Andrew Joseph

It doesn't matter if you're a college basketball fan or not, the pageantry of the student sections is reason alone to watch the sport.  From the traditions to the passion - or the pure ability to rattle an opponent - each student section is one of a kind, and really, they're fun. 

Using the (yeah, subjective) criteria of creativity, traditions, passion and atmosphere, For The Win ranked the top 8 student sections in college basketball.  All student sections are great, but these just happen to be our favorites. 

8.  Pittsburgh

The "Oakland Zoo" prides itself on its noise.  Packing 1,500 students on the sideline and baselines, Pitt students get the best seats in the house at Petersen Events Center.  Like we see at Duke (more on that later), the Oakland Zoo is right on top of the opponent in a sea of gold T-shirts.  Though it lacks traditions like camping for tickets (Pitt uses a loyalty program), the Oakland Zoo is always packed.  It's always loud, and it has helped the Panthers onto a 226-35 record at Petersen Events Center. 

7.  Kentucky

The passion of Kentucky basketball is undeniable, but by no fault of their own, the student section gets hurt solely by its location.  Kentucky cut the student allotment from 9,000 to between 4,000 and 5,000 in 2015, which inevitable took a toll on the noise level.  That being said, Rupp Arena remains one of the tougher places to play in college basketball, and the lower level "eRUPPtion Zone" is always rowdy.  The students just deserve more seats. 

6.  Indiana

Seats are not a problem for Indiana students at Assembly Hall.  The Hoosiers pack the nation's largest student section with over 7,800 seats.  The students are loud - so loud, in fact, that North Carolina coach Roy Williams wished the Dean Smith Center could sound like Assembly Hall.  The demand for student tickets understandably varies by opponent, but the more passionate Hoosier fans do camp out for the bigger games.  Also, who could forget this moment? 

5.  Iowa State

Iowa State's Hilton Coliseum is quickly becoming one of the nation's top atmospheres, and the student section deserves much of that credit (the Fred Hoiberg era does too, I guess).  With student sections on both baselines, there's no escaping the 2,500 screaming fans.  And if you really need a validation of the Iowa State students' dedication, they camp OUTSIDE.  In the winter.  In Iowa.  That's bonkers.  The student section's collective flop for the introduction of Marcus Smart may have been my favorite thing ever. 

4.  Michigan State

Michigan State's "Izzone" is a student section that's 4,000-people strong with seating in both the lower and upper levels.  But it's that nearly full wraparound lower-bowl seating that takes the Breslin Center to the next level.  Students, all wearing white on game days, have to camp out for lower-bowl seating, which is worth it because those seats are dope.  Here's an excellent video that gives an inside look at the Izzone:

3.  San Diego State

You've probably seen a college basketball game where the students all have crazy cutouts of the most random of celebrity faces.  That craze quickly spread throughout college basketball.  Well, it started at San Diego State - home to the West Coast's best student section, "The Show."  Students at San Diego State don't just hold up cardboard cutouts, but they also treat each game at Viejas Arena like it's a rowdy costume part (that happens to be at a basketball game).  Plus, The Show's chant game is super strong. 

2.  Duke

Duke's "Cameron Crazies" are practically what every great student section aspires to be.  In most cases, it's the first thing to come to mind when the words "student section" are mentioned.  The students camp outside for every game at Krzyzewskiville.  The Crazies know prepare for every opponent and come prepared with cheer sheets for each game.  The student section itself hold just 1,200 students, but it's proximity to the court (it's on the court!)  makes those 1,200 students seem much louder.  When it comes to tradition, passion, creativity and atmosphere, the Cameron Crazies are nearly unmatched.  Nearly. 

1.  Kansas

OK, so full disclosure: I went to school at the University of Kansas.  I attended every home game in my four years at Kansas.  The Jayhawks lost once - my junior year.  There's a reason that Kansas coach Bill Self has more conference titles (12) than home losses (9), and that's because the student section makes Allen Fieldhouse a ridiculously tough place to play.  Students camp our for every home game starting a week before the game, even the exhibition games.  The student section is located on both baselines and extend to the ceiling.  These students originated the holding of newspapers during away introductions and pass on an actual technique for making newspaper confetti.  Really, there's a skill to it.  Cameron may have the showmanship, but Kansas has the noise, the Rock Chalk Chant and a 211-9 record since Self's arrival. 

Honorable mention: Arizona State