PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – For years it was one of the most feared arenas for any opponent to enter. Most teams that came into the Petersen Events Center not only endured playing a Jamie Dixon team, but the cheers, energy and ridicule from the Oakland Zoo. All of that returned in 2022-23.
From early on in the season, several of the transfers worked to interact with the student section. Played up to them and credited them after wins. As the students got to know the names on the roster that were mostly unfamiliar, success begot even more students returning to the top of campus for games. By Senior Day on Saturday, it felt like old times.
"Oakland Zoo, man," said first-year Panther Blake Hinson. "In the history of the Oakland Zoo that has to match what the best has been or maybe even better. That was everything, that was great. I even had people in my family saying make sure you tell that crowd, and that Oakland Zoo, they did an amazing job."
"Shout out to you guys, sixth man of the year, that's y'all."
He may be a little overzealous, you could argue the win over number one UConn, or the triple overtime thriller beating West Virginia were bigger. But that was years ago, and now after more than a half-decade of losing basketball, the two reunited this season.
"The crowd and these guys, especially the Zoo, have an unbelievable connection," said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel. "It's been that way all year."
The second sellout of the season featured not only the victory that is familiar, but the cheers and signs/giant photos that had made the Zoo so much fun. Saturday were the images of Jim Boeheim picking his nose, holding dollar bills as he looked like a baby. It was all back.
When you think about how dominant Pitt has been at the Petersen Events Center, remember even after six consecutive seasons with no more than 16 wins, the Panthers, the Pete, are still seventh in home wins since 2002. Only Duke and Syracuse have more in the ACC and no team in the Big 10 has more than Pitt's 290 wins at home.
Growing up, Nelly Cummings was a part of it, even when he couldn't attend. He watched it. It made him want to be a Panther. Finally, after years of waiting for both Cummings and Pitt fans, it resumed.
"It's definitely hard to put it into words," Cummings said. "It was just special, it meant a lot to me. The crowd was electric. It's the last time I'm going to play here. It means to lot to go out that way."
The season isn't over, there's still more ahead. But what a ride it's been.
