10 great places to get pumped for NCAA action
— -- With the college basketball season in full swing, students, alumni and fans of the game are turning out in force nationwide to cheer their teams. Author, sports commentator and basketball aficionado John Feinstein gives his list of favorite venues for watching college hoops to Tim Smight for USA TODAY.
Allen Fieldhouse University of Kansas Lawrence
With the arena named for legendary Kansas coach Phog Allen and the court named for the game's inventor James Naismith, 53-year-old Allen Fieldhouse is steeped in basketball history. The Rock Chalk chant before each game is one of the signature cheers in all of college sports. "You haven't lived until you've heard 'Rock Chalk Jayhawk' in Allen Fieldhouse on a cold winter night," Feinstein says. 800-344-2957; kuathletics.com
Rose Hill Gym Fordham University New York
"Rose Hill, home of the Fordham Rams, is the oldest facility in the country being used for Division I basketball, and it feels that way inside," Feinstein says. "The gym has been in continuous use since it opened in 1925. It's tiny — seating just 3,470 — but has a wonderful ambience. If you're a college hoops fan, it's definitely worth the trip." 718-817-4300; www.fordham.edu/athletics
University Arena University of New Mexico Albuquerque
Home to the New Mexico Lobos, University Arena — affectionately known as The Pit — was opened in 1966. The nickname is a reference to the facility's unique subterranean construction — the floor sits 37 feet below ground level. The steeply tiered arena seats more than 18,000. "It's a truly unique place with a highly charged atmosphere," Feinstein says. "When the players walk on to the court in The Pit, it's like watching Roman gladiators emerging into a wall of sound." 505-925-5858; golobos.cstv.com
Hart Recreation Center College of the Holy Cross Worcester, Mass.
"This is another tiny gem, seating just 3,600," Feinstein says. "When it's packed, it really rocks — the student section is called The Hart Attack, which tells you all you need to know. Hanging from the rafters are championship banners from 1947 and 1954, a reminder that this is the school where Bob Cousy and Tom Heinsohn played before going on to the Celtics and the Hall of Fame." 508-793-2573; goholycross.cstv.com
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