Why March is Madness

Inside Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, the seconds ticked off the clock. How could this possibly be happening? Middle Tennessee State, a 15 seed, was not just beating second-seeded Michigan State - they were controlling them. Upsets happen every year in the NCAA Tournament, but 15 seeds beating two seeds are about as rare as finding a Skip Bayless fan. There just aren't very many. But as the final seconds passed, the mighty Michigan State Spartans were defeated.

And millions of brackets were busted less than 36 hours into the tournament.

More than 13 million brackets were submitted on ESPN.com this year and roughly 40 million Americans filled out a bracket. Zero have a perfect one heading into the Final Four. Upsets like Middle Tennessee State, Arkansas Little Rock, Hawaii and Yale made sure of that, but what keeps people coming back? What makes March Madness so appealing?

There's something about the NCAA Tournament that brings people together. Head to the water cooler at work on the Friday morning of the first round games and the conversation will certainly revolve around the tournament. People who haven't watched a game all year will fill out a bracket and everyone from President Obama to Tim McGraw will weigh in on who they feel will cut down the nets. Every year there are pleas for the Thursday and Friday of the first round to be deemed national holidays, and 14 percent of fans in a Yahoo Sports poll said they take sick days to stay home and watch.

Picking a bracket is an impossible task. Busted brackets are the norm and every year people get frustrated when an upset hurts their chances of winning. Money is lost, pride is hurt and a chance at bragging rights is crushed. How is your friend's wife who knows nothing about hoops beating you in the pool? It's March.

But we keep coming back. Here's why: March Madness never fails to entertain us. You might have picked Texas, yet you can't help but go crazy when Paul Jesperson drains a half court shot to give Northern Iowa the win. Perhaps you have a buddy that goes to Purdue so you picked the Boilers, but when UALR's Josh Hagins cans a three to send the game to overtime you forget about the bracket. Your girlfriend's family is from Cincinnati so you went with Cincinnati and Xavier, but you still revel in the madness when St. Joseph's and Wisconsin win at the buzzer.

Syracuse? You had them losing in the first round, but there's something about a 10-seed in the Final Four that makes you not care so much. That's the beauty of March Madness. The matchups that it creates and the Cinderella stories that are written keep us coming back year after year. Who will etch their name into college basketball lore? The tournament has a way of creating legends and we can't help but watch it unfold. No one wants to miss the moment.

So, you might have ripped up your bracket by Friday afternoon of the first round. But next year when Selection Sunday passes, you and those other 40 million Americans will be coming right back to fill out a bracket and watch. 

Because March is madness and we can't get enough.

College Basketball 2013-14 Top 25

Kentucky's six McDonald's All-Americans

How to define college basketball? Is it a guard's game or a big man's game? Is it a freshman's game or an upperclassman's game? Is the focus on who left or who stayed? Here's the answer to all three questions: both. In the ever-changing landscape of basketball at the collegiate level there will not a year more undefinable than this one. Some teams (Kentucky) will rely heavily on freshmen, but others (Michigan State) will call on their veterans to take them to Dallas. Guard play is the backbone for some schools while others will score through the post.

With the season just around the corner, here is the World of Wadley Top 25. Apologies for the incredibly long post, but that's what happens when you have to rundown 25 teams. Enjoy...

1. Kentucky Wildcats -- SEC
Can you have too much of a good thing? We're about to find out. John Calipari has six McDonald's All-Americans in the freshmen class and those have fans thinking national title in Lexington. Combine the six freshmen with two key returners in Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley-Stein and the 'Cats have a title team.

2. Michigan State Spartans -- Big Ten
Talent, depth and experience. This is how Michigan State usually gets the job done and this year is no different. Gary Harris decided to stay in East Lansing for another year and that means Tom Izzo and MSU should be in the Final Four. Adreian Payne anchors the inside and Branden Dawson is now fully recovered and confident after his ACL injury. If these Spartans stay healthy they could make the school's seventh Final Four trip during Izzo's tenure.

3. Duke Blue Devils -- ACC
There is not a team in the nation with a more lethal lineup at the wing position than Duke does. Rasheed Sulaimon averaged 11.6 points during a solid freshman campaign and he is joined by a transfer, Rodney Hood, who has the potential to be great. Hood comes from Mississippi State where he averaged 10.3 points two years ago. Add in one of the most talented freshman in the nation in Jabari Parker and this is a team with some serious talent.

4. Louisville Cardinals -- AAC
When Russ Smith decided to stay in Louisville for another season it immediately put the Cards in the title talk. Winning back-to-back titles is no easy task, but with their leading scorer, Smith, back and the return of last year's Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Luke Hancock, maybe Louisville has a chance. Several other returners will help carry the Cards to an AAC title and the Final Four.

Marcus Smart

5. Kansas Jayhawks -- Big 12
KU has had the Big 12 in a choke hold for about a decade now and the hype surrounding their star freshman Andrew Wiggins is immense. Wiggins is hailed the best player since LeBron James, but how far can he take the Jayhawks? Perry Ellis must make big strides inside this season. The other addition to the program that many have overlooked is the transfer of Tarik Black. A 6'9" beast in the paint, Black's addition is huge for Bill Self.

6. Arizona Wildcats -- Pac-12
Sean Miller has landed several McDonald's All-Americans at Zona, but none bigger than star freshman Aaron Gordon. Gordon is tabbed an All-American by several different media outlets and will be added to a frontcourt that was already solid. Sophomores Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski both had solid freshmen campaigns. Nick Johnson will anchor the backcourt.

7. Michigan Wolverines -- Big Ten
Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. both went to the NBA, but there is plenty left in Ann Arbor for the Wolverines to have another great season. Start with Mitch McGary, who came on strong at the end of last season and, if he can stay on the floor for extended minutes, is going to be an All-American. Glenn Robinson III is also back and so is sharpshooter Nik Stauskas. Expect the winner of the Big Ten to come from the state of Michigan.

8. Oklahoma State Cowboys -- Big 12
It's a rare day when a lottery pick decides to stay in school for another year, but Marcus Smart did just that. Because of his decision, OK State is a real threat to dethrone Kansas in the Big 12. Also returning is Le'Bryan Nash and Markel Brown, meaning that the Cowboys have the top three scorers from the conference back on their roster. Depth may be an issue, but there's no denying the talented trio in Stillwater.

9. North Carolina Tar Heels -- ACC
Here is the biggest question mark in the nation. P.J. Hairston was surrounded by controversy all offseason, but somehow will get to play basketball this season. That's good news for the Heels because they need his shooting. They also need James Michael McAdoo to continue making strides. Add in some development from Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson and UNC could have a very good team.

C.J. Fair

10. Syracuse Orange -- ACC
It's all about C.J. Fair for the Orange. He is the returning leader in points, rebounds and assists and is one of the few proven players on the roster. Rakeem Christmas and DaJuan Coleman are the others, but Syracuse needs Christmas to be more of a presence of this season. The Orange will hand the reins to Tyler Ennis at point guard. Ennis is a true freshman.

11. Florida Gators -- SEC
Billy Donovan has already suspended three of his players for multiple games to start the season, but no need to worry. The Gators are almost always a lock to make a deep run in March and this year will be no different. Contrary to their conference-rival Kentucky, Florida has a veteran-loaded roster headlined by Patric Young. Yet Donovan expects big contributions from freshman Kasey Hill, a McDonald's All-American.

12. Ohio State Buckeyes -- Big Ten
Don't consider us big Buckeye believers, but they do have the talent to be great. However, they have question marks. Aaron Craft is a heady point guard, but needs to be more of an option when it comes to scoring. LaQuinton Ross and Lenzelle Smith Jr. will shoulder the scoring load while Sam Thompson and Amir Williams will be nice complementary pieces.

13. Wisconsin Badgers -- Big Ten
Every year Bo Ryan has been at Wisconsin they have finished in the top four in the Big Ten. It's going to happen again. Book it. The only area to be skeptical of is the post. Frank Kaminsky will be counted on heavily inside. Ben Brust and Traevon Jackson will handle the backcourt duties. Keep an eye on Sam Dekker. The sophomore could be something special.

14. Memphis Tigers -- AAC
There is plenty of experience for the Memphis Tigers this season. Joe Jackson led the team in points and assists last season and he will run the point again. Chris Crawford and Geron Johnson also scored in double figures last season. The wild card of the roster is Michael Dixon Jr. Dixon is a Missouri transfer who played a significant role on Mizzou's 2012 team. One thing to watch: Memphis is no longer in the weak C-USA. The AAC schedule will be more difficult.

15. Gonzaga Bulldogs -- WCC
The Zags had a terrific season in 2012-13, but will have to move on without Kelly Olynyk and Elias Harris. The cupboard is not completely bare though as a trio of backcourt members return. Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr. will be starters and Pangos averaged 11.6 points last year. Bell put up 9.0 and that will most likely go up. David Stockton will come off the bench and and he is an assist machine (3.4 last season in 18.7 mpg)

16. Virginia Commonwealth -- Atlantic-10
VCU returns four starters from last year's team that made a Sweet 16 run. Shaka Smart always has the Rams playing high-tempo, pressure defense, but they still lack the size and strength to play with the big boys. However, the Rams will be great in transition if the risks they take on defense pay off. Juvonte Reddic, Treveon Graham and Briante Weber are the top returners.

17. Oregon Ducks -- Pac-12
The Ducks made a surprise run to the Sweet 16 last season, but there are some expectations this season. Oregon welcomes the addition of Mike Moser to the roster, a UNLV transfer. Moser is an athletic forward who can either play power forward or small forward. Dominic Artis, Johnathan Loyd and Damyean Dotson are a solid trio in the backcourt.

18. Marquette Golden Eagles -- Big East
Marquette is one of the teams that will rely heavily on their post presence. Davante Gardner is a large fellow, but is surprisingly nimble. He put up 11.6 points last season and was named the Big East Sixth Man of the Year. Chris Otule is back at center while Jamil Wilson is expected to be more of a factor this season. The backcourt is a bit of a mystery as of now.

Cleanthony Early

19. Wichita State Shockers -- MVC
The Shockers shocked the nation last year with a Final Four run and nearly upset eventual national champion Louisville in the semifinals. Cleanthony Early is the top returner after averaging 13.9 points and 5.6 rebounds last season. He should be a first round pick in June. Fred VanVleet is a year wiser and he will run the point again after averaging 2.3 assists last season.

20. Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- ACC
Notre Dame is new to the ACC, but the same consistency that Mike Brey had in the Big East should carry over. The guard tandem of Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant is potent as the two combined for 25.5 points and nearly 400 assists. Add sharpshooting Pat Connaughton and freshman Demetrius Jackson to the mix and Brey's Irish should be solid in their ACC debut.

21. Indiana Hoosiers -- Big Ten
Putting Indiana in here is a bit of a gamble, but if Tom Crean is as good of a coach as we think he is and Yogi Ferrell and Will Sheehey made the strides that have been reported then the Hoosiers should be fine. IU lost four 1,000 point scorers, but highly-touted freshman Noah Vonleh can fill a void at the forward position. Transfer Evan Gordon scored 10.0 ppg at Arizona State and he can also provide some help.

22. UCLA Bruins -- Pac-12
Steve Alford enters his first year in Westwood with a roster of quality players, but last year was a tumultuous one in LA. Jordan Adams and Kyle Anderson were better than the over-hyped Shabazz Muhammad last season. Adams is the top returning scorer while Anderson is the top returner in the rebounds and assists department. The Wear twins, David and Travis, will handle the inside duties.

23. UConn Huskies -- AAC
Having a good backcourt is essential to success, or at least that is one way of thinking. UConn has arguably one of the best backcourts in the nation with Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright. The pair combined for nearly 50 percent of the team's points and over 60 percent of the team's assists. The Huskies' leading rebounder DeAndre Daniels (5.5) is back as well.

24. New Mexico Lobos -- MWC
Steve Alford is no longer in Albuquerque, but the Lobos should still win the Mountain West Conference under new head coach, and one of Alford's former assistants, Craig Neal. Last year's MWC Player of the Year, Kendall Williams, returns after averaging 13.3 points and 4.9 assists last year. The conference's leading rebounder, Alex Kirk, is also back.

25. Baylor Bears -- Big 12
The Bears would not even sniff this list is it wasn't for the return of Isaiah Austin and Cory Jefferson. Jefferson led the team in points at 13.3 and Austin was close behind at 13.0 ppg. Austin also led the team in rebounding at 8.3 per game. Baylor needs Austin to be a bit more assertive if they are to compete with Kansas and Oklahoma State.

Reaction to March Madness: Day 1

Tommy Amaker and the Crimson are moving on

Over the course of March Madness we will post a nightly blog on the day's events and what a day we had for the opener. It started out a little slow, but looking back on it there were some thrillers and none greater than Harvard taking down New Mexico. That's the Madness we know and love and tomorrow promises some more. I watched every game today and here are eight observations I took away from day one.

1. There are no "experts" when it comes to March Madness
We already knew this from years of experience, but the New Mexico loss only enhanced that thought. For a whole week we have been listening to how this was the Lobos year, but Harvard would have none of it. I actually picked New Mexico to advance to the Final Four, but Steve Alford's squad is heading home early. The Crimson played solid the whole way and hit free throws down the stretch. They have their first NCAA Tournament win under their belt and provided the most shocking upset of the day and maybe the tournament.

2. A 16th seed just about did it...but not this time
People want to criticize Gonzaga and say that this proves they didn't deserve the one seed, but I don't buy into these games proving a team or conference to be overrated. This is March Madness for a reason and crazy things happen. Southern taking the Zags down to the wire would fall under the crazy category. A look at the Southern roster made it clear that they would present a tough match up for Gonzaga. They were a long, athletic squad which is the polar opposite of the Zags. Still, Gonzaga won the game and that's all that matters. Now that sets up what will be a physical game against Wichita State on Saturday.

3. Davidson had it in the bag until the last six seconds rolled around
This was Davidson's game to win. They played well through out, but Vander Blue's layup with one second left sealed the deal for Marquette. Davidson led by as many as 10 and Marquette's largest lead was just three. The Golden Eagles shot the ball poorly and Davidson fell apart at the end. De'Mon Brooks just needed to accept the foul at the end of the game, but instead he threw the ball away and gave Marquette a chance -- a chance that they didn't blow. Rather than another Cinderella run from Davidson, Marquette survives.

4. Bad day for potential first round picks from mid-majors
Nate Wolters and Mike Muscala let me down in a bad way. Wolters, who averages over 20 points per game, mustered only 10 points which was a season low. Wolters struggled to do anything against Tim Hardaway and Glenn Robinson and his low output spelled doom for the Jackrabbits. Muscala, one of the top big men in the country, had performed well against top competition, but he was bad against Butler. He scored just nine points, only the second time he has scored under ten points this season. He was also an abysmal 4-17 from the field and didn't look like a player who could possibly be in the NBA soon.

Trey Burke and the Wolverines kept Wolters in check and UM handled SDSU

5. The Pac-12 deserves respect
The Pac-12 wasn't a real respected conference this season by fans, but they finished today with a 3-0 record. Arizona handled Belmont, Oregon took it to Oklahoma State and Cal beat a talented UNLV team. Tomorrow UCLA and Colorado will take on Big Ten opponents and could possibly complete a sweep for the conference. Oregon and Arizona hardly had trouble in their wins and Cal persevered against UNLV. So while they may not have been getting the respect they deserved, it's time to take notice.

6. VCU vs. Michigan is going to be incredibly fun
Did you get to see any of the VCU game? Sure, Akron was missing some of their players, most notably their point guard, but the Rams were unbelievable. Trey Burke better be ready for Shaka Smart's "havoc" because it is going to wear him out. However, how effective will VCU's pressure be against the nation's best point guard? That will be the main storyline heading into Saturday's match up and buckle your seat belts because this one will be wild!

7. Louisville and Syracuse didn't mess around
North Carolina A&T and Montana aren't exactly stiff competition, but as we saw with other top teams today, sometimes they don't bring their A game. Not the case with Louisville and Syracuse. Both teams came out and dominated from the start and put any thoughts of an upset to bed pretty early. Syracuse didn't even allow Montana 35 points and Louisville shot 57 percent. Both teams will have a tougher test moving forward as Louisville will face Colorado State and Syracuse must face Cal.

8. St. Louis is not a team to be messed with
The Billikens are on a mission this season as they play to honor their late coach Rick Majerus. Majerus would have been proud of St. Louis after they dominated New Mexico State on Friday. The Aggies shot just 28 percent and committed 16 turnovers. St. Louis plays tough and will be a difficult match up for Louisville should they meet in the Sweet 16. This is definitely not a team you should be sleeping on.

March Madness is officially here and a big thank you to Harvard for reminding us all that anything can happen. Stay tuned tomorrow as more big-name teams will take to the court against other upset-minded squads and look for a new post tomorrow night after the conclusion of the games.

Bracket Breakdown: East

Cody Zeller of Indiana

Once again, another tough bracket and the East Region could make a case for the most difficult bracket of the four. Indiana is the top seed with ACC regular season and tournament champion Miami down at the two line. Big East powers Marquette and Syracuse are also in the mix and so are NC State and Illinois. Former tournament Cinderellas Butler, Bucknell and Davidson are also in the South. If you want to see an upset this may be the bracket it happens in.

East Region winner: Indiana Hoosiers
It's difficult to pick against Indiana after the season they had. The Hoosiers won at home and on the road, they beat the good teams and the bad teams, they won with perimeter play and post play, they won in a shootout and they won in grind-it-out Big Ten fixtures. IU is arguably the best team in the country and, as far as number one seeds go, they may have received the best draw. That should ease the tension for Hoosier fans since they didn't receive the Midwest Region number one seed which would have allowed them to play in Indianapolis. The route to Atlanta will put them against a couple of teams who have been inconsistent in NC State and Syracuse and the possible Elite 8 matchup against Miami should be fun. Expect the Hoosiers to come out of the East because of their complete play and ability to win in different styles.

Upset Pick: Bucknell to the Sweet 16
Bucknell is going to beat Butler and they may just upset Marquette as well. The Bison are a solid team led by center Mike Muscala and they have gone toe-to-toe with some of the nation's better teams and held their own. In January they should have defeated Missouri in Columbia, but they lost by two when Muscala stepped out of bounds on one of the final plays. A gifted big man is hard to guard and Muscala will test Butler's Andrew Smith. Should the Bison win their second round game they will have to get through Marquette who is always one of the toughest teams in America. It may not seem likely, but every tournament needs a Cinderella and for Bucknell the slipper might fit.

Mike Muscala of Bucknell

Potentially Intriguing Matchup: Indiana vs. Marquette (Elite 8)
Let's say Marquette handles Bucknell in the third round and then knocks off Miami in the Sweet 16. That would set up a meeting with Indiana for the right to advance to the Final Four and it would be the first time Tom Crean faced his former team since leaving the Golden Eagles. Crean took Marquette to the Final Four in 2003 with Dwyane Wade, Travis Diener and company and he is aiming to get the Hoosiers back to prominence now. Anytime a coach faces his former employer it makes for good headlines (see Kansas-UNC third round game in South Region) and this game would live up to the hype.

Player to Watch: Mike Muscala, center, Bucknell

Muscala is a gifted big man that can hurt opponents from anywhere on the floor. His unusual athleticism for his 6’11” frame makes him a difficult matchup and he averaged 19 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season. Muscala is also a gifted shot blocker (2.4 per game) and he ranks in the nation’s top 30 in points, rebounds and blocked shots. His rebounding total is the fourth highest in the country. Muscala played three games against teams from Power Six conferences and in all three games he posted a double-double. 

Bottom Line: Indiana is going to march to Atlanta without much trouble and prove they deserved the hype all year long. 

Breaking Down the Brackets

The Madness is set for the next 22 days after the NCAA Tournament brackets were unveiled on Selection Sunday. It signaled the end to a wild regular season and an even wilder few weeks of conference tournaments. More importantly, it signaled the beginning of the wildest time in college basketball, and perhaps, in sports. There is always the talk about who had their bubble bursted, who belonged in, who is lucky to be in and all that. Those discussions are for the so-called experts to discuss on ESPN and CBS, but here on the World of Wadley it's all about the actual games and matchups. Here is a breakdown of the bracket.

South Region

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Kentucky was the obvious choice for the overall number one seed despite losing to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament final. However, that does not mean their path to New Orleans is an easy one. Do not sleep on UConn at the nine seed. The Huskies were picked in the Top 10 before the season, but had a disappointing year. Still, they looked good in the Big East tournament and they have the players to match up with the Cats in the second round. I also like the 5-12 match up between Wichita State and VCU. Those are two quality mid-major programs and while I do think the Shockers are the better team, I am going to pick VCU. That's not to say Shaka Smart and the Rams will be making another Final Four run. In the second round they would be faced with Indiana most likely. The Hoosiers have turned it around and I would love to see them take on Kentucky in the Sweet 16 again. UNLV is a mid major to fear and I have them making a run to the Elite 8. They can beat Baylor and they will beat Duke. In the end though Kentucky will win the South Region in Atlanta.

Kim English

West Region

The West is a very interesting bracket because it contains some of the best mid major teams in the tournament. It also has arguably the best top four seeds with Michigan State, Missouri, Marquette and Louisville. Throw in Murray State, a team that only lost one game this season, and this is a tough bracket. Missouri may feel snubbed that they didn't receive a one seed from the committee, but they actually have the best half of any bracket they could have asked for. I say that because every team is like them. Florida, Marquette and Murray State are all teams without dominant big men. Mizzou does not play with a dominant big man and that's why I see them meeting Michigan State in the Elite 8. This makes for a very appealing matchup. It's hard to pick due to the fact that Michigan State has the size advantage. However, Mizzou has beat teams like Kansas and Baylor who play big. I am picking Missouri to advance to their first Final Four in the end. Also, sleeper team of the West is Long Beach State.

Kris Joseph



East Region
I do not regard the East as a very tough region. I see it as a very tough one to pick because I don't view very many teams as Final Four worthy. Vanderbilt and Florida State are hot right now and I've seen people picking them to face each other in the Elite 8. That is wishful thinking because Syracuse and Ohio State are too good to not be in Boston. I love Jim Boeheim's Syracuse team and have them playing in New Orleans. Ohio State is a solid team, but I see loopholes in their game. I do believe that Florida State and Vanderbilt will be in the Sweet 16. West Virginia and Gonzaga in the 7-10 game is going to be a very good matchup and I think the Mountaineers will win. Kevin Jones is too tough and has not been given his due this season. To me, this is the easiest bracket and it makes the path for the Orange an easier one than other number one seeds have.

Harrison Barnes

Midwest Region

Contrary to the East Region, the Midwest has some very good teams and some very enticing potential matchups. I like the first round 6-11 game between San Diego State and NC State. The Wolfpack were denied a chance to play in the ACC championship on a bad no call against North Carolina, but C.J. Leslie is a player to watch. Look for NC State to pull off the upset and meet Georgetown in the second round. St. Mary's is going to beat Purdue in the first round and it will mean the end for Robbie Hummel. I think Kansas is going to lose to North Carolina in the Elite 8 due to UNC's size. However, while that will be an exciting matchup, I can't help but be intrigued by the first round game the Jayhawks have against Roy McCallum and Detroit. KU has a bad history of being upset in the Bill Self era, and while I don't think Detroit can do it, I think this game could be a little closer than the Jayhawks would like.

So as of now my Final Four is Kentucky vs. Missouri and Syracuse vs. North Carolina. I have Kentucky and North Carolina in a rematch for the championship. They are clearly the two best teams in my mind and I think Kentucky will win the title. They are too talented and actually have some veterans on their team this season. There will be no Butler or VCU this season and the heavyweights will strut their stuff. The Madness begins Tuesday with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.

Top 5 Toughest College Basketball Venues to Play In

If I were to take a poll of all the athletes in high school or older, and ask them if they’d rather play a home game or away game, almost 100% would say that they would rather play in their own house. It’s a no-brainer; you know the playing surface better, and you don’t have to deal with any traveling. Yet, for me, and the conference I play in, possibly the most intimidating factor of an away game is the student section that shows up. I’ve played in gyms where there were 600 students yelling right in my ear and riding me the whole game. Say what you want about “blocking out the crowd”, but after awhile you can’t help but hear them try to get under your skin.

You see it all the time in college sports as well. The Cameron Crazies, the Izzone, and many other student sections around the nation instill fear in every team that comes into their gym or arena. Chants, trash talk, and just general hysteria can affect a player. Here’s a look at the top five venues that I believe are the toughest to play in if you’re an NCAA college basketball player.

1. Cameron Indoor – 737-150. That’s the record the Duke Blue Devils have accumulated since Cameron Indoor opened in 1935. One of the most storied programs plays in one of the smallest gyms. It also is home to the Cameron Crazies who don’t hesitate make sure their presence is felt the minute warm-ups start. Everyone’s decked out in Duke gear and even some of the alumni come back and fill the seats behind the hoops. The hardest part of playing their might have to be taking the ball out of bounds on the sideline where the Crazies are standing. The minute you cross that sideline, hundreds of hands are pointed right at your face, as close as mere inches behind your head while their voices are ringing in your ears. The Crazies give their players that much more confidence and clearly cement their spot as being part of the number one venue that’s toughest to play in.

2. Allen Field House (The “Phog”) – The Big 12 as I knew it doesn’t really exist anymore, but back when it did, Kansas was nearly unbeatable at the Phog. Losing only twice in 45 games hosted by the Jayhawks, the Phog has become a place few athletes on visiting teams enjoy playing in. Banners from recent years fill the rafters and the students all around the arena are screaming out the “Rock, Chalk” chant. It’s one of the most original and impressive chants college basketball has to offer and it’s tough to top the tradition that the Jayhawks have created in the Phog.

3. Rupp Arena – I’ll be the first to say that I’m not a fan of Kentucky at all. They’re stubborn and make excuses for everything that doesn’t go their way (stereotypically speaking). But those darn Wildcat fans know how to get the job done. Rupp Arena’s been open for 35 years now and the Wildcats have lost 65 games while winning 465 and John Calipari has yet to lose a game in the storied arena. Blue banners line the rafters of the arena and a sea of blue circles the hardwood. Loud from start to finish, UK fans arrive early and stay late. They’ll bash anybody they can whether it’s opposing players, opposing coaches, or the refs. They’ll chant what they want, when they want, and don’t care about anything but the Wildcats coming out on top. Combine that with the swag that Kentucky’s young team plays with and you’ve got an arena that’s not easy to play in.

4. The Kohl Center – Surprised? Wisconsin’s not a perennial top 10 team, they haven’t been to a Final Four in 11 years, and they won’t lead the nation in scoring, rebounds, or assists. So what makes Wisconsin so tough to play against at home? Try the record of 155-12 that Bo Ryan has racked up since taking over the Badgers. At one point, back in 2008, the Badgers had a home win streak of 38 games. The Badgers simply don’t lose at home. They’re fans are there and support the team, but they aren’t necessarily anything special, not when compared to the Cameron Crazies or the students of KU. However, Wisconsin is guaranteed to put on a show for their hometown fans which means the visiting team better be ready for a fight.

5. Carrier Dome -- Doubling as a football and basketball facility, the Carrier Dome on the campus of Syracuse University is one of the largest college basketball venues. The Dome holds the college basketball attendance record of 34,616 back in 2010 when Syracuse defeated Villanova. With orange everywhere and so many people, 'Cuse is hard to bring down on it's home court. Although much of the space in the Dome goes unused during basketball contests the place can still be deafening and the sheer size of the building is intimidating. There are plenty of tough places to play in the Big East but the Carrier Dome is at the top.

There are many more arenas that are difficult to play in, but these five are the toughest and the teams have demonstrated it with their records. The unique thing about college basketball is that the arenas are indoors and the seating is close to the floor. Unlike football, the student sections are right on top of the players, and because it's indoors, the noise is contained inside. This is a topic that could be debated hard so if you have a different take feel free to comment with your thoughts.