Closing thoughts: The Pit

New Mexico’s home arena is appropriately named “The Pit.” The roof was built first and then a massive 37-foot pit was dug out underneath the roof, obviously placing the floor underground. That, along with its flat roof, has produced the highest decibel levels in a college basketball arena.

The St. Petersburg Times ran a feature in 1999 on decibel levels in college basketball arenas and a game against Arizona recorded the highest reading – 118. This is one of the most unique college basketball arenas I’ve been in and this place can get loud. But there’s a key word in that sentence – can.

I know it’s an early season tournament against three lackluster teams, but the New Mexico fans, particularly the students, are maybe one-fifth as involved in the game as fans in the RC. This arena gets loud only when the Lobos score. That’s it. The student section – for all intensive purposes – is a joke. New Mexico’s enrollment is over 25,000 and there have been maybe 75-100 students at every UNM game this weekend. They don’t make any noise and in two-and-a-half games I have yet to hear them put together one coordinated cheer. And the Thanksgiving break can’t be used an excuse. Their break doesn’t even start until Thursday.

I know the RC is unique but I honestly thought the PIT would be a better atmosphere to watch a basketball game from. Based on this weekend that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’d love to come back during Mountain West Conference play and see how loud this place can get because I have been completely unimpressed by what I’ve seen over the last three days.

In 1999, Sports Illustrated labeled the Pit as the 13th best sports venue of the century. I don’t see it. I’m sure it’s different during conference play, or even when there’s a team in here not named St. Bonaventure, Presbyterian or Loyola Marymount, but what cannot be dismissed is the nonchalant attitude toward the product on the floor. The RC students are into every game no matter the opponent. The New Mexico students barely show up and act like they’re attending a church service. If you put the Wolfpack in The Pit, I can guarantee you it wouldn’t just be the loudest college basketball arena, but rather the loudest sporting venue anywhere.

The point of this is that my appreciation of the Wolfpack has grown tremendously over the last three days. I was expecting to see one of the most raucous college basketball scenes and I’ve been exceptionally disappointed. The arena is unique in terms of its steep, angled seating, low roof and underground court, but the fans have been anything but unique. Lackluster would be a better term.