The big meme after the game was that it was actually a game. That there was actually competition to match the excitement.

What an exhilarating sight to see this place packed for the first time since 2003 and only the second time since 1994. The gym was wired with the kind of electric current you feel at big games, the sort Duquesne has managed to avoid for the better part of 12 years.

The Duquesne student section – yes, there such a thing; the species has re-appeared – went too far with some mean-spirited taunts of Pitt point guard Levance Fields, but at least it was present and accounted for.

Was there something more than chanting “ta-ser!” when Fields had the ball? That’s really all I caught on the TV. Sorry, I can’t exactly get worked up by that as a taunt. Frankly, Fields better be used to things like that when Pitt hits Big East road games.

Apparently the Duquesne players helped fire Pitt up before the game started, and that may have contributed to the early run.

No. 12 Pitt (8-0), fueled by pre-game remarks by Duquesne players, raced to a 14-0 lead that looked far too easy to achieve. Duquesne (6-2) missed its first 12 three-point attempts and did not score until a Damian Saunders layup nearly five minutes into the game.

Pitt’s lead grew to 21-4 and it appeared that the most hyped City Game in recent memory would be another blowout victory for the Panthers, who have won 26 of the last 29 meetings.

“We spotted them 14 points, huh? I guess we didn’t come out and execute,” Duquesne guard Aaron Jackson said. “Soon as we gained our composure, we came back and played tough.”

They did play tough, but could never quite get there. They couldn’t even tie despite getting within 1 point a few times in the second half.

But a 14-0 run to start the game and a defensive performance that held Duquesne to just eight points in the final 5:17 led to a 73-68 victory for the Panthers to send most of the sellout crowd of 5,358 home unhappy.

So, aside from the first 10 minutes and the final 5, the Dukes were right there. All they need to do is be able to start and finish. Of course, Pitt may have had something to do with that.

Young said the Panthers lost focus after getting out to the early, big lead.

“At the beginning, we attacked them,” Young said. “But then we got away from what was motivating us. We lost our motivation because we didn’t think it was going to be as good a game.”

DeJuan Blair was a tremendous force for Pitt. The Dukes strong run in the first half, coincided with Blair having to go out with two fouls.

Everyone is rather giddy to have a new recruit like Cameron Saddler. He’s a recently upgraded 4-star recruit who gets glowing reviews for his athleticism (Insider subs).

He has terrific vision and patience. Makes quick decisions and is very determined. Won’t dance around too much and consistently does a great job of finding cutback lanes. He has excellent initial burst and a second gear. Is a home run threat when he breaks into daylight. Is elusive. Will run around and past defenders. Is a tough runner for his size. Is effective between the tackles because he is quick, decisive and tough. Has very good hands and is a threat when he catches the ball in space. … Where this kid is going to make a dent is in the kicking game. He has a great feel for the seam, cuts back aginst the grain and can create when no return has been set up.

The excitement over Saddler, though, seems to be as much about three additional factors as it does with the player himself. First, he is the first verbal commit Pitt has had since the end of October. It’s been a while. Second, it came right after the Backyard Brawl victory so it gives a sense of momentum or bounce for recruiting with the season over without a bowl. Finally, Saddler is openly talking about recruiting players to join him at Pitt.

“Oh, yeah, I’m gonna right now, right when I leave this place,” Saddler said, of talking to other area players being recruited by Pitt. “There’s a fellow that I used to play high school football with, No. 45 (Gateway linebacker Shayne Hale), I think. I’m going to work on him. Central got a couple good players, Aliquippa got a couple good players. I heard Jeannette’s got a guy that’s pretty good.”

Central Catholic quarterback Tino Sunseri could be the first to follow Saddler.

“Tino told us while we were lifting after practice that Cameron committed to Pitt,” Central running back Andrew Taglianetti said. “We were all half-joking, half-serious that me, Tino, Quentin (Williams), Danny (Vaughan) would all go to Pitt with those guys.

[Gateway High School Coach Terry] Smith agrees that Saddler could have an effect on Pitt’s recruitment of WPIAL players.

“That opens the door,” Saddler said. “The thing with Cameron, he is such a strong personality that there’s going to be a snowball effect with all the area kids. He’s gonna go after them all.”

Virginia was a bit taken aback by the change.

The news shocked many, inside and out of Virginia’s coaching staff, as it had appeared that Virginia was the frontrunner throughout the final stages of the recruiting process.

…

While many Virginia fans fear that Sadler’s decision may impact his teammate, four-star linebacker Shayne Hale, Virginia’s top remaining target, sources close to Hale told The Daily Progress on Wednesday that Virginia is in excellent standing.

Hale is in no hurry to make his decision it seems. Both good and bad for Pitt. It obviously gives Pitt more time to convince him that Pitt is the best choice. It’s just going to be a matter of still having a scholarship held open.

It’s going to be interesting how Pitt finishes recruiting. Pitt came into the season with a small number of scholarships available (compared to the last two years). Then two more medical redshirts for seniors (Kinder and Mustakas) dropped it a little further. Coach Wannstedt hasn’t been one to hold scholarships open until the very end.