In case you forgot, basketball practices are formally allowed to start this Friday. Pitt won’t be doing any Midnight Madness or anything like that. It will be a closed practice. Whatever. Even if expectations get dashed on that as well, it will be nice to have them dashed a few months into the season, rather than weeks.

Here’s a recruiting update from Van Coleman of CSTV.com.

Pittsburgh has had a solid start with three Top 200 signees headed by 6-foot-6 Top 100 talent Nasir Robinson, our No. 73 talent, from Chester, Pa. Two athletic backcourt talents 6-foot-2 Ashton Gibbs from West Orange, N.J. Seton Hall Prep and 6-foot point Travon Woodall will form a nucleus for future Panther backcourt success. They would like to add some size this fall.

Currently the Panthers are involved with 6-foot-8 powerman Dan Jennings from Mouth of Wilson Va. Oak Hill, along with 6-foot-10 Chatham, Va. Hargrave post Roscoe Davis.

Davis has interest from Kansas, Memphis, Ohio State, West Virginia, N.C. State, Maryland as well a the Panthers. They are among schools who’ve contacted Temple Hills, Md. Progressive Christian 6-foot-10 post Gus Gilchrist and have a more than casual interest in 6-foot-9 Orion Outerbridge of New Hampton, N.H. School.

Still trying to figure out how Pitt expects to have a 4th scholarship.

Of course, how about focusing on the here and now (ESPN Insider subs.).

Levance Fields, fresh off a two-week suspension following an arrest for aggravated assault, public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, is apparently in the best shape of his career with the Panthers. Fields was banned from all basketball-related activities around the program during his suspension (he’s heading to court Oct. 26 after authorities dropped all charges, except for simple assault, following his scuffle with police last month). The Panthers will need Fields to be in top shape to run their offense, one that will include plenty of dump-down passes to freshman DaJuan Blair. Blair’s aptitude for Jamie Dixon’s system and his overall work ethic have been welcomed so far at Pitt.

[Emphasis added.]

First exhibition game is October 31 against Pitt-Johnstown.