ESPN: Ranking Big East Toughest Venues

[DudeAnon]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... difficulty

Here is my personal opinion:
1) Xavier
2) Nova
3) Creighton
4) Marquette
5) Butler
6) Providence
7) Seton Hall
8) St. John's
9) Georgetown
10 Depaul

[JohnW22]

I don't think it's too hard to win at Butler and Providence. Also what does the Crosstown Shootout Brawl happening at Cintas Center have anything to do with this list? Oh it's ESPN

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

Here is my personal opinion:
1) Xavier

No disagreement with that.

Xavier Dayton Game Notes – goxavier.com - January 31, 2013

XAVIER UNIVERSITY MUSKETEERS (12-8, 5-2 in conference) 66, UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON FLYERS (12-8, 2-4) 61

Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 9PM, Cintas Center

The Xavier Musketeers defeated the Dayton Flyers 66 to 61 tonight and extended their home-court winning streak against Dayton to 28 games. Dayton last defeated the Musketeers in Cincinnati on January 10, 1981, 74-72 at Riverfront Coliseum, now known as US Bank Arena.

With tonight’s victory the Musketeers have compiled a record of 170-23 (.881) at Cintas Center, in their 13th season at Cintas Center. Xavier has compiled a 89-11 (.890) record against Atlantic 10 foes at Cintas Center since it opened for play in 2000. Since 2007 Xavier has lost to a conference opponent only once, against 51 wins (51-1, .981). Saint Louis beat XU at Cintas Center, 73-68, on January 25, 2012.

Yesterday ESPN similarly ranked the Atlantic 10 Venues.

[Hall2012]

Now I don't expect the Prudential Center to be significantly higher up this list, because the reality is the Pirates don't draw a great crowd, but the "7000 fans in a cavernous 18000 seat arena statement" is misleading as they curtain off the upper level to cap its capacity closer to 10k and create a more intimate feel. And when they do fill it up for big games- it's not exactly an easy place to play.

That being said, if you're not a top 25 team or a local rival, you'll mostly be playing in front of empty seats. And that certainly needs to be taken into account, which is why I agree with the low ranking.

[BEX]

As an X fan, I think the toughest venue this year will be Creighton. Toughest travel schedule for the rest of the League, playing in front of 18k raucous fans against a very good home team. It will be very difficult to come outta Omaha with a win.

[HugeFan]

1. THE DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
2. everybody else

[Chalmers0]

I have no idea how the top 3 isn't Xavier, Villanova, Creighton in some order. I like Hinkle for what it is. The overall atmosphere/setting is phenomenal and very different than all the other places but I find it far from intimidating.

[FriarsForever]

The thing about coming to the Dunk is that PC has always played out of their asses against ranked teams there. Even in down years, like during the Marshon Brooks era, they had like 3 or 4 wins against ranked teams at home out of a 15 win season. PC also loses games at home all the time to teams they should absolutely handle, but it doesn't leave the lasting impression that knocking off number 1 Pittsburgh, or number 7 Villanova, or number 4 UCONN like 6 times, etc. leaves. Even Doug Gottlieb (who I actually hate) was quoted on ESPN after one of those ridiculous upsets saying "The Dunk, where ranked teams go to die."

[MUBoxer]

3 years ago we had the largest home winning streak in the country and had top 10 attendance, I'd have been all outraged by this list. Now I'm just like oh well what're you gonna do

[cu blujs]

Honestly, I would put Creighton somewhere in the middle. Around here, our traditions including the obligatory annual message board strings about (1) why our student attendance/support is so crappy and how little the student section does to create a tough environment, and (2) how all the blue hairs and corporate seat guests with the best seats sit on their hands and crab at those around them to sit down. Sure, for some games the place can get rocking, but in reality those are not the majority of games (although it is generally much better when most BE teams come to town). Add in the fact that the arena is very much a shooter-friendly arena. It seems that visiting teams shoot well here more often than not. We have lost 20 home games in the last 6 seasons. Not terrible, but not exactly unbeatable at home.