A couple of stories I haven’t had a chance to link that are still interesting or worth noting.

Going back to Buffalo, a little bit of history regarding how Curtis Aiken got from Buffalo to the ‘Burgh.

Aiken was so sure he was attending Kansas that he called a news conference to announce a verbal commitment. But after longtime Kansas coach Tom Owens was replaced by Larry Brown, Aiken was advised to re-open his recruitment. Aiken’s grandmother raised him and was getting up in age so he wanted to stay close to home.

Aiken considered Syracuse but the Orangemen had already signed point guard Dwayne “Pearl” Washington. The best option was Pitt.

“[Washington] and I had a strong rivalry and I wanted it to continue,” said Aiken, who scored 1,200 points and handed out 378 assists. “Pitt was the best fit for me because I thought I could have the biggest impact and it turned out to be a good situation for me.”

Aiken, who is a friend and neighbor of Dixon’s, said Dixon likes local players because of their toughness and their head-in-your-chest defense.

“He respects the players that come out of Buffalo because they’re not only talented, but they’re never going to back down,” Aiken said. “They’ll get up in your face, play “D’ 94 feet. That’s the kind of kids he tries to recruit and Buffalo produces those kinds of kids. That’s why he wanted Paul Harris in the worst way.”

Since there are plenty of comments about the physical development of Antonio Graves and other Pitt players, the article from yesterday about Pitt basketball’s strength and conditioning program is worth reading.

One reason for the staying power of the undefeated, No. 2-ranked Pitt men’s basketball team is the behind-the-scenes work of members of the team’s conditioning and nutritional programs.

Pitt strength coach Tim Beltz and UPMC nutritionist Leslie Bonci provide the players with a game plan to either gain or lose weight — depending on which will enhance their play — while adding muscle mass.

“It is unique that we take weight off and change their bodies,” coach Jamie Dixon said. “We’ve had a lot of success in that area.”

The conditioning plan has helped a program that doesn’t often land high school All-Americans and top-20 recruits to become one of the nation’s most consistent teams.

While on the subject of Graves, it is interesting to recall the circumstances of how he got to Pitt (since that has been a question recently). Pitt had a commit from Walter Walters out of Detroit. He was struggling to qualify academically, and with the change in coaches, bailed in August 2003. This opened the door for Pitt to recruit a back-up point guard for Pitt. Especially with a recruiting class that had two big men in Taft and Gray and a forward in Dante Milligan.

Milligan of course eventually transferred to UMass because of lack of playing time. Where he is now playing under 15 minutes a night off the bench. Walters failed out at Cleveland State. Chris Taft left early, and after an unfortunate back injury is now out of the NBA. Quite the “where are they now?” for the class of ’03.
This late opening for a recruit timed out just right as Antonio Graves had finally qualified academically. Graves was an all-Ohio first teamer, but had his offers limited by academic issues. Teams like Rutgers and Charlotte were the only offers until he qualified. At which time, Pitt beat out Cinci and Ohio State for his services.

Since Graves signing with Pitt happened the same month PittSportsBlather began, there’s always been a bit of fondness for Graves at the Blather.