It seems for a team tabbed for the preseason top spot, they are reasonably loose before the media horde.
Reporters were swarming Jamie Dixon on Wednesday when Pitt senior center Aaron Gray held out an invisible microphone and posed a question to his coach.
“How does it feel to be talking to this many reporters?” Gray said.
Dixon looked at his 7-foot star and deadpanned, “I tried to get rid of one of them, but he came back.”
Considering how Coach Dixon has struggled generally to show a personality in media settings and the volume of media friendly and quotable coaches in the Big East, this is progress and says something about improving skills for Coach Dixon in being comfortable in his skin and his position.
This is the third time Pitt has earned Big East preseason No. 1 status. The other two times, in 1987-88 and 2002-03, the Panthers either won or tied for the regular-season title.
So Pitt has that going for it.
Not that Pitt players and coach don’t know it also makes Pitt a target for everyone’s best game and that preseason rankings are not that important.
“We have to accept the challenge and stay strong,” senior guard Antonio Graves added. “We’ll be faced with ups and downs. With this team, the key will be how we stay strong in the storm. With all the pressure and attention, how we handle adversity will be the key to this season.”
Pitt coach Jamie Dixon took the news in stride. He recognizes that being picked No. 1 is a tribute to his and his staff’s ability to coach and recruit, but he also knows the recognition means nothing if the Panthers don’t play to their lofty expectations.
“I think it’s a good thing for our program,” Dixon said. “I think it says a lot about where we’ve come from. I always said when this conference was getting changed around and everyone was wondering what was going to happen, I said we want to play against the best. If we’re picked at the top in the preseason in this conference, I think that says a lot.”
The one thing that can derail any season, though, are injuries. It seems there are some little injuries in the preseason worth keeping an eye on.
Pitt has been bitten by the injury bug this preseason. Freshman guard Gilbert Brown was diagnosed with mononucleosis 10 days ago and has yet to take part in a practice. Sophomore point guard Levance Fields is hampered by a groin injury and senior guard Antonio Graves (back) and sophomore forward Sam Young (knee) have minor injuries.
Graves said the practices have been extremely competitive.
“Guys are still competing and fighting for positions,” he said. “Practice is very competitive, very physical. We’ve had a couple of injuries. It’s been a battle. It will make us a better team.”
Brown, a consensus top-50 recruit, is to be reexamined today. He just started doing some light running on the treadmill earlier in the week and could be out for a while.
“It’ll change some things if he’s not ready to go,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said.
Gilbert Brown was about the only freshman expected to bust through the rotation this season. The issue will be his conditioning coming back from mono. Knee problems for Sam Young are nerve inducing. He needs to healthy knees for his explosiveness.
“Dwilliams1: From an unbiased view, who is the better QB: Tyler Palko or Anthony Morelli?
Ray Fittipaldo: Based on this season — and that’s the only fair way to do it since Palko is a three-year starter and this is Morelli’s first year — the nod has to go to Palko. He has picked up his play from last season and has put up some good numbers despite a suspect offensive line and running game. But Pitt is sort of like Penn State. The Panthers have not beaten a good team yet. Palko has not done as well versus Michigan State or Rutgers. Just like Morelli has not done well against Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan. Mid-term grades: I’d give Palko an A- and Morelli a B.”
Guess he missed the part where Palko has 18 TDs and a 180+ rating, compared to Morelli’s 7 TDs and a 110 rating. Makes me really wonder about the P-G’s journalism when I see this stuff. I’d give Palko an A-, and Morelli a C-.
I had the opportunity to see and listen to him speak at a few panther events years ago when he first took the head coaching position, quite frankly he was flat out terrible.
I will have the chance shortly to see him at an event and it sounds like he is a much more relaxed and confident coach that will charm the crowd.
Morelli has all the physical tools but remember next year is his final year. He just cannot comprehend complex defensive schemes, his decision making is very poor on and off the field. Just look at what college he picked to attend.
I agree with Reed, C- at best, but remember, Fittipaldo has to cover that team and must walk on egg-shells so he does not piss off god almighty joe himself.
