Since the season ended, there have been hints that Greg Lee might skip his senior season and go pro in the NFL draft. This, despite a subpar season marred by disturbing lapses in concentration leading to a lot of drops. Earlier in the week, Todd McShay for Scouts, Inc./ESPN.com (Insider subs.) was listing underclassmen who are going pro, should go pro and should stay in school. Greg Lee was included on the list of those who should stay.

Lee came into the season widely considered one of the top 5-10 WRs in the country. Definitely the best in the Big East. While his numbers still looked good, was all-Big East and led the conference in receptions (27th in the country) and receiving yards/game, it was a disappointing season. The aforementioned issue of dropped passes was very noticeable — especially considering the little room for error on offense that Pitt had.

So it would seem that Lee would be foolish to go pro early. Apparently not.

Lee sent feelers to the NFL to assess his draft prospects. So far, he has not received an official response.

Pitt’s coaches are hoping they can talk Lee into staying. According to some scouting services, he likely would be a fifth-round pick at best, especially coming off what most would consider to be a disappointing season.

Lee believes the crop of receivers eligible for the NFL draft will be stronger next year, which is one reason he is considering an early exit.

He has not signed with an agent, however, so he could change his mind and return to Pitt for his senior year without losing his eligibility.

So he would be a Day 2 draftee, and I don’t think he’d be outstanding at the combines regarding speed. Lee did not show great bursts and wasn’t much for yards after the catch.

Arguing for going pro early is the fact that Pitt’s new offensive plan is still to run the ball more. For his own future, what does that mean regarding showing what he can do? How much will he be utilized and isn’t it possible that his stock will further drop if he doesn’t get the deep ball and finds himself on more short routes and going across the middle more?

I think he should come back for his senior year, but I’m hardly unbiased. Terrell Allen was dismissed from the team and will be transferring, and WR LB Tyler Tipton and TE Robbie Agnone — admittedly guys who didn’t see the field — are also transferring. Pitt will not be particularly deep at the position and Lee is still the #1 receiver for Pitt and Tyler Palko.

Ah, finals week. The sugar, caffeine, nicotine, mild hallucinations from pulling 2 all-nighters in a 3 day stretch, the lack of personal hygiene, and then selling your books for beer money. It’s not that I miss all of that, so much as I miss knowing that I was able to do that without dying or ending up hospitalized. Ah, youth.

Pretty much as expected. Pitt had a slow, sluggish game after a week off and finals.

Due to semester exams, Pitt practiced sporadically last week as players spent more time in the library than in the gym. And for much of yesterday afternoon’s game against Vermont, it appeared as if the Panthers’ heads were still in the classroom.
…
Coach Jamie Dixon did not practice his team Sunday, Monday or Wednesday. When he did attempt to have a practice, three or four players were absent so they could study or take tests.

“We seem to play better when we practice. I’m sure about that,” Dixon said with a smile. “It’s not an excuse. It’s just part of college basketball. Everyone goes through it. We had more finals later in the week this year than in the past. That was something that was different. We’ll face worse adversity than that. Any wins in finals week is a good win.”

Again, not terribly unexpected. A young team, finals, not a lot of practice, a week between games, and the expected let-down after blowing a team out of the water. It doesn’t stop a bit of frustration and wishing otherwise, but, uh, “it is what it is.”

Coach Dixon, as usual, defends his players and the team.

When it was suggested that Vermont was able to get some easy looks at the basket at the outset, Dixon quickly countered.

“People have high expectations,” he said. “When 34 percent isn’t good enough, then you know where we’re at.”

Which, of course, was not the question. The question was the early, wide-open shots Vermont was getting. The Catamounts able to follow their own shot because Pitt wasn’t boxing out under the basket. Vermont actually was even with Pitt on rebounds in the first half. It took Pitt more than 10 minutes into the game before taking the lead for good. The Panthers opened with 3-14 shooting, before closing the half with 9-14 shooting.

Vermont hit their first 4 shots, 3-4 on threes in the beginning, and were getting second chance points. The Pitt D came around first. Vermont started out 5-7 shooting, then 3-16 the rest of the half.

That’s what gave Pitt the opening to start blowing it open. That, and Carl Krauser taking over. Krauser caught fire during Pitt’s run in the first half, and single-handedly forced a change in Vermont’s defense.

“He’s a really good player,” said [Vermont Coach, Mike] Lonergan, whose team went to a zone to slow Krauser. “They’re a very, very physical team. We battled their big guys and the guys really worked the ball around, we just couldn’t get a break.”

It is a luxury to have Krauser be able to take over these games. He not only provided the leadership to settle the team down, but scored almost at will for a stretch.

I know he’s not the only one to have ever faced the issue of wanting to be there to help and care for an ailing parent, while trying to follow his own path and goals; but that doesn’t make the issue any less difficult.

The story is out that Rashad Jennings is considering leaving Pitt to help care for his father back in Virginia.

Recently, Jennings’ father had a setback in a long battle against diabetes. Albert Jennings, 53, already has had one leg amputated because of the disease and doctors now say they might have to amputate the other one.

“It’s tough, watching my mother carry my father,” Jennings said, his voice soft but firm. “I don’t want to leave that burden on my mother. I want to be home with them. This is where I belong.”

About a week ago, Jennings talked with Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt about the situation. He said Wannstedt told him to go home and take his time making a decision.

Wannstedt was unavailable for comment yesterday. A Pitt athletic department spokesman said neither the school nor Wannstedt would issue a statement until after the matter was resolved.

I believe under NCAA rules, Pitt and Coach Wannstedt are also prohibited from discussing the subject until resolution is reached.

The struggles of Jennings’ father have been going on all semester.

The situation appears completely in flux as Jennings is torn in many directions — wanting to be there to help his father, not leave Pitt, not stop his education (and lose access to the academic support structure provided by a major university), and play football.

I am truly impressed that he doesn’t want to stop his education and admits his desire/need for the academic support provided at Pitt (or any major Div. 1-A school). It shows a strong and admirable character, and someone with a real desire to get his education. A reflection of the kind of man he is and the way he was raised by his parents.

Here’s hoping things work out for Rashad Jennings. I hope he is able to stay at Pitt, not (just) because of his football ability, but because he is the kind of person you want to have at your school.