This nugget from Andy Katz at ESPN.com (Insider subs.) is very exciting.

Pitt is trying to rework some scheduling conflicts so it can play Duke in Madison Square Garden in December.

Oooohhh.

UPDATE (3:42): One of the games that Pitt might be trying to reschedule might be the December 15 home game against Oklahoma State.

The Cowboys’ return game from last year’s All-College Classic against Pitt is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 15 at the Petersen Events Center. That location — the Panthers’ home court — might be a tough one for OSU fans to swallow since it has previously been a neutral-neutral series (like last year’s game against Tennessee in Nashville). But head coach Sean Sutton said he’s happy with the deal because of a guarantee that Pitt will play in Stillwater sometime in the future.

I forgot about the OK State game as well. That would mean road games at Dayton and Washington, a home game with OK State and a neutral court with Duke. The Big East will be an 18 game schedule next year. Even with all patsies for the rest of the non-con (about 8 more games), that’s a hell of a good schedule.

Pitt Athletic Director Jeff Long is closing on a contract extension for an additional 3-years. I feel astoundingly indifferent about this, but ultimately feel that it is best that Long is staying.

I have been critical of AD Long when it comes to issues of media rights and what appears a stubbornness or lack of vision about the future of Pitt athletics with that regard and the future of the Big East. At times, it very much seems that he is merely the frontman for Chancellor Nordenberg. So, I do have major concerns about some long term issues.

By the same token, Long has done much good. His disliked — but unfortunately necessary — fundraising tactics have been vital to improve the athletic facilities for the “other” sports. A problem that had not been addressed dating back for decades. Even the oft-revered Steve Pederson did not do much to address that issue.

Long was not responsible for the hiring of Coach Jamie Dixon, but he was the one to work out the contract extension and raise that kept him here.

The hire that will define Long’s success or failure, really is the Dave Wannstedt hiring. Wannstedt was the guy the entire Pitt administration wanted and to Long’s credit, he did land him. Now, it’s up to Wannstedt to prove it was the right call. The assistants are being paid. The facilities are in place. The excuses just aren’t there.

The other factor is that for Pitt’s athletic department and the individual programs to thrive, stability at the AD position is vital. In this otherwise, highly puffed piece on WVU AD Ed Pastilong are some nuggets of truth. Pastilong has been there for 18 years and has overseen some big changes to WVU. Transitioning from two long-tenured coaches in basketball and football and improving the overall facilities with an even tighter budget. Pastilong is the longest tenured AD in the Big East and the little sidebar list of longest tenured ADs lists schools with at least one major programs that have had great success (Mississippi State being the exception).

In that respect, I think it is important that Long continue and provide stability.