Opening Tip: There’s not a whole lot to be thankful for this weekend as far as NCAA hoops matchups go. And while this one probably won’t be a barn-burner, at least it’ll be played in a “barn.”

Fast Break: Don’t you just love the Midwest? Williams Arena seats more than 14,000, but it’s known affectionately by Golden Gopher fans as “the Barn.” When you see it, you’ll understand why.

The structure opened in 1928, making it one of the oldest basketball arenas not just in the college game, but in the country. Originally known as the University of Minnesota Field House, it was renamed after the University’s former football coach in 1950 during a remodel that converted part of its space into a hockey arena.

Though the building has seen a number of renovations and remodels, it retains its historic raised floor, which puts team benches, scorers’ tables, and seating a few feet below the court surface. It joins Vanderbilt University as one of the very few in the college game to maintain the raised-court design.

Three Points:

Before the construction of what is now Williams Arena, the Minnesota men’s basketball team played in a number of armories on campus.

From 1950 until 1971, Williams Arena sat 18,025 fans, the largest seating capacity of any college hoops arena.

Williams Arena was completed in 1928 at the total cost of $650,000.

Buzzer Beater: In keeping with the theme of calling the arena “the Barn,” the student section of Williams Arena is referred to as “the barnyard.”

And-1: Head south to watch the University of Houston host the University of Louisiana-Monroe at the 1967 Hofheinz Pavilion. Tip is at 8:00 p.m. EST on Saturday.

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