Noon start. Haven’t finished the coffee yet. We’ll see how quickly I have to hit the Scotch.

Must win game for both. Louisville isn’t denying it.

“It’s kind of do or die now,” running back Brock Bolen said. “Our backs are to the wall.”

The top Big East teams are lined up to keep them there. A trip to No. 6 West Virginia awaits on Nov. 8, followed by a Nov. 17 game at No. 11 South Florida and the season finale Nov. 29 at home against No. 25 Rutgers.

Pitt is the only team with a losing record remaining on the Cards’ schedule. Any hopes of earning their 10th straight bowl berth rests largely on beating the Panthers.

“It’s a game we have to win if we want to reach some of the goals that are still out there for us,” linebacker Malik Jackson said.

Urrutia is expected back for this game. Louisville still wants to win the Big East even with 2 losses in conference.

Shocking, I know. Wannstedt wants to control the pace of the game. Even as I questioned the whole Time of Possesion (ToP) stat value, Gorman kind of follows up and kills it for Pitt and Louisville.

Let’s hope there are no more injuries to the O-line.

Q: With Joe Thomas hurt, Bachman landed on the starting lineup. If someone else is hurt, who would be the next lineman who would be tapped to play? Would that player be ready to play at this level? Or just another body thrown to the wolves?

Zeise: Good question. Thomas is out with his injury, which means the Panthers are probably stretched to the limit in terms of their depth chart at offensive line. If one of the guards gets hurt, they still have Dom Williams and if a tackle goes down, they could move Bachman to tackle and bring in Williams at guard. They could also turn to Chase Clowser at tackle. Williams and Clowser have both played in games and are both veteran guys so they wouldn’t be thrown to the wolves as you say. Now, beyond those two, yeah, pretty much you are getting into true freshmen so that wouldn’t be a good thing.

Then it will be true freshmen. Seems to be almost a given now that Pitt will have to recruit some JUCO OLs at this point.

Game time coming up.

12:08: Weak. 3 and out. Looks like a series intended to give Bostick some confidence on the road.

Bad snap on the punt, just got away and a favorable roll for Pitt. Phew.

12:12: Surprisingly conservative play calling from Louisville. 3 and out as well.

12:17: McCoy bounces it outside on 3d and 3 with the direct snap and gets 14 yards.

12:19: And now two straight runs right up the middle for a total of 2 yards. Creative.

Nothing on a blatant bubble screen. Blitz came and Mo Williams had no chance on the catch. No blocking either.

12:21: According to my TV program guide, the game is on MSG, MASN, ALT (Altitude Sports & Ent. [Denver?]).

12:24: Louisville moving with the pass. Running game looks bad. Expect run to be mostly abandoned soon.

Barnidge got free while Brohm scrambled. Damn.

12:26: Almost (was?) intercepted on a tip, but pass interference by Scot McKillop makes it inside the 20.

12:29: Easy TD to Harry Douglas. Wide open. Shane Murray trying to stop him? Yeesh.

7-0 Louisville 3:30 in the 1st quarter.

12:32: Looks like plenty of seats available for this game. Not that Pitt can say much about fan attendance this year.

Mo Williams dropped one that would have been 6 yards even if he was stopped immediately.

Stephens-Howling gets his first run for 3 yards. 3d and 7. Yay.

Nothing on the delay to Stephens-Howling. Too slow developing.

Brytus with a decent punt. Muffed by Trent Guy, but he got it back.

L-Ville starting at the 33.

(more…)

Game’s on ESPNU if you have it.

I’ll be offering limited commentary throughout. I’m hesitant to add too much since I’ve been consuming bourbon all day to brace myself.

7:24: Welcome to the implosion. 13-0 and then fumble on kickoff return.

7:29: It’s 20-0 UVa. Pitt and the Wannys have the Grohs right where they want them. Now Groh will invoke his NFL knowledge and go prevent the rest of the way.

I hope.

7:47: I’m hoping this is the proverbial “rock bottom” for the season. 27-0 and it’s not even the end of the 1st quarter. Pathetic.

7:55: Since the game is already lost, I might as well note a bizarre FatHead rip off ad for “Wallbangers.” Brit accent for lots of soccer, plus they’ll make oversized vinyl prints of uploaded photos. Picturing a fired up Rhoads after stopping a team for only 9 yards on 1st down on my wall. Plus some paint thinner and a lighter.

7 for 51 yards on penalties.

8:10: Only 30-0 now. Way to stiffen for only a FG.

Remember, when slitting wrists, cut with the vein, not across.

9:00: I mean, what the hell? You run, run, run, that means they will put 8, 9 men in the box. So then you have Bostick drop and look deep? NO!!!! You throw quick. Hit a TE on a screen. A slant, something quick. Not a drop back.

9:45: What can you say. Two straight passing plays by Virginia that are off the hands of Pitt defenders and then they let the Hoos complete a 3d and 20. I regained consciousness for that?

9:54: You know why I’m feeling pissed about this. Because part of me feels bad for the players that they have to suffer through this. Another part of me can’t help but be somewhat happy insofar as if Coach Wannstedt and the administration has to see there is a huge problem after this week and last. If they can’t see the need for a coaching shake-up of some sort after this season — minimum changing DC and OL Coaches — then I just don’t know anymore. And I can’t stand feeling a little good about Pitt bottoming out like this. It just seems like the only frickin’ way there is going to be some necessary changes at this point.

Sorry, very late start this morning. Missed the first few minutes trying to finish other things.

Hmm. The Pitt white jerseys. Don’t really like those gold shoulder accents.

McCoy looks good running so far.

12:27: Aargh. Damn, that was a gift that Phillips dropped.

12:33: Oh, my god, a sack. A real sack. Clermond got there. The MSU O-line not exactly assertive early.

Crap. Soft coverage allowed nearly 20 yards to at least give them a FG or even go for it. Going for it. Wow. No trying to draw offside, but Cox jammed receiver 3 yards and he dropped it.

Mick Williams can’t stay healthy can he?

12:38: (^^$&#$@%@%. Interception. Smith threw that poorly right to the defender.

Was that Smth’s first pass attempt?

12:40: Then Hoyer scrambles to buy time and hits a receiver down at the 3. End of the 1st Q and MSU has 1st and goal. If there’s any silver lining to what I’m seeing to this point is that MSU will stay conservative and that will keep the score close. That, at least will give Pitt a chance.

12:44: Almost a big stop inside the 5, but no. Instead the Caulcrick just busted through the arm tackle of Phillips for the score.

7-0 MSU 14:15 left in the half.

12:49: Holy crap! McCoy blew past a sealed block to the outside. An actual, goddamned block. And then he really hit it and went 64 yards for the TD

7-7 13:54 to go in the 1st half.

1:00: Aiigghhh! Interception. High and away from Turner, off his hands. Returned for a TD. 0 passing yards.

14-7 MSU 11:00.

1:04: Wow. McCoy gets outside and nearly 20 yards.

Dare I suggest to help Smith, that they roll him out and let him run? Give him a chance to use his athleticism to do something and maybe get his head back into the game.

Have to admit, Andre Ware is dead-on with his observations from the booth with Smith. He just got happy feet about the pocket and didn’t look downfield at all.

1:10: Tough decision for Cavanaugh. He needs to have Smith get his confidence, and maybe throw in something other than on 3d and long — when the Spartans know it’s coming. But that would mean not giving the ball to McCoy .

1:11: Jeez. Pitt has its 3d sack. What the hell? I’m seeing the line and the linebackers getting into the backfield? How is that happening?

Berry has a nice return on the punt to get it to about mid-field.

1:13: Yeah! A reception by Pestano for positive yards in the passing game. Great Pinkston “shaken up.” Just what the O-line needs.

1:17: I’m surprised to see Smith struggle mentally so much. His head/confidence seems so shaken.

1:20: Ergh. Screen worked beautifully for MSU. Picked up the 1st down on 3d and 10.

There! What Hoyer did for MSU on the roll-out. Just run a little. I’d like to see Smith give that a shot just to feel like he is actually contributing to the offense.

1:30: Two straight false start penalties, just as Pitt moves a little in the two minute drills.

Then Smith sacked. That ends the half.

14-7 Michigan State.

Wannstedt was asked about whether Bostick will be coming in for the second half. Completely non-committal.

2 INT. One returned for a TD and the other leading to the score.

(more…)

7:33: Portland is on the clock.
I’m starting this with one hand. My son is out cold on my lap.

Question: Who would you want to give a free kick to the nuts more? Steven A. Smith or Dick Vitale?

7:36: Shocking Oden goes first. Stunned I tell you. Stunned.

7:41: Naturally Durant to Seattle/Oklahoma City. Easiest draft pick ever.

7:42: Awesome. The Celtics are apparently going to swap the #5 pick (or pick Jeff Green of Georgetown) along with Delonte West and Wally Sczerbiak to Seattle for Ray Allen. I’m with Mark Jackson who has been blasting this deal for the Celtics all day. That’s why I love it. Hate the Celtics.

7:46: Okay, Atlanta and Pitt’s Billy Knight have the #3 pick. Heard that the Hawks because of their pathetic and infighting trinity of ownership blew a chance to get Amare Stoudamire in a deal that would have involved the #11 pick. Yeep.

They go with Al Horford from Florida as expected. Best player left. I have no problem with it. That means they’ll take Acie Law IV at #11.

7:50: Those Adidas Draft/NBA hats bother me with that narrow piping. Makes it look like everyone has a pointy head.

7:52: Predictable draft so far as Conley, Jr. goes #4 to Memphis. I see him as a slightly better Dominic James with more mystery creating the nebulous “upside.”

7:57: Yes! The Celtics do take Jeff Green. That means Boston will just be inadequate and not have any potential growth in the future.

(more…)

If you are watching the Spring Game and want to comment on what you are seeing. Fire away.

2:07: For whatever it’s worth in the spring game and this being it, I’d say that Stull is looking a lot more comfortable in the offense and much more accurate.

Moved up from the comments, with thanks to Dan35 for the observations:

A cheerleader got drilled right on the noggin with a booming punt during pre-game drills. I don’t know if it’s a bad omen, a good omen, or just plain tragic.

Play of the Day:
Gus Mustakis chasing down Bill Stull and forcing a fumble. It looked like a grizzly chasing down a deer. Great stuff.

Ouch:
Kevin Smith had a day to forget. It was a big step backward from what I saw of him in the scrimage 2 weeks ago. He fumbled 2 snaps, almost lost a couple others, got tripped up at least twice by his linemen, and had a couple near-fumble exchanges. Not very crisp. Not all his fault, though. He never got into a rythm. Stull didn’t set the world on fire, either.

Ready to Rock:
Mustakis, Clermond, & Fields all looked great throughout the day. Shane Murray and McKillop seem to work well as a tandem in the linbacker corp. I think Murray will surprise some people. LSH showed his usual fleetness afoot.

Overall:
The coaches are gonna be pissed about the performace. The stupid mistakes that they did not want to see were everywhere. The offense definitely wasn’t clicking on all cylinders. They kept it pretty conservative. The defense played well (with help from the O). The secondary forced a couple coverage sacks, the linbackers were largely in position and making plays, and the linemen were getting penetration. I think the defense is in decent shape at the moment. The offense needs to get everyone healthy and on the same page.

Miscellaneous:
When the coaching staff tells you that they have high hopes for Romeus, but that he needs some experience/work: believe them. He made some great athletic plays and batted down a pass or two. He also got sucked into a couple fakes and failed to keep contain. That stuff will come.

Pinkston is a monster. He is a huge scary monster. He’s listed at 280, but looks closer to 310. He’s very good news for the O-line.

Dorin Dickerson had a pick and a couple tackles, including one where he tossed Pelusi out of bounds with one arm. He’s definitely going to contribute somewhere. Part of me still can’t help but wish it was running over defenders.

Again, thanks for letting us know what you saw. Hard to judge much from the internet broadcast.

Not much news on Pitt. Hope a lot of students went to “Blue Chip Day.”

The only story was on the Center position. I’m betting Vangas will be the starter. Bachman is still learning and it just seems that he is going to need more time with that ankle.

This evening, of course will be the Final Four. I’m going to be providing the live-blog for the games at AOL Fanhouse tonight around 6. Michael David Smith (also of Football Outsiders) will also be adding additional posts and thoughts as the game goes on.

This means pacing myself on the beer. I will be starting with Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel. It’s a Belgian I picked up yesterday. Given the high alcohol content (9%) and the flavor, I should be able to go at a slower tempo.

After that, it will be nursing the New Castles.

Kansas gets barely past SIU with a 61-58 win and now awaits the winner of Pitt-UCLA. One thing is certain, SIU HC Lowery is about to make more money. Either because he will get a nice raise from his alma mater or he will be snatched by another school.

9:53: Here we go.

10:02: Pitt down 8-4, 15:52 in the half. As expected, banging and tight. Mbah a Moute already forced to sit with 2 fouls. The Bruins are now bringing at least 2 guys at Gray with MaM out.

10:08: Good timeout by Graves. That was a good trap, and he didn’t try to do anything stupid.

10:20: Man, Pitt is not hitting shots, still only down 3.

10:35: Not making shots is starting to catch up with Pitt as halftime nears. UCLA is now bringing at least two — even three men — on Gray and daring Pitt to make an open jumper. It’s not happening right now. There won’t be any way for Gray to get chances if the shots aren’t being knocked down.

10:47: Pitt down 32-26. Hate to say it, but that’s good. Pitt shot horribly and only encouraged UCLA to gamble more on defense and make it harder on Pitt.

I think Young will have to play more in the second half, even if Kendall is better on defense. Pitt needs Young’s scoring more at the moment. They need penetrators and anyone else to help take the defense off of Gray. Fields and Ramon are at least taking care of the ball even if they aren’t providing much on offense.

UCLA is shooting better then Pitt and even out-rebounding them. The startling thing is that UCLA is turning the ball over more and fouled more.

Naturally, UCLA is hitting all of their FT shots.

11:12: AUUGGHHH!! How is Pitt making it that much harder by missing some of these shots? I’m trying to remain calm but that’s at least 2 lay-ins to start the second half that Pitt has managed to mangle.

11:25: Grife! I don’t know what to say. Pitt has shots. They are getting looks. They are simply missing them. I had hoped that the shots would start falling, but they still aren’t. Now you can see some of the players getting tighter when they have to shoot. Some players hesitating and others thinking they have to shoot right away. They are frustrated because they know the shots are there.

11:30: 5 points in almost 9 minutes?

11:52: Small run and then that was it. 3:27 UCLA up 54-42.

Nothing. I can’t believe the poor shooting. Pitt’s shooting has somehow managed to be worse in the second half then in the first.

12:09: 64-55 UCLA wins.  Credit UCLA. They did it without getting the turnovers. They shot incredibly well on free throws. They out rebounded Pitt (it helps when Pitt misses that many shots on the defensive rebounds) and converted more open shots.

What can you say? Pitt got nothing inside. Gray only had 10 points and Kendall — while he had 3 assists — had 0 points. Young provided a brief spark with 9 points but on only 3-10 shooting. Cook hit 3-4 to start then was 0-5 the rest of the way.

Right now I’m very disappointed in the way they shot. The defense was sound. Good god, did they get open looks. They just shot like absolute crap.

It’s not just the guys inside. They had no chance to get free when most of the game the perimeter wasn’t doing much to help them loosen double teams.

Shame Sean Miller and Xavier couldn’t get the upset — not to mention OSU’s Greg Oden avoiding being called for a flagrant for shoving the Cage into the second row on that foul. It absolutely deflated the Musketeers in the OT.

Butler-Maryland was a lot of fun (and a Butler 62-59 win was nice) — seriously, does the ACC offer a special camp that teaches flopping — but thankfully it’s over and now just a little time before the VCU-Pitt tip.

5:55: I may be a little late on the liveblogging. I need to stick with the L-ville-TAMU game.

5:58: Not that it matters. The Pitt game is being shown locally in my area (meaning it’s blacked out for the PPV package) and they are sticking with L-ville.

6:54: Okay. Nice 41-26 at the half. Still, VCU has been a second half team. Especially Maynor. Graves has been tremendous in stopping him. Has him frustrated and pissed. That’s good.

The weakness of VCU is their defense and Pitt has taken advantage of it. Beautiful to see everyone scoring — no one in double digits.

If VCU goes on a run to start, I will be going silent. Hey it worked in the first half.

8:28: Survive and advance.

I’ll say this, VCU did it 3 straight games. I would call that a trend. Coming back from deeper and deeper deficits. George Mason, Duke and then Pitt.
As much as Pitt nearly lost it, VCU mounted a tremendous comeback and did everything right. Not just the tremendous defensive pressure and effort — but hitting those shots. There were a bunch of deep, hands in the face 3s and circus shots. That was impressive.

Now, Pitt seemed so close to wilting and breaking. After Fields missed 2 FTs at the end of regulation, they regrouped. They lost Kendall to fouling out and they still did it.  The team got the win in the OT. When momentum, the crowd and everything had turned against them.

What is important is that Pitt is in the Sweet 16.

This is it. VCU upsets Duke 79-77 and sends them home after the first round for the first time since 1996.

As the last game of the night, of course the prior game would run long. Jeez Maynor is a killer. I don’t know how many of you saw what he did to George Mason in the CAA Championship. He scares the hell out of me, assuming Pitt wins.

Tip time is 10:10.

10:14: Looks like this game will be called loosely. That benefits Pitt. So does the score. 13-0 Pitt. 17:05 still to go in the half.

10:32: Well, looks like Wright St. has some fight in them. 21-15 with under 11 minutes. Gray took an extended break. Solid WSU game plan to take their time on offense and then drive when presented the opportunity.

10:39: Call a TO. Pitt just stopped playing team offense. Everyone just started launching, sloppy. Tied at 22.

10:50: Fields has really struggled lately. He seems to be trying to hit the homerun in his passes and shooting too much lately. I don’t know what it is. He just is making reckless passes, way too often.

10:53: Speeding the game up actually helped get Pitt back the lead. Not running and gunning, but getting out ahead of the defense. The bright side, assuming Pitt wins, they won’t be taking VCU lightly.

11:00: 43-30 Pitt at the half. Everybody breathing. Just a little bit of highs and lows in the first half.

11:16: Anyone else notice that Eastern Kentucky has closed to within 5 early in the second half. After leading by 27. Fire Roy Williams.

11:52: Looks like Buffalo has cleared out as the game has remained a blowout throughout the second half. Graves did a fantastic job on making DaShaun Woods a non-factor for most of the game. Ramon had a good game. The cynical view is that, of course he did, he was shooting over guards that weren’t as tall as him and played too far off. Still he hit the open looks — just hope he still does that on Saturday.

12:06: Well, after watching Ramon get stripped twice in 10 seconds, I think he won’t be getting too cocky despite his solid shooting night.

12:07: Jeff Rizk hits 1-2 at the FT line.

Final score. 79-58 Pitt wins.

Now it’s VCU. Start reviewing what worked against Marquette and Louisville in the BET and really emphasize protecting the ball and getting it inside.

Getting close to game time. I’m starting to sweat once more. Great.

9:11: Pitt down 6-2, 15:57 to halftime. Gray has missed three shots already.

9:21: No, not a great start. Still, only down 4.

9:37: Okay, now down 11. Gray shooting playing poorly. The whole team shooting poorly. Just 24-13 with 4:37 left.

9:47: Hibbert had his way with Gray and anyone else forced to go at him on offense. Otherwise, the G-town offense was it’s usual efficient self.

Just didn’t expect Pitt to just have no offense. Gray 0-9 and 1 point. 7-28 shooting overall. Shots are just not going down. Some of it is the G-town defense, but a lot of it is just not making the shots or taking the opportunities.

10:13: Gray now 0-10. On defense, he has let himself be abused by Hibbert. Either he is having his worst game ever, he is worn out physically in the 3d game in 3 days, or he’s got other things on his mind.

10:35: Don’t know what to say. Pitt is simply not hitting shots. I don’t think it’s fatigue. Just an absolutely pitiful shooting performance. When your best player doesn’t make a basket until halfway into the second half, it takes a toll. The rest of the team seemed to start press even more.

Pitt was able to overcome Gray as a non-factor for one game, but this was actually worse.

10:44: Credit Georgetown for their great energy and not stopping. They are still fighting and pushing Pitt.

10:55: Congratulations to Georgetown. They were the best team in the Big East this season and in the BET.

Pitt will have to wait for the seed tomorrow. I’m still thinking Pitt doesn’t do worse than a 3.

After that, Pitt has to be disappointed in the ending. It was a poor game. Still, they essentially have to forget it and get ready for the NCAA Tournament.