The game is ESPN3.com only as far as watching it goes at 7pm. Which of course blows. Since I don’t trust the stream to go cleanly, no liveblog. Feel free to comment below. Try to keep some level of control.

I will be Tweeting during the game if you care to follow.

Apparently the media meeting had Coach Graham focusing on the expectations of the players off-the-field.

“I guarantee you guys that don’t meet the standard for the Pitt way, they will not cross that white line. I don’t care how good they are. I don’t care if it’s (starting running back) Ray Graham. I don’t care if it’s (starting quarterback) Tino Sunseri.”

Graham said “the Pitt way is not negotiable.”

“We want to win in the classroom. We want to win off the field. We want to win in the community. If any of those areas are sub-standard, I believe it affects your play on the field.”

Graham said winning the national championship is one of five goals he set for his players, but at the top of the list is to “develop championship fathers and husbands and citizens.”

Graham said he will expect players to look him in the eye during meetings, come prepared to take notes, sit without slouching, wear hats properly, tuck in their shirts and take off their earrings and bandanas inside the practice facility.

Graham said he wore an earring in college, but his ban represents “a physical symbol that this isn’t about you, it’s about team.”

The earrings and bandanas stuff has always struck me as a cosmetic (no pun intended) thing of little consequence, but at least the restriction only applies to going to the practice facility and stadium. I just don’t see much harm in those personal appearance options. So, I’m kind of meh on that.  (Yes, I wore an earring in college and up into my early 30s.) (more…)

Simply because the home-and-home games with the Bulls left on the schedule are the easiest. This team hasn’t missed on that all season, and they can’t afford to now. The other four games on the road at St. John’s and Louisville and at home against WVU and ‘Nova are all toss-ups in my mind. Pitt may be favored in them, but those are all going to be tough games.

The Tournament is getting closer and Pitt is looking better and better for a #1 seed (possibly even the overall No. 1).

The Panthers know how important a No. 1 seed is for NCAA tournament success. They advanced to the Elite Eight two years ago when seeded No. 1 in the East Region and came tantalizingly close to the Final Four before losing to Villanova.

“I think it’s very important,” senior forward Gilbert Brown said. “Having that No. 1 seed brings a confidence and swagger, but it also makes you more focused because everyone is out to get you. Everyone is coming for us and bringing their best game. If we can maintain the way we’re playing we’ll get it, and it will definitely benefit us in the long run.”

Pitt has some tough remaining games on the schedule, but if the Panthers can finish the regular season 4-2 or better they will likely earn a No. 1 seed. The Big East regular-season champion has earned one of the four No. 1 seeds the past two seasons and in three of the past five.

I really don’t see the team that wins the Big East regular season being snubbed for a No. 1 seed. It’s been the toughest conference all season, so it would be hard for the selection committee to say that the best team in the best conference is unworthy of a No. 1 seed.

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