So what have the ESPN talking heads and b-ball writers had to say in their weekly chat sessions (all Insider subs.)? There were a few Pitt questions during the course of the week. Several questions regarding Coach of the Year.

Pat Forde:

Frank (Knoxville, TN): Who do you think Bruce Pearl will be in competition with at the end of the season for National Coach of the Year honors?

Pat Forde: Frank: I’d say the top competition will be Bruce Weber, Jamie Dixon, John Beilein, John Calipari, Billy Donovan, Herb Sendek, Bo Ryan, Karl Hobbs, Thad Matta and John Thompson III. I know that’s a pretty wide net to throw, but we still have five weeks left before postseason.

Rick Majerus:

Josh Ann Arbor, Mi: Who would you say the coach of the year is at this point in the season?

Rick Majerus: Let me think. The difficulty in saying it now is that like Florida has hit some tough times. I think that it would be hard for me to just point out a guy right now. I’m not so sure that I can it. Pearl at Tennessee is doing a good job right now. I haven’t seen George Washington in person, but then they haven’t played a great non-conference schedule. The Colorado coach could be a good candidate. Florida. Pittsburgh. I actually, if I had to vote today, I’d vote for Dixon at Pittsburgh.

Fran Fraschilla:

George (Greeneville, TN): Fran, how ’bout some love for “Pearl Jam” in Knoxville? Is Bruce Coach of the Year or what? He’s doing it with mirrors.

Fran Fraschilla: Smoke mirrors and an outstanding backcourt. The style of play that he’s brought, uptempo, pressing and running and spreading you out on the offensive end, is perfect for Lofton, Watson, Bradshaw and company. Certainly Donovan’s done a great job at Florida, but at this point, Bruce gets a slight edge from me. Nationally, He’ll get some votes as well, as will Jamie Dixon, Calipari, Weber and Mark Few. Bruce’s energy, as you know, has created new found excitement in Knoxville. Wayne Chism, a 6-9 high school senior, will arrive next year, along with a solid recruiting class. So the beat should go on.

Lots of love, acknowledgent of the job done by Coach Dixon. This is part of the reason we will hear his name being tossed around for coaching vacancies. Whether it’s idle speculation/rumor-mongoring or actual interest, expect a good deal of it. Back to the chats.

Andy Katz (the day after the Pitt-UConn game):

Eric (PA): What do you think the chances are for Pitt to make it to the final four this year?

Andy Katz: I’ll tell you I was so impressed with Pitt last night. The Panthers don’t quit. They are as tough a squad as there is in the country. They didn’t shoot 3s well, rebound and couldn’t avoid foul shooting yet they were still there to win at UConn on the final possession. Pitt is one of the eight to 12 teams that could get to Indy.

Rece Davis:

Keith (Pittsburgh): What’s your take on Pitt Rece? They dropped one to UCONN, but I thought they showed something in that loss. They appear to be a tough team, but with the ability to change it up and run some as well.

Rece Davis: I like this team better than last year’s team. Ramon and Fields have really helped free up Krauser. Gray is not even the same player. Very, very good team. I expect them to be in sweet 16.

Kieren Darcy:

Keith (Pittsburgh): Pitt & WVU are heated rivals having great season. How do you see their upcoming home-and-home matchups panning out? Which team do you think will have more tournament success?

Kieran Darcy: I’m really looking forward to these games, the first of which is this coming Thursday. I could see the team’s splitting home-and-home…but I think West Virginia will go farther in the Tournament this year. They’re just more dangerous offensively. That said, I underestimated Pitt this year — and I usually overestimate them. They’ll be a factor in the Big East tournament, and should win at least a game in the Big Dance.
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Pete (DC): Kansas-Oklahoma is a bigger game than Pitt-Georgetown? Are you sure? BOTH Georgetown and Pitt are ranked ahead of Oklahoma and Kansas (who isn’t ranked yet). It’s about time the Hoyas earned some respect.

Kieran Darcy: Forgive me Pete…you’re right, Pitt-Georgetown belongs right up there with Oklahoma-Kansas. To clarify, I’m the most curious about the Oklahoma-Kansas game, and whether Kansas can make a big-time statement. Believe me, I’ll have my eye on Pitt-GTown too.

Joe Lunardi:

Pete (DC): How big a bump does Georgetown get if they can beat Pitt this weekend?

Joe Lunardi: Two seed lines, probably.
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Chip (Harrisburg, PA): Joe, in honor of the Super Bowl, who would win a neutral site matchup between the University of Washington and Pitt and why?

Joe Lunardi: The team playing better defense, which is Pittsburgh in both cases.

For the record, Georgetown is presently listed as a #7 seed in his bracket.

I have a theory.

There’s a good chance it’s dead wrong, or many of you don’t think it applies to you, but hear me out.

From March 2003 to February 2004, Pitt went through as traumatic and turbulent 12 month period college sports fans can go through with out the words and phrases “sanctions,” “recruiting violations,” “NCAA investigation,” “arrests,” “criminal activity,” “gambling,” “drugs,” “prostitution,” and “trans-sexual hooker” involved.

Consider the timeline:

March 2003. Pitt is rolling to a Big East Championship and the UCLA coming after Ben Howland rumors are getting louder and louder. They only seemed to get louder when Pitt won its first BE Tournament. Then there was the NCAA Tournament, and Dwayne Wade blowing-up, starting with Pitt.

April 2003. Ben Howland bolts Pitt for his “dream job” at UCLA only a few days after that loss. Pitt fans are stunned, and more disturbingly, so was the Pitt Administration. In part because the school was still operating with an interim AD, several months after the previous AD had left. Pitt conducts a chaotic and very slip-shod coaching search. Focusing almost entirely on Skip Prosser, but unable to close the deal. They fall back to Jamie Dixon, just barely before he was going to leave to join Howland in LA.

May 2003. The ACC’s raid of the Big East is leaked. This soap opera of greed and betrayal ends up going through July.

July 2003. Miami and VT announce they are leaving for the ACC. Pitt football player Billy Gaines falls to his death when he and his friend, roommate and teammate are drunkenly climbing around the rafters of a church. Abdul is traumatized and goes from automatic on field goals to a glaring problem.

August 2003. Pitt football seems poised to finally take that next step. The team is considered the best possibility for knocking off Miami in the BE farewell tour. Pitt is already locking down top recruits from the area and hopes are high. Also, PSB is launched.

September 2003. Lee gets married (and it is a dry reception) and that night Pitt loses to Toledo. I’m not saying one is cause for the other, but they do remain intertwined. That night, Pitt’s defense was exposed and became Pitt’s achille’s heel.

October 2003. The season continues to unravel as Pitt’s defense lets ND’s RB Julius Jones run all over Pitt like he was going through a junior high j.v. squad. BC announces it too will jump to the ACC, and the BE decides rather than split the football and basketball-only schools, they will instead consider forming a mega-conference.

November 2003. Actually started the month quite well with ACC defectors BC and VT going down to Pitt. Of course, Pitt proceeded to tank the games against the Hoopies and Miami. The latter with a legit shot at still winning the conference.

December 2003. Pitt blew its consolation game against Virginia in the Continental Tire Bowl. Actually made Al Groh look like a real coach. The rumblings began that RB Andrew Johnson was going to reexamine his verbal commit to Pitt.

January 2004. The other top-line verbal, Anthony Morelli, also begins to consider going elsewhere. The entire recruiting class seems to be unwinding before a stunned fanbase’s eyes.

February 2004. NLI Day is a disaster. Pitt not only loses Morelli and Johnson, but others like a solid WR named Peyton staying home to play for USF. Linebacker James Bryant also bailed on Pitt for Miami, dissing his own brother Sam. The only plus was getting an athletic QB/TE who chose Pitt because he was promised a shot at QB rather than being moved to TE right away as Auburn would have. His name, Darrell Strong.

And just to top off the end of the month, Pitt basketball lost it’s first game in the Pete.

Now, the events of the NLI Day 2004 have hung over Pitt fans’ collective heads for the last couple of years. Let’s face it, many of us (including myself) were waiting for some last minute change of mind from one of the recruits.

It may take a couple more years to fully disapate the foreboding. Still, this past Wednesday was a huge step forward and a gigantic relief. The hope and optimism are there right now. It has really seemed to finally push that day into the past.

Then there is that trauma that started the whole 12 month period. Losing Howland. The coach who made Pitt basketball matter for the first time in a decade. The coach responsible for getting Pitt to its first BE Tournament Championship and 2 straight Sweet 16 showings.

So now, there are rumors/theories starting to spread about Coach Jamie Dixon.

It’s also no secret that Arizona State coach Rob Evans is in dire trouble. Lots of guys will be lining up to take that job if it comes open, but I’ve got a sleeper for you: Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon, who grew up in North Hollywood, Calif., and was an assistant at Northern Arizona, Hawaii and UC-Santa Barbara. If it comes down to money, Arizona State shouldn’t have a problem getting Dixon, because he’s one of the lowest paid coaches in the Big East.

And this gets the nervous buzzing going again. Especially when you consider that Doug Gottlieb of ESPN hinted at similar things a week ago.

“Nationally, the ultimate sign of respect is when jobs come open, and Jamie’s name is going to be thrown into the fray because everyone knows he can get the job done. There is a good chance that a job or two is going to come open in the Pac-10 this year. The first name you’re going to hear is Jamie Dixon’s. He’s going to have to make a decision. …

And God help us if Gottlieb could be right.

It’s possible, I guess, but consider that it would be the PAC-10 and that would mean facing Ben Howland about twice a year. Hmm.

Q: Could you ever see Pitt scheduling a non-conference game with Ben Howland at UCLA?

FITTIPALDO: It’s not going to happen, John. I have asked Howland and Dixon about the possibility, and they both can’t say “no” fast enough. They are adamant about it. Dixon and Howland still talk almost every day. Howland told me that it’s just not any fun going up against your best friend.

I’m not saying enough money wouldn’t overcome the issue, but it is definitely something to keep in mind against it.

It would also be a rebuilding job. Another thing to decide. He’d have lean years like Howland had at Pitt at best. At Pitt, he is maintaining, growing, improving. It’s plenty of work, but not like a rebuilding project. Does he want one of those so soon after helping accomplish that at Pitt?

I do believe that Pitt will step up with the money, but they do need to be proactive. ASU is not a dream job or one of the top “name” basketball programs in the country like UCLA. I think he will merely use the possibility to get a nice raise.

Geez, halfway through the Big East season already. Only 8 more games before the Big East Tournament. You know what that means? Meaningless mid-season awards, to fill-in the empty space. Don’t really disagree with the choices made.

Meanwhile one of the Syracuse beat writers has realized that with the size of the Big East, the all-conference team is going to be a real bear to figure out, and even he doesn’t have a clue.

Picking a five-man all-Big East team (even plus a Player of the Year) would be impossible. Too many teams, too many outstanding guards.

For once, I won’t be taking a shot at the league office for adding a player – or two – to its all-conference team, as it has often done in hoops and football.

According to the league office, there will be an all-league team of 10, plus the POY.

Still, rest assured that picking an all-conference team provides another form of March Madness.
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Could tattooed Kevin get Pittsnogled by fellow Mountaineers long-range shooter Mike Gansey?

How can you not go with Big East scoring leader Quincy Douby? Best stroke this side of J.J. Redick?

While the lovefest for Gerry McNamara reaches a crescendo March 5 in our town, one has to wonder how league coaches view G-Mac’s stats.

UConn’s Marcus Williams didn’t tee it up early, but he’s played every league game and is tops in assists.

Doesn’t Chris Quinn deserve the sympathy vote? Notre Dame loses one squeaker after another, but the Mighty Quinn has logged the most minutes, is second in scoring and assists, a powerful combination.

Shouldn’t Marquette’s Steve Novak get a sniff.

Does Pitt’s Aaron Gray, the league’s most improved player and a double-double waiting to happen, even have a shot? And could it be teammate Carl Krauser, by reputation or performance?

I am dreading trying to figure this out.

Krauser is getting some more love.

Senior Carl Krauser, whose role with Pitt as its primary point guard has changed this season, was named to a list of finalists for the annual Bob Cousy Award, honoring the nation’s top point guard.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, in conjunction with The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., made the announcement Thursday.

Krauser, who also is a mid-season finalist for the Wooden Award, which honors the nation’s top player, leads Pitt in scoring (16.4 ppg.) and assists (4.5 apg.) this season.

In the weekly Q&A, Ray Fittipaldo addresses Graves play, the idea of Barry Rohrssen replacing Dixon if he should move on, Pitt’s struggles on defending the 3 and a Krauser question.

Q: In Big East games against upper echelon teams (Connecticut for instance), Carl Krauser needs to revert to his street ball, playground antics. Granted, he gives the Panthers a go-to guy, but wouldn’t Pitt be better off with someone like Sam Young or even Aaron Gray having the ball with the game on the line?

Fittipaldo: Krauser struggled again Tuesday night, but he remains Pitt’s best clutch player. Young is too young and inexperienced to be a go-to guy and it’s hard for a center to be the go-to-guy. Pitt drew up a play for Gray when the Panthers were down by one with less than a minute left against Connecticut. He was denied the ball in the post, so the guards had to look elsewhere. You need a guard who can create in that situation, and Pitt did not have that because Krauser had fouled out with 2:58 remaining. Pitt might win that game if Krauser has the ball in his hands.

Krauser is still Pitt’s best passer. Ramon has definitely improved, but he is not close to where Krauser is in making the inside pass. It was encouraging to see Ramon penetrate against UConn. That helps open things up in the passing lanes as the inside defenders need to be aware of that possibility — one of the advantages for Krauser. Next year, while Ramon and Fields will often be paired together, I think one of them will be designated the point guard based on who has made the biggest strides in getting the ball inside.

Tamarcus Porter’s private ceremony.

After talking with his parents last night and this morning, Porter decided to sign the papers and fax them the Pitt coaches, including former Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt, before going to school this morning. Porter joins Pahokee teammate Ricky Gary at Pitt.

Porter’s mother, Tammy Bussey, said her son was overwhelmed by the recruiting process, and decided he wasn’t ready to sign at Pahokee’s ceremony yesterday. He preferred instead to sign in the privacy of his home, with just his parents and brother Randl present.

Technically — at least as far as the NCAA is concerned — this recruiting class is only 24 members.

Porter is Pitt’s 26th recruit. The maximum number of recruits in a year is 25, but two of Pitt’s recruits — defensive back Jovanni Chappel and offensive lineman Kevin Hughes — are enrolled at the university and go on last year’s class.

That means Pitt can have one player in 2007 enroll early if he wants.

Personally, the last thing I want to do is start talking about the 2007 recruiting class. I, however, appear to be in the minority. So here are some of the WPIAL names we can expect to hear about.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt was talking about top seniors in the WPIAL the other day when he also mentioned how next year’s crop of offensive linemen looks good.

Here are some WPIAL offensive linemen who are attracting Division I attention as underclassmen and figure to be among the top prospects next year: Mt. Lebanon’s Andrew Devlin (6-5, 250), Keystone Oaks’ Chris Jacobson (6-3, 290) and Myles Caragein (6-3, 263), Woodland Hills’ Mike Dykes (6-4, 265), Center’s Evan Blankenship (6-4, 310), Seton-LaSalle’s Gino Gradkowski (6-4, 275) and New Brighton’s Zac Kasparek (6-6, 300).

Also for next year, Pitt is planning on being more aggressive throughout the rest of the state.

Assistant coach Curtis Bray spent a lot of time driving the turnpike between here and Harrisburg, working on Berry.

“It’s hard,” Bray said. “It’s Penn State country. We haven’t gotten a lot of players out of there. You just try to get in there and work it — just keep working, keep plugging away.”

Bray is elated that the work paid off.

“You feel like you’ve burst the bubble,” he said. “It’s like there was a shield or something, and now you got in and got a kid out of there.”

Wannstedt also made several trips out east last spring, warming up to high school coaches who had rarely dealt with anyone from Pitt. Some of the coaches complained that former coach Walt Harris never bothered to visit or establish ties.

Prep coaches in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre, Allentown and State College can expect to see a lot of recruiting coordinator Greg Gattuso in the coming months. Gattuso gave up his recruiting areas in Ohio and Maryland and will concentrate on the eastern portion of this state.

“We’re really focusing our efforts in Pennsylvania, and it will pay off,” Gattuso said. “Those guys (Tkach and Berry) will lead the way for us.”
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Two players Pitt has targeted for next year are quarterbacks Alex Atiyeh of Bethlehem Catholic and Pat Bostic of Manheim Township.

Bostic will be one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the country next year. He already has a written offer from Wannstedt and will attend Pitt’s Junior Day on Feb. 25.

Atiyeh’s father, Dennis, played at Pitt in the 1980s and his brother, Adam, recently joined the team as a walk-on fullback.

Other players on Pitt’s radar are receivers Chris Lorditch (Archbishop Wood), Ty Bynum (Conestoga Valley) and Shamaar Coates (Williamsport), tight end Matt Balasavage (Lancaster Catholic), quarterback D.J. Lenehan (Wilson Area), running back Henry Hynoski Jr. (Southern Columbia), lineman Josh Marks (Southern Columbia) and linebackers Xzavier Hunter (Harrisburg) and Nathan Stupar (State College).

Apparently Coach Wannstedt by the end of NLI Day, was a little mellower than usual.

It’s not that the Pitt football coach was unhappy with his recruiting class. Far from it.

Yet at his news conference to discuss the freshly signed 25 incoming players, Wannstedt was noticeably more reserved than he was in his early days on the job.

When he was hired in December 2004 and for several months afterward, in nearly every public appearance or meeting with reporters he was downright ebullient.
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Wannstedt has learned that openly emoting can work against you a little if things don’t turn out as well as hoped.

So he decided that although he wanted to convey the good things that happen or that he believes will happen with the Panthers, he needed to hold back some.

“That’s a fine balance,” he said.

Could it possibly just being tired?

This piece from Paul Zeise on Rod Rutherford on the Steeler’s practice squad is a must read for the day.

More importantly, Rutherford led the Panthers to a respectable two-year record of 17-8, including a victory over Oregon State in the 2002 Insight Bowl, and he had the team in position to win the Big East title both seasons. He couldn’t get the team over the top in either season but it wasn’t entirely his fault. The defense in 2003 couldn’t stop anybody and the team was held back some in 2002 by an offensive philosophy that valued passing yards over establishing a tough, physical run game, and it cost them in some of their more critical matchups down the stretch.

I had the pleasure of covering the Panthers during Rutherford’s career and can say without hesitation he is one of the most under appreciated athletes in school history. I can also say there are few athletes I’ve been around that are easier to root for to succeed.

Rutherford had to endure a lot of criticism during his career, especially during the early part of it. Some of it, maybe the majority of it, was fans being fans, but there was a segment of it that was mean-spirited and racist in its foundation. But Rutherford handled himself with dignity and took it all in stride. He was a model for dealing with and overcoming adversity and a player Pitt fans should be proud is representing their favorite team. It hurts him more than any of them that Pitt didn’t win a couple more big games or get to a BCS bowl during his career.

“The stats, the career numbers, they don’t mean that much to me because we didn’t win as many games as we should have,” Rutherford said. “I take the blame for that. The two West Virginia games really hurt. The first one we had three shots to tie it and didn’t get it done, the second one we just got blown out and it shouldn’t have even come to that. There were some deeper reasons why we didn’t succeed, but I was the quarterback and so I know it was on me.”