In college basketball, it's all about environment.

Sometimes the venue that a team must play in can be as big a factor as the team it's playing against.

From the Cameron Crazies to the rowdy Irish faithful inside the Joyce Center, college basketball's spirit and tradition rests largely within its arenas and particularly in its student sections.

And while each gym differs in size, look and ambiance, only some can make you feel as if you're part of the action.

Once again, choosing which ones to keep on and off of this list did not come without struggle. There are only 10 spots, and there are more than 10 great arenas in college basketball.

Yes, I realize that North Carolina's Dean Smith Center, Michigan State's Breslin Center, Oklahoma State's Gallagher-Iba Arena, Louisville's Freedom Hall, Arkansas' Bud Walton Arena, Syracuse's Carrier Dome, Washington's Bank of America Arena, Illinois' Assembly Hall, Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse, Florida's O'Connell Center, Southern Illinois' SIU Arena, Gonzaga's McCarthey Athletic Center and UC Santa Barbara's Thunderdome were left out.

They're all great atmospheres for watching a game, too.

But if you're more than just the average college hoops fan, these 10 stadiums are ones that you've got to visit before you die.

Honorable Mention: Louis Brown Athletic Center, Rutgers

Piscataway, N.J., isn't a city to write home about, but "The RAC" is one of the loudest and most intimidating environments in college basketball. The fans, for one, are right on top of the players, while the actual structure of the building (in the shape of a condensed tent) might contain more sound than a private concert hall.

10. Pauley Pavilion, UCLA

With 11 national championship banners hanging from the rafters, it's hard to leave the Bruins' long-standing arena out of the conversation. And while Pauley won't exactly look the same after its $185-million facelift, it will always be remembered for showcasing some of the game's greats - Lew Alcindor, Bill Walton and Gail Goodrich to name a few - during their time in Westwood.

9. Kohl Center, Wisconsin

There's a reason why the Badgers are one of the best home teams in the nation, and it's largely due to the fact that "the Grateful Red" remains one of the most passionate student sections in all of college basketball. In fact, between the 2001 and 2007 seasons, Wisconsin managed to lose only 11 times while compiling 125 wins at the Kohl Center - that's what you call home-court advantage.

8. McArthur Court, Oregon

It's been a few years since the Ducks were considered a national power, but "Mac Court" (also known as "The Pit") still knows how to pack a punch. The maple floor, in particular, bounces under the weight of the student section, which completely surrounds the court, while the buildings' outdated configuration has the fans nearly hovering over the players.

7. Edmund P. Joyce Center, Notre Dame

The Irish historically are known as a football school, but the basketball program has witnessed some major landmarks inside the Joyce Center, including the end of UCLA's NCAA record 88-game winning streak. Nowadays, the arena and its boisterous fans provide a significant home-court advantage for Notre Dame, which rattled off 45 straight wins at home before losing to Big East foe Connecticut last season.

6. University Arena, New Mexico

There really isn't anything else like "The Pit" in college basketball. With the court submerged 37 feet below grade level, Joe Boehning's architectural experiment during the 1960s has since produced one of the most hostile environments to play in over the last 40 years.

5. The Palestra, Penn

The Quakers might not exactly be high profile, but they do play in the Cathedral of College Basketball. With only 8,722 seats and the stadium's bleachers hugging the court, things can get pretty noisy in this historic University City arena, especially when the Big 5 schools go toe to toe every fall.

4. Assembly Hall, Indiana

Indiana basketball might be going through some tough times of late, but it has one of the most dedicated fan bases of any Division I program. Opposing teams, particularly those from the Big Ten, can be sure to face deafening decibel levels when they come to Assembly Hall, which is what has made the Hoosiers such a tough home team - including winning streaks of 50 and 35 games - in the past.

3. Rupp Arena, Kentucky

With a capacity of 23,500, the Wildcats' home looks more like a football stadium than a college basketball gym despite remaining one of the sport's most renowned shrines. At the time of its opening in 1976, Rupp was the largest arena ever built for basketball, and it still is while leading the nation in attendance year after year.

2. Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas

When it comes to college basketball tradition, there might not be a stadium with more charisma than "The Phog." Resembling the look of an old Kansas barn, Allen Fieldhouse has been home to more than 600 victories by the Jayhawks - including 64 straight between 1994-1998 - thanks to a student section that's one of the most animated and raucous in the country.

1. Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke

When you think of college basketball, you think of Cameron. Between Krzyzewskiville, the Cameron Crazies and press row on top of Coach K Court, there's really no atmosphere as intense and exciting as the Blue Devils'.

To see the full list in photos, click here.

With the 2008-09 season deep in the rearview mirror and the NBA Draft still more than a month away, the offseason lull has hit college basketball during the month of May.

And while things couldn't get much quieter on the college hoops front these days, it's left us time to consider some bigger-picture items.

Because as the NBA Playoffs continue to unfold over the next month, college basketball's dead period actually gives us a chance to reflect on some of the best and worst that the sport has to offer.

So that got me thinking ... who are the 10 best coaches in the country right now?

Since the sport's early days, college basketball has always been predicated on coaching.

The players come and go - whether it's one year or four years - but the coaches often remain the same.

From the countless hours of recruiting to a six-month, full-fledged run of film meetings, weightlifting sessions and on-court practices, the coaches are truly the faces that resonate most in college basketball.

In that regard, deciding who to keep on and off of this list was no easy task. The fact is, there isn't room for everybody.

Nevertheless, the 10 coaches below are undoubtedly some of the best out there today.

Yes, I realize Jim Boeheim, Bill Self, Bruce Weber, Jim Calhoun and Billy Donovan did not make this list. Neither did Bruce Pearl nor John Calipari (you can partially thank violations at UMass in 1996 for Cal's submission from this list while Kansas and UConn have had their own off-the-court issues with players more recently).

But if I needed a coach to build a clean and disciplined program from scratch, one that has the capability of competing for multiple national championships, I'd certainly be tracking down one of these guys.

Honorable Mention: John Beilein, Michigan

One of the best Xs and Os coaches in the country, Beilein has built his résumé on three 20-win seasons at West Virginia, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2005 followed by a trip to the Sweet 16 in '06. Known for his motion offense and patented 1-3-1 zone defense, the New York native already has Michigan back on the national radar in only two years after ending a 10-year NCAA tournament drought this past season.

10. Tony Bennett, Virginia

In the three short seasons that he spent in Pullman, Bennett turned Washington State from a Pac-10 afterthought into a national name, leading the Cougars to their highest ranking ever during the 2007-08 campaign. Now after the resignation of Dave Leitao, the 2007 AP National Coach of the Year is headed to Charlottesville to turn around a Virginia program that's been abysmal the past two seasons.

9. Sean Miller, Arizona

One of the most successful young coaches in the game today, Miller managed to collect six NCAA tournament victories in only five seasons at Xavier. Now at only the age of 40, the former Pittsburgh point guard holds the reigns to one of the most recognizable programs in the country as he looks to return Arizona to its glory days under the Lute Olson era.

8. Ben Howland, UCLA

Everywhere Howland has gone in his 15-year head coaching career, he's made his team a winner in a matter of three years. Starting at Northern Arizona and moving to the Steel City to rebuild a Pittsburgh program that has now blossomed under Jamie Dixon, Howland has taken UCLA to three Final Fours and continues to pull in some of the top recruiting classes in the country year after year.

7. Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh

A former assistant under Howland, Dixon has captured the most wins of any collegiate coach in six years of work after guiding Pittsburgh past the Sweet 16 for the first time in 35 years last season. While his 163-45 record speaks for itself, the 43-year-old from Southern California also has a Big East regular-season and tournament championship to go along with nine NCAA tournament victories.

6. Bo Ryan, Wisconsin

His teams certainly don't play the prettiest game of basketball, but when it comes down to it, Ryan knows how to win and get the most out of his players. At the age of 61, he's made a name for himself all across the state of Wisconsin, employing a blue-collar style on both ends of the floor that has led the Badgers to the Sweet 16 twice and to the Elite Eight once in 2005.

5. Jay Wright, Villanova

One of the brightest minds in the college game currently, Wright has worked hard to make Villanova a national power out of the mighty Big East once again. With a Final Four appearance this past season and a trip to the Elite Eight back in 2006, the former Hofstra coach, who took the Pride to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances his final two seasons, has the tools to potentially win a national championship if he chooses to stay with the Wildcats.

4. Roy Williams, North Carolina

Critics have always knocked Williams for his inability to win a national championship in his 15 seasons at Kansas - which included several extremely talented teams - but he's won two since leaving Lawrence for Chapel Hill. And aside from two exits in the second round of the NCAA tournament, the Hall of Fame coach has also taken the Tar Heels to the Elite Eight and Final Four before winning it all with four-time All-American Tyler Hansbrough this past season.

3. Mike Krzyzewski, Duke

Say what you will about Coach K (he's a weasel, the refs favor him, etc., etc.), the guy knows how to win year in and year out. Sure, his team got blasted by Villanova in the Sweet 16 this past season and we haven't seen Duke reach a regional final since 2004, but when you've got 833 wins to your name, 10 ACC regular-season championships and three national titles, there's something to be said for that.

2. Rick Pitino, Louisville

One of the most animated and candid coaches around, Pitino has been a bona fide winner going back to his early days at Providence, where he took the Friars to a Final Four in less than two years of service. Since then, the 56-year-old New Yorker has accumulated over 500 victories, including one in the 1996 national championship game with Kentucky, and after a brief stint in the NBA, he's turned Louisville back into a national power whether it's been in Conference USA or the Big East.

1. Tom Izzo, Michigan State

It's hard to find a better program over the last 10 years than the one that Izzo has been running in East Lansing. Aside from his first two seasons at Michigan State, Izzo has taken the Spartans to the NCAA tournament every year - a run that's included five Final Fours, a trip to the Elite Eight, a pair of Sweet 16 appearances and not to mention, a national championship in 2000 - with his focus on point guard play and hard-nosed approach to defense and rebounding.

To see the full list in photos, click here.

Now that the page has been turned on the 2008-09 season, things are a little slow on the college basketball front. And though my life feels somewhat empty without another NCAA tournament game to be watching, the NBA Playoffs are at least here to help me maintain my basketball fix for another two months.

After all, in those 60 days, you can tell just by watching on TV that compared to the regular season, the game's level of intensity is taken up a notch. That's because every game means a little bit more than the last. It's that time of the season when the stars shine and new ones are born.

So as we watch this year's NBA postseason action unfold, there's also a draft class being molded into place for June 25 - when Commissioner David Stern takes the podium at Madison Square Garden and reads off the league's next 60 rookies.

While underclassmen testing the waters will have until June 15 to pull out of the NBA Draft, many early entries have already made up their minds and turned pro by signing with agents. Here's a look at those prospects and whether they're making the right move with their future.

DeJuan Blair, F, Pittsburgh: Even after a sensational sophomore season that included an appearance in the Elite Eight, Blair could afford to play one more year in college to help hone his jumper. But with Levance Fields and Sam Young having played their senior seasons, it's understandable why he's coming out now. Draft decision: Good.

Chase Budinger, F, Arizona: Budinger was expected by many to declare for the draft a lot sooner than waiting until after his junior season, but with a new era beginning under Sean Miller, staying in Tucson would have meant playing for a fourth different coach in four years. And with enough size at 6-foot-7 and a deadly perimeter game, he won't have a problem finding his way onto a NBA roster. Draft decision: Good.

Earl Clark, G/F, Louisville: Clark has the length and athleticism to play at the next level, but he'll need to add some more muscle and improve his defense significantly in order to stay in front of opposing small forwards. His offensive game remains his strong suit after averaging 14.2 points per game at Louisville, and with sidekick Terrence Williams gone, the chances of a Final Four appearance look bleak for the Cardinals next year. Draft decision: Good.

Brandon Costner, F, N.C. State: The Wolfpack's leading scorer last year at 13.3 points per game, Costner will have a tough time playing the power forward slot in the NBA at only 6-foot-8. The other major question mark for the junior out of Montclair, N.J., is whether he'll have the athleticism to guard opposing small forwards, which includes the likes of LeBron James, Lamar Odom and Paul Pierce. Draft decision: Bad.

Stephen Curry, G, Davidson: Despite not getting Davidson back to the NCAA tournament, the sharp-shooting son of ex-NBA player Dell Curry, who stole the show during March Madness two years ago, did lead the nation in scoring at 28.6 points per game this past season. With the range he has on his jump shot, Curry - projected to go anywhere from 7th to 20th in the first round - shouldn't have any trouble adjusting to the NBA 3-point line next season. Draft Decision: Good.

DeMar DeRozan, F, USC: The Compton native had plenty of hype surrounding him prior to his arrival at USC, but unlike one-and-done phenom O.J. Mayo, DeRozan did little over the course of the season to prove he was one of the best players in the Pac-10, let alone in the nation. The 6-foot-7 freshman, in fact, was only third on the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game, sitting behind Dwight Lewis and Taj Gibson. Draft Decision: Bad.

Eric Devendorf, G, Syracuse: After playing only 10 games during the 2007-08 season due to a torn ACL, Devendorf came back and finished second on the team in scoring this year at 15.7 points per game while shooting 39 percent from three. Despite the solid offensive numbers in 2008-09, it's hard to see the Bay City, Mich., native being taken in the first round with his lack of athleticism and his defensive and rebounding skills still needing a lot of work. Draft Decision: Bad.

Wayne Ellington, G, North Carolina: Before the Final Four, many might have questioned this move by Ellington. But with the junior wingman being named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player and helping the Tar Heels win their fifth national championship, Ellington proved over the month of March - complements of a 19.2 NCAA tournament scoring average - that he can rise to the occasion when called upon. Draft Decision: Good.

Jonny Flynn, G, Syracuse: He may be undersized at only 6-foot, but Flynn showed during the Big East tournament and NCAA tournament that he was clearly the Orange's most talented player this season. If the Niagara, N.Y., native can avoid more injuries and can show that he's improved the range on his jump shot, he should be one of the top three point guards taken in the draft. Draft Decision: Good.

Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma: The National Player of the Year and a near deadlock to be the first pick in the draft, Griffin absolutely dominated the 2008-09 college basketball season from November all the way to March. In leading the Sooners to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2003, the 6-foot-10 sophomore shot over 65 percent from the field and averaged a double-double at 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds per game. Draft Decision: Good.

Daniel Hackett, G, USC: Hackett may have been one of the best on-ball defenders in the Pac-10, but it's hard to see him going anywhere in the first round. While the 6-foot-5 junior, who finished fourth in scoring (12.3 points per game) for the Trojans, has an adequate jump shot and solid passing skills, a spectacular senior year would have made Hackett a much more attractive acquisition in potentially another weak draft class next year. Draft Decision: Bad.

James Harden, G, Arizona State: The Pac-10 Player of the Year, Harden has a knack for scoring, whether it's inside or from the perimeter, and that should unquestionably make him a lottery pick. The All-American out of Los Angeles led the Sun Devils with 20.1 points per game this season, but he'll have to hope that a strong camp performance also overshadows his two final collegiate games, in which he tallied only nine and 10 points against the likes of Temple and Syracuse. Draft Decision: Good.

Paul Harris, F, Syracuse: When Harris committed to Syracuse more than two years ago, there was a buzz in upstate New York that Jim Boeheim was getting a player that could get him back to the Final Four after Carmelo Anthony had in 2003. But despite averaging 12 points and eight rebounds this season, Harris never truly lived up to his billing as a potential All-American, and there's no doubt a final year in college would have helped his draft stock come next June. Draft Decision: Bad.

Jordan Hill, F, Arizona: Despite a career filled with coaching changes and an up-and-down junior season, the 6-foot-10 forward out of Atlanta took his game to another level this year, averaging a double-double a game at 18.3 points and 11 rebounds. And in a draft that doesn't feature many quality big men besides Hill, National Player of the Year Blake Griffin and 7-foot-3 UConn product Hasheem Thabeet, he should go somewhere within the first 10 picks. Draft Decision: Good.

Brandon Jennings, G, Italy: There were few point guards out of high school that were as hyped as Jennings, who spent his final two seasons at Oak Hill. But while the Los Angeles native didn't really help his draft stock by playing professionally overseas for a year (he averaged only 7.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals in Euroleague games) rather than attending college at Arizona, he should go fairly high in the first round due to the lack of quality point guards available. Draft Decision: Good.

James Johnson, F, Wake Forest: Johnson had a solid year for the Demon Deacons in 2008-09, averaging 15 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. While the 6-foot-9, 245-pound forward ended his collegiate career with a loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Cleveland State, his upside and body type have him projected to go somewhere in the lottery. Draft Decision: Good.

Ty Lawson, G, North Carolina: After this year's NCAA tournament, there was no question who the nation's best point guard was. Despite missing the Tar Heels' opening-round game against Radford with a toe injury, Lawson absolutely torched opposing backcourts during UNC's national championship run, making him almost a lock to be the first college point guard taken in this year's draft. Draft Decision: Good.

B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State: This is by far the worst decision made by any early entry in this draft class. Mullens did little to cement himself among the nation's top big men all season long. The 7-footer out of Columbus, Ohio, averaged a mere 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, and while he might think a weak class this year might improve his stock, Mullens is clearly still a work-in-progress for whichever team calls him to the podium. Draft Decision: Bad.

DaJuan Summers, F, Georgetown: With the departures of Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert over the past two years, it was Summer's responsibility this season to carry the Hoyas and hopefully get John Thompson III's team back into the NCAA tournament. But Georgetown struggled significantly in Big East play, and the 6-foot-8 forward out of Baltimore failed to help the former conference champs return to such prominence. Draft Decision: Bad.

Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut: One of the few true centers in this year's draft, Thabeet proved once again this season with his shot-blocking and rebounding skills that he's a defensive force. Though he couldn't get UConn past Michigan State in the Final Four, the 7-foot-3 Tanzanian should no doubt be one of the first three picks taken after putting up impressive numbers of 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game. Draft Decision: Good.