Quiz: College Basketball Arena Nickname — Or Something Else Entirely?

From the Dean Dome to The Shoe, there really are a lot of unusual nicknames for college basketball arenas.

1. 1. Is The Pit....

   1. A legendary Albuquerque barbecue joint?
   2. The site of the 1983 NCAA Championship game?

   Via: youtube.com

   The Pit, formally known as University Arena, is home to New Mexico basketball. It’s also where NC State defeated Houston for the 1983 NCAA title.

2. 2. Is The Hump...

   1. A roadside strip club in Starkville, Miss.?
   2. An SEC basketball arena?

   Via: hailstate.com

   The Hump is Humphrey Coliseum, home to Mississippi State. It’s named for former MSU president George Duke Humphrey.

3. 3. Is The Hut...

   1. A red-roofed pizza chain?
   2. The home of Louisville basketball?

   Via: idsgn.org

   Pizza Hut began referring to itself as “The Hut” in some marketing efforts in 2009. Louisville plays at the KFC Yum! Center, which opened in 2010; Yum! Brands owns Pizza Hut.

4. 4. Is The Tad Pad...

   1. An Oxford, Miss., pad thai pad run by a dad named Tad?
   2. One of the oldest home courts in the South?

   Via: olemissathletics.blogspot.com

   The Tad Smith Coliseum is home to Ole Miss. It opened in 1966. Yelp says there are five Thai restaurants nearby.

5. 5. Is The Sportatorium...

   1. A now-defunct Dallas wrestling hall?
   2. The home court for Southern Methodist basketball?

   Via: scottymoore.net

   The Sportatorium — official name! — was demolished in 2003. SMU now plays at Moody Coliseum.

6. 6. Is The Barn...

   1. Minnesota’s finest indie concert venue?
   2. A Big 10 basketball arena?

   Via: gophersports.com

   The Barn, also known as Williams Arena, is home to the Golden Gophers. It opened in 1928, and features a court that is slightly elevated above the first few rows of seating.

7. 7. Is The Schott...

   1. A nickname for former Cincinnati Reds president Marge Schott that never quite stuck because it’s not that creative?
   2. The home of Ohio State basketball?

   Via: Jamie Sabau / Getty Images

   The Schott is short for the Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. According to Ohio State’s website, the arena could hold 133,187,970 gallons of Coca Cola. It is unclear why anyone would fill an arena with that much Coca Cola, but the important thing is, it could.

8. 8. Is The RAC...

   1. A Piscataway, N.J., dive bar where Bon Jovi launched his career?
   2. The 8,000-seat arena where Rutgers basketball plays?

   Via: scarletknights.com

   At Rutgers University, the RAC is now formally known as the Louis Brown Athletic Center. Bon Jovi was formed in nearby Sayreville.

9. 9. Is the Dog Pound...

   1. The name of a 2010 Canadian thriller-drama?
   2. Gonzaga basketball’s home court?

   Via: imdb.com

   Dog Pound is a Canadian film by Kim Chapiron. Gonzaga plays their home games at McCarthey Athletic Center, also known as The Kennel.

10. 10. Is The Phog...

    1. A misspelled tribute museum to Mel Torme?
    2. A famed Midwestern basketball arena?

    Via: facebook.com

    The Phog is the home of Kansas basketball. It is officially known as Allen Fieldhouse, and was named for Dr. F.C. “Phog” Allen. It does not include a tribute museum for Mel “The Velvet Fog” Torme, but it really should.

11. 11. Is The Matterhorn...

    1. One of the most famous mountains in the Alps?
    2. Where Cal State Northridge plays basketball?

    Source: Jeff Pang  /  via: jeffpang

    The Matterhorn is on the Swiss-Italian border, and is one of the highest peaks in Europe. Cal State Northridge plays at Matador Gymnasium, which is often called the Matadome.

12. 12. Is The Octagon of Doom...

    1. The site of WrestleMania VIII’s legendary bout between “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Ric Flair?
    2. The arena that’s home to the Kansas State Wildcats?

    Via: Travis Heying/Wichita Eagle/MCT / Getty Images

    The Octagon of Doom is otherwise known as Fred Bramlage Coliseum, and it has eight sides. WrestleMania VIII was held at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis.

13. 13. Is The O-Dome...

    1. A futuristic area of Universal Orlando that serves as that park’s answer to Epcot Center?
    2. The University of Florida’s on-campus arena?

    Source: @rmsowers8  /  via: hashgr.am

    Florida’s O-Dome is also known as the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Epcot is a perfect theme park, and Universal would be foolish to try to replicate it.

14. 14. Is The Skydome...

    1. Flagstaff’s only clear-roofed orchestral hall?
    2. The stadium where both Northern Arizona football and basketball play?

    Via: en.wikipedia.org

    The Skydome is also known as the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome. There is a giant statue of Paul Bunyan outside the stadium.

15. 15. Is Assembly Hall...

    1. The home court of Illinois basketball, and the best damn home court in the entire Big 10?
    2. The home court of Indiana basketball, and the best damn home court in the entire Big 10?
    3. A case in which an odd arena nickname is absolutely necessary?

    Via: John Dixon / AP

    There should not be two arenas with the same name in the same conference. Pick a new nickname and stick with it, Illinois and/or Indiana.

Quiz: College Basketball Arena Nickname — Or Something Else Entirely?

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