Small, compact arenas are hell to play in as a visiting team if the crowd is into it. I'm getting to be an old man and reflect occasionally on what, for example, Oregon lost by moving from MacArthur Court to its present, Phil Knight-funded large arena, and other programs have given up via similar moves to larger venues. In the BT, I've been to the Barn twice when it was empty (in the late '80s.) I can tell you from watching the Gophers on TV when I was a kid that you're right: the place is frightful when it's full and rockin' and the Gophers are rolling. That hasn't happened with regularity over the years, however. Look up the YouTube video of the early '70s Bill Musselman-era, Harlem Globetrotters-inspired warmup routine that the Gophers had and you'll get an idea of the potential.
Other observations:
Penn State: I visited its old Rec Hall when I attended the Illini football game there in '08. Saw part of (IIRC) a volleyball game there. Was very loud. Approx. same size as the RAC (8k) for basketball. I thought to myself at the time that PSU gave up a huge home-court advantage when the completely sterile Bryce-Jordan Center was built (15k), which I'd visited earlier in the day. They don't even remotely fill that venue and never will.
Maryland: This is the arena I currently know best because of the number of games I've seen there in the past decade. It's extremely intimidating when full and loud. Fun place to see a competitive game, particularly because Maryland fans are generally angry vipers. Would have loved to see a game in the old Cole Fieldhouse, which is now the football practice facility.
Ohio State: Definite lack of atmosphere and also sterile. Their problem is that they could fill the old St. John Arena (13k) today easily but can't fill the Value City Arena (19k) regularly, the capacity of which was aspirational when it was built. And that old arena was a great venue.
Iowa: Saw a women's game in Carver-Hawkeye 20 years ago. I thought to myself that if it were full it would be an intimidating place to play given the steep bowl and (as you note) flat roof.
Unsurprisingly, I'm biased: our Assembly Hall is easily the jewel of the conference.
. Would rank Mackey second.
On my TO DO list for future Illini road trips:
Purdue: Gotta see a Purdue v. Illini game here. Visited Mackey two or three times back in the '80s and '90s when you could just walk in there off the street. Each time I looked at that low metal drum ceiling and thought: this place must get deafening.
Indiana: Again, have been in here when it was empty (it was 1990 and the women were practicing.) Strange, auditorium-like venue with enormous upper levels as I recall. Would love to see a game there.
Michigan State: Seems nothing special but I imagine it will be an enjoyable place to see a Illini road victory.
Had visited the old McGaw Hall (NW's Welsh-Ryan Arena) in the '80s and '90s before the renovations. Yawn. Lots of small-arena potential unfulfilled. Also Crisler Arena (pedestrian, like it's football sibling next door) and the old Wisconsin Field House in the late '80s when the men still played there. The latter seemed as though it had potential but at the time was somewhat dilapidated. I believe the volleyball team plays there now.
Am stoked about Saturday's game at the RAC. That's been on my list since Rutgers joined the conference.
