The game notes from Pitt are finally available (PDF). The game is on ESPN, the second of 3 straight on the WorldWide Leader’s mothership (and a 4th will be on ESPN2) for Pitt. Dan Shulman and Len Elmore are calling the game.

Storylines being pushed, so you can expect to hear in the game and read in print pixels.

With its No. 4 ranking, Syracuse enters the game as the highest ranked opponent to ever appear in the Petersen Events Center. The last time Syracuse visited the PEC, it Orange ended PittÂ’s 40-game home win streak and concluded PittÂ’s 34-0 undefeated record in the PEC as it handed Pitt a 49-46 overtime defeat.

Pittsburgh has won 10 of its last 12 home games and is a combined 60-4 at home over the last three seasons. Pitt is also 44-3 in the Petersen Events Center and 16-2 all-time against Big East opponents at the PEC.

Pittsburgh is coming off one of the greatest comeback victories in school history, a 10-point victory at ConnecticutÂ’s Gampel Pavilion.

Ending Pitt’s home unbeaten streak will be one of the big, most annoying stories they will likely harp on. It will be even worse if Pitt is losing. Other items you can expect them to mention or drop as factoids:

Pitt’s 3 losses came by a total of 9 points.

Pitt is 16-2 at home against Big East foes.

Pitt has taken 5 of the last 7 games from Syracuse.

Of course, Syracuse holds a stunning and tragic 2-1 edge in the series history, leading 60-30 all-time.

Final note, Carl Krauser is now tied for 10th at Pitt for assists in a career with Keith Starr (1972-75) with 329. By the end of the season, he should move up to 7th on the list.

Members of Pitt’s 2005 basketball recruiting class are in action today. Some big games in the NY/NJ area.

It will be interesting to see how MHS fares on the road tonight at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey. The Ironmen feature Pitt-bound 6-7 forward Tyrell Biggs, one of the more intriguing bigger players in the state since he possesses both both bulk and agility. Biggs can hurt you inside or out, although this year’s Bosco edition is not nearly as strong as last season’s group that won the Bergen Jamboree, but lost a regular-season game at Montclair.

And in another game:

No. 6 St. Mary’s of Manhasset with its three Division I players (North Carolina-signee Danny Green and Tyrone Hanson and Tyson Johnson, who are each going to Monmouth) will face Xaverian and Pitt-bound Levance Fields in the first of back-to-back televised games on MSG Network.

Still nice to read articles where the context treats players going to Pitt as not settling or as representative of the how good the players are.

If you found yourself home early one day this week you may have turned on ESPN to see exciting coverage of the Senior Bowl practices. Any rant that I considered on how ridiculous this is, was preempted since Josh Elliot did it for me.

At this year’s Senior Bowl, the only Pitt player on the roster is the Rob Petitti. Rob is on the North team, coached by a true master, Norv Turner and the Oakland Raiders Coaching Staff. Of course it could be worse. You could be a QB on the South squad. That’s the Tampa Bay Bucs coaching staff. Your chance to be taught about playing QB by Paul Hackett.

Other item, an interview with new Pitt WR Coach Aubrey Hill.

I was hoping Pitt and Syracuse would have their game notes out by now, to add some meat to this post. Ah, well. Just a couple player puffing stories. One that does a little more on Levon Kendall (consider this the human side to the piece that puffed his game, yesterday).

He is about as eccentric as Andy Warhol, a nature-loving 20-year-old who refuses to own a cell phone (“I’m boycotting them.”), races mountain bikes, once played drums in a cover band called “The Unknowns,” applies some of the practices of Buddhism and periodically meditates to stay centered.
…
“I’m definitely different,” said Kendall, whose on-campus home (purchased by his parents) houses nine other students. “I’m kind of down to earth, with the West Coast style. Being from British Columbia, I like going to lakes and camping, hiking, all of those things. It’s hard not to be into nature when you grew up where I did and were surrounded by the outdoors.”

And who did they cover? I’m just curious, because there have been a few bands called “The Unknowns” (including one in Canada).

The other puff piece is on Chevy Troutman, and appears in the Syracuse student paper. Focuses on his growing up and looking after his siblings, but also on how his success in college ball has helped rebuild his whole family.

So far, just another slow day for Pitt basketball news.

Coach Wannstedt was looking to be around the number 20 in how many recruits for this class. The class size is now at 22. Pitt added an offensive lineman.

Wannstedt asked [C.J.] Davis to take an official visit to Pitt this weekend, and told him a scholarship offer would be waiting. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound two-way lineman said he will make a verbal commitment to the Panthers.

“Honestly, I really didn’t think they were going to offer, so I was about to commit to Boston College,” Davis said. “Coach Wannstedt came to see me for the first time and offered me. That really made me want to come.”

Davis chose Pitt over Akron, Boston College, Bowling Green and Kentucky. A three-year starter on the defensive line who was named to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 and All-Class AAA teams as a senior, Davis said he will play guard or center at Pitt. New offensive line coach Paul Dunn was recruiting Davis for Kentucky.

I’m happier they added an offensive line prospect than the fact that he was another WPIAL product. For the record, about one-third of this class is from WPIAL schools. Davis also had offers from Wisconsin and West Virginia. Davis would appear to be something of a “diamond in the rough” recruit. Not highly ranked nationally, but Pantherlair.com had him in their top 50 players in Pennsylvania.