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Big Ten Network Analysts Rank Top-5 Toughest Venues For Men's, Women's Basketball

Big Ten Network analysts Andy Katz and Meghan McKeown listed their top-five toughest venues for opponents in men's and women's basketball. Only two arenas made both lists: Purdue's Mackey Arena and Indiana's Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

The Big Ten is home to some of the most historic and most intimidating venues in college basketball. But the question gets asked every year: Which arenas are the toughest for opponents?

After all, there is a reason road wins are so difficult to come by in the conference. 

Big Ten Network basketball analysts Andy Katz and Meghan McKeown provided their answers. Katz listed his top-five on the men's side while McKeown gave her list for women's basketball.

Two venues stood out from the rest: Purdue's Mackey Arena and Indiana's Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Those were the only two basketball arenas in the Big Ten to appear on both the men's and women's list.

Apparently, basketball is pretty important in the Hoosier state. Below are the top-five lists of intimidating Big Ten venues, per the Big Ten Network analysts. What are your thoughts?

Men's basketball (Andy Katz)

  1. Mackey Arena (Purdue)
  2. Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (Indiana)
  3. Breslin Center (Michigan State)
  4. State Farm Center (Illinois)
  5. Welsh-Ryan Arena (Northwestern)

Women's basketball (Meghan McKeown) 

  1. Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa)
  2. Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (Indiana)
  3. Mackey Arena (Purdue)
  4. Pinnacle Bank Arena (Nebraska)
  5. Schottenstein Center (Ohio State)
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