Former Auburn player CJ Holmes says Rupp Arena is “without a doubt” the toughest arena he ever played in.
Holmes, now an Auburn team blogger for SEC Country, wrote about Rupp Arena in a recent article.
Here is an excerpt of his thoughts:
But there was always one place where there never was a shred of orange to be found: Rupp Arena.
There was a ton of blue though, as you could imagine. So much so that it felt like you were drowning at times. Banners hanging from the rafters bearing the retired numbers of Kentucky and college basketball greats. The entitled, unbothered demeanor UK fans more interested in how fast their club will go up by 21 points rather than the game itself. Some of the best young players in the country across the court from you and enough history in the place to fill up a library.
It was like we were gladiators fighting off lions — or Wildcats — in the Flavian Amphitheatre, and John Calipari was Julius Caesar. Many go in brave, confident and with a plan of attack. But only the truly calculated ever escaped with a win.
I haven’t had the opportunity to attend a game at Phog Allen Field House in Kansas. And I’m sure this isn’t anything compared to the horrors of Duke’s Cameron Indoor. But in two visits to Rupp Arena with no wins, I’d say that Rupp Arena is without a doubt the toughest place I’ve ever played, and there’s a level of discomfort that opposing teams experience in that building that cuts way deeper than the final score.
