While the layout and aesthetics of this arena are utter crap (not to mention the hysterical roof that looks like it was never finished), it has two objective positives:
1. There really is not a bad seat in the entire place ... great sightlines.
2. With that flat ceiling, it can get LOUD. This has been a rarity due to meh attendance and a usually pathetic student section, but the "bones" are there for a really tough place to play ... and when you hear guys like Bardo talk, it clearly used to be in the 1980s.
I couldn't believe it was this many as I typed this, but I have witnessed the following in person at that arena:
2003: Iowa 68, #8 Illinois 61 ... my first ever Illini game of any kind as a third grader!
2004: #23 Illinois 78, Iowa 59 ... Orange Krush appearance.
2005: #1 Illinois 75, Iowa 65 ... still one of my favorite memories as an Illini fan. 6,000 orange-clad fans and the Krush for the second straight year. A GREAT game where we pulled away late. At times, the arena got so loud because of US. Would kill for a full vide of this game.
2006: Iowa 63, #6 Illinois 48 ... crashing back down to Earth after 2005.
2008: Illinois 58, Iowa 47 ... one bright spot of this letdown of a season!
2010: Illinois 57, Iowa 49 ... I believe this is the year the Krush sat RIGHT behind the basket because there were so few people there, lol.
2010-11: #23 Illinois 87, Iowa 77 ... I just remember us raining threes.
2013: Iowa 63, Illinois 55 ... such an annoying loss in the middle of our "turnaround" that season
2015: Iowa 68, Illinois 60 ... yet another Krush trip but not a lot else to remember here...
2017: Illinois 70, Iowa 66 ... I remember Malcom Hill sinking free throws to ice it.
2019: #23 Iowa 95, Illinois 71 ... OUCH.
2023: Iowa 81, Illinois 79 ... GREAT game and a lot of fun, but we came up just short. As my dad said, "It's hard to beat someone six times in a row!"
TL;DR
Three constants in all my visits to Carver to see the Illini:
1. Iowa will throw everything they have at us ... the mutual hatred is real, and they always seem to get up for the Illini.
2. On that note, it will be very loud (almost always their best crowd of the year or close to it) and Iowa will shoot well ... we need to out-tough them and shoot well ourselves.
3. Illini fan presence has ranged from more moderate contingents to massive takeovers of 6,000+ fans and the Krush. However, I don't think I've ever been there where it wasn't close to 1,000 or more. While I am sure Iowa fans bought a lot of those tickets ... I'll bet that it's not sold out without a decent chunk of Illini fans traveling.