Sheehey relishes hostile playing environment

More than 90 minutes before tipoff, they were outside in droves. Black shirts blended into the darkness, gold glimmering through in the lines stretched partway around Mackey Arena’s perimeter.

The surest sign of the Purdue faithful, though, were the sounds, eager yells echoing through the night as the students waited to flood into their home.

Just hours later, the announced Purdue student attendance of more than 10,000 was reduced to a comparative whimper, the most hostile environment IU has seen this season a non-factor as IU romped to a 97-60 rivalry win.

“We knew it was going to be like this, for the older guys anyway,” senior guard Jordan Hulls said. “We let the freshman know how brutal it was going to be, playing in a really loud environment.”

In the early going, the teams traded baskets. Then, as IU runs of 9-0 and 13-0 put the Hoosiers in control the rest of the way, the crowd of the circular arena was all encompassing in every sense.

Loudspeakers blended with organic yells during Purdue’s starting lineup announcements and IU players turned their backs and huddled together.

As tipoff loomed, fans swayed, arms around each other, moving as one massive entity.

Perhaps no player was more targeted by the Boilermaker fans than junior forward Will Sheehey. Fans screamed toward his in pregame warm-ups, and his face showed that he heard them.

“Go to hell, Sheehey” could be heard in the first half, followed by a homophobic remark. He did not appear to notice.

In the second half, as IU maintained its lead then pulled away even more, Sheehey clearly responded to the hostility. When the fans taunted him, he taunted back, then calmly sank free throws, feeding off the boos.

“Will is a great young man who’s got a great edge to him,” IU Coach Tom Crean said. “He’s not the player that he without that edge and that energy. It fuels him.”

Even in road games this season, IU fans have travelled well and filled significant chunks of opposing arenas, particularly against Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. when they outnumbered the Wildcat’s own following.

Wednesday night was different.

IU fans were there for the in-state match-up, but not in the same numbers. A concentration behind the IU bench and a sprinkling through Mackey, but nothing more.

Under the turtle-like segments of the Mackey roof, though, the IU fans came out of their shells as the team boosted the lead with turnovers and accurate free throws.

3-point shots by Hulls brought a miniature version of the reaction he elicits at Assembly Hall and “Co-dy Zell-er” chants rang after his plays.

Purdue fans did not go quietly into the night, though. A Purdue block late in the first half that sent the ball into the stands brought roars of approval despite the deficit. “IU sucks” taunts continued well into the second half, reverberating down Mackey’s halls no matter the score.

The jeers reached a point of irrelevance, the IU lead insurmountable and still growing. With roughly eight minutes still to play, and Purdue freshman center A.J. Hammons on the midst of a career night in his first taste of the rivalry, the crowd began quietly filing toward the exits.

“It’s a great environment to play in,” Crean said. “It’s an excellent arena. I think the guys really enjoy the surroundings and the court. You come in here and win and you know you’ve done something.”