Carver can be loud. Look at this video from the Iowa/Dayton NIT game. It was one of the most fun environments I've been to.
The halftime crew even comments about the crowd in this clip.
If I remember right, the NIT game was scheduled on short notice. All of the seats went on sale to the public. I do not think the season ticket holders had their specific seats. And you can tell in the video. Fans are standing on the side court screaming. If you go to a game today at Carver, the first 20 rows are all fans that aren't exactly the enthusiastic type. They're on the old side to put it nicely. They leave with 6 minutes to go in the game to beat the crowd.
That's the problem. The seats near the action need to be had be fans that are into the game. Carver needs to build some sort of suite (not the crap they introduced this year) around row 25 or so that stretches around the arena. Get the older folks there where they can have a great view still and have privacy. Then make rows above that general admission first come/first serve.
Watch this video and you can see how electric Carver can be when you have the diehards sitting near the action.
My brother and I went to this game. He has season tickets, so season ticket holders get first selection. If they refuse their seats, then they go on sale to the general public. This is why the place was rocking. They got some of the fans who care and actually cheer to take the tickets from the fans who either 1. don't show up, or 2. show up but don't cheer. Place was as loud as I've ever heard it. Plus I think tickets were cheaper than they were during regular season prices, which helped.