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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Dec 14, 2013; Dayton, OH, USA; Dayton Flyers cheerleaders perform during a time out of the game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY Sports /

26. UD Arena (Dayton Flyers)

The Dayton Flyers are another one of those teams that may not have the luster surrounding their program as many teams in power conferences do, but that doesn’t mean that UD Arena isn’t special. On a night in the heart of college basketball season, playing the Flyers on their home court is an undeniably unpleasant task.

This may sound strange, but the fact that UD Arena was erected in 1969 certainly plays into its toughness to play in. There’s an indefinable yet unquestionable old-school vibe in the stadium itself. Playing in an arena that provokes that sense is something that creates pressure for opposing teams. It gives the feeling of being somewhere important and that players are about to be playing on a big-time stage because of all that’s happened in the arena over the years.

Moreover, the Flyers have been a consistently solid program. They may not be competing for national titles every year or anything, but they’ve avoided ever slipping into a rebuilding process for the program. They’ve had just one losing season in the past 16 years, which is impressive to say the least. Given all of that, it’s hard not to give the arena it’s due in regards to these rankings.

Next: No. 25 The Palestra