133 thoughts on “Pitt vs Notre Dame BB Game Thread”

  2. Pitt covers (21 point spread?)
    Pitt scores over 60
    It will be a historic event and something we’ll all look back upon and shake our heads

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    1. In my mind this really depends upon Colson’s status. If he’s totally ready to go I take ND over the spread. He’s just such an active, physical player when healthy. It somehow seems fitting that Stallings should lose another game by more than 20.

      Pitt has exceeded 60 in 4 ACC games. I am taking the under on that.

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  3. I totally stumbled across a couple of gems in an article from Stallings’s days coaching Vanderbilt. These two stuck out given what we’ve seen of his style and the team’s play in 2017-2018.

    “Leading by 12 points with 1:08 left, the Commodores’ veteran coach called a timeout to express his displeasure with his team’s complacent play. He attempted to drive home his point by emphatically slamming down his whiteboard. The clipboard smashed in half and the dry erase marker broke into several pieces, scattering across the Memorial Gymnasium floor.”

    “There was just complete casual careless ball care, Stallings said. There are some things that happen because you are young and inexperienced. We’re not going to be casual around here. That’s not how we’re going to play. That’s not what we’re going to settle for. I needed to make a point.”

    The link to the article: http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/sports/stallings-shows-his-temper-vanderbilt-victory

    I found the timing, context and reported purpose of the timeout particularly amusing since Stallings has typically appeared to eschew timeouts at Pitt while losing under similar circumstances.

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    2. He gave up here long ago as a lost cause. He’s biding his time and taking his check until he’s shown the door. He’s done….

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  5. ND still has an outside chance to make it to the Tourny. No upsets tonight.

    Miller has his hearing tonight. Will he be there fall guy for the whole dirty business?

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  6. Pitt continues to kick butt in the classroom

    Jerry DiPaolaJDiPaola_Trib

    No team put more basketball players on the ACC All-Academic team than Pitt (5, Carr, Davis, Stevenson, Wilson-Frame and Stewart.)

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    1. At Pitt, practice is optional.

      At the Blue Blood universities, classes are optional.

      Big difference between wins and losses.

      Go Pitt – glad to hear the youngins are doing well in school, if not so well on the court.

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  7. Tuned into women’s tournament game against WF down by 9 at the end of 1st qtr. They’ve lost 10 of last 11. Maybe BB needs changes all around

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  18. Wow. I have not watched much Pitt BBall this year…I love the innovative high powered fast pace “Pass and Chuck up a Three at the End of the Clock” offense and the patented “Rope a Dope” defense to wear down the other teams energy is just brilliant, Notre Dame will really be gassed in the second half from making them spend effort taking too many open shots is simply brilliant……gosh, this team really has some room to develop this year…what’s all the fuss about?

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    1. You have no idea what you’ve been missing. This is much more engaging and entertaining. Paul Zeise was right!

      The old coach, Mr. Slogball, has a team that is currently in the Top 20 in scoring offense, 3P shooting, assists to turnover, and assists to name a few stats. He also has team positioned to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in 20 years. Offensive moron.

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      1. It’s been fun; the insightful comments by the color announcer re Pitts talent level are really compelling… but I’m missing the newest re-run of The Big Bang Theory…tough second half viewing decision.

        Yeah that bum down in Texas is proving is proving how much the decision by the then AD to let him walk away from Pitt really was a form of genius…what luck to have found the current head coach.

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  19. I’d comment but I can’t keep it civil. There’s not a single Pitt player who will be playing D1 ball in 2 years. EMel…the reason they get so many 3’s blocked is the telegraph every shot ….then become statues when they get the ball. Please Dear God let this be Stallings last game!,

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    1. So true Dan….plus they can’t really create a shot, so if they aren’t wide open, it’s gonna get blocked.

      This color announcer is funny, trying to suggest we have good players. Down by 20….again,,,,,don’t believe your lying eyes….believe the tv person.

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    2. Dan, I’ll bet you there are players playing D-1 in a few years.

      I do agree that Stallings has to go. I think he is.

      Why do I complain when the PITT hoop players are completely ripped apart? From above: 5 all ACC academic honorees the most in the ACC. The team is young and bad, they aren’t dummies, idiots and morons. as they have been called on the POV.

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      1. Ike,,,,,i comment during the games all the time…mostly….I don’t remember anyone calling the kids names like that. Please don’t put that out there when its not true.

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  21. These kids play hard and have good body language considering how bad they are. Thats about the only positive i can say.

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    1. I support the kids. Hopefully some of the 7 Million raised today will go a long way to making sure they have the coaching support they deserve ion the future.

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  23. Ah, the ACC tourney bracket explains it all…Pitt is sandbagging ND tonight so they don’t give away their offensive and defense surprises early…lulling ND into complacency so they are surprised when they meet again next week when it counts and gives Pitt it’s best shot to advance into the post season.. Brilliant strategy, I say.

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    1. You may be on to something. While we technically do not know if PITT will fire or stick with Stallings, many would consider the writing as being on the wall. One example is that Heather Lyke was seemingly profuse in support of Narduzzi. That is not so much the case with Stallings.

      However, a surprise run through the tournament is likely Stallings best chance to ensure job security. How could PITT fire the coach that led them to winning the ACC tournament in just his second year?

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  24. Emel, I read what I read. Those were the names and they were confirmed. Don’t tell me what I read or don’t. Please

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  27. I think the players need to spend more time on the court practicing as opposed to the classroom at this point. These players may be B students but they are F players. Give me C students and A players any day. And please dont tell me these kids go to school to get an education. This is college basketball in the ACC.

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  28. and these GPA’s, what classes are they taking…basket weaving. And who’s taking the tests in these classes? And what is the grading curve? Its just a way for Pitt to pat themselves on the back and gloss over a multi million dollar losing season.

    I doubt these players picked Pitt for the academics. They picked Pitt because Pitt was the only team that offered them a chance to play in the ACC. And I can see that most of these guys couldnt start for Gannon.

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    1. It’s also just for the 1st semester. And they better be smart cause they can’t play D1 hoops and certainly no future in pro basketball.

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  30. Emel the names were called and you may imagine who called them. Yes I complained and he said he meant them. Sorry you missed the epic comment but I’m not going back an looking them up. Idiots and morons but not dummies were called.

    Hey this senior big kid from ND sucked his first two years and he wanted to quit and go back home. He mature and grew up and became more than serviceable. It can happen with Terrell Brown?

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  31. These players don;t want to lose. They believe they are better than this and will be over recruited in year two. But the change has to occur in mens BB and womens BB. Clean house and hire coaches who can begin the change in Pitt;s BB fortunes. Not sure how much the 7 million is for Pitt athletics but with that and boosters Pitt can begin the search for a coach that checks all the boxes.

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    1. Right Chet….if Pitt makes a coaching change, the 2 best players come back regardless. Luther & the bearded juco kid. The others can all walk or come back it doesn’t really matter. I doubt many schools in a major basketball conference will be asking for their services.

      Just like many who left Pitt’s football program.

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  32. Good news – women’s BB team’s season just ended. Another poor performance in a 34 point loss. Turnovers galore. Too bad they are wasting Diop’s talent…

    Need a new head coach — as a minimum a new staff of assistant coaches with someone who can recruit players other than stand still 3-point shooters…

    Go Pitt.

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      1. But, they fell apart the last half of the season loosing 11 of 12 and getting blown out yesterday to a team WF they almost beat a month ago.

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  33. Ike…even up..is fine. I scouted HS Basketball for 15 years. Each one of these Pitt players is permanately broken in one part of their game. It’s why they were available to come to Pitt. KS couldn’t get a single players to commit that had any talent at all. He tried but had 13 turn downs and the AAU coaches were particularly unkind to him. I will concede that Brown may be that one player. We need a change badly in both men’s and women’s B-ball.

    I dislike everything I’ve seen from Heather so far. I’m glad Nard likes her. If she can fix this, I will become her biggest supporter. Like Duzz…she is learning on the job. My choice for HC at Pitt is not a popular one. I like Tom Crean. But whoever she gets…Stallings must go.

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    1. Exactly right Dan72…i posted before they all had major flaws in their games. Barvo also posted a nice summary of their shortcomings.

      Most Pitt games became nothing more than NBA extended garbage time….where there is little to no defense……so that made it seem they could score better than their true game worth.

      First half of Virginia and the L-ville game were more indicative what happens when somebody actually plays tight defense on them.

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    2. Sorry Dan I missed this comment from you. You have way more experience in this department than I and you’re right. Not receiving better coaching this past year may forever hinder any progress in these kids growth. I’m thinking some of these young players have enough talent that maybe they can overcome some of their weak areas.

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  34. Luther, the transfer and a new coach who brings kids with him will begin the change. Actually Carr, maybe Brown can still develop/ Not sure who else can be a part time depth player in two years but I think Stallings with one recruit sees the end here.

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  35. T Brown is way better than Morningstar, Gray and MaGhee were their freshman AND sophomore years. Carr, Davis and Stewert will all be playing D-1 BB in two years.

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    1. Morningstar played at Navy, so unless you were going to the Naval Academy……..

      Plus Brown is not a Center, the other 3 were. Brown is a stretch 4 who had to play Center at Pitt since
      Otis didn’t recruit any.

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    2. Maybe Carr & Brown, but Carr can’t shoot, go to the basket or create his own shot. I won’t mention his passing…

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  39. 18 straight losses…. most of those losses by 20 points or more. Most were blowouts by halftime.

    0-18 in the ACC. First Pitt team EVER to go winless in Conference.

    #OTISMUSTGO

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  40. PITT needs a couple more big athletic players but more than that they need and X and O coach. It’s not too late but PITT needs to keep the core of this team and if they over-recruit them then so be it. Starting from scratch with returning freshmen wouldn’t be the worst idea. There’s enough players at the end of the bench for bringing in new players.

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    1. I understand you’re not a Stallings supporter and clearly aren’t doing so now, but we were told repeatedly that Xs and Os were a huge strength for Stallilngs over the past 2 seasons.

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    2. Ike I would have hated debating you in HS. You are a broken record….you are also so wrong. If the core of this team is still kept together, the reincarnation of John Wooden could not win with them!

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  41. Not to rant, but Duquesne has five transfers ready next year plus starters back plus incoming freshman. Pitt can begin the change over ASAP and I would be disappointed if the AD and Chancellor haven’t already laid the ground work to his the field running. .1972 Majors was coming by the end of October and his rep had already negotiated the deal. In all honesty, A search and interview and endless back and forth are just excuses. Stallings was a known bust and if Pitt has wasted time making an obvious decision now, WTF. this shoulo have been a no brainer. If you need a meeting now to explore Stallings future,that is comical. But if the buyout is the consideration so be it., .

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    1. Good points….Pitt can’t afford for a long drawn out BS Coaching search, where either leaks or the media says this one or that one….turned us down.

      We need to have our next HC committed and basically signed on the dotted line…..BEFORE this whole process seemingly commences.

      The next HC can’t seem to be a 3rd or 4th choice, cause others have turned us down.

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      1. That’s an interesting choice of words Emel “can’t seem to be” but the truth. If Stallings goes Heather needs to have someone in order and on the line waiting….

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  42. I’m convinced that who ever is the next BB coach for PITT will not be lauded in any way. Such is the life of a PITT fan.

    For such a very young team this year Stallings was a worse fit then even last year. No structure, I only hope he didn’t ruin the team moving forward.

    KS was the hoops team Max this year. Just not a good fit at all.

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    1. Sadly I suspect there will be detractors no matter who is hired. Not sure about “not lauded in any way”. Even Stallings was lauded by a few of the media locals (e.g. Zeise)

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    1. Yep and that team actually beat a good to very good team. #12 Cincinnati on the road.

      Had that team had the pasty rent-a-win non-con that the 2017-18 team had, they would have won
      double digit wins.

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  45. Heather can say KS ‘resigned’ to spend more time with his family

    Crean, Matta, Hurley
    They better be your top 3 girl

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    1. Yep….and throw in Greg McDermott. If none of these guys are interested, Pitt basketball is irreparably broken and every viable coach knows it.

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      1. Matta has some kind of physical problem which is what apparently caused him to resign at Ohio Fake.

        Crean took IU from the OutHouse back to being pretty good.
        Wikipedia says:

        Crean’s basketball philosophy emphasizes fast breaks and transition offense. His guidance of the Indiana program to success from “unthinkable depths” was regarded as one of the most remarkable rebuilding projects in NCAA basketball history.[1] In 2012, he was named the mid-season Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year, the Sporting News Big Ten Coach of the Year, and the ESPN.com National Coach of the Year. In 2016, Crean was named by the coaches and media the Big Ten Coach of the Year after coaching Indiana to their second outright Big Ten regular-season championship in four years.

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        1. It wasn’t a quick fix at IU though. Crean’s first 3 teams.

          2008-09 6 wins 25 losses
          2009-10 10 – 21
          2010-11 12 – 20

          Then he had three (3) Sweet 16’s in 6 years. Which wasn’t good enough at IU

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    2. Do you like Crean?

      I like Crean but some very clearly don’t. Some liken him to Stallings. However Crean went to the tourney 4 of his last 6 years at IU and won 2 B1G regular season titles in that span. He’s been to a FInal Four. He’s had success in two major conferences. He actually brought IU back from the Sampson induced brink. Perhaps he can bring Pitt back from the Stallings induced brink!

      I also honestly liked wwb’s take on David Padgett too. I actually like what Padgett has done at the Ville in a very challenging situation. Young guy with a reasonably good P6 season behind him. A good player in a storied (good and bad) program.

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  49. Let’s see, Heather went to Michigan Wolverines, was AD at Eastern Michigan.

    Crean went to Central Michigan and was an asst. at Michigan State.
    Crean’s Marquette team beat Pitt in the Sweet 16 of 2003. Coached at Indiana.

    Pitt seems to have a propensity (at least on football side) of hiring BigJoke coaches.

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  52. From 1990 to 1994 Crean served as the associate head coach under Ralph Willard at Western Kentucky. When Willard left Western Kentucky to become head coach at Pittsburgh in 1994, Crean was considered to replace him as head coach.[9] Ultimately Crean followed Willard to Pittsburgh, serving as associate head coach for one year.[3]

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  53. He then went to Michigan State to be an asst under Tom Izzo:

    During this period Crean served at various times as recruiting coordinator and, for the last two seasons, associate head coach.[11] In each of Crean’s four seasons, Michigan State’s win total increased, culminating with a 33-5 season and a 15-1 Big Ten ledger in 1999. Michigan State later went on to honor Crean with a 2000 National Championship ring; even though he wasn’t on the staff at the time, he’d helped recruit and develop many of the players on the title team.

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  54. Gotta respect that Colson hadn’t played in 2 months yet outplayed Brown and Chukwuka in nearly half the minutes.

    Carr played 32 minutes and scored 4 points on 2-9 shooting. Closed the season shooting under 40%. Actually had more turnovers than Artis had last season. I miss you James Robinson.

    Stevenson played 19 minutes with 10 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 3 turnovers and 5 fouls.

    Stewart played 27 minutes with 7 points on 2-10 shooting with 4 rebounds and 1 assist. He also finished under 40% shooting for the season. If he isn’t knocking down 3s he has little value.

    I’m not sure that none of these guys will be playing D1 ball in 2 years, but I doubt they’ll be playing P6 ball in 2 years. Any particular skill they have is offset by other deficiencies and completely negated by their poor defense. I’m glad they’re good students.

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      1. Agree Warriors kid is a one trick pony, for a 6’4″ kid is not able to compete at all near the rim. He had
        a couple games where he had some open looks and they went in. He needs an offense where he comes off several Screens to get open looks.

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        2. Regarding this and other season long observations about these players, I’ve been wondering if Pitt really got fully committed, serious effort from any ACC opponent this year. Three games that particularly stood out to me were NC State, Florida State, BC, and Miami (at FL). Pitt was competitive for large chunks of those games and then it seemed like the opponent turned it up and pulled away. I can almost hear the coach in a timeout saying “If you don’t start playing seriously now you could actually lose to these guys!”

          With particular regard to Stewart, there were a number of games where he was left alone at the arc despite having earned a certain reputation as a serious 3P threat. That’s either bad scouting and preparation or really poor execution. Nobody should ever leave him on the arc. That’s the only way he’s a threat.

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          1. It seemed that way to me as well. Most of the games were like NBA extended garbage time. Both teams run up and down the court, little defense on either side. Pitt’s not by design btw and lots of open looks for both teams just like NBA garbage time. Those games you mentioned those teams all missed tons of shots, close in and shot in the 20 – 30% area in the 1st half of those games. Again not because of Pitt’s defense.

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    2. Carr, Brown, Stewart, Stevenson and Davis will still be playing. Brown will be a high minutes guy.

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      1. Only if Otis is still here and we remain an ACC basement team. And they will be playing to crickets at The Pete.

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  55. Ryan Luther ended up tied for the team lead in offensive rebounds. He finished third in rebounding. He finished sixth in points. He finished tied for third in steals. Luther ended up second on the team in FG% and third in 3P%.

    Luther also finished sixth in assists and eighth in turnovers.

    Luther hasn’t played in two and a half months.

    Wow.

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    1. Shows 2 things. How poor the rest of the team tries to rebound, which shows a lack of effort.

      Secondly, how weak Pitt’s non-con was. cause all the teams’ shooting %’s were far greater against
      the scrub non-con.

      We still wouldn’t have won any games in the ACC because teams would have played a tad harder with
      Luther in the lineup, instead of the almost lackadaisical way most of them played for most of the games.
      Except as you mentioned above…..they ‘turned it on’ usually at end of halves or games to win easily.

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  56. Colson is a senior and a preseason player of the year favorite and I understand that PITT didn’t miss the bum Luther?

    We get it Emel, you’re not happy with the basketball program. Me? I’m not either.

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    1. lol….I’m listening to the Fan with Pitt bball talk with Zeise. Instead of calling in, I’m commenting on here.

      And you’re right I’m not happy, but I’m baring it. Got thru the 1990’s with Pitt football… prepped me.

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    2. Dear Mr. Excuse Maker:

      You must have missed this part “Colson hadn’t played in 2 months”. He played in the ACC opener and has missed 15 games since. That means he’s had no game action at all. You’re trivializing that fact. You’re also trivializing that he did it in half the minutes. Blinders?

      For what feels liked the millionth time, Chukwuka is a sophomore.

      As usual you don’t understand. The point about Luther isn’t that he’s a great player. He was a 3 year bench player. The point is that he is head and shoulders above everybody else on this team despite not having played much.

      These stout “freshmen” (some 20 years old) have been playing ACC ball for an entire season now and still can’t play.

      Now, back to blowing sunshine…

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      1. He was also the preseason pick/favorite to win the ACC player of the year. Maybe you missed the part where he is a great player. Now back to your wash, rinse, repeat cycle…. etc etc…

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        1. As if preseason whatever had anything to do with anything.

          He had a broken foot which would kind of be a big deal to a basketball player what with the jumping and the running and all. Oh crap, I forgot you don’t see that with this Pitt team.

          Anyway a broken foot might really cut into a player’s practice time and ability to stay in shape. Let’s ask Ryan Luther since he had one last year and never really made it back.

          I believe you might be the broken record here.

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        2. Since we’re sparring and all, did you have anything to say about the rest of the original post? I mean I did do something that you detest and “cherry pick” some stats there that clearly support my very narrow argument (seemingly shared by all here but you) but that surely don’t reflect well on the players of which you are so relentlessly optimistic.

          Rainbows, unicorns, and flowers…..

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    1. Zeise flipped his lid over the Stallings hire and fawned over Barnes upon his exit. He also predicted Pitt as a 10 win ACC team last season and I believe as a 4-6 win team this season.

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      1. Zeise is a jackass. That doesn’t count as a “personal attack” because he isn’t a player or POV poster.. and most importantly because it’s true.

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  60. Yeti@11:18 just above
    BahhahHahAhahahaha
    ….that’s funny!!!! Thx
    I needed a good laugh after this season!!!

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    1. Yep ….Stallings has proved consistent as well. Can’t coach an experienced team with 2 NBA players and can’t coach an inexperienced team. And can’t recruit. About as consistent as one can get !

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  62. Pitt has to hire Miller if he is relieved of his duties at Arizona. It’s the perfect scenario him coming home to coach. It’d be great to keep missing on the Final Four like he does at Arizona.

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    1. and with his alleged buyout even if he is implicated, he will be cheap. But face it, he will not be hired

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    2. Nice thought, but Miller wouldn’t come anyway…since he knows Pitt is not going to pay for players.

      And apparently he can’t recruit the big time players without the payoffs or he wouldn’t be so adverse to Pitt.

      Plus being good in the PAC 12 is a lot easier than being good in the ACC. Seems he wants the easier
      route.

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  63. Miller and Izzo claiming their innocence. These schools are not going down without a fight. I’d be shocked if anything happens to Miller. They taped him having a conversation….unless they have proof of the money trail, he is free and clear.

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  64. Reed

    Great job on the position write ups! I haven’t been able to comment on them but have taking the time to read them.

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  65. If Otis gets the boot….Luther will still come back and so will the leading scorer on this current team, the bearded Juco kid. Whether any of the rest of them do….. is almost immaterial, as any coach worth his salt can bring in at least comparable players to replace them and they wouldn’t have to unlearn, whatever system
    Otis taught them. (if one can call whatever Otis taught them a system) (other than a losing system).

    So let’s begin this reboot of Pitt basketball ASAP.

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