Videos: How did Carver-Hawkeye Arena's atmosphere compare with its competitors?

Let me take you on a journey to Big Ten basketball arenas.

Last winter, I traveled to eight different Big Ten arenas -- I skipped Champaign, Ill. because a more "high-profile" event took place in South Florida that night. I shot video of four different arenas to show how the pre-game atmosphere at Carver-Hawkeye Arena compares with its Big Ten competitors.

In fairness, Iowa has two high-quality pre-game moments in my opinion: a video compilation of historical highlights set to a drum solo and the pre-game introductions. The game-day environment outside of those moments lacks energy and needs more work than a sub-committee of administrators can offer.

Here are the videos of four other arenas: Michigan State's Breslin Center; Wisconsin's Kohl Center; Ohio State's Value City Arena and Michigan's Crisler Arena; plus two videos inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

There's no doubt Michigan State's Breslin Center provides the best atmosphere of any arena in the Big Ten. Carver-Hawkeye Arena doesn't have to compare with the Breslin Center, but it should elevate the environment.

Here's how I would rank the Big Ten locales this year based on atmosphere: 1. Michigan State; 2. Wisconsin; 3. Purdue; 4. Indiana; 5. Minnesota; 6. Ohio State; 7. Michigan; 8. Iowa; 9. Northwestern (As mentioned above, I didn't travel to Champaign, Ill., and Iowa didn't play at Penn State)

My suggestion to boost game-day environment is to take "Seven Nation Army" by White Stripes and turn it into THE song at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It energizes fans from Europe to Happy Valley. Iowa's pep band and its much-maligned song selection needs a revival ("Back in the USSR" isn't relevant for students who were born after the USSR imploded) and this song could be the remedy. Take a look for yourself.

What are your thoughts? Are there better songs? Comment below and let the world know.