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Mackey Arena Named Among Top Venues in College Basketball by Analyst

Purdue's Mackey Arena is known as one of the loudest, most raucous environments in college basketball. Analyst Andy Katz ranked the iconic venue as a top-three arena.
Dustin Schutte|
Purdue Boilermakers forward Camden Heide (23) watches the hype video
Purdue Boilermakers forward Camden Heide (23) watches the hype video | Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Purdue Boilermakers

It's no secret that Mackey Arena is one of the most intimidating venues in college basketball, providing Purdue with an incredibly home-court advantage. But where does it rank among some of the other iconic arenas in the sport?

NCAA.com and Big Ten Network contributor Andy Katz recently ranked his top-10 venues in college basketball. Mackey Arena came in at No. 3 on the list, behind Kansas' Phog Allen Fieldhouse and Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Mackey Arena was the highest-ranked Big Ten arena, edging out UCLA's Pauley Pavilion (No. 4). Michigan State's Breslin Center also cracked the top-10 at No. 8.

Katz has been complimentary of Purdue and its fans in these recent lists. He also ranked the Boilermakers as having the fifth-most passionate fan base in college basketball, as well as the second-best student section (The Paint Crew) in the country.

Not only is Mackey Arena an iconic venue, Purdue fans pack it to the brim every game. The Boilers have sold out 73 straight games, creating a loud and exciting environment.

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Dustin Schutte
DUSTIN SCHUTTE

Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.

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