Sorry about the lack of an open thread. Too many real world things kept me away from the computer this evening.

Looks like Pitt had a horrible night shooting 3s — 2-17. Better to have it in a game like this. Yet, Pitt still won 67-53.

Gray had a fine game with 21 points and 15 boards.

Despite poor outside shooting, the team had 18 assists on 27 baskets.

At least, not right now. They got smoked by Wisconsin last night 81-66.

UMass is 6-1 but considering the most impressive win came against Northeastern, they aren’t exactly making the case they were a real challenge.

It’s good to find little things to help keep perspective.

Last year as Pitt was getting ready to face Robert Morris, the minor talk centered around the Colonials possibly not being interested in an annual beating by Pitt much longer. No such talk this year with RMU off to a 4-0 start and the favorite to win the NEC. Now it’s about each side trying to pump the other to keep expectations reasonable.

Pitt is trying to play up the experience and great start by the Colonials.

“No question, it’s the best team they’ve had from what I’ve seen,” Dixon said. “They had the one team that [lost to Central Connecticut State in the Northeast Conference tournament title game] with [Gene] Nabors, the transfer from LSU. I think this is the best all-around team. That team really revolved around [Nabors].

“This team is more balanced and experienced. They have some [junior-college] guys and transfers. And they have played minutes while they were building up, so that’s a big part of it. It’s by far the best team they’ve had and I’m glad to see it.”

The Colonials have beaten Florida International, Marshall, New Hampshire and Maine. The Marshall and Maine games were on the road.

Meanwhile RMU Coach Mark Schmitt is trying to keep things realistic.

Robert Morris coach Mark Schmidt isn’t holding his breath for road win No. 3.

“I’m comfortable with our team,” Schmidt said. “I’m just not comfortable playing the second-best team in the country.”

…

“We are playing with some confidence,” Schmidt said. “But we’re stepping up a little bit (tonight). We’re excited. It’s an opportunity these guys will remember the rest of their lives. We have nothing to lose.”

Only once in 25 meetings has Pitt not won the game by double digits. Pitt has won 14 games by 20 or more points, including 6 of the last 7 meetings.

Okay, last minute poll, so here it is. A little incoherent, but honestly, I don’t think any team is that clearly defined after the top 4 or so. And even then #4 seesm shaky. A very strange season of parity.

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Ohio State	—
2	Southern Cal	—
3	Michigan	—
4	Florida	1
5	Louisville	4
6	LSU	2
7	Rutgers	4
8	Boise State	4
9	Wisconsin	4
10	Oklahoma	4
11	Notre Dame	5
12	West Virginia	5
13	Texas	3
14	Arkansas	10
15	Texas A&M	11
16	Auburn	1
17	California	2
18	Virginia Tech	1
19	Wake Forest	1
20	Georgia Tech	2
21	Nebraska	—
22	Oregon State	1
23	Hawaii	3
24	Tennessee	2
25	Houston	1

Here are the final polling results. I don’t know what to make of the ACC any longer. The whole conference is just a blend of teams that aren’t that good or bad (well, except for 3 out of 4 teams in North Carolina). Just a frickin’ mess.

That’s a phrase I never thought to utter.

It turns out Time Warner Cable is even worse in what they offer and their service.
I was originally going to go satellite this fall, but with the absolute chaos and housing issues we just figured on waiting until things got settled. During that time, TWC started assuming control of the area.

A couple weeks ago, I tried to order ESPN Gameplan (college football package) for the weekend. As I had done on some previous times. TWC was fully in charge now. The Customer Service Rep informed me that TWC doesn’t offer Gameplan on a weekly basis. Only the full package. Very sorry about that. Stupid and annoying, but not ridiculous. I guess. Seems like they are passing up on chances to make more money.
Yesterday, I tried to order ESPN FullCourt for the season. Couldn’t order through the cable box so I called. The CSR said that the computer wasn’t putting it through and that he didn’t know why. I foolishly agreed to let them call back rather than go on hold while he looked into it.

After over 3 hours, I called back. The CSR cheerfully explained that the callback was only 20-45 minutes away. I stopped her before she could hang-up and pointed out that since I had her on the phone and it was a queue issue, not still looking into it. Well, maybe she could just tell me what the situation was now and spare everyone the call back.

She actually had to think about it for a few minutes. Like it was an alien concept.

Finally she told me it seems that TWC doesn’t offer FullCourt in my area. At all. Not weekly, not a full package. I asked why I could locate the channel and the program on the TV. Well it seems that I still have a Comcast cable box, and Comcast offers it. Of course, TWC took over this territory from Comacast and… Hell I don’t know. Typing it out made as much sense as when she tried to explain it.

No sense as to when or if they will offer it.
So, they did it. Got off the phone and went back online and ordered DirecTV. It gets installed in a week and a half.

Congrats TWC, you drove another customer to satellite and you have made me look fondly upon Comcast. The latter just seemed to be a highly improbable shift in my view.