30 toughest college basketball arenas to play in

Mar 8, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard D.J. Newbill (2) shoots a game winning shot over Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Nate Mason (2) in the second half at Williams Arena. The Nittany Lions won 79-76. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

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Feb 14, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; The Pittsburgh Panthers student section cheers against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. Pittsburgh won 89-76. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Petersen Events Center (Pittsburgh Panthers)

The Pittsburgh Panthers have been a force in both the Big East and the ACC over the past decade, depending on which years you look at. You can attribute a good bit of that to talent, but it’d be foolish and disrespectful even to not say that some of that success has to be attributed to their immense home-court advantage at the Petersen Events Center, more colloquially known as The Pete.

Success aside, though, the most important part in making The Pete one of the most difficult places to play in the nation is the Oakland Zoo, what the student section at Pitt is known as. Many other student sections get their shine, but the Zoo is an absolute mass of students creating a sort of gold wall that, even just to look at up in the bleachers, has to be intimidating for opponents.

However, it’s not only the size and sight of the Zoo that gives it its notoriety. They fill The Pete and then they make an absolutely incredible amount of noise and are consistently one of the most creative student bodies in the college basketball world. The Zoo is never afraid to voice their opinions or taunt opponents and they do so for 40 minutes per game. When the fans bat 1.000 in that regard, it’s hard not call it one of the most incredibly daunting arenas in this world of NCAA hoops.

Next: No. 10 Koch Arena