State Farm Center
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Just curious for some of you who are knowledgeable about this kind of thing, but is there anything that could be done to SFC to make it louder that wouldn't involve some drastic measure (e.g., having a lower ceiling, lol...)? I'll first say that I actually think SFC is plenty loud, at least when the crowd is into it ... I've been to some games where I felt it was as loud as anywhere else. However, people often comment on how it is significantly quieter than a similarly shaped arena like Mackey due to the more gradual slope of the stands and higher ceiling.
Are there like "little tricks" we could do to even help amplify the noise a tiny bit? Maybe switch the student section seating to metal benches? I mean, they stand all game anyway, right...?
Are there like "little tricks" we could do to even help amplify the noise a tiny bit? Maybe switch the student section seating to metal benches? I mean, they stand all game anyway, right...?
Move doors open up by an hour and offer dollar beers!
Bring back the Chief!
Have the entire 100 level section be students with a cheer class prerequisite. Orange crush used to be a real serious gauntlet to be a part of in the 90’s and was always loud (Not /s).
Require a 2 drink minimum for all 200 levels.
300 level seating preference based on how loud you can yell. /s
I'll scream my lungs out to create the most intimidating atmosphere possible if they don't bring that MC back
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
My biggest complaint (as old man yelling at cloud) is that the Krush seems more preoccupied with their phones than with being loud and crazy. In just about any shot of the Krush cheering, you see several students holding up their phones either recording the action or themselves cheering about it.
Put the phones down, kids! I get it… I’m lost without my phone too. But you’re robbing yourselves of a true moment of excitement when you try to capture it on video.
If Krush cheered and created an environment close to what MSU or Purdue regularly has, we’d increase our annual win total by an average of 2-3+ games. Generous whistle aside, I’m convinced MSU over-performs their talent not just in part because of good coaching, but because the crowd creates a jarring hostile environment that requires the opposing team to be 7-10 points better than MSU to overcome.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Looked at the past 3 seasons. Losses at home by 5 points or less where the crowd could reasonably impact the game. There were 3. Roughly 1 per year.
This past year, TeamRankings.com ranked MSU #14 at home and #11 overall despite being about 1 pt/gm better at home than overall (there were a handful of teams that had an even larger home boost). We were #9/#6, with essentially identical adjusted scoring margin. It says the nationwide home advantage was 3.3 points, and I think that's already baked into the "home" scoring margin ratings.
In 2024-25, we were #15/#16 and 2.5pts/gm better at home. MSU was #19/#12 and essentially the same at home as overall.
In 2023-24, we were #21/#12 and 1.5pts/gm worse at home. MSU was #18/#17 and 0.7pts better at home.
So over three years, we've had barely above "average" home court advantage, but when compared to 365 teams in the country, I'd like to think we should be better. MSU had a just a bit more, but not nearly as much as you're saying.
Hessel Blvd
stop listening to sleepers
- the desert
chicken or egg?
Give them something to be passionate about.
Honestly fair, I think a couple caveats can be (with at least regards to last year) that the only teams they lost to at home were Duke and Michigan, arguably far better teams than them. But I will withdraw my statement based on stats. Though I do standby the Izzone and Breslin looking far more alive and suffocating with how the crowd lies on top of the court almost. Krush has some areas that could be improved imho
How about the last 8 years of illinois basketball? That's a lot of wins and a lot of chances for the Krush to come back to glory after the abysmal Groce years.
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Here are some things I’d like the Krush to implement:
1. Create a section behind the second half opponents basket called The ‘Woodshed. Have students holding giant faux paddles to wave at the players as they step up the free throw line. Or maybe a notable “guest” could emerge from the woodshed doors with a paddle.
2. Have a section of students, each game, dress in the full Bradimir outfits, much like that group of donors did when the team traveled to Ohio State.
3. Have a variety of wacky fans spread throughout. Some ideas:
A. Juggler
B. Magician
C. Slenderman
D. The Chief
E. Wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men
The creative choices are endless. They just need to implement them.
1. Create a section behind the second half opponents basket called The ‘Woodshed. Have students holding giant faux paddles to wave at the players as they step up the free throw line. Or maybe a notable “guest” could emerge from the woodshed doors with a paddle.
2. Have a section of students, each game, dress in the full Bradimir outfits, much like that group of donors did when the team traveled to Ohio State.
3. Have a variety of wacky fans spread throughout. Some ideas:
A. Juggler
B. Magician
C. Slenderman
D. The Chief
E. Wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men
The creative choices are endless. They just need to implement them.
The idea of a carnival costume party in the stands every home game sounds like something that would be popular.
Side note: for some reason my mind decided to meld the images together. I am now visualizing hundreds of inflatable, juggling, slender men wearing magician hats wandering the stands.
Was laughing way too long about that. Need sleep.
Battle89
- Cary-Grove, the better Trojan team
Totally agree Coal but this is the heart of the problem. Warning,
The job of any student section should be to make noise and disrupt the opponent. To do that consistently and with gusto requires a passion for the game and for the team. To the extent we need the 'silly' stuff like themes and inflatables, well I just don't like them. You may create a party atmosphere but then the kids' focus is on the party and recording on their phones, etc.
If the noise is not constant, from the heart, and game-focused, I don't think you'll get an effective student section.
I recall the days when the hefty Minnesota Center would step to the free throw line and the Krush would all chant in unison "EAT A SALAD"
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Love the responses to my bored, offseason question ... but I'm not gonna lie, I was fishing for some nerdy acoustics answers. 
In other words, put Purdue's home crowd in every arena in the Big Ten, how does the atmosphere change at each venue? Some things about the SFC can't really be changed, such as the tall ceiling ... but are there semi-easy structural changes we could make to amplify noise? Metal bleachers for the student section? Replacing smaller barriers with a material that sound bounces off more extremely? Or would any of these things bring pretty much no marginal improvement in crowd noise?
In other words, put Purdue's home crowd in every arena in the Big Ten, how does the atmosphere change at each venue? Some things about the SFC can't really be changed, such as the tall ceiling ... but are there semi-easy structural changes we could make to amplify noise? Metal bleachers for the student section? Replacing smaller barriers with a material that sound bounces off more extremely? Or would any of these things bring pretty much no marginal improvement in crowd noise?Groce does not get ALL the blame. Its been broken since they changed the priorities. Just look at the official U of I athletcs page on selection criteria. Your ability to be a loud crazed fan is now well down the list on criteria:
Orange Krush is a charitable organization that requires members to solicit pledges for every three-point basket made by the men's basketball team over the course of the season. Membership in the Orange Krush is open to any student who is a member of Illini Pride, with different levels of Krush membership based on the amount of pledge money raised.
Not saying that you can't do both but the needle is much more on "do good" than "win games"
Orange Krush is a charitable organization that requires members to solicit pledges for every three-point basket made by the men's basketball team over the course of the season. Membership in the Orange Krush is open to any student who is a member of Illini Pride, with different levels of Krush membership based on the amount of pledge money raised.
Not saying that you can't do both but the needle is much more on "do good" than "win games"
RabidDawgClassic
- Los Angeles, CA
Hasn't this always been the case, though?
An Elite 8, a Final 4, 3 first round draft picks......all with the last three years isn't enough to get passionate about?
Quite frankly, our last 8 years, in general, has been more than enough to get psyched up about.
Whether you want to count the above the chicken or the egg, it doesn't matter. The program has lived up to it's end of the bargain.
This is more likely to be the issue(it there is one). The big money donors have moved closer to the floor, while the students have gotten shoved a little farther away from the court.
The problem here is that the money is what makes NIL and the portal work in our favor. In the absence of that.....we have a problem.
No. There was no charitable component in the late 1980's when I was in Orange Crush between '86-'89. There was an interview process that had things like basketball knowledge as a component. I think seniors got better tickets as well--raised bleachers in the corner as a freshman and court seats, free throw line as a senior.