Useless information that only I might find interesting: college basketball rosters for the 2008-09 season are supposed to be updated and available to the media starting on Monday. Why? Because of the preview magazine business. They have to start work in July to get them out in September and October. That means collecting the basic information, as early as they can.
It can also mean that the never-ending Mike Cook-NCAA-Eligibility saga should get a little more media attention in the next week or two. Someone will have their curiosity piqued if Pitt gives them a roster with an asterisk or a blank spot. That is unless the NCAA finally makes a decision today.
It’s also why Austin Wallace is getting his paperwork in order for a medical hardship application.
Pitt forward Austin Wallace is going through the paperwork for a medical hardship because of a serious knee injury he suffered last December practicing before Pitt’s game against Washington. The move will free up a scholarship for Pitt, yet allow Wallace to retain a scholarship to attend the school.
It’s not a surprising move since Wallace’s injury was known to require a good two-years of recovery. kind of a surprise they waited until now. His basketball career is still at risk with a fractured left patella.
Pitt’s troubles to find an opponent for Madison Square Garden continues. Maybe Stanford?
Odjakjian said it’s unlikely Pitt would play a smaller school at the Garden, even if it’s a New York-area school. The gate wouldn’t justify such a matchup at a 19,000-seat arena.
“It’s certainly up to the Garden if a lesser opponent would be acceptable,” Odjakjian said. “If the game is not going to draw a lot of people, they aren’t going to bother.”
Which is why they wanted a team from a BCS school. Even if they weren’t particularly good. As long as there was an alumni base of some size in the area to buy tickets. I’m guessing Pitt isn’t being picky at this point.
According to this report the Memphis deal fell through for more than just timing issues.
Pittsburgh Sports Insider has been told that Pitt has been trying hard to schedule Memphis, however, Tigers head coach John Calipari wants too much in return.
The obvious implication being a road game to Memphis next year and no true home game for Pitt.
If you are in Pittsburgh, have diabetes, or want to know more about diabetes there is the Diabetes Expo at the David Lawrence Convention Center this Saturday. Oh, and the Pitt men’s and women’s basketball team will be there signing autographs.
