jacksonville, and South Carolina

After winning consecutive National Championships in 2006 and 2007, the Florida Gators have established themselves as one of the top college basketball programs in the country. In addition to their recent success overall, Florida has consistently played well at home in the O'Connell Center. 

Following a home loss to Ohio State, the Gators have dropped just two more games in Gainesville. However, those losses have be to less-than-stellar opponents (Jacksonville and South Carolina). Florida will look to continue their strong play at home as the SEC regular season slowly begins to wrap up!

9. Gallagher-Iba Arena - Oklahoma State University

Record at home this season: 11-1

Home losses: Texas

A home loss to Texas is nothing to be ashamed of, especially considering how well Oklahoma State has played in Gallagher-Iba Arena since it first opened.

Although they have lost a game at home this season, for the past couple of years the Cowboys have been virtually impossible to beat when playing in front of their home crowd. As the Big Ten season is wrapping up, Oklahoma State is trying to make the loss to the Longhorns their lone blemish at home this year. 

8. Peterson Events Center - Pittsburgh University

Record at home this season: 15-1

Home losses: Notre Dame

Since Jamie Dixon was named head coach at Pittsburgh, the Panthers have been a force to reckon with in the Big East conference, especially when playing at the Peterson Events Center. Whether it be a Big East foe or a non-conference opponent, playing the Pittsburgh on the road is a very difficult task. 

Another reason for the Panther's home dominance has been the large number of fans that come out to every game, consistently cheering on the Pittsburgh basketball team. Although they lost to Notre Dame this year, a loss in the Peterson Events Center has rarely occurred the past few seasons. 

7. The Dean E. Smith Center - University of North Carolina

Record at home this season: 13-0

Home losses: None

Ask any team in the ACC where they would most-like not to play on the road, and the first arena to come to mind is Cameron Indoor at Duke. The Dean E. Smith Center, however, comes in at a very close second, given the Tar Heels great play at home during the past couple of seasons.

After winning the National Championship in 2009, North Carolina struggled the following year - failing to make the NCAA Tournament. Their play at home that season, however, was one of the bright points. The Tar Heels have again put up great numbers at home this year, having yet to lose in front of their home crowd late in the ACC regular season.

6. The Carrier Dome - Syracuse University

Record at home this season: 14-3

Home losses: Villanova, Seton Hall, and Georgetown 

Although Syracuse started the season off strong, reeling off 18 games straight, the Orange have struggled as of late. Home losses to Villanova, Seton Hall, and Georgetown certainly haven't helped their cause, either.

Playing their home games in the Carrier Dome, the same stadium that Syracuse also plays football, certainly does attract many fans to each game - The massive arena holds a large number of people, and continues to break attendance records year after year.

The Orange may continue to struggle the remainder of the season, but one thing is for sure - they will have one of the best home-court advantages in the country!

5. Rupp Arena - University of Kentucky

Record at home this season: 12-0

Home losses: None

Historically, their may not be a better college basketball program in the country than that of Kentucky. And although they struggled mightily for a few years recently, Coach John Calipari has the Wildcats heading in the right direction as he is finishing up his second season as head of the program. 

Recruiting great freshman, such as John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, and Brandon Knight, has certainly helped put Kentucky back on the map as one of the top college basketball teams in the country. The revitalized basketball program also has fans nationally, and consistently has one of the best home-court advantages year in and year out. 

4. The Breslin Center - Michigan State University

Record at home this season: 11-2

Home losses: Texas and Michigan

No one could have predicted that the Michigan State Spartans would have had a dismal season so far, winning just 16 games up to this point and trying to fight for a place in the NCAA Tournament. One thing was for sure coming into the season, however, and that was that the Breslin Center is one of the toughest places to win a game on the road in the country.

With just two losses so far on their home-court, to Texas and their arch-rival Michigan, the Spartans will look to continue their strong play this season in front of the Breslin Center crowd. 

3. The Kohl Center - University of Wisconsin

Record at home this season: 14-0

Home losses: None

The Kohl Center at the University of Wisconsin has been one of the toughest places for opposing teams to play since Bo Ryan took the head coaching job several years ago.In fact, the Badgers now own a 145-11 record at home under Ryan, and in the 2011 season they are 14-0 at the Kohl Center - including a huge upset win against then-No. 1 Ohio State.

The Kohl Center has only been opened since 1998, but given the Badgers home dominance during that span, Wisconsin will continue to have one of the biggest home-court advantages in the country!

2. Allen Fieldhouse - Kansas University

Record at home this season: 13-1

Home losses: Texas

With the exception of the Texas game (in which Kansas led for a majority of the game, only to see their lead shrink down the stretch and ultimately end in a loss), the Jay-hawks have performed well in front of their home crowd.

The same can also be said historically, as Kansas has consistently won big games the past couple of seasons on their home floor. Playing in one of the most well-known college basketball venues in the country, Allen Fieldhouse, the Jay-hawks will continue to have one of the best home-court advantages in the entire country! 

1. Cameron Indoor Stadium - Duke University

Record at home this season: 14-0

Home losses: None

This one was a no-brainer. To emphasize how dominate Duke has been at home, look at some of the active streaks that the Blue Devils have compiled at Cameron: Duke has won 85 non-conference games in a row at Cameron, 53 straight against unranked teams and 31 consecutively overall at home (Longest active streak in college basketball).

Over the years, Duke has been one of the top teams at home in the country. Coach Mike Krzyzewski expects his teams to get the job done on their court, and then they can spend time preparing for tough road games the following days. That approach has worked, and nearly to perfection.

The history and atmosphere of Cameron has separated it from all other gymnasiums in college basketball. The small arena makes for loud noise, fans closer to the action, and therefore one of the toughest environments to play in all of basketball.

Many colleges today believe that the nicer the buildings and gymnasiums are on campus, the better. In Durham, NC, tradition has reigned supreme and will continue to do so in the future.