The Colorado Buffaloes are one year removed from rejoining the Big 12 along with their former Pac-12 competitors Arizona, Arizona State and Utah. For the Buffs, their first season in the conference was one to forget.

Tad Boyle’s crew finished the year with a 14-21 overall record and an abysmal 3-17 record in the Big 12. With the summer months of June and July offering little to no basketball news, it is time to forget about what happened on the court last season and instead focus on a unique look at the entire Big 12.

Basketball arenas. Home to some of college basketball’s most crazed fans and iconic atmospheres, but how do the Big 12 arenas stack up against each other?

Related: Ranking all 16 Big 12 basketball uniforms from worst to first

After going 11-7 at the CU Events Center and 0-10 on the road last season, Colorado is one team that greatly needed that home environment.

Here is an updated ranking of the conference’s 16 basketball venues.

16. WVU Coliseum (West Virginia Mountaineers)

Capacity: 14,000

The WVU Coliseum looks like a knock-off Carrier Dome, and that is not a compliment. It is not conveniently located near campus, and it is not a glamorous venue. It might appeal to many fans, but that does not improve its ranking.

15. Schollmaier Arena (TCU Horned Frogs)

Capacity: 8,500

I am not a fan of the circular layout, and its smaller capacity does it no favors. The Schollmaier Arena seems more like a bull ring or concert seating than a traditional basketball arena.

14. Jon M. Huntsman Center (Utah Utes)

Capacity: 15,000

Another circular seating layout that I am not a fan of. Utah owns one of the largest arenas in the Pac-12, but in the Big 12, it does not rank as high. The seats behind the basket are not close enough to the court for my liking, either.

13. Addition Financial Arena (UCF Knights)

Capacity: 9,432

The Addition Financial Arena may not be the most unique or largest arena in the Big 12, but its exterior is one of the best. I enjoy the sleek, modern look, and that is good enough for No. 13.

12. Marriott Arena (BYU Cougars)

Capacity: 17,978

The Marriott Center holds the largest capacity in the Big 12 and is one of the nation’s biggest college basketball arenas. BYU’s home support gains a significant advantage due to the attendance numbers, but the arena is fairly bland otherwise.

11. Desert Financial Arena (Arizona State Sun Devils)

Capacity: 14,198

Arizona State does not always fill its arena, but it is a decent stadium. It also lacks recent renovations that would have given the Desert Financial Arena a higher ranking.

10. CU Events Center (Colorado Buffaloes)

Capacity: 11,064

The CU Events Center may be the only arena in the country built below ground. Along with Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Events Center is the only other major college stadium with retractable hoops attached to the ceiling. Colorado’s home venue can be loud, but it lacks the top-tier amenities found in different venues in the top 10.

9. Fertitta Center (Houston Cougars)

Capacity: 7,100

Houston is one of the top programs in college basketball, but its arena could be significantly improved. The Fertitta Center is the smallest in the Big 12, and that takes away from what could be an even bigger home crowd. Maybe having a packed, smaller arena does wonders for the atmosphere, but I think Houston could do better.

8. Fifth Third Arena (Cincinnati Bearcats)

Capacity: 12,012

I am a big fan of the Fifth Third Arena. The open area behind the basket lends the place a unique feel, allowing people to see the court while standing in line for concessions. The upper level seems a bit clunky and far away, which puts the Bearcats’ home court further down the list.

7. United Supermarkets Arena (Texas Tech Red Raiders)

Capacity: 15,300

The United Supermarkets Arena is a large venue that holds the Big 12 record for single-game student attendance. I enjoy the conventional layout of the lower bowl, and the high turnout rate among fans solidly places this venue in the top 10.

6. Bramlage Coliseum (Kansas State Wildcats)

Capacity: 11,654

Kansas State’s venue will never compare to its in-state rival, Kansas, but the Bramlage Coliseum is no slouch. K-State consistently fills up its arenas with raucous fans who love basketball, and that, plus a very solid overall venue, puts it at No. 6.

5. Hilton Coliseum (Iowa State Cyclones)

Capacity: 14,267

Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum is one of the nicer venues in the Big 12. It might not have the prestige and history of Kansas’s Allen Fieldhouse, but it does a great job hosting one of the country’s most devoted fan bases.

4. Gallagher-Iba Arena (Oklahoma State Cowboys)

Capacity: 13,611

Many call Oklahoma State’s home court “The Rowdiest Arena in the Country” and “The Madison Square Garden of the Plains.” It is, by far, one of the best places to catch a college basketball game, and several renovations have helped keep it up to date. If the Cowboys could become a more formidable program, the Gallagher-Iba Arena might vault even higher.

3. McKale Memorial Center (Arizona Wildcats)

Capacity: 14,688

Another newcomer to the conference last year, the McKale Center was one of the top venues in the Pac-12, and that remains the case in the Big 12. Program success and a solid fanbase make the home of the Wildcats, which includes a top-tier videoboard, one of the Big 12’s best.

2. Foster Pavilion (Baylor Bears)

Capacity: 7,500

The Foster Pavilion is the newest arena in the Big 12 while also being one of the smallest. Baylor opted to go for an intimate setting, and through one season, it has been a success. I think it is the best seating layout in the entire conference, with visible aisles and sections that give the arena a distinct look. Add in the window panes on one side, and you’ve got yourselves a pristine modern basketball venue.

1. Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas Jayhawks)

Capacity: 15,300

You cannot beat the atmosphere at Allen Fieldhouse. It is arguably the best spot to watch a basketball game in the world, and the history behind the teams that take the floor there is unmatched. The arena is sold out nearly every game, which puts it over the top as the best arena in the Big 12.

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