Lifestyle

School Spirit: The 10 Craziest Student Sections In College Basketball

by Julian Sonny

When it comes to college basketball, fans know how to turn up. Student sections all across the country have been killing it this season and for good reason. The talent pool across the country is just ridiculous this year, so it only makes sense that the fans follow suit.

While some of the marquee schools stay atop the list, we have a slight shift in the top of the rankings. It all really depends on who has the biggest stars right now, as guys like Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins are taking over the scene.

But as we all know, they can't do it without their loyal fans... and groupies! These are the 10 most turnt up student sections in college basketball:

Pittsburgh Panthers - Zoo

The Pittsburgh Panthers have won roughly 90 percent of their home games since the "Zoo" came to fruition at the Petersen Events Center in 2002. Visiting teams like Syracuse always have a rough time pulling out wins here with some really raucous energy from the crowd.

San Diego State Aztecs

When you think about San Diego State, STDs are probably the first thing that come to your mind. But they actually have a pretty solid basketball team too. Guys like Jimmer Fredette can tell you how unforgiving their fans can be when they held up a "mono" poster during his visit to town. The Aztec student body is never scared to cross the line and be straight disrespectful.

Wisconsin Badgers

About 2,100 students fill up the section at the Kohl Center for the Badgers every game as the sea of red makes concentrating nearly impossible for visiting opponents. Some of the section also spills on to the floor, putting the rowdy students closer to the players than most other B1G schools.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

While this is predominantly a football school (which is weird, because they suck), fans show up in full support of the Irish basketball. What else is there to do in Indiana anyway? Chants like, "Here come the Irish" and the "Celtic Chant" are among some of the crowd favorites as their team regularly upsets some of the top teams.

Michigan State Spartans - Izzone

Michigan State has some of the greatest traditions in all of college basketball. Sure they didn't have a Fab 5, but they once had a guy named Magic Johnson. The Breslin Center is probably the hardest venue in the entire B1G conference and the Izzone is the reason behind it. With a lower and upper bowl to facilitate students, the noise reaches another level as kids go crazy come gameday.

North Carolina Tar Heels

UNC always sells out their games at the Dean Dome with an average of 19,000 fans a game. Out of that number, roughly 6,000 belong in the student section where you will see plenty of body paint, blue hair and ratchetness.

Syracuse Orange

Playing in the massive Carrier Dome (which is also their football stadium), fans seem to somehow always pack out the student section and make tons of noise from their spot in the corner of the arena. The Orange chants are always the most effective in helping propel their team to victory and it's safe to say that these kids are also some of the most wasted in the country. That would probably explain why a bunch of them black out before the game anyway.

Kentucky Wildcats

Kentucky is probably the closest to a professional NBA franchise that you can find in college basketball. Credit John Calipari. Their student section at Rupp Arena (which seats 23,500) is always turnt up as they have been coined the name "eRUPPtion Zone." Just to get a ticket here, fans need to wait in line for 24 hours. By the time they get to the arena, it's game over.

Kansas Jayhawks

The Allen Fieldhouse is hands down one of the toughest places to play in the country. And that's just because they have the latest "chosen one" in Andrew Wiggins. But he can't do it all by himself. The students sit right behind the basket, making life a living hell for their opponents trying to focus in on free throws and call plays. Students are so devoted that they've even been spotted camping for the next game immediately after one finishes.

Duke Blue Devils - The Cameron Crazies and the legend of Speedo Guy

The Cameron Crazies are hands down the rowdiest bunch in all of college basketball, and they have been for years. If nerds covering themselves in blue body paint and wiggling at their opponents who are trying to inbound the ball wasn't enough, then surely the legend of Speedo Guy is.

Top Photo Credit: Kevin Cox/Getty Images