It’s just lists and quick hitter stuff. Rivals.com revises its top-25, post NBA Draft withdrawal deadline. Pitt fell two spots from #21 to #23.
Even with the losses of frontcourt starters Aaron Gray and Levon Kendall, the Panthers still should fashion a winner. One reason to believe is Jamie Dixon, who has coached Pitt to four consecutive 20-win seasons. He’ll lean on guards Mike Cook (10.5 ppg), Levance Fields (9.2 ppg, 4.6 apg) and Ronald Ramon (8.8 ppg) early and hope five-star freshman power forward DeJuan Blair develops quickly.
Pitt was the lowest ranked of 6 Big East schools listed. Louisville #5, Georgetown #10, Marquette #15, Syracuse #19, UConn #21.
Jay Bilas at ESPN.com does good news/bad news capsules for the Big East teams:
Good news: Pittsburgh is always good because the Panthers have a program, not just individual teams. Losing good players will not affect the way that Pitt plays and the way that Pitt wins. Coach Jamie Dixon brought in a top-10 recruiting class, including hotshot DeJuan Blair, and Pitt will be in the NCAA Tournament again.
Bad news: Losing center Aaron Gray will be big, but a team can break through after losing its big anchor in the middle. In 1984, Virginia went to the Final Four the year after Ralph Sampson graduated.
I’m just completely confused. There isn’t even a hint of being able to play the “disrespected” card or write about Pitt being underestimated. This just messes with my head.
Jay Bilas’ description of the Panthers is fairly apt — they are one of college hoops’ equivalents to the “best golfer never to win a major.” Under Ben Howland and now Jamie Dixon, though, this program has had a lot of recent success in a very tough and deep conference. This season marked Pitt’s sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, during which the Panthers made the Sweet 16 four different times (2002-04, 2007). The Panthers also claimed at least a piece of three Big East titles from 2002-04 and won the Big East Tournament title in 2004.”
This quote is from an article entitled ‘Top 10 of the last 10: Most underrated’
link to sports.espn.go.com
I guess the team can play the underated card!!!