Should have mentioned this story earlier, but I was late to notice.
Everyone’s favorite walk-on, Charles Small, a Detroit-area native, actually got a nice piece in USA Today yesterday.
His role has remained the same since the day he walked onto campus. But that hasn’t stopped him.
“It’s a family-type setting,” he says. “I know I have to work a little harder. You have the team backing you, so it’s a good feeling.
“I understand my role is just as important as the next person. I encourage my teammates, work hard at practice and feel just as part of the team as anybody.”
Small, a fan favorite, is one of the shortest Division I players. “I’ve been hearing it my whole life,” he says. “It’s just added motivation. I keep working hard and prove people wrong that I can go out there and play.”
Keith Benjamin joined the team in Auburn Hills, but isn’t practicing with them right now. It seems unlikely he will play tonight.
Benjamin, a sophomore who was projected to be in the Panthers’ starting lineup, remained behind in Pittsburgh on Wednesday with what was presumed to be the flu. He arrived yesterday at the team hotel but continued to be evaluated.
“We’re still trying to figure out what it is,” Dixon said. “I’m not sure where he stands as far as playing.”
It is the time of year that Benjamin told teammates he has struggled with similar symptons, which include vomiting, shaking and chills. The Mount Vernon, N.Y., native placed a call to his mother for support Tuesday night.
My allergies usually overload me, leading to a sinus infection this time of the year. This seems a little different.
Tyrell Biggs, like Benjamin, will probably not see any action tonight unless absolutely necessary with his injured right calf. The good news is that Levon Kendall’s back hasn’t flared-up again and feels good. The bad news, Sam Young is now dinged a little.
Freshman forward Sam Young jammed his right thumb in practice Wednesday. He had the thumb wrapped during the workout yesterday afternoon. The injury did not appear to hamper his shot or movement throughout the 45-minute walk-through.
Aaron Gray seems to be feeling much better now.
Because Pitt was in the primary 9pm TV slot in the Big East Tournament with all the interest in the bloated BE, ratings had a spike and Pitt gets to claim some credit.
The Big East championship between Pitt and Syracuse on ESPN drew a 2.58 rating, the highest for a championship since 1996. The Pitt-West Virginia quarterfinal game drew a 1.47 for the highest quarterfinal rating since ’96. And the Pitt-Louisville first-round game drew a 1.37 for the highest rating for a first-round game.
Along with expectations that Pitt will be one of the best in the BE next season, that should be an additional reason to expect a lot of Pitt’s BE games will be televised on ESPN.
