It’s a strange problem to have, and one I doubt I’d want to trade right now. Effectively I’m trying to write for four different blogs/topics. Pitt Football, Pitt Basketball, FanHouse College Football and FanHouse College Basketball. All the while taking care of a six-month old all day and my 5-year old added in to the mix in the afternoon after morning kindergarten. It’s probably wrong to think how much I’m looking forward to the point where the 6-month old will get hooked on the baby crack (Baby Einstein videos) so I can do extra work in the mornings. The point, is that I have a bunch of Pitt basketball links to clear through for almost a week.
In probably the highest preseason prognostication so far, Jeff Goodman at FoxSports places Pitt at #12.
Jamie Dixon lost three starters, including the team’s best inside player and its top defensive player. Despite the departure of Aaron Gray, Levon Kendall and Antonio Graves, Pittsburgh should be improved from a year ago.
That’s saying a lot since the Panthers finished 29-8 and 12-4 in the Big East. However, while the 7-foot Gray was a presence in the paint and a force on the boards, Dixon’s squad will be able to get up and down the floor now and utilize its speed on the perimeter.
He still tabs Pitt for 4th in the conference, so Goodman clearly likes the top teams in the Big East on a national level. 4th in the conference, of course, was also what the Big East Coaches thought.
“It doesn’t mean anything to us as far as how we are going to play,” coach Jamie Dixon said.
There is no Pitt player among the eight players pictured on the cover of the 2007-08 Big East Conference media guide. Senior forward Mike Cook graces a spot on the back of the 170-page resource, between players from Cincinnati, picked 12th, and USF, picked for dead last in the 16-team league.
“I still think they are going to have an outstanding team,” Louisville coach Rick Pitino said of Pitt. “They are one of the favorites in this conference. Their style is going to change, but I don’t know to what.”
Oddly, the Syracuse newspaper beat writer seems very perturbed by Pitt’s preseason respect. Both Nationally and within the Big East. Mainly, I think, because it seems to have come at the expense of where Syracuse is predicted/expected to be. Seems silly since it is essentially one spot in the conference and it’s not like Syracuse doesn’t have more questions than Pitt — and more losses from the team. Just one of those things I guess.
I am of the opinion that Doug Gottlieb doesn’t actually hate Pitt. He just likes to see how pissed off he can get the fans. He offers quick thoughts on each team in the pre-season coaches poll.
20. Pittsburgh (29-8)
Let me predict Pitt’s season: 25+ wins, a couple of questionable losses, good team, well-coached, second round or Sweet 16.
It essentially is how a lot of the rankings in preseason seem to be looking at Pitt. For good and bad. As for Gottlieb, don’t let it get to you. Refute when factually in error and don’t waste time responding to the bait.
ESPN.com/Blue Ribbon happened to make Pitt’s preview page a freebie rather than an Insider subs.
Dixon has a good point. Pittsburgh is no longer a team that lives year-to-year, hoping enough players stick around to prevent a big slide. Nope, the roster is well stocked with talent at all four-year levels. OK, so there are no sophomores, but only because Austin Wallace and Gilbert Brown red-shirted last year. The Panthers welcome a deep crop of newcomers and have five stalwarts returning from last year’s three-round tournament run. It should be another good year, which will be no surprise to Dixon.
”I’m excited about the team,” he said. ”I know we have some guys who haven’t played as much who are ready to step in and be productive for us.”
…
BACKCOURT: B+
BENCH/DEPTH: B
FRONTCOURT: C+
INTANGIBLES: B+
Forget this stuff about rebuilding. Pittsburgh isn’t a juggernaut — although it could become one — but it isn’t some team in need of big-time rebuilding. Pittsburgh has talent. It has some ex-perience. And it has depth. That may not add up to an NCAA Tournament berth, but it’s a great start.
More stuff later.
Its apparent to me that throughout the year he throws as much ridiculous, improbable shit out there as he can, hoping that 1 or 2 out of 10 stupid-ass “guesses” come true so that he can point to them to show what kind of “genius” he is. He’s always on the team that has that outside chance to maybe steal an upset, and never picks the solid team that usually plays exactly as expected (ie, Pitt). I ignore everything he says and change the channel when he comes on.
I have said it before and I will say it once more, you are a legend in your own mind!
Go to the game on Saturday and support your football team!
I feel really good about the season since we’re not the favorite to win the conference. That way when we sneak up and bite people in the rear the media can shut up and realize who we are.
i’m really looking forward to a young, running athletic team this year instead of just relying on gray as we have the past few years.
“This seems to be the most underrated team to me, especially is Gary Johnson plays.”
“Seems like lofty expectations considering he is not longer with them.”
BTW – he had Pitt, Arizona, and Wisconsin in the final four last year. So its not so much he hates us, its his desire to try to make the most outlandish picks possible, hoping one day, one of them will *finally* come true, and he can say he had it, and no one else did. Meanwhile, he’ll ignore the million other predictions that were absolutely laughable. Pretty much if he says something, I know the opposite will be true.
It’s funny when a national writer beats up our team, this site goes nuts. Meanwhile, that’s all we do here!
This team will be much better in the athletic department, but having said that it will be a work in progress due the need to play inexperienced players at the 5. Hopefully they will gel in the non-con schedule.
As for Gottlieb, while his comments have some validity, he takes more stabs in the dark than a blind man!!!
