A look at some out-of-the ordinary settings for sports events

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Illinois plays at Vanderbilt's Memorial Gymnasium, a quirky arena with the team benches on the baseline. Beat writer Paul Klee has a soft spot for these unique college venues:

Williams Arena: "The Barn"

Not everyone is a fan of the elevated court at Minnesota's basketball facility, better known as The Barn (above). "I hate Williams Arena with a passion," former Michigan State coach Jud Heathcote wrote in the biography "Jud: A Magical Journey," adding, "But I still think the raised floor is a joke in college basketball." It truly is an odd sight to see Tubby Smith seated on a stool on the court, while his coaching staff sits down below.

Bronco Stadium: "Smurf Turf"

The Smurf-colored Astro Play surface at Boise State's football stadium (capacity: 32,000) might as well be blue Kryptonite for visitors: The Broncos have the nation's best home record since 2003 (37-1). There is no NCAA rule against painting a field a different color than green. There is no high school rule, either, and Lovington (N.M.) High School, the alma mater of Brian Urlacher, has a football field painted the same color as Boise State's.

University Arena: "The Pit"

Oregon's McArthur Court claims to be "The Pit." But it's not the real pit. "The Pit" is New Mexico's basketball haven, an 18,018-seat facility packed with Lobos-loving locals. What makes "The Pit" unique is that it is, actually, a pit. Constructors dug a 37-foot hole into an Albuquerque mesa then covered it with a roof. The result is one of hoops' feared venues, the site of the 1983 NCAA title game (N.C. State-Houston).

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