Farewell to Freedom Hall

One of the nation's most historic college basketball arenas will close its doors this weekend in epic fashion.

Freedom Hall, home to the University of Louisville Cardinals, has housed some of the greatest players in college hoops history as well as some legendary moments in basketball lore.

I've had the pleasure of calling a pair of games in the 18,865-seat facility over the past couple of seasons. You could tell that the place was slowly getting older (it was built in 1956) and that it was missing many of the necessary aspects of a modern-day arena.

One of the redeeming aspects of Freedom Hall is that it's located right in the middle of the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. To watch an entire city converge on this setting is a sight every college basketball fan would appreciate.

This weekend, the Cardinals will end the building's regular season slate (let's hope they don't have to host any NIT games if it comes to that) against the No. 1 team in the land-- Syracuse.

While most recent college hoops fans won't know this, the University of Louisville hosted six Final Fours in 12 years during the late 1950's and throughout the 60's.

It'd be improper to think that this arena fell out of favor during the last decade. Last year, the Cardinals were fifth nationally in home attendance-- averaging closer to the concert capacity of over 19,000 than its listed, reduced basketball seat limit.

All of the tradition that goes into the state's high school basketball tournament seeps out of the nooks and crannies of the building. Additionally, the school is Top 10 in all-time program winning percentage and has been victorious in approximately 80 percent of its home contests.

College studs such as Samaki Walker and Wes Unseld walked those halls and the coaching duo of Denny Crum and Rick Pitino is pretty impressive.

The Cardinals have made 34 NCAA Tournaments since the building opened and will look to bring that positive vibe to a brand-new, state-of-the-art downtown arena next winter.

All college basketball fans should feel lucky to have watched games at Freedom Hall-- it will be missed as a venue in the sport.