First up this game is not an easy one to watch outside Pennsylvania and the Carolinas. The syndicated ACC Network is only showing up in a handful of markets on the weekdays (but at least Happy Valley gets to watch some good basketball). So the other viewing options are online at ESPN3.com or if you have the ESPN FullCourt package (hooray for a wife that forgot to cancel the package!).
It’s an 8 pm start, so that feels a little awkward.
As a brief aside, it sure seems like the early returns on ability to watch non-ESPN aired ACC games is inferior to the old Big East. Say what you will, and I know we have said plenty, but at least the Big East got their syndicated football and basketball games on wider reaching sports channels.
I’ve convinced myself that this is going to be a very tough game for Pitt. Clemson has only one inexplicable loss — at Auburn. After that, their other losses were to good teams like FSU and UMass and at Arkansas — which is one of those bad road/great home teams.
This game is important not only because it is a home game, but because this is part of the rough stretch in conference play.
That stretch starts Tuesday when the Panthers (16-2, 4-1) play host to Clemson (13-4, 4-1). The Tigers are tied with Pitt and Virginia (13-5, 4-1) for second place in the conference.
After that game, the Panthers will play a tough road game Saturday at Maryland (11-7, 3-2), a team picked by some to finish in the top six in the ACC and a team that has been much better at home than on the road.
The Panthers then come home for back-to-back home games against two teams that were among a short list of favorites coming into the season — Duke (Jan. 27) and Virginia (Feb. 2).
At that point, the Panthers will be halfway through their ACC schedule and will have a good idea of exactly where they stand in the conference.
Pitt is trying to bounce back after the tough loss in Syracuse. Saying all the right things about being disappointed and not happy with a respectable loss.
“We still lost,” Patterson said. “I know what this team is capable of. It really doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks. We should’ve won the game, I feel like.”
Where Syracuse (18-0, 5-0) moved into sole possession of first place in the ACC, No. 22 Pitt (16-2, 4-1) dropped into a three-way tie for second place with Virginia (13-5, 4-1) and Clemson (13-4, 4-1), which visits Petersen Events Center at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
The Panthers saw the Syracuse game only as a missed opportunity, one in which their porous free-throw shooting cost them the game. Pitt was 13 of 23 from the line (56.5 percent), its second-worst showing of the season.
“I don’t really think we’re into moral victories like that,” Pitt point guard James Robinson said. “We’ve just got to get ready for Clemson. We will have a chance to see (Syracuse) again (Feb. 12).
I’m not worried about how Pitt responds after the game. I just worry that they are going to find it a slog against a tough, defensive team and give in to some frustrations.
ESPN3 is annoying to watch on the computer–my internet is Verizon DSL–No FIOS available where I live. TV is Dish Network because Direct TV offered (in lieu of FIOS) as a package By Verizon requires several higher tiers of service to match the sports programming of Dish with the Sports Pak and my budget is too tight to go the Direct TV route.
Suggestions for ESPN3 over my TV? Other options, if any with the limitations i am starting out with?
A couple of options will be mid-level device called a Roku or an Apple TV device:
link to roku.com
link to apple.com
Both allow you to stream pay-per-view movies and TV shows (Netflix, etc.), but they also have apps that let you stream free programming and sports (ESPN3, PBS, ABC, etc.).
You can also do this with most newish game consoles (XBox, Playstations, etc.). I watch ESPN3 and Netflix through my XBox in full HD with a wireless connection and the quality is just as good as regular TV.
The Roku you’d want starts at $60, the Apple TV is $99. I think Apple is better quality, but the Roku seems to have a lot more options for viewing content (most pay-per-view or subscription).
I’m sure there are other options, but those are some that I know work well if they fit your budget. Hope that helps.
“We have a false sense of bravado. Like most young people, they believe ‘yeah, we are ready for all of this’ and then you get slapped in the face and there is nowhere to hide.”
DAAAAAMN!!!!!
And your obsession with me, won’t be missed. 🙂
Being the gracious individual that I am, we became fast friends, bought each other drinks and so forth. He even invited me to Clemson football games as he had 9 season tickets.
Too bad MomPitt or whoever was there. Of course that might have spoiled everything, being the type of individual mompitt is.
Does that offend you too ? If so,,,,FU !!!
the best comment during the game was at about 3:30 left in the first half, the play by play guy said “Believe it or not, that’s Pitt’s first offensive rebound.” To which Bonner replied “That’s because they haven’t missed any shots”
This game could have huge implications down the road. This team has components that previous Pitt teams didn’t have yet this team still has its connection to the best of those previous teams. Both Dixon’s coaching and teams talent collective are why. Clemson blowout gave minutes and familiarity to kids who we’ll need down the road. This team has the potential to take the program to unchartered territory which runs simultaneously with the capacity for the greatest of letdowns. Either way its a beautiful thing.
Comment by KeyboardKev 01.22.14 @ 7:33 am
I said noticed, and said, the same thing while at the game. Spooky.
H2P
p.s. I promise to wear my “blue and gold” boxers for all games from now on, including football.
That has to be the most overly used phrase I’ve seen in quite awhile the past few years.
Also, has totally taken away, any significance that the word hate once had.
You also drivel mindless hate too, I now see!!!
You’re a bad man Emel, a very bad man!!!
LMAO!!!!
easily offended. Could someone advocate for me???
LOL
