Top 5 College Basketball Student Sections

BY RYAN K
In the college environment, anything goes. Crazy things happen, and what happens at the parties stay at the parties, but they are usually forgotten about the next day. No, I'm not writing off experience, simply because I haven't had the opportunity to attend college yet. There is one place where I can see how crazy these kids are however; all I have to do is turn on my television screen to ESPN on a Monday, Tuesday, or Saturday to watch college basketball. No matter how good the team, how big the school, there's always a student section going bonkers. So without further adieu, let me introduce you to my top five student sections to date. (Note: This is a biased opinion, as always.)

5. Michigan State

Nickname: The Izzone

Capacity: 4000

East Lansing has been a place of great tradition in basketball, but something that's a new tradition is the craziness of the student section, and has it been crazy. Michigan State's student section is funded by alumni, and lower bowl tickets are very difficult to get your hands on. Michigan State is a prime example in what college basketball represents today. 

4. Arizona

Nickname: ZonaZoo

Capacity: Student Section Unknown, 14,500 total

Arizona is known for its great basketball coming out West, and it's home crowd is second to none. Arizona has consistently had the highest capacity in the PAC 10 since 1987, and they have filled the McKale Center over that time as well. Arizona has won 240 of its last 261 home games, including 200 of the last 213, and has an overall record of 352-65 in McKale, for a winning percentage of .846. It's safe to say the Arizona's student section creates havoc for visiting teams. 

3. Utah State

Nickname: Aggie Nation

Capacity: 4000, including floor seats for students

Before you read the rest of this article, look up three things for me on YouTube. I Believe That We Will Win, Winning Team/Losing Team, and Wild Bill. Now after watching those videos, tell me that youre not intimidated to go play a game there. Utah State has posted a 194-13 record at home under their current coach, and many coaches have called it the craziest place to play in college basketball. 

2. Pitt

Nickname: The Oakland Zoo

Capacity:1500

Ahh, the Oakland Zoo. College basketball teams have long feared playing at a place like this. Mark Cuban and Bill Raftery have both promoted this place in being "one of the best in college basketball." It's true, the tradition in the Zoo is great, the fans are passionate, and of course loud. Before every game, the Pitt radio broadcast co-hosts a pregame show with the rowdy student section. There's truly nothing else like Pittsburgh in college basketball. 

1. Duke

Nickname: The Cameron Crazies

Capacity: 1200

While the Oakland Zoo is great, the Cameron Crazies are the best in college basketball. The Cameron Indoor is considered by most to be the best in college basketball. Many different happenings take place inside the Cameron Indoor, including the famous "Let's Go Duke" chant, the "Speedo" Man distracting shooters, and of course the crazy inbound play with all of the students waving their arms towards the opposing team. The infamous "Airball" chant also came courtesy of the Crazies. The Crazies have mystified opposing teams for years, and will continue to do so for a long time. There are few places that I've put on my Sports Bucket list, and visiting the Cameron Indoor is certainly one of them.