Inside The Panthers

Pitt Basketball: Jim Boeheim Unaffected by Rowdy Crowd at Petersen Events Center

Jim Boeheim was not fazed by the rowdy Pitt Panthers crowd surrounding him.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Basketball: Jim Boeheim Unaffected by Rowdy Crowd at Petersen Events Center
Pitt Basketball: Jim Boeheim Unaffected by Rowdy Crowd at Petersen Events Center /
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PITTSBURGH -- Fans sold out the game weeks in advance, arrived early and stood in line for hours. The most anticipated gameday for the Pitt Panthers at the Petersen Events Center had arrived and fans - particularly those in the Oakland Zoo - used every second of their evening in the arena to jeer Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, freshman guard and one-time Pitt commit Judah Mintz and the rest of the Orange.

A rivalry that already had decades of history behind it got some extra juice from some comments Boeheim made earlier this month, claiming that Pitt had "bought" the team that beat Syracuse 99-82 to complete a season sweep. 

The appearance of fake money with Boeheim's face photoshopped on the center of the bills was evidence enough that Pitt fans were eager to provide an in-person response to the allegations that Boeheim has since apologized for and walked back, but Boeheim doesn't think his comments added anything to the atmosphere.   

“I would say it was exactly the same as the last time we played here when they had a full house," Boeheim said. "It’s been a while [since they had a full house].”

Boeheim has faced his fair share of hostile, pro-Pitt crowds at the Petersen Events Center and Fitzgerald Field House and said this is what he has come to expect when he travels to face good Panther teams. 

“They’re a good crowd, they’ve always have been," Boeheim said. "It doesn’t bother me. I mean, come on. Seriously?”

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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