Okay, if Kevin Collier — Pitt’s top RB verbal is actually wavering — and I stress if. I’m trying to figure out what Syracuse has done to indicate they are the better choice. I suppose, I could get it if he chose USC or some top program, but to suggest that Pitt’s season could sway him to Syracuse? I mean, that borders on delusional.

Coach Wannstedt, himself, can’t help looking to next year.

Wannstedt and his staff have been on the recruiting trail this past week, while the Panthers had no game, to put the finishing touches on a group already ranked in the top 10. And the head coach can’t wait to get next year’s incoming freshmen on campus.

“I believe this class can make an immediate impact,” Wannstedt said. “I’m basing that off of the fact that there’s a lot of positions where we need help right now, and I think Penn State is the best example of what can happen. What did they do last year, go (4-7)?

“I know they’ve got a great senior class. Don’t get me wrong. I know it’s the foundation, but the addition of some of those young kids — according to coach (Joe) Paterno — has made the biggest difference in their season. So, I know we’re going to get some instant help from a lot of guys.”

Pitt did not practice until Wednesday, but it was only a light workout. A little more hitting took place Thursday and Friday, even though there was a skeleton coaching staff there. The majority were on the road.

“All our coaches are on the road recruiting,” Wannstedt said. “There were only three of us (Wednesday). So, we kept it pretty basic. … I was here locally, (Wednesday), and I was in Florida (Tuesday).

“The reception has been outstanding. We’re going to hold onto a great class here that we’re focused on verbal commitments, and we’re going to add probably another four or five (incoming recruits) that I believe are big-time guys.”

I hope so, but a lot of that also depends on not trying to turn/treat Tyler Palko into/like A.J. Feeley. There has to be recognition — not just of what you want the team to do; but of what it can do and what it does best to enable it to win.

I’m not arguing against a strong running team, I’m saying that it will take more time. A strong running game depends a lot on an offensive line that is good and works well together. That takes more time than the passing game which is more of a one-on-one situation. It has a lot more to do with individual talent and the match-ups, and is less dependent on building cohesiveness and a group dynamic.

I only caught the last 10 minutes or so on the intenet feed. An 82-71 win, but Pitt made it a little unnerving at the end. I’ll have more later, but my initial impressions: a little unnerving in the last 7 minutes, but not horrible. The team apparently struggled in the first half, but that isn’t totally unexpected. This wasn’t Syracuse-Cornell or Duke-BU, but Pitt made it a little stressful.

Still not a lot of turnovers, and no one had more than 2. Gray pulled double-double. Fields, Graves, Gray and Krauser all had double digit scoring. Good balance, and no one played more than 29 minutes.

I only caught the last 10 minutes or so on the intenet feed. An 82-71 win, but Pitt made it a little unnerving at the end. I’ll have more later, but my initial impressions: a little unnerving in the last 7 minutes, but not horrible. The team apparently struggled in the first half, but that isn’t totally unexpected. This wasn’t Syracuse-Cornell or Duke-BU, but Pitt made it a little stressful.

Still not a lot of turnovers, and no one had more than 2. Gray pulled double-double. Fields, Graves, Gray and Krauser all had double digit scoring. Good balance, and no one played more than 29 minutes.

The opening game, and the team is not making a big deal about not being in any top-25 rankings. It isn’t actually a shock. Everyone has this team on the bubble of the NCAA. Last I checked, teams predicted to be on the bubble in the pre-season don’t end up being ranked pre-season. Carl Krauser is looking forward to the season, and speaks of being a teacher to Freshman Levance Fields.

He was referring to a group that includes Krauser, junior Antonio Graves, sophomore Ronald Ramon and Fields, who joins Krauser as the team’s only true point guards.

“I just want to go out there, lead the team and show these guys about hard work and a team commitment and taking care of each other on the court,” Krauser said. “I’ve been an understudy to a great point guard, Brandin Knight. Now, I have an understudy of my own.”

I find that very encouraging that he keeps talking about wanting to make the freshmen better players. Krauser has spoken about this season in terms of the team and improving. He would appear to get that for him to have rising stock and a chance to be drafted, requires him to make the team better.

That’s very important for Krauser, because this year should be a shallow draft. With no high schoolers in the draft and even a few less international players, it increases his chance. Still, despite that, he is not included in an early list from ESPN.com on top 100 draft prospects for 2006 (Insider Subs.). Rudy Gay heads up the list.

This article cribs some tidbits from the game notes.

Then another article on the Peacock’s Keydren Clark.

The opening game, and the team is not making a big deal about not being in any top-25 rankings. It isn’t actually a shock. Everyone has this team on the bubble of the NCAA. Last I checked, teams predicted to be on the bubble in the pre-season don’t end up being ranked pre-season. Carl Krauser is looking forward to the season, and speaks of being a teacher to Freshman Levance Fields.

He was referring to a group that includes Krauser, junior Antonio Graves, sophomore Ronald Ramon and Fields, who joins Krauser as the team’s only true point guards.

“I just want to go out there, lead the team and show these guys about hard work and a team commitment and taking care of each other on the court,” Krauser said. “I’ve been an understudy to a great point guard, Brandin Knight. Now, I have an understudy of my own.”

I find that very encouraging that he keeps talking about wanting to make the freshmen better players. Krauser has spoken about this season in terms of the team and improving. He would appear to get that for him to have rising stock and a chance to be drafted, requires him to make the team better.

That’s very important for Krauser, because this year should be a shallow draft. With no high schoolers in the draft and even a few less international players, it increases his chance. Still, despite that, he is not included in an early list from ESPN.com on top 100 draft prospects for 2006 (Insider Subs.). Rudy Gay heads up the list.

This article cribs some tidbits from the game notes.

Then another article on the Peacock’s Keydren Clark.