Big Ten basketball arenas

Williams Arena, opened in 1928, is far and away the oldest of the arenas for the 11 Big Ten basketball teams still in use:

 

School Building Opened Capacity

Minnesota Williams Arena Feb. 1928 14,625

Northwestern Welsh-Ryan Arena Dec. 1952 8,117

Illinois Assembly Hall March 1963 16,618

Purdue Mackey Arena Dec. 1967 14,123

Michigan Crisler Arena Dec. 1967 13,751

Indiana Assembly Hall Dec. 1971 17,456

Iowa Carver-Hawkeye Arena Jan. 1983 15,500

Michigan St. Breslin Center Nov. 1989 14,759

Penn St. Bryce Jordan Center Jan. 1996 15,261

Wisconsin Kohl Center Jan. 1998 17,142

Ohio St. Value City Arena Nov. 1998 19,500

By Myron P. Medcalf mmedcalf@startribune.com Before he had coached a Big Ten home game, first-year Gophers men's basketball coach Tubby Smith questioned the shelf life of Williams Arena, the team's residence since 1928. Smith has now seen Williams Arena at its finest twice this month -- full houses against conference opponents Indiana and Michigan State. While it's too early to say his views of the venerable arena's long-term viability have changed, there appears to have been a subtle shift. Smith said he is not "campaigning" for a new venue. And after the last sellout against Indiana, he said he understands better why The Barn is so popular to Gophers fans. "I can see now why it's such a nostalgic ... tradition, it's obvious," he said. "Yeah, I could feel the energy." Those words have given hope to some Gophers fans that Smith will someday embrace the arena the way his predecessors have. Former Gophers captain Al Nuness said Smith's past comments about Williams Arena were "sharp" and made him feel "uncomfortable." But he also said fans should give Smith time to get used to the venue and grasp its history and significance to supporters. Smith came from Kentucky, a program that had Rupp Arean -- the "Taj Mahal" of facilities, Nuness said -- so his expectations aren't surprising. Nuness applauded the coach for being honest and said the university shouldn't worry unless Smith isn't happy with the existing facility in a couple of years. "This is Tubby's first year in Minnesota, his first exposure to the Barn," said Nuness, who played for the Gophers from 1967 to '69. "He hasn't been exposed to what it means to Minnesotans yet. Give him some time." Williams Arena, with its unique raised court and rowdy fans, has provided Gophers teams with a huge homecourt advantage over the years. Minnesota has won almost 72 percent of its home games (690-273) since the opening of the arena for the 1927-28 season, including 8-2 this season. Last season's 8-9 home record was the first losing season for the Gophers at the arena since 1966-67. Smith wouldn't be the first Gophers coach who warmed up to Williams. Clem Haskins said he wasn't pleased with the Barn when he first arrived in 1986. "Probably, when I took the job, if I saw the arena before I took the job, I'd probably turn the job down because it was so depressing when you walk in and see it the first time," Haskins said. After a few games, however, Haskins embraced the Barn and its fans. He became such a champion of the place that he stopped a push to move the Gophers to the Target Center when the Timberwolves came to town. "I tell you what, after I got there, and practiced a few times, and had a couple ball games in there ... I changed my mind and used it as a home- court advantage," Haskins said. "It's a great arena to play in, to practice. The floor is excellent." However, even Haskins said it's time for the university to consider a new arena because of the disadvantages it poses for attracting recruits accustomed to visiting newer facilities. At present, there are no plans for constructing a new arena, although some Big Ten coaches certainly wouldn't mind that happening. Indiana's Kelvin Sampson said the Gophers enjoy an obvious home-court advantage. But sticking with older arenas is somewhat of a Catch-22 in recruiting, he said. "It has a distinct personality," Sampson said. "Those old gyms have a mystique about it. There's a lot of positives about maintaining the tradition and the mystique. At the same time, you're recruiting kids, and schools that have these beautiful new arenas and all the amenities that a lot of these kids really like." Michigan State's Tom Izzo agrees with Sampson that recruiting could be hindered by an old venue. "Well, you know, I think Williams Arena is a great, great place," he said. "Let's face it: most of the arenas now have different amenities and different things. I don't how long [The Barn] can keep going. I think that'll be a question mark." But Smith doesn't think that he's missing out on recruits because of the arena. He points to the strong class he recruited that will be on campus next fall. For now, the fate of Williams Arena seems to be on the backburner of Smith's perceived needs for his program. And who knows? Like Haskins, Smith just might grow fond of the place. "I have no clue," Smith said about the Barn's future. "We haven't had any problems since I've been in it."