We are in a situation where weve got to make things

Over a two-week span, were answering the following question for college basketballs 10 best conferences: Which venue in each conference is the toughest place to play? A number of factors, not just capacity and attendance, could affect a venues place in the order. Where does your school fall??14. La Salle Explorers: Tom Gola Arena, opened in 1998 Its a small venue. Capacity is 3,400. But last season, the Explorers fell about 1,000 short of averaging a sellout each night. Thats not good. According to RPIRatings.com, its the 287th-ranked home-court advantage at the Division I level. The consensus for Tom Gola? Great job bringing basketball back to campus after a lengthy absence but a poor design limits its allure.Fun fact: Tom Gola, the venues namesake, still holds the NCAAs career rebounding mark with 2,201.13. Massachusetts Minutemen: Mullins Center, opened in 1993 With only one NCAA tournament appearance since 1998, the Mullins Center charisma has declined since the Marcus Camby/John Calipari era. The good news is that this is still a fun, on-campus venue on its best nights. Its also positioned in a great college town on a gorgeous campus. But the program averaged just over 3,300 fans last season. Thats one-third of its capacity. Hard to create a great environment under those circumstances.Fun fact: The building also holds the Mullins Community Ice Rink, a popular public facility.12. Duquesne Dukes: Palumbo Center, opened in 1988 The 4,406-seat Palumbo Center averaged just over 1,832 fans per game last season. The atmosphere resembles a high school contest more than a Division I event. Part of thats on Duquesne, which hasnt reached the NCAA tournament since 1977. But its also easy to get lost in Pittsburgh if youre not a competitive program. Duquesnes atmosphere reflects that.Fun fact: Duquesne has won only 54 percent of its home games at Palumbo Center since 1988.11. Fordham Rams: Rose Hill Gymnasium, opened in 1925 College basketballs oldest venue was nicknamed The Prairie when it opened 91 years ago because it was then considered one of the games largest facilities. It oozes nostalgia and will always possess a unique personality. Fans show up in the big moments and agitate opponents. Perhaps thats the reason former St. Johns coach Lou Carnesecca tried to punch former Fordham coach Tom Penders twice in one game during a 1982 matchup. But head coach Tom Pecora once told the New York Times that a good number of recruits werent impressed. Last season, Fordham averaged 2,100 fans in a building that seats more than 3,400. The program hasnt reached the NCAA tournament since 1992. That doesnt help.Fun fact: Vince Lombardi, a Fordham alum, started a fundraising drive to replace Rose Hill Gymnasium in the 1970s, but he died before he could complete the effort.10. George Mason Patriots: EagleBank Arena, opened in 1985 The EagleBank Arena, formerly the Patriot Center, was a wild place when George Mason reached the Final Four in 2006. The aftermath of that moment led to some of the largest crowds in the 10,000-seat arenas history. But the program has failed to sustain that frenzy. The Patriots averaged just 4,300 fans per game in 2015-16. Still, the Green Machine, the schools pep band, is always worth the price of admission.Fun fact: EagleBank Arena hosted the state of Virginias first UFC event in 2010.9. Saint Josephs Hawks: Hagan Arena (former Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse), opened in 2009 A $25 million renovation of Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, which opened in 1949, added 1,000 seats and erected a modern basketball arena with the old-school hauntings of the building that Jameer Nelson and Dr. Jack Ramsay set afire in their respective eras. The new digs have air-conditioning and premium seating. The student section hugs the baseline. And then theres The Hawk, a mascot who flaps its wings nonstop all game. Saint Josephs failed to fill the building for most games in 2015-16. Phil Martellis squad has won 66 percent of its games in the building.Fun fact: The ceiling in Martellis office in the old Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse was below the bleachers and had a ceiling that barely rose above six feet.8. Richmond Spiders: Robins Center, opened in 1972 A recent renovation removed nearly 2,000 seats to the Robins Center, which moved the capacity to 7,000. The program averaged 6,435 fans per game last season. Thats a good crown. But James Madison, Wake Forest, Northeastern and others have stolen road wins at the Robins Center in recent years. The place explodes whenever crosstown rival VCU arrives. But the Spiders have to find a way to duplicate that experience every night. Thats a talent issue, though. The recent $17 million renovation enhanced the building. Now, Richmond has to give its fans more to cheer about -- consistently.Fun fact: The venues video boards (15 feet by 32 feet) are among the largest in the region.7. Saint Louis Billikens: Chaifetz Arena, opened in 2008 Rick Majerus made this venue one Americas toughest arenas as he led the Billikens to a 15-1 record on their home floor in 2011-12. St. Louis is a vibrant sports town and Saint Louis University benefits from that fervor as the most prominent Division I basketball program in the city. Attendance has dropped off in recent seasons. But the Majerus era proved that Chaifetz Pavilion, where Saint Louis has won 72 percent of its home game, can still be a difficult place to play when the program fields a competitive squad.Fun fact: The first concert at the venue? The one and only Barry Manilow performed there in 2008.6. St. Bonaventure Bonnies: Reilly Center, opened in 1966 The Reilly Center has enjoyed multiple stretches as one of the games most hostile venues. Fans arrive early and dont wait until tipoff to start cheering. In good years, you dont want to play at the Reilly Center. But its best days preceded a 2003 scandal that forced the program to forfeit all but one game, barred it from postseason competition the following year and prompted a player boycott. That will strip the fire from any program. Still, Bonnies fans come strong. A recent priority seating move, however, pushed the student section back and hurt the atmosphere. That doesnt change the fact that this is one of Americas more underrated venues.Fun fact: Bob Lanier, the No. 1 pick in the 1970 NBA draft, scored a Reilly Center-record 51 points against Seton Hall a year before entering the draft.5. George Washington Colonials: Charles E. Smith Center, opened in 1975 When the Colonials are soaring, they can turn their home venue into one of the nations toughest compact buildings in the country. Just ask Virginias Tony Bennett, whose squad suffered its first loss of last season at George Washington. What a college basketball atmosphere. I usually have my suit on. I sweated through that thing, Bennett said after that game in November, when he wore warm-ups to the postgame news conference. I was very impressed with that atmosphere. We knew it would be that. Thats not the case every night, though. Theyre often below capacity at George Washington. Last season, the Colonials averaged 3,127 in a building that holds 5,000. On big night, however, few can match this environment.Fun fact: You might want to leave a few minutes before halftime if youre searching for food. Theres only one concession stand at the Smith Center and its on the lowest level of the building.4. Rhode Island Rams: Ryan Center, opened in 2002 This is not a friendly building for opposing fans. And the top-25 team that Dan Hurley has assembled for next season wont help matters. When the Ryan Center opened, fans sat behind the opponents bench. You remember things like that, Shaka Smart said during Atlantic 10 media day before the 2014-15 season. You remember that experience because its hard to forget the image of a kid in a blue cape shouting No Class UMass! or some other cruel chant as you walk to the locker room. If you want to see how wild this place gets, just search for the clips of the final minutes of last seasons Rhode Island-Providence rivalry game at Ryan Center. Goosebumps, man.Fun fact: Fans dont have to miss the action when theyre thirsty for their favorite beverages. The Rhody Pub, which opened for the 2014-15 season, overlooks the court.3. Davidson Wildcats: Belk Arena, opened in 1989 Steph Currys presence turned Belk Arena into one of the hottest venues in America. Its a modest place (capacity of 5,295) with a stadium sound. Just listen to the vibrant Davidson fans sing Sweet Caroline in the second half of each home game. They shake the place. In good years, its a terrible trip for opposing teams. Theyve won 78 percent of their home games at Belk Arena. So those smiles you see from the gentile Wildcats fans turn to passionate scowls and screams once the game begins.Fun fact: Currys jersey is not hanging in the rafters at Belk Arena. Why? Because the school wont retire his jersey until he completes his degree. Sorry, two-time NBA MVP. School comes first at Davidson.2. VCU Rams: Siegel Center, opened in 1999 On March 2, 2016, Will Wades VCU squad defeated Davidson 70-60 on senior night. The program also enjoyed its 83rd consecutive sellout. Thats 83 sellouts. In a row. The 7,637-seat Siegel Center feels like a spider web for opposing programs that enter a venue that has produced one of the great defensive swarms of recent years. You combine that with a funky band that has created its own national identify -- the Peppas handle boasts more than 4,000 Twitter followers -- with its style and its easy to see why the Rams have won 86 percent of their games at the Siegel Center and suffered only 35 home losses since the building opened 17 years ago.Fun fact: Some Rams fans worry that the vibe will change next season after band director Ryan Kopacsi resigned last month. Kapasci is the face of the Peppas. He directed the band while wearing a Superman cape. Will his absence change the atmosphere at the Siegel Center?1. Dayton Flyers: UD Arena, opened in 1969 So you walk into UD Arena to face a Dayton team that has reached the NCAA tournament in three consecutive seasons. To your right, you see a mascot, Rudy Flyer, who looks like a possessed pilot that should be banned from all airports. You look in the stands and that nice college student who just smiled at your team ... Were lying. She didnt smile. She just screamed things we cant repeat. A bunch of fans next to her are dressed like pilots. Like, dont-get-on-this-flight pilots. The guys next to them have painted their faces blue and their bodies red. Oh, and its a probably a sellout crowd or close to it (Dayton finished 25th in Division I attendance last season). All of that before tipoff in a game against a powerful Dayton team. This isnt an arena. Its a horror flick for opposing teams. Dont believe us? Ask Dayton officials if its easy to schedule nonconference games at UD Arena. Its not. But you wouldnt want any part of that Stephen King experience if you were a Division I head coach, either.Fun fact: The Red Scare, Daytons official spirit organization, has a Facebook page with more than 3,500 likes. Business hours for the rowdy fan base? Open always, according to the page. Nike NBA Jerseys 2020 . Durant finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Jackson matched his career high with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Lamb scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, lifting the Thunder to a 94-88 win over San Antonio and snapping the Spurs 11-game winning streak. Nike NFL Jerseys 2020 . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. https://www.cheapmlbjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. MLB Jerseys . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Nike Baseball Jerseys . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. "Given the way the meeting transpired," Ray Halbritter, an Oneida representative and leader of the "Change the Mascot Campaign," said Wednesday, "it became somewhat evident they were defending the continued use of the name. DENVER -- Chris Archer appreciated Tim Beckhams big day at the plate. He valued the infielders encouraging words even more.Archer struck out 11 over six innings for his first win since June 6, Beckham had a career-high five hits and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Colorado Rockies 11-3 on Wednesday.During the game, Beckham had a little conversation with Archer, who has been in a bit of a funk.He kept telling me, `Hey man, we go as you go -- attack, attack, Archer recounted. Out of the five hits he had, that was the nicest thing he did for me, personally.Archer helped out a cameraman during his postgame interview by informing him his light suddenly went out.A win and a save. Now thats quite a day.I felt like I had good stuff, Archer said. We put some runs on the board. I was able to breathe.He also took some inspiration from rookie Blake Snell, who pitched a gem the night before. Archer (5-13) went out and tried to duplicate it.Nearly did, too.Archer allowed two runs and four hits to halt a slide in which he had lost six of seven starts.Just showed what were capable of, Archer said. Were a talented team.Evan Longoria kept up his hot hitting with two doubles as the Rays took two of three to capture their first road series since June 6-8 at Arizona. Longoria turned in a big series with two doubles, two triples, a homer and five RBI.Jorge De La Rosa (6-7) lasted only four innings and gave up nine runs, seven of them earned. He usually fares well at Coors Field -- with a better home ERA (4.27) than on the road (4.38) since joining Colorado.Everything was bad, De La Rosa said. I threw pitches where I dont have to throw them.Tampa Bay trailed 2-1 before breaking open the game with three runs in third and five more in the fourth.Former Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson had three hits, including a triple, to increase his career average in this park to .360. He was traded to the Rays last January for reliever Jake McGee.With two doubles Wednesday, Longoria has 50 extra base hits this season. Only one other Tampa Bay player, Aubrey Huff in 2003, had that many through 94 games.Longoria is playing weell as the Aug.dddddddddddd1 deadline approaches for trades without waivers. Archer doesnt want to picture a lineup missing Longoria at third base and batting third.Since the Rays have been relevant, hes been the key guy, Archer said. That would be missed for sure. I dont think thats a realistic possibility. Thats just people floating things out there, just to have some click bait.Archer allowed two runs in the second but quickly settled into a groove. He struck out the side in the fourth and the sixth -- his last pitch a 96 mph fastball that Mark Reynolds couldnt hit.The Rockies were outscored 25-11 in a series against a last-place team.We understood that we were going to face a team that is having a tough time, outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said. We are in a situation where weve got to make things happen -- and it didnt happen.TRAINERS ROOMRays: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Thursday. ... OF Kevin Kiermaier got the day off.FEELING PRESIDENTIALRockies manager Walt Weiss is playfully campaigning for his man: Gerardo Parra.Weiss wore a Parra for President T-shirt before the game. The shirts were created as a joke before the season and Parras teammates constantly wear them.More pressing than getting Parra into the White House is getting him back on the field. The outfielder is on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle.THIS & THATRockies hitting coach Blake Doyle was throw out early in the game for something he said from the dugout to home plate umpire Paul Emmel concerning the strike zone. ... There was review over a tag at home plate in the second inning that lasted 6 minutes, 28 seconds, and had players just standing around. Archer threw warmup pitches.UP NEXTRays: Lefty Matt Moore (5-7) starts a four-game series Thursday in Oakland. Hes gone at least six innings in eight straight starts.Rockies: Righty Chad Bettis (7-6) makes his 20th start of the season when Colorado opens a four-game series against Atlanta. ' ' '