While I keep getting down over how the football recruiting has collapsed, there is a basketball game tonight against St. John’s. Not that the local beat reporters seem to be paying a lot of attention. One beat report leads with the subject of whether Pitt could be #1 in the polls this season. Given what has happened to #1 teams, I’m not sure that would be a good thing. The other is a focus/puff piece on assistant coach Barry Rohrssen

The New York Post noticed there was a game, though. They think the Red Storm will take a physical beating.

The Red Storm (5-13 overall, 0-7 in the Big East) doesn’t figure to be more physical than tonight’s opponent, Pittsburgh. The Panthers (20-1, 6-1) haven’t missed handing out a beating despite losing Howland to the Bruins and having point guard Brandin Knight complete his eligibility.

In a story I didn’t know, the Post is also playing up Krauser out to remind St. John’s that they screwed up on not recruiting him.

Doc Nicelli, who runs the Broncos, convinced Pittsburgh assistant Barry Rohrssen to give Krauser a chance. Rohrssen had to sell Krauser to Howland. St. John’s, the school that Krauser said he wanted to attend, didn’t show interest.

“This game is very personal for me,” Krauser said. “They basically overlooked me.”

Couple that with the national attention Krauser received in the last week, and there is the potential for some very selfish play by Krauser. That can be the kind of opening that could lead to the big upset. Will be interesting to see if Krauser can stay in control, and if coach Dixon has to/will do anything to reign in Krauser.

St. John’s University’s main focus, though, seems to say “screw this year.” They are more concerned with finding a new coach for next year once they figure out what they want.