279 thoughts on “BB GAME THREAD: Pitt vs Montana”

  1. Nick Pitino It’s supposedly interested in the basketball position that will be vacant after rock ports win seven games. Nick is the famous twin brother of Rick Pitino. If he doesn’t make it fit officials will meet the other brother Vick Pitino.

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  2. Anyone at the game? What does attendance look Lyke?

    5 turnovers in 5 minutes. That computes to 40 for the game. Can’t win that way Otis…

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  7. My espn3 is choppy as crap, hard to watch. I understand Stewert is supposed to be good but haven’t seen a sign of it yet?

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    1. Montana’s starting 4 juniors & RS juniors and one senior. Pitt’s starting Luther and 4 true freshman. Going to be a long season.

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    2. Hey, KS picked up a 4 Star recruit last week for next year. 6 9 power forward. Some talent on the horizon but KS will be gone by the time he gets here.

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      1. LOL. When’s his contract up? No way anyone poaches him from us and pays out his contract. Maybe the pedos….they like Vandy coaches.

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    1. 4 true freshman starting for us…against 2 juniors, 2 rs juniors & a senior. WF has a little extra experience…

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  12. Say this out loud. Pit in a barn burner with Montana grizzlies. Remember when we used to say that about Georgetown Villanova North Carolina Duke??? State of athletics is a joke.

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      1. Right, Pitt is an ACC team. Montana plays in the Big Sky. All of that experienced talent for Montana is returning from a 16-16 team that finished 11-7 in a markedly inferior league.

        WF is a junior with two full seasons of JUCO. You discount it because it doesn’t support your “inexperience” argument.

        Looks like a damn good thing Luther is on the team.

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  15. when pitt had a seven point lead first half the voices were silent. I see problems but they are the youthful variety.

    Stevenson could be a beast..

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  16. If rebounding and defense were not part of the game, Pitt would be winning. However, Pitt about to be blown out by Montana in front of 1,987 fans.

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  18. Already like this team a lot better than last year’s. Sure they are making many mistakes but atleast trying. This team has potential to better as season goes on. Last year never improved from game one

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    2. You find losing “with honor” to Navy and Montana (at home) inspiring? Now Pitt has been outrebounded in two games but they’re “trying”.

      Don’t most teams have potential to be better as the season goes on?

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  20. Nice comeback – Luther needs to take better care of the ball.

    Let’s see if Pitt can ride the crowd’s enthusiasm to victory – lol.

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  23. I give this team high grades for effort. But let’s lighten up on excusing their play because of their youth. The age of the 5 starters is: 22, 21, 20, 19 and 18 year-old Marcus Carr. We aren’t asking them to hop off a landing craft at Normandy; we’re asking them to go out and play a basketball game.

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  26. Two dunks in a row.

    Not a good sign.

    Has Pitt even attempted to dunk tonight. The Griz have several…

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  32. Women’s team is 2-0

    Men on the verge of 0-2. Showing fight in the 2nd half. Hope to pull out a w in OT.

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    1. I hope he can coach. He makes 2M + and has been doing it for 40 years.

      Meanwhile Heather bragged on this turd. Tonight he made 46K. LMAO. Seriously.

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  41. JWF did not score in the last 10 minutes of regulation, nor OT. He also had no personal fouls.

    Hmmm…team leader for Otis?

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  43. Frame has disappeared a couple second half’s now, not good. Team hustled and did look like they were coached up for young guns. Like the football team they lack leaders. Luther is one but looking for another one.

    This season will be a roller coaster ride.

    I guess the grizzlies play ACC teams every year since 1966? < stats lol haters hate.

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    2. Haters is a great word for truth speakers. Navy and Montana Ike. Even you can’t be this oblivious.

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  45. Why play sports when our school image takes such a huge hit with these losses. People know a school through sports. If Pitt wants to truly play in the ACC, they need to make a much stronger commitment or else we need to take a step down. Our leaders like to drink tea with the other snobs from these academic schools but I refuse to have my alma mater become their B!^(#

    Duke Prez: Welcome to cocktail hour Dr Gallagher
    NC Prez: You’re always welcome here
    Wake Prez: We love your company
    Virginia Prez: But remember you do what you’re told
    Miami Prez: And know your place
    Gallaghrer: Yes masters. Would you like me to pour some more Gin?

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  46. Have to adjust my prediction now. Had Pitt 4-20. This was one of the 4. Penn State, Duquesne and Bobby Mo will wipe the floor with this team!

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  49. I just hope this team can win five games. These turnovers and the lack of rebounding is puzzling. Not sure why Nix and his 300 pounds was pushed out as he had just one year left.

    Duke might beat these guys by 50. Carr and Stevenson are building blocks; Brown, Stewart and Davis will contribute. Not sure where this staff is filling the roster with better players.

    Should have kept Manigault to get his buddy point guard who got out of his LOI, Thompson. He played well in his debut for Butler.

    Amazing Dixon couldn’t sustain this program and soured on the ACC. What terrible recruiting by him and Barnes just shoving the knife in the throat of this program with the Stallings hire. No one wants this job now, so it will be bad for a while before it gets better.

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  50. I did see a good bit of both games, and I have no idea how anyone can say Pitt is well coached. They consistently shoot with nobody underneath to rebound, they rarely if ever change defenses, they don’t work the ball inside out on offense, and they constantly over commit on defense leaving guys wide open every possession, and this is against Navy and Montana. I realize the guys are very young and don’t have much chemistry yet, but the fundamental issues are about coaching, or a lack thereof. This looks very Paul Hackettish to me.

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  51. Didn’t watch.

    As I mentioned yesterday, the new 4 star signee Golden is Luther 2.0. Same game except Luther can shoot the deep three.

    Navy got their first win against an ACC team since 1971. Now Montana. Good grief!

    Maybe next game, against St. Louise de Marillac. Look, rebounding is all heart. Ask Jerome Lan, Sam Clancye and Charles Barkley. They were not big, but they wanted the ball. A well coached team rebounds and prioritizes the basketball. And is not SOFT!

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    1. No one needs to hate on Pitt Ike. The programs do it for them. Look at Football and Basketball. Great Shape those programs are in right?? You eat blue and gold and crap rainbows and puppy breath. You would find the positive if we lost to Point Park.

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  54. I picked the 4 wins the other nite, again they are Mount St. Mary’s, McNeese State, Delaware State and Towson.

    Worse Pitt team since the dreadful team of 68-69 that went 4-20.

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  55. Although UC-Santa Barbara was 6-22 last year, so we could get a ‘W’ next game. And I forgot about High Point…….but if we lose, that would be a ….Low Point.

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  57. Ike,
    Good friend, you have too much class to stoop to calling your POV brothers “Haters” just for sharing their views. That term is reserved for Losers to use, and you Iek, are no Loser! Rather, you are a good man, and I, for one, appreciate you immensely.

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  58. Wow 2013-2014 Pitt BB was 26-10 won in the first round of NCAA tourney against Colorado beaten by a #1 seed Florida rather badly (61-45) but still look how far this thing has collapsed in 4 years.

    PItt FB under Chryst 2013-2014 7-6 beating #24 Notre Dame team and while it wasn’t a whole lot we saw the coming of age of James Connor in the last bowl win for Pitt.

    4 years later and both programs are left for dead…

    what the hell happened? (rhetorical)

    DaveD

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    1. Pumpkin Head Barnes and Heather Lyke…. Oh and Narduzzi won with Chryst’s Recruits and well Stallings just sucks like a vampire hungry for irrelevance.

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    2. why didn’t you point out that the football team of the last 2 years went 8 and 5? And why didn’t you point out that last year’s team beat two Top 10 teams, including the eventual national champs, instead of a win vs a 24th anke dteam back in 2013?

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      1. Simple wwb, I picked that year because it was the last time both BB and FB were on the upside. I wasn’t pick on FB necessarily…the cracks in both programs where there…but it seems like a epoch ago.

        I was just trying to point out at that time…Chryst arguably looked like he was taking the FB program from the dires of Krueger/Graham and inching it forward in a positive direction…

        Jamie D. had his usual solid year and some the underclassmen at the time looked like they had a lot of upside. Plus he won his typical 1st round game and lost to a #1 Florida team (no shame in that).

        Frankly, regardless of the 8-5 results over the last 2 seasons….recruiting has really take a downturn under this cat. So I look at the current situation and see no real positive to hang onto other than the narrative “Nard Dog has a plan! He has a plan!”

        I was merely suggesting how far things have devolved in a very short time. And it kind of shocks me when I think about it. We were bitching about how Jamie will never get us past the first round. Now most would give anything to be in the conversation.

        DaveD

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    3. Dixon couldn’t recruit and Narduzzi whiffed on a quarterback in the 2016 class who’d be a redshirt freshman and guiding a young team this season.

      Instead, Mr. Basketball AD, Barnes, hired a retread and Narduzzi has bungled the QB position since Browne got hurt. Bad times. Go Steelers!

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  59. Here’s a postgame quote from Stallings last night –

    “That was one thing I second guessed myself walking off the court,” he said. “I thought maybe I should have given Milly more of a run. Marcus (Carr) did not have a good night so that would be the first thing that I would say that if I had to do something differently, I would have probably played Milly a little bit more down the stretch.”

    Our PG going into OT had 4 or 5 TO’s and zero assists. His shooting was cold at 1-8. Yet he started the OT period and turned the ball over.

    Not many other option I guess.

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  60. The women’s team drew 10,587 for an 11am game vs Cornell at The Pete. The women win and move to 2-0.

    The men drew 3,102 for their 7:00pm game vs Montana at The Pete. The men lose and move to 0-2.

    Opposites?

    You bet!

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  61. Pulled these gems from ESPN –

    The Grizzly guard had a career high scoring night with 29 and Montana snapped a 14 game losing streak vs P5 schools.

    Pitt dropped its first season opener since 1996 when it fell at Navy on Friday, a game that included a 10-minute stretch in the second half where the Panthers missed 13 straight shots.

    Three days later in front of the smallest regular season crowd in the history of the Petersen Events Center (3,102), the problem this time wasn’t necessarily bad shooting but bad decisions.

    BAD DECISIONS? They are only scratching the surface here. Heather, are you paying attention? The building is on fire…

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  63. Maybe POV should just take a
    LOA for the entire BB season… 4 more months of despair and we could all be on anti- depressants including Ike….

    Let go.. they what they are and I for one have better things to do…..

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  65. you have to look for improvement …. not wins. I’m being serious, it is no secret that this team with returnees totaling only 3 starts among them and 8 brand new players will struggle. The team may well lose 20 yet still improve as the year goes on.

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    2. When you have a Arena on campus and pay 2M + there Is no look for improvements. It’s win now or find someone who will win

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  66. So say you have a couple of kids in HS with good unweighted grades near 3.85 and good SAT’s about 1300 with some interest in going to Pitt versus staying in state and paying less(even though money isn’t the deciding factor) what do you do? I mean, really how much of a factor should the ENTIRE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE be considered when the Pitt academics is not really substantially better than most other schools being considered ie. Maryland, PSU(I know), UMBC, VA Tech, even WVU(not actually being considered)?

    Am I wrong in thinking the “Front Porch” DOES matter? And SHOULD matter?

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    1. I think the whole front porch comparison is ridiculous in the first place.

      it’s only the front porch to other sports fans that’s all it is. If you talk to anybody about the University… talk to parents of kids looking at colleges, talk to kids themselves who are not all that interested in football…talk to anyone else and they think about a university on the term of it’s merits and of its academics. Nobody really cares about football and basketball unless they are already sports fans.

      That phrase was made up by athletic administrative types who want to keep their teams as well funded as possible.

      Put it this way. We have posters on here who went to Pitt during the really dismal football seasons back in the sixties and later under Majors II maybe. Let me ask you to be honest and tell me if would you have rather gone to a different University during your 4 years… let’s say Ohio state, Alabama, Penn State, etc… because they had better football programs than Pitt did or did you go to the our university and are proud to have graduated from the University because it’s the University of Pittsburgh itself.

      I very much doubt any of you would have taken that offer up. So let’s not kid ourselves here. We all love the university for what it is… it’s a great academic institution and it’s a great place to learn about live as an undergrad. Not everyone lives and dies with a football team and it certainly is not the “front porch” of our University.

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  67. I would say front porch is atleast 25% because it makes a college experience a true college experience. Later in life people don’t look back and talk about hanging out in the science lab or study hall in the library they talk about big football games big basketball games tell gating family coming to visit going to a game on campus etc. not meeting their family at a remote location to show them a campus that doesn’t exist there

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    1. FWIW, I believe the urban campus is a big turn-off for many … especially those from the suburbs or rural areas.

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        1. UW has a real campus .. not interspersed with public businesses and hospitals. It is on the eastern suburb of Seatlle

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          1. no it’s not. I live here. It’s in the city. North of Seattle but it is still in the city. And it is interspersed with businesses.

            Sorry I take part in a 5k every year at UW. It’s a city school.

            DaveD

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  68. I tend to agree with ike that there are some real haters on his board, especially Upitt. Many of the football arguments are reasonable based on the 3 year progress to date, but the basketball stuff is over the top. Dixon left the program in a shambles so vent the spleen all you want at Dixon. The jury is still out on Stallings, but any reasonable person would agree that he walked into a real mess. Give these young kids a chance to develop. Upitt, I thought that marriage would mellow you a bit, but if you are this negative at home in the 1st year of marriage you will never have 3 years to “turn your program around”. Cut the venom please.

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    1. How is it over the top? I’ve got your “reasoned” judgement on Dixon. However the only reason many even care much about Pitt basketball any more is because of Dixon. Heck, deep down it may be the only reason YOU care. Anyway, here’s my judgement on your guy:

      Stallings walked into a situation where Pitt was coming off of a first round, 4 point loss to a higher seeded Wisconsin team that made the NCAA Sweet 16. Pitt returned 6 of their top 7 scorers for 2016-2017 including 4 seniors. Two of those seniors are currently in the G League. One of those seniors played for Stallings at Vanderbilt. Stallings elected to retain all of Dixon’s 2016 recruiting class even after those recruits had re-opened their recruitment. I add that Stallings had recruited Kithcart while at Vanderbilt. In addition, Stallings had April-August 2016 to recruit whatever type of player he felt he needed because he still had a roster spot. However he elected to do nothing. Stallings proceeded to coach the 2016-2017 team to a sub .500 record. That was Pitt’s first sub .500 record since the 1999-2000 season. He also coached them to a 4-14 ACC record that was Pitt’s worst conference record by percentage in 40 years. Pitt suffered their second worst loss in program history and were on the losing side of the highest point margin in ACC history against Louisville at home. In the course of that season he chose not to develop (i.e. put them in a position to succeed, improve and contribute) any of the underclassmen save Johnson and Luther. The rest only played garbage minutes.

      Hometown kid Johnson left the program. Stallings advised the others that they wouldn’t play for him so they left too. Nix was a big man who rebounded very well last year in ACC play in limited minutes, something that the 2017-2018 team desperately needs. However Stallings apparently didn’t see it that way and Nix moved on.

      If you think Stallings was encumbered in recruiting “his guys” because of the date of his hire, think again. Stallings has signed a bunch of players since April 2017 including Chukwuka, Stewart, Stevenson and Illegomah. There was nothing holding Stallings back from having done the same thing April-August 2016.

      UPitt is right. These guys are paid millions of dollars each year to coach. The expectation should be to move the program forward, not to move it backward to a historic low in one season. This year’s team appears poised to be Pitt’s worst team in 50 years. However Stallings apologists, Pitt Diehards (Ike), and Dixon haters will judge them to have the utmost potential to be REALLY good in 2 years. Then 2 years hits and…

      It seems some had Carr as a ACC RoY based upon his performance against Navy. Then he had a 1-9, 5 TO game against Montana and couldn’t defend a Montana guard to the point that Stallings openly regretted not having played Milligan more. Given that, Carr’s development should prove interesting in ACC play this season.

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    3. Let’s keep blaming Dixon for 5 years. Better yet make it 8. Winners Win they don’t make excuses. Jamie will make a good run in the Tourney here in Texas. Major turn around and no excuses here about last coach.

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    4. VOR– “the jury is still out on Stallings”

      Are you frickin’ kidding? The guy went sub-500 in the SEC over 18 years. He is a total and absolute retread. And the SEC is nowhere near the BB conference the ACC is. He’ll quit if he has any self-respect.

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  69. wwb

    I agree. We knew the team would struggle. Out of the new guys, they have Wilson-Frame, Stevenson and Carr that need less development. The other will take time. Carr and Stevenson will be very good.

    No big guy is hurting them AGAIN but there are guys to develop. They should have grabbed a JC big guy.

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  70. While not a fan of Stallings, no one can win with all new players at Pitt. We are not Kentucky that can recruit 5 one and dones at a time at a time. He has recruited some decent talent, but no where near ready to compete at any level.

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  72. I expect the wrestling team to be ranked and the women’s volleyball team just beat Duke. It may be just a stoop instead of a front porch … but beggars …

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  73. Haven’t read the comments in a week. I am sure there were many on Lyke’s comments about a OCS.

    My favorite part of her quote, “…Could you build an on-campus facility? It’s really difficult.”

    Obviously she is being told by Gallagher that it is not happening. She can’t override him.

    So Pitt’s EXCUSE for not pursuing an OCS is that it is difficult. Really? WTF?

    Someone please find out what the deal is with the Steelers! They must have signed their life away.

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    1. I can’t see the Steelers being a big hold-up … they didn’t pay for the darn stadium. And I also think that Pitt wouldn’t object if the Steelers kept using the SS facility.

      I continue to see little hope for an OCS however … due to (1) there is no room in Oakland (plus the access is horrible) and (2) Pitt doesn’t want to pay for it.

      Seriously folks … I believe HCPN’s salary is the 13th lowest out of 14 teams … and the lowest (WF) just began last year, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he will surpass HCPN in the near term. What makes you think the admin has any interest in a new stadium … off-or-on campus?

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  74. VOR, it’s not that I don’t respect everyone’s opinion and PITT fans can be upset and frustrated right now with PITT athletics but it’s HOW this displeasure is expressed.

    I know the difference between a disappointed fan and a hater. If you hate everything then in my mind you are a hater, especially with the vengeance and name calling. The constant berating of a new AD for instance. She has no hand in the mess but she has be slurred from day one because people didn’t like the hire.

    This proves to me that there is a real big dislike for no reason. << That’s plain hating imo

    If people don’t think I’m upset over the UNC game you’re very wrong. That was a great big loss but it’s not the end of the world for me as I believe better days are ahead. Narduzzi presser yesterday impressed me in how he is handling this season and will not except excuses. I don’t want to hear about 30 years of losing. It has nothing to do with today.. . . .ike

    H2P!

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    1. 13 Year olds use the word hater….. Oh and She is the AD so spare me she has no say. She is the CEO of Athletics and football and basketball stink.

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    2. Ike — “she has no hand in this mess”

      She is the CEO of athletics, she is in charge of this mess and and should be in charge of straightening it out. What don’t you understand?

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  75. It is not the kids fault that they are in this situation.
    KS must teach and coach them or the confidence will reach zero.

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  76. WE have become a women’s volleyball school. Thanks Heather. Although I love the women’ team and they are the best in the ACC and one of the top teams in the nation, volleyball isnt the program that butters the bread.

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  77. Erie, if I wore a fireman helmet to the next hoop game do you think anyone would get the point? Haha.

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    1. You might have to paint your truck red and put the letters “Pitt fan” “Fanning the flames of futility”
      on the sides.

      Now that may get someone’s attention…

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  78. I don’t really like watching the modern BB game but refuse to trash kids/team who are there and giving effort. Hopefully, they will grow and compete in a couple of years.

    My first 2 weeks at Pitt there were no available rooms in the Towers and I got to room with 5 other guys in an apt behind Clapp Hall since torn down..3 of the room-mates included Jim Bola, Chris Jones and “Mooney Knight.” That was kinda neat. Got moved into the Towers and roomed with Artie Simons a frosh
    DL from the Churchill Charges. Artie later moved to the Detroit area where he was a manager at a Bennigan’s Restaurant..he was murdered during a robbery…

    Look for improvement..no need to keep complaining about the young pups on here..what does it accomplish?

    Now bitching about FB. well that’s a horse of a different color and fair game IMO.

    Looks like Nuch will be the starter as I expected especially since Kenny got zero reps during the last 3 games. Realistically . PITT should have beaten Carolina if QH doesnt fumble but as I said before we woulda found a way to loose regardless. Nuch isn’t a QB who can put a foot to the opponents neck and finish’em off.

    Onto Tech…gobble-gobble -gobble !!! There’s a great big turkey down on grndpa’s farm and he thinks he’s very gay…Remember that song from grade school you POV oldies ?

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  79. QUESTION to the POV Nation: Is it proper POV etiquette to comment on a BB post or should FB comments be kept strictly on a FB post…just thought I’de ask after my last post which was kinda hybrid

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  81. I agree that KS inherited a mess, nobody would argue that, and Dixon is obviously a very good coach but helped create this mess because he couldn’t recruit even at the peak of his success (notice how TCU recognized that and supported him with assistants to fill that void??). But KS’ history shows us that best case he is a mediocre coach, and after watching him in his short tenure here I would be stunned if ever coached a Pitt team to middle of the pack in the ACC. Regardless of perceived ability levels, his teams do not even do the basics fundamentally well, it honestly looks like everybody is just winging it again this year. Patience? The guy looks completely clueless and is getting paid a few million a year. The only sober response is to empty out the arena and it looks like we’re off to a good start in regard.

    Let’s Go Pens

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  82. Toured the athletic facilities at PItt since I left. Have any of you gone behind Trees Hall since you left many years ago…wow…

    Saw the Duke women’s VB team arriving on the plane we were to depart in back to Carolina…my oh my the dollars that are being spent on college sports. I guess that’s ok if your overall program operates in the black..lot’s of money being spent and I guess we are not in the black…we don’t even have a decent trophy for all the expenditures.

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  83. Big B my take on Nooch is that he is not the long term solution, that will probably be Pickett but I don’t trash kids (well usually). Our man Reed called NP as the starter but on QBs it is the one place Reed gets downright personal – hey we all got our hangups and Reed is a great guy. In NC game Reed, announcers and others made fun of Nooch for not going long but I do not recall a single long bomb called – most routes were max 25 yards so I don’t see how that falls on the QB regardless of whether its Kenny or Ben. The worst thing the Nooch did was that girlie slide short of the sticks which fortunately did not stop the drive and after it he put his head down when he ran so he learned from what must have been an ear whipping on the sideline. He passed for 148 and ran for 100 – not awesome but not horrible either Pitt should have won but for the kickoff and QH fumble. Cant anybody tackle, that was huge game long. Another QB point is that regardless of who plays QB the WRs never come back to help the QB who scrambles, I suspect KP to play in parts of the next two. Living in the burgh it is clear that once Browne went down Nard decided the QB who did not turn over the ball would get the ball and with Nooch experience apparently at this time he runs a better ball control offense the Nard believes will give him a chance to win and the off seeason practices can lead to a more wide open offense with deep throws that KP should excel at. Onto Tech gooble gobble gobble (better chance than the thugs).
    Sorry to have missed you as my bro and I didn’t get there till 630 and spent a half hour lost in lots 3. Kept going from tailgate to tailgate telling my bro – nah guys too young and unless Big B brought his sorority sisters too many beautiful young coeds for us old farts. Ike said it was at the Renaissance and they kept sending me back over the Allegheny (just kidding Ike I know you tease Reed about this). Next year after my wife gets a new knee I hope to travel to NC game. Later
    HAIL TO PITT

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    1. Watch the game again and with the rewind button handy. There were many playcalls that had a WR wide open on fly, deep slant or deep post patterns but BN never saw them as he locks in down low right away.

      rkb, he is just an untalented QB as compared to other FBS QBs and is the worse at Pitt I can remember since 1998. I have nothing against the kid personally and I am certainly not the only writer who says these things about him. Go to the Tribune Review, PGH Sports Now, Post-Gazette, Chris Peak, Scouts etc… anyone else is saying the same thing, in less clear verbiage than mine maybe, and this that he’s an quarterback that doesn’t mean the tools necessary to lead a team as the QB should.

      BTW… I also said Chad Voytik was not going to be a very good D1 quarterback back when he was recruited also… don’t forget that one if you’re talking about my track record with quarterbacks. I said he was going to be an average at best probably mediocre quarterback and that’s exactly what he was even with his four stars.

      Throw in my pre season writings about Max Brown also… I was the lone voice in the Pitt Football media coverage on that one. Everyone else was enamored by his 5 stars and USC background. He’ll, throw in my early writings about Thomas Macvittie while you are at it. I wrote that not only wasn’t he ever going to start but he would probably never take any meaningful snaps in an actual game for us.

      And let’s keep an eye on Kenny Pickett while we’re at it. I’ve said glowing things about him early on and that I think he’s a promising quarterback.

      I said that the very first time I saw him back in the practices before the Spring Game and I will tell you again that I think he’s going to be not only a starter but a very, very good quarterback possibly even a star for us to Pitt if Narduzzi gives him a real shot to play.

      I think I’m pretty good on track records with QBs my friend…haven’t missed on one yet.

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  84. May have violated etiquitte as well.. B Ball is going to be a long year for the Milkman. They try but apparently he is still trying to line them up correctly on in bounds plays etc. This is gonna put the program in the red. Cant wait for ACC play. UPitt is upset he cant line up Rockport shoe contract and has turned his attention to Beverly Farms Milk.

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  86. 13 year old use the word hate? How old are you when you call people names? When you hate all things PITT you hate PITT imo.

    I’ll respect Reed and back off for today. Basketball still here.

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  87. With men’s basketball not contributing to the athletic budget this year (actually taking from it with attendance losses), this will put even more pressure on the FB team. Money won’t be available to pay for good assistant coaches who should be hired to replace our bad ones.

    All that said, a few days ago I suggested that my gut feeling was that HCPN would soon leave Pitt for another P5 HC-ing position lyke Illinois or Purdue in the B1G Joke conference.

    Seeing the men’s BB team perform and the losses they are facing both on the court and $$$, look for this to happen. My gut feeling is getting stronger…

    I hope I’m wrong and it’s just a bad burrito.

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  88. Ike I agree. For those out there claiming a good coach would have turned this around already, please name one good coach that would come coach here right now. One?
    There isn’t one. Because no coach would do that to themselves.

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    1. I would be busy relishing this season in both hoops and football. Blind Faith and Blind Support is why Stallings is here and whay Heather is here and why no one gives Narduzzi pressure for terrible recruiting and year 3 record of 4-7. So keep supporting a loser. That got the Pirates really far.

      Like

  90. Pitt is on a great conference with a great bb venue, all it takes to a hire a good up and coming coach is money. It’s not complicated. Hiring a known quantity with a long history of sub mediocrity was an exercise in either stupidity or worse, corruption, by Barnes. Maybe even more frustrating is the fact that Stallings lucked into such a mess that the gullible are now offering pity because it’s not fair to evaluate him. He was considered a bad hire even by outsiders, and the Pitt students are not fooled: keep watching the attendance…

    Like

  92. I usually stay out of basketball stuff because I’m not a big fan of Pitt basketball but I do want to mention one thing.

    I think a lot of the Pitt basketball fans have a bad taste in their mouths with Stallings because of the way he was hired and and the arrogant way that Scott Barnes introduced him and then basically crapped all over the fans and the media at that very first press conference.

    That is no way in the world to bring a new employee as important as a basketball coach into the public eye.

    Especially the way it was done with the search committee that obviously Barnes had ties to already. But Pitt fans are not stupid; we saw that there was something up as soon as that happened and it hasn’t been good karma ever since. Regardless of if Stallings a good coach or not that was a terrible foot to step forward on.

    Liked by 1 person

  93. Just for a change of pace……I know some of our POVers have kids in wrestling programs. The Pitt wrestling team goes the Cal State Bakersfield to wrestle the Roadrunners this Friday night. My younger son got a full D1 wrestling scholarship to wrestle for CSUB back in 2001. His career was cut short with a serious neck injury where his C5 was shattered and had to be removed and replaced with a cadaver bone and then fused with a titanium plate to the C4 and C6. Needless to say his wrestling days were over but the school honored his scholly. He became the student body president, got his masters and then a PhD from UNLV where he is now an assistant Dean. Wrestling taught him tremendous life values and hard work ethic. I would be glad to talk to any guys who’s kids are now wrestling if you want some experienced advice.
    Jim (Pittman4ever)

    Like

    1. Pittman – I’m impressed with what your son accomplished. Nice work!

      As I noted some time ago, my son wrestles. He is not yet in high school, so I have a ways to go. I also wrestled from 5th grade through 12th. I wasn’t good enough to wrestle at the college level. Not sure if my son will be good enough or even pursue it if he is. I love the sport for what it teaches – hard work and life values, as you noted.

      Like

    2. So I guess grabbing him around the neck and giving him a knuckle rub on his head is out of the question for you as a disciplinary measure.

      I love reading about Pitt grads’ kids and how successful they are.

      It doesn’t surprise me but you know it does tie back to the University of Pittsburgh in a way…

      Like

    3. If my 10th grader works toward and has a big year this season, I will take you up on that.
      Big IF though and even so, good here in Maryland is nothing compared to PA, NJ, OH, NY and elsewhere.

      Like

  95. Pittman… back in my PITT days we were competitive in wrestling… I love that PITT grapplers are trending upwards… wrastlin- now that’s a real man’s sport….

    Like

  96. Ike or iek, just be thankful you don’t live in Texas ,,,, because obviously it turns people into ultra-negative beings who subscribe to conspiracy theories. BTW, I’m talking about Jerry Jones (and certainly not UPittBB and TX Panther)

    Like

  98. I agree 100% with Reed’s above comment. My point that flys over many heads is……. How is this Stallings fault?

    How is it Heather’s fault?

    If anyone thinks Lyke could have waltz into town and fired Stallings and or Narduzzi in the matter of her first few months doesn’t understand management. This is not a make believe world. No way cheap PITT would take the buyouts and loss. Especially before the season was ready to start. It’s unrealistic to cry and blame the wrong people.

    I realize on a blog it’s meant to be a venting zone but shouldn’t we try and at least be somewhat realistic?

    Like

    1. I agree on Narduzzi Ike. He was coming off good seasons even though with a Defense we win 10 games.

      But in the case of Stallings, I beleive keeping him around will hurt Pitt than just coming to a agreement on a buyout. He would of taken a free 3M.

      I believe in my heart the cost of keeping him is more in mid-long term than the cost of a 3M buyout.

      3k at a home opener is not good.

      Like

      1. If the mindset is we are rebuilding no matter what do it with a new fresh face fans and alumni would rally around. Rockports is a Dead Man Walking.

        Like

  99. Ike, I thought you would have downloaded a Blind Faith tune by now….I’m with you buddy! Haha.

    Like

  100. Steve Pederson blew up our football program and we are still living with the results. It remains to be seen whether Narduzzi can turn things around.

    Barnes blew up our basketball program, and we are going through the same process with Stallings,probably worse in that he was left with nothing. Basketball is more dramatic because we had a strong program for a good period of time.

    Football has been one disaster after another for many years.

    Pitt has always been playing catch-up to the big boys, in terms of administrative commitment which translates to financial comittment. The fish rots from its head.

    We are stuck blaming the coaches or worse, the kids, but almost always you get what you pay for.

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  101. I can separate my disdain for the way Dixon was run off and Stallings was hired from my support for the team wearing the Pitt uniforms. I swear it seems there are some on here who are rooting for the “team” to fail so they can show how right they are about the “coach”. Take some time to watch the games and you will see a lot of potential for next season and beyond.

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  102. I’ve never said once I like Stalling or would mind a fresh start with a younger coach. I just know it’s not going to happen. Also, Stallings got hired, not his fault…

    Btw, after watching the first two PITT BB games. I already like the team better than last years. This team has fight, hustle with an attitude that’s more positive than negative. Just imo

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  103. I agree that there is hope for a year or two down the road – if they all stay.
    And while I can appreciate some of the thoughts on starting over with a fresh young coach – who in their right mind is going to want to come here knowing that the last “veteran” and respected coach by his peers got axed after 1 or 2 years? And when that no name, never heard of before, young guy comes in all you’d hear from the fans and posters is that Pitt went cheap and …….should have just kept Stallings.
    It’s a vicious cycle that some can’t seem to be willing to accept. It is what it is.
    And until the top decides to change it – there’s nothing you can do but support your team because you are a fan.

    Like

  104. Here you go Fran and well alright, I get it.

    God grant me the serenity
    To accept the things I cannot change;
    Courage to change the things I can;
    And wisdom to know the difference.

    Living one day at a time;
    Enjoying one moment at a time;
    Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
    Taking, as He did, this sinful world
    As it is, not as I would have it;
    Trusting that He will make all things right
    If I surrender to His Will;
    So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
    And supremely happy with Him
    Forever and ever in the next.
    Amen.

    Like

  105. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Stallings is a retread. Pure and simple. He had a sub-.500 record in the SEC over 18 years. The SEC is not nearly the BB conference the ACC is. Anyone who thinks Stallings will succeed in the ACC is delusional, imho.

    Like

    1. there was a large handful of successful coaches of mid-level programs who would have jumped at the chance to coach an ACC team (yet Stallings was the only coach interviewed)

      Like

      1. I agree a young coach with fire making 450K packs his bags tomorrow and works his tail off for a shot at P5 and to make 1.4M.

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        1. If you’re being completely honest – if that hire gets done – you’re ripping that up and down and kicking it down Forbes calling it cheap and SOP and all the rest.

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  106. Here is a better question that maybe a psychologist or marketing professional might have the answer. In this age of more and more access, personalities on the coaching side, why is the University turning down free publicity and access with both programs? Not to mention the fact that it seems that they spit in the face of not only the people that cover the team but also the fans that bother to care and watch/show up with their comments? Lane Kiffin is hilarious in my opinion and FAU is eating it up. Tennessee just said goodbye to someone who was very closed off and course with the fans and media. ND would have done the same had Kelly not put together the year they have. I just can’t put a finger on why the administration is sending a message like a BOT does w/ a publicly traded company when a CEO steps out of line.

    Liked by 1 person

  107. Agree that Stallings is a retread…Remember saying to my brother-in-law at brunch the day that the hiring was announced, who did they hire? who is Stallings? You are kidding right? is it Gene Stallings?..KS may be a nice guy but he is an old and tired retread…Sad to see the program in its current state…it wasn’t that long ago that Pitt was ranked #1 in the AP poll and College Game Day was at he Pete and the Pete and Oakland Zoo were rocking…..lose to Navy and 3,000 fans at Pete to watch a loss to Montana…. Sheesh! Lehigh at home next Saturday with students on Thanksgiving break may break the lowest attendance mark set vs. Montana Finally, Miami rocked Navy the other night. Will Pitt win a game in the ACC this year?

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  108. Is there one coach in the ACC you would say that Stallings is better than…that you wouldn’t prefer to be the coach at Pitt instead of Stallings?

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  109. Don’t know the answer there Jerry. I can say I like the young kids KS has brought into PITT though.

    Here’s a question for you Jerry. Why call the man a bald headed shoe salesman and vacuum sweeper salesman?

    For two reasons, the slurs against these professions are very ignorant and uncalled for and two, he didn’t hire himself and deserves a chance despite what and who others wanted to happen and didn’t.

    Makes the POV unreadable for me.

    Sounding off? OK. Go for it. Be Civil? Out the window.

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    1. Ike – I love how rules don’t apply to you. You are such a baby. Grow up. He makes 2M + a year and I think higher of the Vacuum selling profession than stealing money from Pitt and not even trying. Duquesne beats Montana by 25.

      Like

    2. Unreadable to me is your constant praise for all things Narduzzi, Lyke and Stallings. You hold no one accountable and are such a homer for Pitt it is absurd. The school can care less about it’s customers. Go settle down and drink your Fanta sensitive sally.

      Like

  110. I’ve been here 17 years in the Lone Star. I’m not negative on Pitt sports but a realist.

    We dont have a head coach in football or basketball that can take us to division titles. Thats my opinion. We also dont have the AD that can raise the funds, make tough hiring decisions without committee and guide our sports program past mediocrity. Again, my opinion.

    If you chose to believe in unicorns and fairies, thats not my problem. How else do you explain 35 years of ineptitude. There’s no conspiracy theory. Pitt doesnt care about sports…PERIOD!

    The BoT doesnt give a flippin crap about sports, sports culture or anything besides academics and last I looked we are slipping just as fast in academics as athletics. The BoT is the swamp.

    I’m on record as far as what needs to be done starting with the swamp thing called the BoT. And until I see changes, I’ll be damned to Hell if I give these idiots any of my money.

    Like

  112. Here’s a little story from my very early years that has stuck with me like tar you just can’t get off. This tar is stuck in my head.

    Around the 5th grade, ( remember back then every ward had it’s own elementary school) I hung around some real rascals with me being one of them. In our grade we had a real big but timid kid that for whatever reason couln’t hold his water. How embarrassing for poor Benny. Right?

    Like I mentioned, all the schools were in neighborhoods and we all lived only but a small area apart. Well the so called thought of tough guys hung out at the local playground and we caught things on fire and got into fights. All for one mentality and all that stupid bullschitt. We had the world by the balls. Benny never showed his face at the playground and kept hidden in his own world and block.

    Problem for him was that we didn’t. We ran into Benny one day down his way riding a brand new bike. The bike was cool but it wasn’t at the same time. It had a CHIPS type motorcycle windshield. For no reason, no reason, we all started to hassle Benn and poke fun. Benny was as big as any two of us but he had zero self-esteem, none.

    We laughed and made fun of him and pushed and poked at him until the bike fell over and broke the windshield. Benny got up, ran home crying. Again Benny was BIG and his dad was HUGE and we knew it.

    Benny’s dad pinned << cornered us down and asked what happened. We all lied and said it was an accident. Well Mr Benny turned to his son and said… “Benny, there is nothing we can do”

    This is a story in my life I have never forgotten and never will. I had no business torturing that poor schoolmate. He had enough problems without messing with him.

    If I knew where he lived now, I would take a plane and apologize to him in person. Best I have tonight is. So sorry Benny for being so insensitive and hurting you in anyway. Being a young kid was and isn’t no excuse.

    Little insight as to where I come from. Hating for no reason is not a good way to live. or any reason for that matter BTW, Yes I’ve done a lot worse things in my life than that but for whatever reason it’s stuck with me like tar!… ..ike

    H2P!

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    1. Navy and Montana just knocked down Stallings bike! In addition Fedora just knocked down Narduzzi’s.

      Wonder where Benny is now?

      Like

    2. Tell Stallings to quit stealing Pitts money and you’ll never hear me complain about him again. To recruit bad, treat players bad, act entitled and never be prepared is stealing. Is he worth 2M Ike? Honestly?

      Like

    1. Their first concert was before 30,000 a Hyde Park, London. Then one critically acclaimed tour and one critically acclaimed album … and then they broke up

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  114. Benny’s mother just died but no visitation Mark, think he lives down NC

    I have no idea what KS is worth. Apparently PITT couldn’t get another coach to come so.. How much of that salary are you paying and when was the last time you attended any PITT sporting event? jus asking. ……

    I hope my point didn’t fly over your head.

    Not trying to control anyone or opinions, it’s just a lesson learned for life and again. I’m no angel… ike

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    1. University of Houston Bowl Game – Wish I was able to see more stuff but Fall was tough with Mom and this Fall getting married. I hope to see something soon.

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    2. Email me his last name. I will find him for you. We can go together and visit email and get some barbacue. Vinegar kind.

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    3. “Apparently Pitt couldn’t get another coach to come so .. ..”

      Ike, that’s absolute revisionist history — he was the ONLY ONE they interviewed. Take the blinders off, man.

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  115. Good story ike. Hating for no good reason is not good obviously. Its not Stallings fault that he was hired and inherited this mess. Its not his fault that Pitt does NOT support its coaches and athletics. If I had any real hate, it would be directed to the BoT. But they arent worth me getting angered to the point of having a brain Aneurysm. And yes I jest about rather being in Hell with the Patron Saint of Pedophile Protectors. But if I do get lucky to get into Heaven, I wont be hanging with anyone from the BoT. I hear that GOD has a good sense of humor. So I’ll probably use that against them.

    Like

    2. Not really unless others like to bask in their PAIN. I frankly don’t intend to watch any more Pitt basketball this season. Thus I see no need Reed for you to waste your time in writing about this failing program.

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  117. Reed, NO! … .. . . jus kidding. Let the kids have their fun… 🙂 << kidding again. 🙂

    Mark, I don’t think I should look up Benny. After ridiculing him for peeing in the classroom and being a part of breaking his prized bicycle, I think he’s had enough of me for one lifetime.

    Actually he no longer goes by the first name Benny. I don’t think he needs reminded. ike

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  118. Rockymountain,
    At your sons age I suggest you get him to as many AAU tournaments as possible and find an AAU coach with unbelievable credentials. For example, my son’s AAU coach was a 6X Iranian champion and man what a difference that makes!

    Liked by 1 person

  119. BTW, our beloved Panthers, also known as Stallings Stallers, hosts UC Santa Barbara tomorrow night and is a 5 point favorite

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  122. I see someone is praising, whom he calls Jamie now, now that he’s left Pitt.

    When he was at Pitt….he was Skunkhead.

    Come on upitt….quit praising those that you ridiculed when they were at Pitt.

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    1. I will admit Dixon with support is damn good. The enthusiasm around here for basketball is on par with football which is crazy for TCU.

      Skunkhead was pretty spot on though

      Like

  124. Barvo’s post at 10:16 am. ….. on the state of Pitt basketball and the current loser is an excellent read btw.

    Like

  125. Emel posted “I see someone is praising, whom he calls Jamie now, now that he’s left Pitt.

    When he was at Pitt….he was Skunkhead.

    Come on upitt….quit praising those that you ridiculed when they were at Pitt.”
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    and the beat will go and on Emel. All the while people say I use the H- word wrongly. It fits like a glove! . . .ike

    H2P!

    Like

    1. Dixon deserve some ridicule he ain’t no saint. But it’s a parent he didn’t get the support he should’ve like he is now getting at TCU

      Like

  126. From Chris Peak @ Rivals.com –

    “In front of the smallest crowd for a regular-season game in Petersen Events Center history, the 2017-18 Pitt basketball team lost its home opener, falling to Montana 83-78 Monday night.

    The loss was Pitt’s first defeat in a home opener in the 16-year history of the Petersen Events Center. It was also the first time the Panthers have lost to a team from the Big Sky Conference.”

    Pitt starts the season 0-2 for the first time in over 20 years.

    To make it clear, I’m rooting for the players to be successful and as a Pitt alumni, I want Pitt to be proud of my school in all aspects of it’s existence. I cannot speak positively about Otis – and I’m embarrassed that he represents our University.

    Otis was allowed to tear down a once proud B.B. program and spit on it. That is on Sir Patrick G and Herman Barnes.

    I truly believe Heather was told by the BoT and Sir Patrick G that her task was to make the Stallings hire work somehow.

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    1. As the season progresses (or really regresses) and the losses mount. There will be games with so few people, you’ll be able to hear Dick Groat clear the flem from his throat.

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  127. Name the teams that Jamie played first home game of the season? Let’s compare the first two games of the season. Whats interesting is Jamie didn’t play a road game, generally speaking, until a dozen games into the season.

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    1. Same weak teams Ike for first 10 games. Otis Rockports isn’t playing up a level by any means. Hell we are playing teams with mascots of a Grizzley Bear and a Gaucho with Ole on his belt. They aint exactly UK and KU and UCLA

      Like

    2. Let’s see here…..Detroit Mercy, St. Joseph’s (indiana)….. Niagara & Samford (and son)…. Savannah State and Fresno State…. Mount St. Mary’s & Fordham…..Albany & Rider (rents trucks)…….Rhode Island & Ill-Chicago……Wofford & Binghamton…….Farliegh Dick & Miami (oh)……Houston Baptist & NC A&T…..Western Michigan & Delaware St………St. Peters & Robert Morris…..Howard & Rob Morris…..Alabama & St. Francis……

      Mostly Cupcakes. But so are Navy & Montana

      Like

  128. I do want the players on this basketball team to succeed. They are trying and playing hard. I wish I could see more positive movement by the program and the Coach. How do we get the students, alumni and the City excited about the program again? Sellouts at the Pete were common not that long ago. Remember when the zoo would be at the Pete 3 hours before the doors opened to get a prime seat. I haven’t referred to KS as a bald headed shoe salesman or a vacuum cleaner salesman a shoe salesman and don’t believe it is right to address him in that way, even if in jest.

    Like

    1. God Forgive Humor with you guys. I still think it’s funny and I think emel’s Otis is funny.

      The fans don’t like the guy the students don’t like the guy the players don’t like the guy that’s why no one showing up the press conference was a joke the media thought the higher was a joke what part of that don’t you guys understand

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  130. yep…UPITT..the article is definitely on point…the search committee disappointed, putting it mildly, and if the truth be told, failed miserably

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  131. You get people excited by promising them wins and championships and then delivering.

    Pitt hasnt made good hiring decisions and has mismanaged the athletic department for several years now. You are seeing the results.

    But all of this is correctable. Get the right people in place and have a true commitment to sports and winning across all programs. It will take leaders. It will take money.

    But it doesnt have to take several years. You can turn things around pretty quickly (1-2 years) if Pitt really cared. Problem is they dont and the dolts dont see how this severely damages the brand and impacts admissions and alumni giving.

    Do you think we’d have seen football and basketball in a perpetual state of mediocrity if we had Tressell as AD? If we had a Chancellor that wasnt a career bureaucrat. If that Chancellor didnt have to report to a 50 member BoT comprised of people who could care less about sports.

    There are structural reasons as to why Pitt is SOP.

    Coaches and student athletes can make a difference if they demanded it. We here hold little influence. Boosters (those that are left) hold some sway.

    Pitt’s culture does not allow athletics to flourish. By design, Pitt sports will fail and at best obtain mediocrity.

    Sadly ironic that Pitt would not accept mediocrity or failure in any of its academic departments but almost encourages failure in its athletic department.

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  133. This from PSN –

    “The win (over VMI) improved Duquesne to 2-0 under first-year head coach Keith Dambrot and sets up a showdown with crosstown rival Robert Morris Sunday afternoon at the AJ Palumbo Center.”

    How did Pitt & the search committee not see Dambrot when looking for Dixon’s replacement?

    I remember submitting a list of about 5 up and coming coaches from successful non-P5 teams. I apologize to these current Pitt players – I’m having a hard time “supporting the current coach” and the administration.

    If Pitt BB was a business, the program would be on the verge of bankruptcy because of the poor leadership and bad decisions made these past 2 years.

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  134. Considering what we have come to know over the past few years about the “false hope” of a front porch emphasis at Pitt, it is a wonder Pitt basketball was so good for so long. The brief success of the past 2 years in football IMO is attributable to a bit of luck and genius and a disease Dx with an incredible young man JC. The Pitt team reached places as a team that I don’t think HCPN and certainly the Pitt admin could/will ever reach again(at least not without a big true commitment change).

    I was a huge JD supporter but critical of his recruiting and thought(still do) that the AAU business circuit and the abuses therein were what HE and the admin chose to avoid. I hope I am wrong on this and if we could ever get in JD’s head to know what he knows, I think we would have the answers.

    As it is, we got our lightning in the bottle with JC and though I had hope for HCPN, I don’t believe he is capable of overcoming the Pitt admin or BOT, and maybe even himself though I will wait to judge that 100% to next year…..unfortunately for us all.

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  135. And to clarify(without the edit option YET), my hope that I am wrong on the JD recruiting limitation is because, I am hoping that HIS stubbornness or lack of efforts and/or poor assistants performance was the actual problem rather than the limitations placed on him by the Pitt admin.

    While I think a great coach can make a huge difference in football with 3 stars with a small sprinkling of 4 stars, I think in basketball the recruiting of 4 and occasionally a 5 stars is a key to make a run in March unless you have patience to develop that rare experienced group of upperclassmen that Pitt had a couple of times in JD’s time at Pitt.

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  136. Kirk Herbstreit just bashed the Pitt fan base on the Mike and Mike show this morning. In talking about Miami’s upcoming games, he said something along the lines of “Will Miami be able to play in front of the ‘scores of dozens of people at Heinz Field’ and in front of ‘all those yellow seats.’” He predicted that there would be 10-13 thousand people at the game.

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    1. He’s probably right on the attendance. I’ll be in my seats – what will Heather do to fill the rest.

      If we beat VT, maybe a crowd will…nah. Why even bother being hopeful.

      Let’s pray for a cold & rainy day. The canes will be out of their warm element and just maybe…

      Like

    2. A little revisioninst history by Herbstreit there. Except for the last few games, Miami has been getting about 15-30k to show up for their home games for along time, so they should be used to playing in front of small crowds. Just because they’ve had a decent crowd for the last couple games, now they’re on the other end of the joke? Whatever, Herbie — your opinion is as irrelevant as ever.

      Like

  137. Perception is reality – ltr

    Ike, don’t beat yourself up over Benny. I seriously don’t think you had a hate for Benny. It was just immaturity. Life happens and you mature! If you were a hater, you would still be a hater, which you are not. That story may stick to you but hopefully you can apply some “Dawn” on you and you and it sets you free. Thanks for sharing.

    Skunkhead is a classic. Let’s not get confused here. Jamie in his first 10 years was better than the last 5. He got lazy, extended grossly and didn’t recruit when he was hot. He needed to go. Glad he got re-energized and for him, is in a great recruiting area. Should help.

    Look, once you cuss out a player on national tv, you become Paul Evans and need to go. Just cant get over that Luther rant, sorry. And for the supporters, what makes yu look at the three star talent Stallings recruited and say they will be good in 3 years, but crush narduzzi’s 3 star recruits and say he must go and not wait three full years? I was just wandering, because I am stupid.

    Like

  139. Heather will create a Black Friday atmosphere for game. The first 1000 fans will get free season tickets for the basketball team, all fans will get a 25% discount on Pitt merchandise, and free tickets to all for Pitt’s national recognized women’s volleyball and wrestling teams.

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  140. ike, I was the smallest of my group growing up and was picked on quite a bit … maybe part of the reason I often back the people that most of this site (and previously Pitt Blather) picks on. But by the time I was in high school, all of that was over and since then, I have had a real good relationships with the bullies.

    I do feel sorry for kids that get picked on and know how vulnerable they can be at that age. I’d like to say it’s part of growing up, and to just buck up and stay the course, but that’s easier said than done. Nowadays, kids are committing suicides and there seems to be little sympathy by the bullies. Hatred has always existed but now seems to be the rage whether it be politics, bigotry, neighborhoods, sports, high schools or PittPOV.

    All I can say is to buck up … I guess.

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    1. I feel I need to confess that I too have hatred when it comes to Pitt athletics. Pedersen, Graham, Barnes and Stallings (In that order) IMO have done irreparable damage to FB and BB programs, and are the main culprits for the current state. And yet, making things worse, all seem to be prospering at the sake of the university.

      Like

  141. wwb… My list include Nordenberg… no vision to stop Spederman and hired him 3times but great on the money raising and academic side

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    1. I thought of him but thought he did his main job of being an academician and fundraiser pretty well. He just put his faith in the wrong person. This is just like the current chancellor trusting the wrong search firm when hiring an AD.

      Like

  143. apparently, there is a popular show on NBC called This Is Us, and its setting is Pittsburgh. A main character on the show was flashing back to the mid 90s when he was a star high school QB, and was expressing displeasure of being recruited by the local university. Either this is really good research or Pitt has become a whipping boy, so to speak.

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  144. Wbb, that is a hell of an inference.

    Pray tell which players I have ‘picked on’ without basing my criticisms on either solid information or informed opinions. And remember this… When I write my articles I do a lot of research and make phone calls and emails to form those opinions. That’s why I’m a member of three different sportswriters associations – so that I can pick other’s brains also.

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    1. I’m not sure what you’re referring to. Nothing I wrote today was aimed specifically at you … but there are a lot of hateful posts on this site IMO. And as indicated above, I have contributed to it myself.

      Like

  146. A few guys I would love to run into a bar with and have a drink are as follows:

    Wanny
    Graham
    Chryst
    Harris
    Dixon

    I want the truth.

    I think Cyryst is a great guy and a good football coach. I honestly wonder if he had the support could the success he is now having at Wisconsin be happening at Pitt.

    In Graham I would love to know why did you bolt in the dark of night? What was said to you 10 months before you left vs 10 months later that made you go?

    Jamie did you know as soon as Pederson was fired and Nordy Retired that your days were numbered no matter what you did? Did you strategist with Pederson and Nordy to make sure Athletics was more concerned with basketballs needs than football? In one word describe your relationship with Wanny.

    Wanny if we gave you a blank check and the support you never got would you ever considering coming back and cleaning up the vacuum that has been left since you have been gone.

    Wanny How did Long operate vs Pederson?

    etc.etc.

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  147. Nate Peterman looked fantastic when they finally put him in the game the other day. Watching Nate zinging the ball all over the field made it crystal clear to me just how poor of a passer and QB our Italian Connection Ben DiNucci is………..pass the rigatoni please.

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  150. Lastrow aka Fran I think that is a great idea!

    I see Harris around at the games. Lets get him and Wanny to the tailgate LOL.

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  151. There already has been some shake-up in the P5 coaching ranks this season with four openings already:

    Tennessee
    Florida
    Oregon State (search firm still looking)
    Ole Miss

    Then there are the probable terminations at season’s end:

    Nebraska
    Illinois
    Arizona State (say good-bye to Fraudy?)
    Texas A&M
    UCLA
    Arkansas

    And finally the P5 teams with hot HC’s that may leave to fill the top P5 slots:

    Iowa State
    Oregon
    Purdue

    My gut feeling is HCPN will get swept up in this merry-go-round and Pitt will need to “search” for his replacement soon. Swept up meaning Purdue or Illinois.

    Hammer the Hokies!

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  153. I wouldn’t be surprised if Walt was already a member of the POV.

    EE, I’m more interested in the D coordinators that may become available. Pat’s not going anywhere after this season and very unlikely if not positive that Watson isn’t either. Although I’m not married to the idea of keeping him.

    I think after 3 years is the time to take a hard look at the asst coaches and reevaluate all things.

    Would like to see some continuity at the OC position. ike

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  155. Ike,
    Don’t beat yourself up over Benny, I bet it made him toughen up as an adult and it made you more sympathetic to kids like him.
    Be glad that’s when we grew up. Do you realize today in our education system that kids are being taught that their gender is not determined at birth (penis/vagina) but by what they feel they want to be? Yep, most of my family is in education and now normal procedure when anyone is introducing themselves is to say what gender pronouns they perfer people to use when they are addressing them.
    In our day, we would of just dropped our drawers and said “what’s it look like to you?
    When a people’s nation doesn’t know if they are a boy or a girl, in my opinion, they are in deep deep do-do.
    (I hope this doesn’t label me as a “Hater” – :>) )

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  156. Hey Rick, at the spring POV golf outing get ready for guys wanting to hit from the ladies tees because they “self-identity” as female.

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    1. Let’s hope not. My Pitt world can’t be getting that bad.

      Maybe we invite Aunt Bee from Mayberry and let her tell us a story or two about Ole’ Otis…

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