Plenty of coverage in Cinci in the last few days on the hiring of former Pitt great, Sean Miller as basketball head coach of Xavier, replacing Thad Motta. Kind of makes sense, when the only big issue regarding UC is, “When does Huggins sober up return from suspension. From the shot taken at OSU’s hiring process (also mocked by national columnists) to the ‘no brainer’ decision on the hiring. Then there is the assembling of a new staff. Of course there is the obligatory article about Miller’s coaching bloodlines. Finally, a 5 question sitdown with the new coach.

1 What is your favorite moment as a player? (Miller is a former All-Big East point guard at Pittsburgh.)

A: When I was a freshman (in 1988), we played Syracuse on the final Sunday in March. Both teams were tied for first place, so it was for the Big East championship, and it was the largest Carrier Dome crowd for a basketball game at the time.

We went in there and won it, and it was an amazing moment to win the Big East title against a team like that Syracuse team.

2 What did you think last season when you saw ESPN replay the Jerome Lane dunk? (Lane, who played with Miller, broke a backboard on a dunk in 1988 after Miller threw him a pass on a fast break.)

A: It reminded me of how much weight I’ve gained since my playing days. That clip right there is keeping me alive.

That was a Big Monday game on ESPN, so for him to do that on that stage was amazing. It had very little to do with the pass.

I admit, it feels kind of odd that college basketball recruiting for 2005 is now underway with the 3 shoe company basketball camps happening. (Read this Gregg Doyel article on them.)

Pitt is active though. The coaches are on the road, at the camps and taking in the players. Pitt looks to be active for many top recruits from the NY/NJ area again. Very encouraging stuff, mostly.

I don’t want to complain, but I worry. I guess, I’d like to see Pitt geographically expand a little more in their recruiting. This NY pipeline thing is awesome, but it makes me feel the program is a little too dependent on one area and if Assistant Coach Barry Rohrssen is the main guy as it has appeared in charming the kids to come to Pitt — then it would be real easy to tumble when he leaves for his own coaching gig in a couple years. Not to mention if St. John’s rebounds and Rutgers ever really gets it together. A little more diversity would be nice.

Have to give credit to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Joe Bendel for actually covering the summer camps and recruiting. (Not to mention a decent piece on Carl Krauser playing in the Rucker league games.)Aside from the pay-to-view recruiting sites , the Trib has been the only media outlet to provide info on the Pitt basketball team this summer. They seem to have figured out that people are still interested in what is happening with Pitt basketball even in the offseason.