Before looking at the game, just an idle thought. I have no idea when I’ll be able to think of the Crimson Tide without stifling a snicker about Mike Price and “Roll Tide!” OK, juvenile thought out of the way.
Alabama does not look to be a good team this year. They lost three 4-year starters from last year, and will be very young and inexperienced. The counterpoint, of course, is that they so underachieved the last 2 years that losing the seniors may not be such a bad thing. This is likely a rebuilding year for ‘Bama, and they will play their first game of the year in Madison Square Garden. Between the SEC and a tough non-conference schedule, Alabama will struggle to get to .500 this year. They do, however, have several talented young freshmen who could see some significant playing time.
Pitt, while losing 3 starters from last year, is still a top-25 team. All of the starters have experience, and with the exception of point guard, there isn’t a huge drop-off in talent or depth. Pitt regularly plays in MSG in conference against St. John’s and in the Big East Tournament. Plus, several of their players are New York area natives. Pitt shouldn’t be intimidated by the surroundings — and so they shouldn’t have any excuses.
The biggest deal for Pitt, is their new head coach, Jamie Dixon. Already the subject of this coach puffing piece. The players all love him, and wanted him to be elevated from assistant to head coach last year. Well, they got it. Now the hard part. Vindicating the decision that has many Pitt fans nervous.
While I don’t think this game will be a “cakewalk” for Pitt, they should win the game. They are stronger on the inside boards and overall are a better team. The local Pittsburgh papers are trying to pump up Alabama by pointing to their previous two NCAA tournament appearances, and that this is the toughest opener Pitt has had in ages — which is more an indictment of Pitt’s piss-poor, Kansas State-like non-conference scheduling.
Still this is Pitt’s only ESPN/ESPN2 game until late December, so it will be the only game I actually see for a while.
7 pm ESPN2.
