I guess I am spoiled but it is hard to watch without HD anymore. Is it just me or does the quality of FSN HD suck anyway?

Pitt women up over the ‘eers, 26 – 11, 4 minutes left in 1st half

Now I’m really grouchy. We get NC State Duke, Miss Ark, and UConn Seton Hall. How can Pitt be on in Hartford, and UConn here? God, I hate PSU country.

Brad Wanamaker Tracker: 966 Career Points (34 til 1,000)

Ashton Gibbs Tracker: 1,035 Career Points (37th all-time). Needs 13 for sole possession of 36th (R. Brookin), 16 for 35th (J. Pegues), 23 for 34th (C. Neverson), and 33 for 33rd (C. McNeal). Ronny Ramon sits in 32nd all-time with 1,096 points.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon has suspended redshirt freshman Lamar Patterson for tonight’s game against Cincinnati at 6 p.m. at Petersen Events Center.

Patterson will return for the Panthers’ game at West Virginia on Monday.

Also, Cincinnati is without junior forward Yancy Gates, who was suspended for violating team rules and didn’t make the trip to Pittsburgh.

On Friday, Patterson was charged by Manheim Township police, Lancaster County, following an alleged incident in which he is accused of leaving a restaurant without paying his bill. Patterson, 19, was charged with providing false identification to law enforcement, theft of services and carrying a false identification card, according to Manheim Township police.

Police say Patterson, who played at McCaskey High School in Lancaster, and two others left the House of Pasta on Dec. 28 without paying a $30 bill.

Read more: Patterson, Cincy star Gates suspended – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review link to pittsburghlive.com

And that’s that. Now the dude with all the consonants in his user name above you needs to give us 100 push ups.

Two in the penalty box. You rules-mongers, 4 on 4 or 5 on 5?

How many weeks do I have to get to 100?

Pitt women are, ahem, attractive.

And, I am disappointed in Jamie.

I’m not disappointed. This was a stupid little thing, I’m sure it wasn’t Lamar’s idea, and it was $30. I’m also sure that if it WAS a big deal, Jamie would have suspended Patterson for more than 1 game. Cincinnati’s without one of their best players, and Lamar is nowhere near one of ours. He’ll learn, we’ll move on, and it shouldn’t have that big an impact on tonight’s game.

Gates is a big loss.

Did you play on sports teams in school? I did. And guys occasionally did this kind of stupid shit. At our school or at other schools around the county. I’m sure everywhere. This is the level of punishment you would expect. Maybe a couple games suspension max…And a coach would never make an athlete run or do any sort of punishment other than not playing him if the issue was for something outside of the sports team. That is unethical

no OT, please.

What a break not having to face Gates.

[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Chas Rich, Chas Rich. Chas Rich said: Liveblog at 6pm for Cinci-Pitt. Why is there no River City Rivalry trophy in basketball? link to bit.ly […]

Yes, I did play sports, what does that have to do with it?
Since they are athletes we should expect things like this? If that is what you are saying you just made my argument about letting athletes live under a double standard.
Coaches always talk about building men, not just players. If what happens off of the court does not matter, why do they say that? If it is unethical to punish them for off court activities, why even sit him? I ran plenty for stupid things outside of the team, and it kept me from doing them again.
Cinncy is sitting a player for breaking team rules, not for theft.
I think it is black and white, you all obviously don’t. The next time someone steals something from you, maybe you will remember this.
I hope we never hear anything but good news about Patterson.
I’ll never convince you, you won’t convince me, so that is my last word on subject. Have at me.

Everyone else is willing to look at it as a stupid mistake and something he should be punished for. Only you took it to the next level and suggested he should have his scholarship revoked. You’re not going to convince anyone with your argument because you sounded like an over-reactive crank blasting multi-paragraph morality lessons at us. So chalk this up as another stupid thing you’ve done outside the team and move on.

For what its worth if Patterson was just a regular student who did this over winter break the University would know nothing about it as I had guys on my floor freshman year that got into way worse trouble at home with no action taken by the school. I’m with the majority on this one that a one game suspension is appropriate.

thoguht Zanna played well

even more than the free trows, I was more frustrated by how many time they got trapped in the last 4 minutes and turned the ball over

FWIW, I like Rob King and hope he succeeds Hillgrove when he retires (even tho he call Moore, Richardson twice)

Ha ha, chalk it up athletes, we should expect this?? Wow, I know the world is crumbling apart, but you don’t have to help it. It’s called a crime. Just hyjinks?? So, go on up to Applebees, eat and drink up, then just walk out, huh?? It’s all cool, huh?? No big deal?? No, he shouldn’t have his scholarship revoked, but, please, don’t call a crime a “stupid mistake” like everyone does it, no big deal.

Yes, I played basketball and football in high school, we never did anything like that. Ya, screwing around, sure, walking a bill, throwing someone threw a window, assaulting someone, nope, we must have been nerds, not so cool I guess.

Guess what, none of my family or friends has ever been arrested!!! Can you believe that?? We are really dorks. 60 some people in the extended family and no arrests, wow, are we backwards!!!
I must have a privilidged life, I guess.. LOL!!!

Ok, I’m taking my family up to Applebees, anyone else want to go, it’s on me!!! LMAO!!!

Wow, I read a little more, everyone stole in college??? I drank a lot of beer and chased the girls, but, I guess I missed the part on stealing was ok. My bad. I’m gonna stop at Sheetz on the way to Applebees, don’t bother going in and paying, it’s all cool??? Thanks for the info, I’m on “E”. LMAO

Friday – Pitt wrestling defeats WVU
Saturday – Pitt women defeat WVU in hoops
Monday – Keep the trend going!

Dan, without compromising your anonymity, did you play any sports for a college team?

The Patterson situation is a black eye for the program. I believe the penalty should have been stiffer. If you’re going to sit JJ Moore for five of the previous seven games because he doesn’t play team defense well and fires up shots willy-nilly, then you have to up the ante for theft and possession of a fake ID.
Dixon, for all the great things he has done with the program, is in danger of setting a bad precedent. A one-game suspension for something like this seems to say that it’s more egregious to defy Dixon’s law on the court than it is to defy the law of the land. I guess we’ll know which is more important the next time Patterson steps foot on the court.
As for the game… Ugly. Still can’t finish an opponent off. Still can’t break the press consistently. Still shoot free throws poorly as a team. Now we’re getting beaten on the glass and we’re having trouble developing a consistent secondary scoring threat to Gibbs.
It’s a win, and you take any win in this league because you know nothing is a given. However, I can’t help but feel these last three games have been a regression from the first 20.
Here’s hoping we play like we did in the first half against WVU Monday night.

Hell guys – at least PITT has one coach willing set standards and stick with them regardless of if the kid is a star or not… the football program’s HC allowed Sheard to play after doing something 1000 times worse than Patterson did.

If Dixon has a fair and equitable policy for all his players and is evenhanded about applying it – then kudos to him. One game is OK especially if he sticks to a harsher punishment for a second infraction. Personally I’d make it a bit harsher but Dixon took quick and decisive action – and that’s good.

In my time walking the check was a prank played by many. I never had the courage to try it, but new many that did. I remember more than a few times that guys would walk the check on me and I got stuck with some sizable bar tabs.

I am much more concerned about lying to the police which is far more serious than a stupid prank.

I think a three day suspension and some community service might have been in order, but we don’t know the details, maybe one of his friends said they were paying the bill.

In any case, I am sure Jamie will use this to teach his players that men and Pitt athletes should act more responsibly.

Jabaal Sheard plead guilty to a summary charge of disorderly conduct in front of District Judge Robert Ravenstahl. All other allegations were dropped. He paid a $300 dollar fine and damages. Case closed. Immediately after his arrest he was immediately suspended from the team. After the trial he was reinstated and subjected to “internal” discipline. If anyone has a problem with the punishment they should take it up with the judge.

Patterson 19, is charged with providing false identification to law enforcement, theft of services and carrying a false identification card, according to Manheim Township police.
Providing false identification to law enforcement is a third degree misdemeanor.

Third degree misdemeanors are worse than summary charges. Perhaps Patterson will get lucky and have all charges dropped. We should let the judicial system run its course before we draw any conclusions that one incident is “1000 times worse” that the other. And we need not try him in the court of public opinion.

Wow Dave, find a ledge high enough to jump off yet? Fact is, Villanova, Notre Dame, and Syracuse all played Cinci on their home home courts, and they all only won by 10-13 points–the same amount that Pitt won by, and we were short two of our bench players that have been playing big minutes! We had no backup center (JJ Richardson played atrociously), and still were up on Cinci by 20+ for most of the game until we got bored with 3m to go. Yes, our last three games have been tough, but look as well who we played against–ND, who always plays us well, Rutgers, coached by a former Dixon disciple (on the road), and yet we’re still up 2 games in the conference. Chill. Out.

That should read “on their own home courts.”

merlin, you left out a very important fact — Cincy was missing their best player

Pitt dominated the game as they should have considering the aforementioned fact; however, they are as a team not as polished nor (except for Gibbs) shooting as well as they were a couple of weeks ago. They also have to improve against a trapping defense as they made several turnovers which brought Cincy back into the game.

It is not panic time but as Jamie always says “we have to keep improving”

Perhaps I’m a softie, but I did far worse things as a 19 year old. Fortunately I didn’t get caught. Should athletes be held to a higher standard? Yeah, and a longer suspension might have been more appropriate, but feel like some are really overreacting.

No evidence that Patterson has behavior issue. He made some really stupid decisions, which is what 19 year olds do.

I’m willing to give him some slack, as apparently is Dixon. If it happens again, I suspect Patterson would no longer be a Panther.

Bring on the hoopies!

“Because I’m the coach, that’s why!” says HuggieBear. Methinks his act is wearing thin in Hoopieville.

link to post-gazette.com

Geez, he had a fake ID and he dined and dashed. He made a mistake, was punished, and will hopefully learn that he is not, as most 18-25 year olds (including non-athletes) believe, invincible.

For such a small, youthful transgression, I feel that a 1-game suspension is appropriate. The team should move on.

If a 4 game suspension is a just punishment for Big Ben, one game seems about right for this.

Merlin,
I feel your comment would have had more impact if it was written in all caps with less punctuation. Just a suggestion for future diatribes against reason.
Signing off,
Suicidal and Hysterical in Orlando

Anybody know why the game was blacked out on FSN Ohio? I can usually watch these at my local Columbus Smokey Bones.

I didn’t watch the game because i don’t like Beth Mowins

In summary

Wanamker, Brown, Robinson and Gibbs provide terrific experience and stability for the team.

McGhee was tough but clearly intimidated by their bigs. Would’ve been interesting to see what Sleepy would’ve accomplished.

Zanna played well. Glad to see him back on the floor.

Woodall was way too nonchalant. He’s not that good to have that mindset.

I would’ve like to have seen more of Moore. I also would’ve preferred that he pass on his one fast break. He got fouled but the other guy was an automatic two. And that pass would’ve earned him more minutes.

Anyway, Hail to Pitt and now bring on the ‘eers

A win is a win is a win, etc. Last night Pitt played a decent Cincy team minus their best player and came out on top, however, we looked like we were taking the night off in the second half. I can guarantee that Jamie Dixon was NOT happy with last night’s performance.
Terrible foul shooting, offensive rebounding and lackluster ball handling does not cut it against the level of competition we will have to face as the season continues.
If Gates was playing for the Bearcats it would have been very interesting to see if our guys were able to rise to a higher level. I am sure that Coach Dixon will be on their tails hot and heavy to snap out of their daydreams!!

Throwing a guy through a glass window is 1000 times worse than a college kid having a fake id and running on a check.

This was incredibly stupid and immature and I’m sure Patterson will learn his lesson, but his transgression pales in comparison to what Sheard did.

on another issue … Steeler fans were admonished on the site a couple of Super Bowls for rooting for the Black & Gold. Instead, all true Pitt fans should have been pulling for the Cardinals because of Fitzgerald, Hayes, Austin and Grimm.

Now this year .. will Pitt fans rooting or the Stillers be unfaithful since Coach McCarthy grew up a driver and a wedge away from Oakland and had his first coaching job at Pitt (under Hackett)?

I know that Cinci was missing their best player, and I’m agreeing with all that it clearly wasn’t Pitt’s best game of the year. But this is how sports are…teams are never as good as their best games (i.e., Syracuse) or as bad as their worst game…which might possibly have been today, still a 12-point victory over an 18-6 conference opponent (I know, I know, their schedule sucked, but it’s still 18 wins that DePaul couldn’t have gotten). I just don’t understand the immediate “we’re f’ed” reaction from a lot of people…maybe cause I’m not from Pgh.

I agree with oyu wbb, I actually rooted against my iggles when the cards played them the game before for the same reason

What’s a Beth Mowins? I guess the Espn wench forced upon us by that PC sports consortium which has no respect at all for men and their sports.

First it was NCAA football(the noon game wag), now NCAA basketball, what next, a wench in the booth for Monday Night Football I suppose.

On to the game, first half was excellent, the team clearly lost focus in the 2nd half (if that’s what you want to call it). If they play like that in Hooterville, they’ll have loss number 3.

On the Patterson thing, he’s a fringe player who before the last game only got token minutes. He’s also a real tweener, so he might follow the path of Dwight Miller & Diggs…..out the door. With Wright & Epps redshirting and 5 guys coming in next year, he’s going to see limited action anyway.

@wbb, McCarthy is from Greenfield, the Packers are from Green Bay, I’ll be rooting for the Men of Steel, Pitt was terrible when Mac was here anyway.

Patterson needs to represent PITT with more class…no excuses no “kids being kids” He wears a PITT uniform,he needs to class it up.Stop making excuses and ho humming it away.

wow MelvinB…not sure if that’s sarcasm or ironic humor. afraid to comment further.

btw, you’ve been so down on our bench, Its hard to grasp, but maybe they just showed more potential so are a bit of a let down. Patterson provides quality minutes. For bench guys, what you really need is there to not be too much of a drop off from the starters, and that’s the case with our bench. If mixed with a few starters (and/or Woodall) they’re serving their roles just fine.
That being said, there’s so much competition at that 3 position, and since someone has to go, that minor things may be the distinguishing factor — doing something stupid like this is dangerous for Patterson’s future here at Pitt.

Still, its not in and of itself enough to show him the door, even if diplomaticly like Miller/Diggs. Noone’s trivializing what he did and saying he deserves no punishment, just a measured response.

On the game – that last few minutes makes me nervous for playing UL at their place. It wasn’t an impressive win, but it was a win. The encouraging things are that our defense looked a lot better (granted against a depleted UC) and also that we could have played a lot better yet still held a comanding lead the whole time.

Another thing about how Pitt handled the press near the end–Gibbs + McGhee were playing minutes significantly above what they’d been playing all year, plus Gibbs had potentially tweaked something near the end of the first half. If Taylor was available that game, it’s much more likely he would be in the game when Cinci was trying to press, giving the Panthers a much better set of hands. In addition, Patterson would have been in instead of Moore, and it was obvious that JJ wasn’t quite ready to handle that pressure.

Also, melvinbennett should not longer be allowed to post. The part about “wenches” forced into sports broadcasting is disgusting, and his analysis of Patterson’s play (and future role on the team) couldn’t be more wrong. He fills the role of 3/4 a la Gil Brown better than anyone else who possibly could next year.

Gibbs out 10-14 days with a knee injury. This is not good.

Oh come on. Cut Melvin some slack. We were all thinking it. Melvin was just impolite enough to actually post it.

Calling Beth Mowins a wench is a stretch, but I don’t think that’s a bannable offense. Now, Doris Burke is a wench! What a tomato!

Does swiping do-nuts from frat house next door at 6am after heavy nite of under-aged drinking count?

The Cincy game was televised in San Antonio so Blair could follow his Panthers!

I actually thought Mowins did a pretty good job. I would rather listen to her (as well as many others) than Dukie V. At least Mowins focused on the game and the players … and she made some good observations.