Some things that I didn’t feel like doing a full post on, forgot to work into a post or just found during the day.

Basketball Related

From Mike DeCourcy at the Sporting News talking about things leading into the season:

Most underrated team: Pittsburgh. After three consecutive Sweet 16s, you might think the Panthers would have earned some respect. But the loss of wings Julius Page and Jaron Brown led most to drop them far from the top 10. Lindy’s had Pitt had at No.19, Street & Smith’s at No. 23.

Brown was a remarkable leader, and Page an elite defender, but this should be Pitt‘s best offensive team since the days of Charles Smith and Jerome Lane. There will be a greater emphasis on getting the ball to big man Chris Taft and on allowing point guard Carl Krauser to create opportunities. Pitt might stop in the Sweet 16 once again, but will be right there with Syracuse and Connecticut among the Big East’s top contenders.

Speaking of Julius Page and Jaron Brown. Those of you living in the Pittsburgh area will still be able to see them play some b-ball:

The Pennsylvania Pit Bulls might as well rename themselves the Pitt Bulls, with recent Panthers stars Julius Page and Jaron Brown joining the American Basketball Association expansion venture that launches two weeks from tonight in McKeesport.

“I feel like I’m putting my best foot forward,” Page said yesterday at a news conference introducing a team that holds tryouts tomorrow and Sunday, then opens camp Tuesday before its Nov. 19 debut against the Maryland Nighthawks at Penn State McKeesport.

“I had some offers overseas. But right now I’m looking to develop. And I think I’m in the right situation to develop.”

Apparently, so did Brown, who left a Continental Basketball Association tryout yesterday to return to a familiar Pittsburgh area and begin a professional career at a tier that pays its players $10,000 apiece on average for a 36-game, four-month schedule. The league is in its fourth year but it has grown from seven teams last season to 35.

Good luck, guys. I hope you at least make it overseas eventually.

A puff piece on star JUCO transfer John DeGroat, fashion template.

Football Related

Wierd factoid:

Pittsburgh hasn’t lasted this long into the season without playing a ranked team since 1986. The Panthers probably get their first shot in their last game against West Virginia.

Probably their only shot, as well.

On the Syracuse-Pitt game, the ‘Cuse are favored by 4.5. CollegeFootballNews (via Fox Sports) picks the Orange 23-17, because Syracuse plays well at home, final home game for seniors, Pitt hasn’t looked good in its 2 road games, and Pitt’s history at the Carrier Dome.

Trib columnist Sam Ross looks at the rest of the season for Pitt, WVU and PSU.

Pitt: The Panthers begin a rugged three-game stretch Saturday at Syracuse. That is followed by a trip to Notre Dame, and a Thanksgiving night showdown at Heinz Field with West Virginia. Give Harris his due, he’s turned a dismal situation earlier in the season into a respectable effort. But expecting Pitt (5-2, 3-1 Big East) to roll off three more wins, then have something left for that rescheduled Dec. 4 game at South Florida, is a leap of faith. It would be interesting for that “Backyard Brawl” contest with West Virginia to have major Big East ramifications, but it easily might not. If Pitt wins two of its next three, that should be considered a great showing.

Big if.

Finally the Q&A with the P-G beat reporter, Paul Zeise for the week.

Q: Walt Harris’s tenure has been marked by failing to get “over the top” and that means losing key games like Toledo, Notre Dame, West Virginia, Miami — they have all been momentum killers. Is the Syracuse game one of these games where a win is a chance to prove the program is showing considerable progress or a loss will harpoon the season?

ZEISE: Yes and no. Pitt is better than Syracuse so they should win the game. A win, even in the Carrier Dome, should be expected. But nevertheless, since it is in the Carrier Dome it is the kind of game Harris has traditionally lost so if Pitt wins it, then it is a sign of progress on some level. The other side of that, however, is a loss, which Pitt cannot afford. If Pitt loses this game, they could very well be staring at the possibility of having to win at South Florida to get to a bowl. They should beat the Bulls, but boy, you’d rather go down there and play without that kind of pressure on you. That’s why I say Syracuse is a must-win.
…
Q: What is the real advantage to paying assistant coaches $500,000? Is it a recruiting thing? Who is the most likely, among Pitt’s assistants, to either move on to a head coaching job or be fired or replaced?

ZEISE: Well, if things don’t turn out well for Walt and the Panthers down the stretch, all of them may be out of a job. I think the most likely future head coach is Paul Rhodes, obviously. He is very close to getting his break. If the Panthers continue to have a good year on defense, he may get a few interviews after the season. And the real advantage of paying assistants $500,000 is you get the pick of who you want. You can go get the top level, experienced veteran coach. When you don’t pay much, you have to take a shot at young, hungry guys who may or may not pan out. It is that old saying — you get what you pay for.