Duke’s Cameron Crazies and the Wildest Fan Bases in College Basketball
While watching my beloved Boston College Eagles take down Providence last night, I noticed a dire lack of fan support.
Despite this local rivalry that dates back to their Big East years, the stadium struggled to reach half capacity. Compare this to an average Duke game and it’s night and day. It’s like comparing Kim to Khloe Kardashian in terms of looks -- or any of the Kardashians to a literate individual in terms of intelligence.
The Blue Devils fans are amongst the most die-hard fans in any sport. They paint their faces. Set up a makeshift city outside the stadium. They stand on their feet and scream until their voice gets horse – then they yell some more.
Their 9,000-seat stadium includes a ridiculous 1,200-seat student section. The Cameron Crazies are clearly amongst the wildest fans in college basketball, but are they the craziest? The zaniest? The most devoted?
Here we take the time to examine the Duke Blue Devils and the 20 wildest fan bases in college ball.
20. Clemson
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Seating approximately 10,000 fans Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum (Yeah!) is one of the more under looked venues in the nation.
The Tigers home stadium has seen Clemson knock off 43 ranks teams including 22 upsets over top-10 programs. Originally built in 1966, the school spent more than $30 million on a 2003 renovation.
With a massive student section located right underneath the hoop, the Littlejohn Coliseum is quickly becoming one of the most feared venues in the ACC.
19. Xavier
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The $46 million Cintas Center opened in 2000 and has quickly become one of the most difficult places to visit. The men’s and women’s basketball team have thrived at home, both teams winning more than 100 home games in the opening eight seasons.
In fact the Musketeers lost only one home game last season and have won 16 straight going into tonight’s matchup with Butler.
Xavier has the greatest home advantage in the Atlantic-10, and number amongst the best fans in all of college basketball.
18. Louisville
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Before moving to their 22,000-seat atrocity, the Cardinals sixth man ranked amongst the nations best.
While playing at Freedom Hall the team amassed a 682-141 record and a top five ranking in attendance for a mind-blowing 29 consecutive seasons. Unfortunately, this basketball shrine was torn down to build the $238 million (and quite disturbingly named) KFC Yum! Arena.
While I can’t imagine the new stadium will have any of the passion or heart of Freedom Hall, it will be interesting to see this new fan experience.
17. Tennessee
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Ever since Bruce Pearl took over the school, things have been much different – and I’m not just talking about NCAA sanctions.
Pearl’s infectious energy has been a boon for recruiting while riling up an already excited student body. Stunts like showing up to the women’s games with a painted chest or getting the legendary Pat Summit to cheerlead during timeouts are only some of his antics used to build excitement on campus.
The school’s 21,678 capacity Thompson-Boling Arena used to be the nation’s largest basketball-specific arena and allowed Pearl to compile a 47-2 home record in his first three seasons.
16. Oregon
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Despite being one of the nation’s oldest arenas (opened in 1926) Oregon’s McArthur court is still one of the toughest places to play.
Sadly, the 9,000-seat stadium is being replaced with the brand new Matthew Knight Arena in 2011, but it’s worth recognizing a place that was once named the “best gym in America” by The Sporting News.
Sports writer Bill Kinter once said of the arena affectionately known as the Pit, “[the stadium] will give you chills even if there is no game being played."
15. Stanford
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The 7,300 seat Maples Pavilion may not be one of the larger venues in college hoops, but it’s intimacy magnifies the noise and makes opposing players feel as though the fans are directly on top of them.
The student section and pep band are located courtside (ala Duke) rather than under the basket which adds so much noise and excitement to the games.
14. Arkansas
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The Razorbacks hold one of the nations best home winning percentages of all-time (.644) and continue to be amongst the best fans in the game.
The massive (19,368) Bud Walton Arena is the fifth largest on-campus and consistently fills up. Arkansas has managed a 217-55 record over the last seventeen seasons while ranking amongst the nation’s top 17 in attendance in each of those years.
Although the fan support reached its peak during the 90’s, fan dedication remains high in Arkansas as they number amongst the nation’s top fans.
13. Oklahoma State
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Built in 1938, Gallagher-Iba Arena is ancient yet still relevant. Nicknamed the Madison Square Garden of the Plains, this 13,611-seat stadium is one of the most raucous arena’s you will find.
Gallagher’s house of horrors is well known throughout the wrestling world, but the stadium is also a world-class basketball venue that earned the title of best college gymnasium from CBS Sports in 2001.
12. New Mexico
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Surprised to see the little guy makes the list? Strange as it may sound, New Mexico was the only team ranked in the top 10 in attendance every season from the opening of The Pit in 1966 through the 2000-01 season. In fact, an independent study by The St. Petersburg Times named it "the loudest arena in the country."
The school has a handful of fun traditions like the Lobo Howl (midnight madness) and the visitor’s introductions (fans read the newspaper and yell out, “Who’s that? When players on the opposing team are introduced). They may be a mid-major, but their 17,000+ seat stadium is always rocking.
11. Pittsburgh
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Opened in 2000, the Petersen Events Center has been less than hospitable to opposing teams. In the arena’s ten-year history, Pitt has posted an unbelievable 132-`11 home record including a 7-0 mark against top five schools.
Fans passionately root on their hometown Panthers and there is almost never an available seat in the 12,500 capacity stadium known simply as “The Pete.”
10. Illinois
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Not to be confused with Indiana’s home court, Illinois’ Assembly Hall was opened in 1963 and has seen almost half a century’s worth of phenomenal basketball.
Yes this is a team that once couldn’t host a first-round NIT game because they had already booked Cirque du Soleil, but they nonetheless have passionate and devoted fans.
The stadium sells out with great regularity and opposing Big 10 teams always fear traveling to face the Fighting Illini. They’re crazy, passionate and deserve a spot amongst the nation’s best fans.
9. Utah State
12 of 20I know what you’re thinking, how on earth could a school like Utah State rank amongst the crazed fans in college basketball. Heck, I bet theres a number of you who have never knew there was a Utah State University.
A member of the MAC since 2005. fans go nuts when the Aggies play. Maybe it’s because there is little else to do in Utah, or maybe they are just passionate basketball fans, but whatever the reason Utah State enjoys one of the nation’s best home court advantages.
8. North Carolina
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The Dean A. Smith Center (more commonly known as the Dean Dome) in the fifth biggest stadium in college basketball. Through the 2009-2010 Center, the Tar Heels had a home record of 282-56, which averages out to a 12-2 home mark.
Opposing coaches have feared the Dean Dome for years including Ohio State’s Thad Matta who said, “I think I’ve never been in a building that was as loud as that building was at times.”
Former players including Sam Cassell have degraded the UNC crowd claming they are more or a laid-back crowd, but from my experience that’s a far cry from the truth.
With a devout local and alumni support and an expanded student section, the Dean Dome is one of the toughest places to play in all of college basketball.
7. UConn
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Since opening in 1990, the Huskies have compiled an astounding 125-17 home record while playing at the Gampel Pavilion.
The Huskies may only play half of their home games in Storrs (many of the teams games are played in the larger XL Center), yet they enjoy one of the nation’s finest home court advantages.
6. UCLA
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Okay, perhaps UCLA isn’t quite the powerhouse they were back in the day. These aren’t the Bill Walton and Kareem-led teams that went undefeated for all those years. And no, they’ll likely never approach their reality-distorting 88-win season.
Still, the fans at the Pauley Pavilion number amongst the nation’s most crazed. The school only refuses to hoist their final four banners from recent years based on the rational that only national championship banners deserve to go up.
This type of winning mentality from the players and fans play a large part in making UCLA basketball what it is today.
5. Syracuse
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For whatever reason, the Carrier Dome serves alcohol. Not only is this an unbelievable anomaly on the college basketball scene, but also it might just help fire up some of the fans.
The 33,000 capacity stadium opened up back in 1979 and has bore witness to some unbelievable crowds. A school-record 34,616 fans showed up last season to watch their Orange beat down Villanova by a score of 95-77.
Syracuse has a 35 game non-conference home winning streak and lost only two games at home last season. The Dome makes for a stupendous home court advantage and the ‘Cuse fans are among the nation’s most devout.
4. Indiana
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Indiana’s basketball program has been derailed quite a bit with following Kelvin Sampson’s sanction-warranting behavior, but nonetheless Indiana enjoys one of the top home court advantages in the sport.
Even with a poorly constructed stadium that features steep balconies and obstructed vision seats, fans flock to Assembly Hall to watch their beloved Hoosiers in action.
The school has a long and prestigious history including 35 NCAA tournament appearances, 20 Big Ten Conference championships and five NCAA championships. The team ranked 16th in the nation in attendance during the 2008-2009 season despite a roster full of freshmen and walk-ons and a 6-25 record.
Faithful fans are devoted whether they win or lose, and that rare characteristic is worthy of praise.
3. Kentucky
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Historically Kentucky has been one of college basketball’s elite programs so perhaps their success at home should come as a shock to nobody. Through 2008, the Wildcats had compiled the Nation’s best home winning percentage with a staggering 1988-635 record (.758).
The diehard fans at legendary Rupp Arena consistently lead the nation in attendance while offering one of the most distinct home court advantages in the country.
In fact, “The Cathedral of Basketball” as it’s been nicknamed can hold 23,500 fans and has led the nation in attendance a whopping 22 times in the last 34 seasons.
2. Duke
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Duke fans are absolutely nuts. The stand and scream all game unlike any team I have ever seen. When Dick Vitale comes to town? He gets body surfed through the amped up crowd.
The 9,000-seat venue seems tiny to some, but its smaller capacity creates an intimate environment that stokes fan comradely. USA Today has referred to Cameron Indoor as “the toughest road game in the nation,” which is heavily supported by Duke’s 48-2 home record these past three years.
In fact -- as of 2008 – Duke has an all-time record of 722-148 at home. They even managed a ridiculous streak of 95 consecutive non-conference home wins that ended with a December 2, 1995 loss against Illinois.
Duke offers an unbelievable home court advantage, but one home crowd stands above the rest…
1. Kansas
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Opened in 1955, the 16,000+ Allen Fieldhouse is easily one of the most intense environments on the college hoops scene. Nicknamed the Phog, Kansas has been unbeatable at home during the Bill Self era.
Kansas already sported the nation’s third best home winning percentage all time with a 1970-793 record before Self’s domination at home. Since leaving Illinois for Kansas in 2003, Self has compiled an unparalleled 114-6 home record (including 64 in a row) only helping to further the arena’s impressive reputation.
A November issue of ESPN the magazine actually named Allen Fieldhouse the loudest college basketball arena in the country. The history is rich, the fans are crazed, and the stadium is rocking. This gives Kansas the wildest fan base in college basketball.
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