Over the years, from the Big East Conference to the Atlantic Coast Conference, Syracuse men's basketball has squared off against bitter rivals whose lineups contain players that the SU fan base absolutely despised.
Whether the reasons were legitimate or not, these players agitated 'Cuse fans like it's nobody's business, getting under the collective skin of Orange Nation.
Many of these players have suited up in the Big East, where Syracuse was a longtime member, or the ACC, the league that the Orange joined in the 2013-14 campaign amid ongoing conference realignment that has shaken up the college sports landscape.
Players on rival squads that Syracuse basketball fans don't like, to put it mildly.
Patrick Ewing, Georgetown center
The Georgetown and Big East legend is one of the greatest college basketball players ever. But in the 1985 Big East Tournament, he got into a scuffle with SU point guard Pearl Washington. Nobody messes with our beloved Pearl (RIP, brother).
Michael Graham, Georgetown power forward
In the 1984 Big East Tournament final, Graham took a swing at Syracuse forward Andre Hawkins. Graham was ejected, but the head referee ultimately overruled the initial call, changing it to an intentional foul, which meant Graham could continue playing. Georgetown would prevail, and at his post-game press conference, SU head coach Jim Boeheim lashed out, saying "the best team did not win tonight." He then tossed a chair on his way out. To make it sting even more, the Hoyas would claim the 1984 national championship.
Chris Mullin, St. John's wing
Mullin had a historic Big East career at St. John's. He was the conference's player of the year three times and the national player of the year in 1985, when the Red Storm made the Final Four. Given all those accolades, and the fact that he played for charismatic head coach Lou Carnesecca (RIP), Mullin made our list here.
Otto Porter Jr., Georgetown forward
In 2013, Porter torched the Orange for 33 points, as the Hoyas bested Syracuse basketball, 57-46, in the final Big East regular-season bout between the two fierce rivals at the Carrier Dome (now the JMA Wireless Dome). Thankfully, in the Big East Tournament, the 'Cuse knocked off Georgetown, 58-55 in overtime, and SU's C.J. Fair had a poster dunk on Porter.
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh power forward
When Jamie Dixon was Pitt's head coach, the Panthers had a ton of success against the Boeheim-led Orange. You could put a bunch of different Pittsburgh guys on this list, but I'll go with Blair, who was a first-team All-American in the 2008–09 season.
Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette guard
In the 2011 NCAA Tournament, Marquette stunned No. 3 seed Syracuse, 66-62. The Golden Eagles were at least partially aided by the officials incorrectly calling a backcourt violation against 'Cuse guard Scoop Jardine late in the game. Johnson-Odom led Marquette with a team-high 17 points.
Here are a few other college basketball players hated by Syracuse basketball fans, although they didn't necessarily play for rival teams:
•Aaron Craft, Ohio State point guard (I always just thought he was a punk)
•Keith Smart, Indiana point guard (1987, sigh)
•Grayson Allen, Duke guard (did anyone like him in college?)
•Doug Gottlieb, Oklahoma State point guard (this needs no further explanation)
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