I was worried when I saw Adams was clean shaven; glad the GF cutout came to the rescue. Maybe The Zoo can Fed Ex several of those cut outs to the Marquette student section prior to next weeks’s game.

Justinian, agree about Seth Davis. He always rags on Pitt, full of hot air.

The Marquette and Notre Dame games are coming up and will both be tough opponents. I had watched the end of th Notre Dame-DePaul game a week or so ago and Notre Dame was fortunate DePaul didn’t win in regulation. That 2 OT wins in as many weeks for them. On to Marquette!

I appreciate bench scoring but was glad the starting five put up big numbers. This Pitt team has depth, it’s nice to see leadership and team chemistry building for the BET and NCAA tournaments. Hail to Pitt!

Pitt outrebounded 33-30,Jamie not happy.

One cannot overstate the importance of our depth this year. I was very wooried around the start of the year about Robinson & Adams hitting “the freshmen wall” and wearing down in a long Big East seson. Could still happen but the low minutes look to play a key role down the stretch.

The reporting in both papers is substandard.There is not 1 reference to Dixon’s milestone of 10 cosecutive 20 win seasons.Neither paper seemed to notice that Talib Zanna had 11 pts,9 boards and the games key assist in 28 minutes on a bum ankle.Pitt might well be the best team in the Big East at this point.They have overcome a horrible conference start and one could argue played better than any BE team since. If we can beat Marquette Saturday,and I think we will, there is no reason we can’t go 14-4 after a 1-3 start.It is the type of season that a team could make a dream run and Pitt is poised to grow into such a squad.It is time to climb back into the national mix of top teams.Dixon continues to produce one of the toughest teams to beat and those who openly doubted him on this site are looking pretty stupid now.Pitt hoops is alive and well and about to make some real noise.We were picked to finish 6th in conference. The final BE championship is within this teams reach.There isn’t any team in the nation that Pitt can’t beat on a good day.Beoheim wasn’t just being gracious,we are that good and getting better.We beat Cincinatti at 5th 3rd with awhite out crowd by 10.We didn’t even play a particularly good game.What happens when we do?

Spirit, I’ve always been a Jamie Dixon fan. I think the best that happened to the Pitt program was Ben Howland leaving for UCLA. It gave Dixon the opportunity and he hasn’t looked back. Thank god, that Nordy went with him when people like Bob Smizik were calling it a terrible hire. We’ve had a consistantly outstanding basketball program at Pitt with the only hickup occuring last year.

Justiinian,Ben Howland,who’s he? lol Last year even had it’s upside.Despite the the fall we ended the season trying to get better.We are now fully recovered.Nobody wanted Dixon and he has proved his critics wrong with a decade of great teams.It is only a matter of time before he gets Pitt into a final 4.Don’t be surprised if it happens sooner than most expect.I think it is possible this year,and likely next.

Where are those who want Jamie fired? I’m sure they’ll be back just as soon as Pitt loses anohter game.

I love this team and how hard they play, but I think a sweet 16 appearance would be a stretch goal. The FT shooting is a concern, bad FT shooting teams have gone deep into the tournament. It is the missed layups and put-backs that limit this teams tourney run. The team has been consistently bad at this all year and I do not see it improving. At one point last night sleepy missed two straight shots from right at the basket. Woodall, Robinson, and Wright each missed at least one layup. Can’t consistently lose easy points and make a deep run in the tourney.

Don’t forget that the season after VCU won the CBI, they made the final four.
I do not discount that experience for these guys. Even though Pitt was the best team in the CBI, they had to prove it.
Now they must keep proving it.
Keep winning for a good seed in NCAA.
Keep winning @ MSG.
Keep winning….

Pitt has joined Florida as the only 2 teams in the top 10 of both adjusted offense and defense. They are also now up to #5 in the kenpom.com rankings

The amazing thing about this team is how they finish. They start out so bad, it actually hurts to watch them. Then somehow, they turn a switch, the opponent stops scoring, runs out of gas, or just gets shut down. Someone from Pitt steps up, game over.

Although we don’t have that one go to guy, we have so many weapons and different ways to score. The development of Adams is what sets us apart. If he keeps getting better, who know how far we can go.

Our foul shooting is weak but at the end of games with Robinson, Moore, Patterson, and Woodall to handle the ball it gets a lot better.

Spirit, I agree, the papers are awful, but locals would rather read about next years Steeler O-line. That is why I am so appreciative of Chas, Reed and the Blatherers to keep us informed, otherwise we would be in the dark. The local press is so superficial regarding Pitt that you are usually reading yesterdays news. Probably in 10 years they will just be on-line or gone altogether, few under 50 read them anyway.

I do not pay extra for PG+ where Fittipaldo has a Pitt BB blog. I’m sure there is more info in there, however, his write up for today’s paper was very brief ….. similar to what he would post about 10-15 minutes after the game has ended.

And the Trib’s story may be even worse.

Let’s be honest the PG’s Sam Wener’s reporting on Pitt FB is is shallow and lacks insight on any related topic. PG ‘s
work on Pitt hoops seems to be an after thought. Unfortunate
as Pitt BB has the best coach in town and the most exciting
product.

I recommend to follow everyone on twitter. Ray posts all the plus content for free and you get more “in the moment” commentary from Wernner et al. Sames goes for Dokish and Chas.

From Myron Medcalf’s Saturday Wrap-Up on ESPN.com

Steven Adams’ development is the most important development in the Big East race. I’m not sure we solved anything within the Big East on Saturday. We know that the conference has a bunch of good teams. Notre Dame and Louisville settled things in five overtimes. Marquette beat DePaul. Georgetown defeated Rutgers. But there’s not much separation at the top. With weeks remaining in the regular season, I wouldn’t be surprised if three or four squads finished with the title. That’s why I think Adams’ offensive development could be a major factor in the title hunt. On Saturday, Pittsburgh’s freshman 7-footer finished with 13 points and four blocks. He was an offensive and defensive presence for the No. 23 Panthers, who held No. 17 Cincy to a 30.8 percent clip in a 62-52 win. In a league with a group of teams that are so close to one another, Adams’ offensive growth is a factor. Pitt is good enough to win the rest of its games, especially with its final three matchups against squads (Villanova, South Florida and DePaul) that have combined to win eight conference games.

I don’t disagree with the lack of local coverage..but that is always going to be the case..I know everyone on this board is a supporter to Pitt but overall in Pittsburgh the amount of supports is still a minority.

But nationally with the 5OT game, Kansas losing 3 games, Wisconsin miracle shot and the fact that Miami could be #1 team in the country the Pitt Cinn game has barely been mentioned (it was two ranked teams playing).
I think that is a good thing though, keep flying under the radar till tourney time.

The Sue Paterno Report has finally been released!!!
Finally!!!!
And get this, Joe did nothing wrong!
Praise be!
So re-erect the statue.
Cancel the NCAA penalties.
Reinstate the lost Scholarships.
And give back Joe’s confiscated wins.
And you you Joe-doubters out there (especially you, Louis Freeh) you’d better apologize. For this is God’s country, PSU, where the blue and white sky shines gloriously for all to see.

Bottom line: They just don’t get it, and I doubt that they ever will.

Just a thought —

If we’re all so dissatisfied with the reporting on Pitt sports, why don’t we start something of our own?
Make an online-only publication written by contributors to PittBlather. We can see who really has journalistic skills and make it a segment in addition to the regular posting that we have going on. I’d be interested in something like that.
“For the fans, by the fans”
Let’s talk about it…

IU really putting it to Ohio State this afternoon. Seem determined to show the Hoosiers should remain in the Top 5.

Could Pitt break into the Top 10 this week? Top 15?

Pitt Basketball is the third best sports story in this town after the Steelers and Penquins. They still write stories about the wretched Pirates who always suck.

This is a big PR problem for Pitt, how much they create on their own, I don’t know. Good and indepth coverage also creates interest and buzz.

There are good stories that aren’t being written. The Pitt website has a good write-up on each of the new football recruits, yet nothing in the paper, maybe Pitt doesn’t spend enough on advertising to justify more coverage. Interest is a two way street, Pitt and UPMC are the largest employer in town, maybe they could use a little of this leverage.

I love the Steelers but they were the biggest underachievers in the NFL this year. Yet on the day following a great win by an up an coming team, we get to read the minutia about Steeler recruiting of offensive linemen and how great they are going to be next year, and how Max Starks probably won’t be back, again.

These kids, most who will never make a buck on their sport deserve better. I think their stories are more compelling than the millionaires that beat their wives or go on drunken rages through the South Side.

I certainly think they are more interesting than the millionaire pirate pitcher with an era of 10, or the shortstop that can’t hit his weight. But the Post and Trib will still send their armies to spring training.

PSU will still get better coverage than Pitt in this town, even after the biggest sports scandal in history. Cook will still defend his alma mater.

Joe didn’t know. They should have also been sanctioned with five years of no press. And while I’m at it, what the hell is the governor up to, spending tax money to take the NCAA to court?

How’s that for a rant?

I think Pitt has an outside shot at breaking the top 15, but I think it is more likely the voters, like the NCAA tournament committee, will continue to undervalue this Pitt team. The really interesting thing to me is that the more advanced metrics, which rely heavily on efficiency, have consistently ranked Pitt much higher than the human polls and RPI. For example, the Pomeroy ratings have had Pitt in the top 10 for awhile now, and currently have Pitt at #5. Furthermore, they are one of only two teams (Florida being the other) that is currently in the top ten for both adjusted offensive efficiency and adjusted defensive efficiency. At the same time, Pitt has climbed up to #28 in the RPI, but that still lags well behind most efficiency based systems, which have proven to be more reliable predictors than RPI.

Unfortunately, RPI continues to be used as a primary tool by the tournament seeding committee. The result, at this point, is likely to be that Pitt is under seeded in the NCAA’s (assuming their current performance continues), but will be a team a higher seed might not want to face in the 2nd or 3rd round. This Pitt team has significant flaws, but most teams do, and this might finally be the year we see a Pitt team knock off a higher seed in the NCAAs.

I read the Post Gazette and Tribune online daily. I have to hunt for Pitt stuff. The Johnstown Tribune has equal coverage of Pitt and PSU as they are between the schools.

As I said earlier, PSU keeps getting in the news and that reminds people of the bad. Their rebuttals will only strengthen people’s dislike of PSU. I think their attendance is down.

JR, in Werner’s defense, I thought what he did last week leading up to LOI was very good …. where he posted a synopsis of every recruit (video included) plus how each would impact the team.

By far, this was his best effort as Pitt FB beat writer

I don’t think Pitt will crack top 15, I think 17 is as high as they could get this week..might be a few spots lower since the Cinn/Pitt game really got overshadowed by the other college BB stories this weekend.

@GC I’m bias and think Pitt is #1 sport story in area, but I have one neighbor who roots for Penn St, another WVU and another Michagan St and another Purdue and another Dusquense..all who could care less what Pitt does… so more Pitt stories in PG doesn’t sell papers to them.
PG and Tribune wants to sell newspapers..if more Pitt stories sold papers they would do so.
You are 100% right that Pitt needs to do all they can to promote the team and not rely on local news…they used to have a Pitt sports newsletter each month but it was pretty weak.

I like this forum for my Pitt information. Yes, I read the PG and the Trib. But there is a lot of info I get here first. Regarding hires under consideration, links to articles, recruiting, etc. There is always here to sahre information, post comments, and hear inside scoop that I would have otherwise missed. One someone hears of a new development concerning Pitt football or basketball it’s usually posted on this site.

Just remember it’s the papers, not the writers – they (Werner & Zeise) both had double duty. As soon as football is over, they are onto women’s basketball. Football in the offseason is an afterthought. College write-ups in any major city are secondary and the crap you get in “college-towns” is pure propaganda … even when they do report on the underbelly of their schools, it gets ignored – see the State College report exposing Sanudsky 6 months before it went national. Luckily we have a couple of top notch bloggers covering Pitt that go beyond routine coverage of just focusing on either promoting the school or a bitch board vehicle… leaving that for some of us in comments section.

Watching Pitt TV this afternoon I was struck by one very good long term move: mire former players are in positions of authority: Bostic as the face of football: Aiken as the heir apparent to Groat on radio. Marcus Bowman as the business manager of hoops, Clancy with alums, Page as TV and radio guru of hoops.
Pitt athletics has been a revolving door for most of the talented and a safe harbor for the perpetually mediocre. The latter being unfortunate, as we/Pitt builds on relationships it will foster greater fandome and build a brand that lasts.
Most people in the area care about Pitt whether they attended or not. Apart from hoops, they haven’t been given much to cheer for.
We need to build in our core area and grow in the region: no one sells newspapers for money. It is becoming a loss leader for media companies.
Does that mean we match Sandusky State University? Probably not. But we do have branch campuses and should leverage those better to reach into areas perhaps inclined to drink the Sandusky State punch. Such as Erie, Youngstown, and dare I say Harrisburg.
PSU has reached it’s peak. We haven’t come anywhere close.
But…..we need to make everything PITT.. script or not or both…drop the Pittsburgh…PITT IS TRULY IT!

After watching ND/Lville (which ended around 1AM) and today’s games so far…one area Pitt will have to improve on is scoring in all phases.
We will have to be able to score in the 70-‘s and over, consistently, to win against ND, Marquette, Indiana, and other top 10 teams which I think we will eventually play. After watching the game (with the sound off) a second time, I noticed something I have never seen in a Jamie Dixon team.Pitt was putting thet ball up a lot earlier when they had an open shot rather than continue to work the ball around. I think Jamie also realizes that we have to get into a better shooting groove earlier and make each shot less of a trauma.

A healthy dose of playing with fire and precision early could also help.

We will know when Pitt takes the next step when we see some fluidity/flow in the offense. Until then, each game will continue to be excruciating to watch early (and sometimes late) and I would suggest everyone keep their beverage of choice close at hand.

I like that we have a week off before Marquette…a very tough game followed by ND which scares me a lot. The time off gets the spring in the legs back.

Really enjoyed the comments today. It is very sad to just read the Trib and PG Daily to look for Pitt info. Much thanks to all, especially Chas and Reed for all their reporting and updating.

I certainly concur with the opinions expressed today in regard to the abysmal coverage of pITT SPORTS by the steel city media. If it were not for Chas., Sam, rEED, Steve, Zeise, AND wbb, Dan and a few others many in the midwest would seldom be treated to Panther references!!! It is a shame! Pittsburghers should be embarassed by that fact. Whatever happened to the college sports coverage of yesteryear??? I, for one read the PG only for news of Pitt athletics and I am not alone!! Please present some fair coverage of collegiate sports in your offerings. You will finf that ‘Da Burg can indeed support both the millionaire pros and the aspiring student athletes. Respewctfully(but losing that respect) Rev. George from Columbus

Bracketology has pitt playin in austin texas. I will probably attend the second game on that saturday if that is the case. I am crossing my fingers. Selection sunday is st pattys day. Will pitt get lucky? I see them as a 5 seed right now. If pitt plays in texas, I guarantee there will be a big ol contingent of panthers. Let the good times roll.

That expensive, not Freeh, report did not offer any new facts that negate the Freeh report.

Sue, you could’ve saved that money you’re spending on PR, lawyers and crackpots for your grand kids and their kids.

Hell, I’m sure even Jay is rolling his eyes.

traditions com. on campus already has full student support, sfpitt, people looking for old mascot also, i loved that panther

SFPitt, I couldn’t agree with you more. I was at the mall yesterday and went into Finish Line where they had various college sweatshirts. All the Pitt stuff left on the rack said Pittsburgh. I’m sorry, but if I’m going to buy any Pitt gear, it going to have PITT on the front! I still have a problem with Steve Pederson when he took away “Pitt” and put “Pittsburgh” on everything.

@paulshannon
Thanks. I will review the website at length. Tradition IS WHAT COLLEGE ATHLETICS IS ALL ABOUT!

I noticed something I have never seen in a Jamie Dixon team.Pitt was putting thet ball up a lot earlier when they had an open shot rather than continue to work the ball around. I think Jamie also realizes that we have to get into a better shooting groove earlier and make each shot less of a trauma.
Comment by Dan 72 02.10.13 @ 4:57 pm

Excellent observation Dan72.

One of Pitt’s best strengths is offensive rebounding, so it would follow if you have more attempts shooting, you’re bound to score more points.

Which is why I’ve been promoting getting up the court faster and taking the shot before the enemy defense is setup. Sleepy, Zeigler & Kiwi Steve are all built to play this way, as they’re all face up players who can offensive rebound.

The other added bonus factor is run more, the enemy team wears out quicker, leading to another of Pitt’s strengths…….team depth.

As far as the PG & the Trib, I very rarely even bother going to their sites anymore.

The PG’s writing and scarce coverage isn’t worth it.
Prolly a ploy to get you to subscribe to PG Plus.
Screw them, Ped State rag.

The reporting and observations on Pitt Blather are far superior so why even bother.

I always try to post links of interesting Pitt related pieces I find on the net, and I appreciate when other bloggers do to.

Up to 8-4 in the BigEast after the 1-3 start and 20-5 overall. 6 games left, the next two are huge… at Marquette, then the quick turnaround 2 days later with Notre Dame.

Then the schedule throttles back, as we visit the Johnnies,
USF & Nova at The Pete and finish up at DePaul.

We could run the table if we win the next two imo.
And we owe Marquette a beatdown from way back.
ND visits Providence the same day before coming to PITT. Maybe they stumble like Cincy did, at least they’ll be on the road as well.

As they say:

The Table is set.

I know not everyone can, but if you’re in the area or have internet radio, put 93.7 the Fan on.

They always talk about Pitt hoops and football.

Yes, they do talk about the Steelers and Pens a lot.

However, the day before and day of a hoop game or the week of a football game, they give plenty of time to Pitt.

They also have the Jamie Dixon show, and the Paul Chryst show.

NOW…..you may not like some opinions or something, but there is plenty of talk about it.

I’m a diehard Pitt fan, as all of you are, and I have never felt they neglected Pitt one iota.

Have in on, in my office all day.

No, I don’t work for them. LOL

Pretty much where I get my news. Chas’ Pitt Blather and your guys opinions and news. 93.7 the fan, and some of Chas’ links on the side.

Haven’t gone to the newspaper sites. Understand they need to make some money, but I just don’t pay for anything extra on the internet.

Almost did once, thought I’d pay for a Rivals or Scout site, then thought, why?? Any breaking news on recruits, I get from you guys and Chas.

p.s. I know we have some older fellas on here, that are out of town, that think the internet is a hassle or may not know how to do it.

Very, very easy. If you got the Pitt Blather, you can the radio.

Again, maybe only a few, but if this even helps one Panther fan, then it’s worth it.

Just look up google, or your search engine of choice.

type in 93.7 the Fan.

It will come up with their website. Somewhere on there, it will say, “listen online”.

Click that, and you’re listening to Pittsburgh sports talk.

It does not cost anything, nor is there any type of hassle to be let on.

Also, you can do that for radio stations all over the world.

I believe everyone on here probably does not need those instructions, but I have some people in my family who are still a little funny with the internet.

Again, not getting paid by the Fan (LOL), just trying to help people enjoy.

Duke barely escapes BC. It would’ve been all 5 top-ranked to have tanked this weekend.

God, I love college hoops and this year’s parity.

Dan 02, the app Tunein Radio has the Fan at least for iphone.

#18 Minnesota just went down. We’re movin on up.

Dan, It’s funny that you should mention that. I was listening to the FAN one day last week and Paul Chryst’s interview came on just as I arrived at the office. I really didn’t want to sit outside in the car, but I also didn’t want to miss the segment. So, since I have no radio, after I got to my desk, I brought it up on my computer. I never do that home because, there I have a radio.

One more thing let’s avoid all th run the table talk. Right now the Panthers just need to beat Marquette.

I love basketball season. Makes me forget about the shitty football team.

help me name my new dog..must be pitt themed..leader is “Jamie.”

he is a boy.

Coach Chryst has a dog, a Golden. Howsabout Paulie?

or PC?

@schoocher

how about…….”sleepy” 🙂

Dorsett.

Recap from Yesterday

19 ranked teams played…..6 lost…31.5% I predicted 30%, almost nailed it perfectly.
(did nail it last nite, lol)

Mich., Kansas, Cincy, L-Ville, New Mexico & Creighton

#7 Arizona just went to unranked Cal 77-69

So 3 more ranked teams lost today.

Minnesota, Ohio Fake & Arizona.

Best case scenario, AP will have Pitt #15 in the next rankings.

More likely outcome, Notre Dame will jump PItt in the rankings, and we’ll be at #17 or so.

Sleepy…got my vote.

I have to disagree with Dan. 93.7 does a terrible job of covering Pitt hoops in particular. The only “personality” who knows a thing about hoops is Fillipponi. The rest are clueless, so clueless that when they do talk about Pitt hoops it’s painful to listen to.

This site is by far the best source of information on Pitt sports, hands down. Chas, if you charged, I’d pay!

As for the Cincy game, Zanna finally showed some grit and aggression, it was great to see. Moore, even though his ball handling is mediocre, would be much more effective going to the hoop if he did not shy away from contact. He never goes strong. The idea of going through contact does not even occur to him.

Can’t way for the next game. H2P!

Don’t care about the rankings, everyone can keep undervaluing the team, that’s perfectly fine with me. Stay off the radar till the Big Dance. Stay unappreciated and hungry.

As for “staying beneath the radar,” that may work for national sports’ media, but I doubt it works on opponents. Certainly everyone in the Big East knows what Pitt can do. We’re not going to surprise anyone in conference.

Scoocher, how about ROC

Two highly competitive games coming
Saturday and a week from Monday.

Let’s go Pitt!

Fillaponi’s a whining cry baby, he’s the only one I can’t stand listening to0 about hoops!!! LOL

And Colin Dunlap.

These two are both the typical radio guys, that take the different opinion of what normal Joe the fan thinks, just to stir controversey and get calls.

As for the others, they may not be experts, and you may not like their opinions, but they do talk about it.

Not for arguing with you Carmen, you’re certainly entitled to your opinion, and I respect that, but, I’ll do a little test tomorrow, and give the Blatherites an honest answer……….

I will wager some chocolate chip cookies that the morning drive, mid morning and afternoon drive all talk about the Pitt-Cincinnati game.

The comments I was addressing, were about no one covering the team.

All I’m saying, is that Pitt hoops and football are, in fact, covered by the radio stations.

If you’re looking for Pitt sports 24/7, I don’t know where you’ll find that.

Anyhow, I’ll have it on and I will honestly report on it.

I don’t just mean a sentence or two. They will all have at least 20-30 minute segments, if not doing a whole hour on them.

Again, you may not like them, I stated that in my paragraph above.

I’m talking about coverage, and frankly, with the Steelers, Pens, Pirates, PSU, WVU and other sports, Pitt gets talked about plenty.

I meant, station. Singular. I can’t say if Savaran and Madden talk about them.

Savaran on a.m., can’t handle that.

And that blowhard Madden. He’s not even the greatest on hockey. He yells so loud, everyone stands back and says “oh, he must be an expert”.

I quit listening to him long ago.

LOL!! Just to show I’m not a 93.7 Fan employee or know anyone working there………

it is horrible during baseball season!!!

I guess unless you’re a baseball fan. I was at one time, but, I’ve been beaten down.

June and July?? They won’t even take calls if anyone mentions the Steelers, Pens, Pitt or anyone.

It’s like white noise in my office. That’s when I usually go to internet radio and international radio.

Frankly, I don’t know how they do it. Talking about Jose Santiago’s 9.45 ERA and how it might just be different this year!!!

LOL

CBSSports.com has Pitt at 15,Cuse 5, Louisville 14, GTown 16, Marquette 18, ND 21, Cincy 23.

Gianotti is pretty familiar with Pitt (he is the sideline reporter) and Jim Colony has been knowledgeable about Pitt for a long time. The Fan also has Chris Peak on quite a bit, and Zeise does a weekend show.

Nonetheless, the Fan is obligated to include Pitt since it’s the flagship station for Pitt … but face it, the Steelers and Penguins rule in Pittsburgh …. and the sad fact, I have a good friends who are Pitt alums that attend Heinz on Sundfays, but not Saturdays.