Auburn beat McNeese State, 91-76. It was a very sloppy game, though, with Auburn committing 20 turnovers and 21 fouls. Still, Auburn shot exceptionally well — over 50% for the game (29-53). Take out the hideous 3-point shooting (6-21), and Auburn was shooting very well inside the arc.

Auburn is a very young team, and 10 players saw double digit minutes in the game.

Superficially, this team has similarities to Pitt in that they are led by a senior guard with a lot of young players that Coach Jeff Lebo is trying to figure the best combinations and rotations.

Pretty much the same situation Coach Dixon is in at that moment.

“We’ve got a little bit of a feel, but we’re still three days away,” Dixon said Thursday during the Big East Conference’s first media teleconference.

Four games into the season, Dixon is learning the strengths and weaknesses of his team.

“The guard play has been good,” he said. “We haven’t shot it great, but I do think we have good shooters and they will shoot it well over the long haul.”

The Pitt News, has a quick breakdown of the two teams worth looking over.

Auburn Coach Jeff Lebo and his assistant (and father) Dave Lebo will be coming up to Pennsylvania today ahead of the team. They will be in Carlisle for the dedication of “Coach Lebo Court” at Carlisle High.

Lebo coached at Carlisle High for 19 years, peaking in the mid- to late-80s. Helped, of course, by the talent.

Lebo’s presence in the Carlisle community hit its zenith during the run at four state titles from 1985 through 1988. In those days, it was standing room only in the gym as just about everyone in the community came to catch a glimpse of the powerhouse teams led by Jeff Lebo and Billy Owens.

Not just their gym. Any high school gymnasium in Central PA where they played filled up to see them pound the crap out of your team. Everyone was aware of the team in the area. Even those who were in the midst of their own little high school world at the time. It was also astounding, just how many people named Lebo were claiming familial connections to Jeff and Dave at that time.

Coach Wannstedt doesn’t think WR Greg Lee will turn pro this year. Lee will only come out if he is not happy with what the offense is doing/going, and/or he needs the money. I wouldn’t put him much better than a 3d or 4th round pick at this point. Don’t get me wrong, he is a very good receiver and has potential, but he had an unimpressive season with a lot of drops. Add in the fact that he isn’t exactly a speedster, and the NFL combines would not be good to him.

Coach Wannstedt and the assistants will be spending most of December and January out on the recruiting trail. This weekend, they will be hosting NY RB and soft verbal commit, Kevin Collier on his official Pitt visit.

I want to know who was smoking what (and can I get some) when this rumor was started:

One thing that will not change is the name on the door to the head coach’s office. Wannstedt was quick to shoot down rumors that his good friend, Matt Millen, president of the Detroit Lions, is trying to lure him back into the NFL coaching ranks.

I understood the Pete Carroll ruminations, simply because every NFL opening presents that rumor, but you have to be kidding me. I think even Lions fans would storm the team offices and lynch Millen if he even approached Wannstedt.

Story skipper, alert. Shelly Anderson has a weak, hand-wringing, worry piece on the Big East in the BCS for the long-term. Let me summarize: The Big East could be cut out of the BCS, blah-blah-blah, review time in 2009, yada-yada-yada, extra BCS bowl games, dee-dee-dum, up to the schools to get better.

I can give you a good reason why the Big East isn’t going anywhere in the BCS for a while. Numbers. There are 117 Div. 1-A teams. The other 5 major conferences and ND only make up 58 teams. They don’t want to be in the minority for decisions. Forget that line of crap about how they would just go off on their own. They need the veneer of credibility (however much of a sham) of the NCAA and student-athlete status. Otherwise they fully admit to being about the money, and then how soon til they face the pressure of the kids demanding to be paid.

Then there is the added political risk and pressure that would come from Congressmen from West Virginia, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey — all states where Big East teams are the only BCS reps. Add in lesser pressure from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida and Kentucky lawmakers. The BCS got nervous when the non-BCS schools got Congress to hold hearings a couple years ago. It would get worse.

I want Pitt out of the Big East at this point for several reasons, but fear of losing the auto-BCS bid isn’t that high on the list.

As I have previously stated, I’ve yet to see Pitt play, so I have relied on the radio feed from the internet for the game. (Brief aside, I will be attending the Penn State-Pitt game next Saturday. Disturbingly, it will be my first trip to the Pete.) As with most sports, that limits you to what you are told by the announcers. Judging by comments from those attending the games, though, there is a difference in the way Kendall’s game is being described and what people are saying. If I had to guess, I’d say Kendall is filling that Yuri Demetrius role from last year. No, not the flipped-out ex-boyfriend/stalker part. The reliable guy who will play a consistent defense and hustle. A player Dixon trusts on the court.

Coach Dixon, at this point, seems to be emphasizing the strong defense but not to the exclusion of giving all the freshman players some playing time. Sophomore Ronald Ramon has yet to find his outside shooting touch, but has been earning more playing time with stronger defense.

“Most of the years here, it’s always been about defense, going back to Julius [Page] and Jaron [Brown], Brandin [Knight] and those guys,” said Ramon, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound sophomore, who came to Pitt with a reputation as a shooter. “I want to keep the same tradition of playing defense. I think he’s looking for guys to step up and play defense.”

The easiest way to get on the floor at Pitt is to play shut-down defense, and Ramon has taken it upon himself to become one of Dixon’s most reliable defenders early this season.

Ramon quickly has earned the trust of the coaching staff. As the season has progressed, he is being used more and more and at the most important times. After playing just 15 minutes in the opener against St. Peter’s, Ramon’s playing time has grown steadily, from 20 minutes in the second game to 22 in the third game to a season-high 26 minutes against St. Francis.
…
“We talked during the summer about what I had to do,” Ramon said. “He said I had to get better on defense and work on my game. He wanted to me to work on my ball pressure.”

Ramon is holding his own on the offensive end as well. He is third on the team in scoring, averaging 7.8 points per game. Even more impressive is his assists-to-turnover ratio. Ramon has 10 assists and just one turnover.

And while his 3-point shooting has yet to come around — he is 5 for 15 — Dixon said it’s only a matter of time before his shots start falling.

Last year, pre-shoulder injury, Ramon had great shooting, but his defense wasn’t ready. He was playing too far off on the perimeter and had trouble keeping players in front of him without fouling as they slipped past him.

Right now he is showing better awareness and understanding of how to defend players.

Defense is not as instinctive as offense can be. It is much more of a learned and experienced process. Knowing the passing lanes, being ready for and getting past the pick, good footwork to not be caught on a drive, keeping the opponent in front of you and so on. All fundamental things that are harder and a lot less fun to learn.

Right now, from what I’m reading and hearing regarding Pitt, there is some solid individual defensive efforts. A team defense and consistency aren’t there yet.

The extent of Antonio Graves’ ankle injury won’t be known until sometime today.

Pitt’s next game is Sunday at 7:30 versus Auburn. Like Pitt, they are celebrating their centennial season. The Tigers are 2-1, losing on the road to Colorado State, and have a game tonight versus McNeese State. The Auburn Tigers are coached by Jeff Lebo. A name very familiar to those growing up in the Central PA area in the 80s. Expect some stories on the coach visiting Pennsylvania in the next couple days as the game draws closer.