Okay. Conference expansion/realignment was an incredible timesuck. I’m having a hard time at the moment getting myself mentally up for a final round-up of the post-mortem.
In the meantime, a few things with basketball that I have not made time to post.
If you have heard the Tom Izzo to the Cleveland Cavaliers rumors, then you know that means that Michigan State may be a very late jump on the coaching carousel. You know what else that means…
Yes, they put Coach Jamie Dixon on the list. Along with Tom Crean, Brian Gregory, Jim Boylen and other assistants present and past of Izzo. Dixon and Mark Few are the only ones on the list not to be former Michigan State assistants.
In most circumstances, no coach would dream of jumping to a program in June or even July. It is too chaotic. It really is abandoning your own program late in the process. It is incredibly messy. Not to mention it usually speaks to a program in disarray.
Michigan State, though, is well-stocked. Coming off two straight Final Four appearances, and looking like they have the talent to do it again.
I don’t think Coach Dixon would really go at this point. Pitt is also looking very good for the coming year. I also think that if Izzo leaves the next coach is screwed. They have to match Izzo’s success. It wouldn’t quite be as bad as following Krzyzewski at Duke, but close.
Now back to the the SEC/Big East Invitational stuff from last week. How does Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl feel about the game?
“The bottom line is the SEC had a contractual obligation and somebody had to play Pitt at Pitt, and the (SEC) commissioner felt we would be a good choice for that,’’ Pearl said. “Even though we’re not getting a game back, it’s something that will help our strength of schedule and something that sends a strong message to the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee.
“I’m also sending my team a message that I believe in them by taking this game. I’m putting them in harm’s way.’’
Not exactly a rousing statement of excitement. More like, we have no choice so after a dig at the SEC, I’ll try to give the positive spin.
This story on the game also included a quote from Coach Dixon that bothered me.
Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said the schools have yet to settle on a contract for a City Game site but that talks were progressing toward an agreement to play the game annually at Consol Energy Center.
Since 2002, the teams had been alternating home sites until last season, when Duquesne agreed to give up its home date at Palumbo Center to play Pitt in the final college game at Mellon Arena. The Panthers rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to beat the Dukes in overtime, 67-58, on Dec. 1, Pitt’s ninth consecutive victory in the series.
“It’s a real possibility for that game to be played (at Consol Energy Center),” Dixon said. “We’re going to try to play there as much as possible.”
Pitt is expected to relinquish its home date this season if the schools can agree to shift the series site to Consol Energy Center.
I understand that the City Game being played there annually makes some sense. I suppose. I am, however, not wild about Pitt seeking to pull a Villanova and play extra games there. The difference is that the Pavilion on ‘Nova’s campus holds only 6500 people. So playing in the Wachovia Center at more than triple capacity (over 20,000) is a big source of more revenue.
The Consol has a capacity of 19,100 for basketball. That’s less than 7,000 more than the Pete holds. I’m not after you factor in the cost of rent to use and loss of concession revenues for those games are really significant. I really doubt that the amount of increased revenue would be worth the loss of a valuable home court advantage.
I admit to being biased from my experiences as a student at Pitt and the move of games to the Civic Arena that killed all homecourt advantage (yes, I know I’ve written this before). In the short term — with the novelty of a new facility — the energy and size of the crowds might be good. Long term, though, it is a bad idea.
Meanwhile, if you are looking for an excuse to go to a Pirates game, DeJuan Blair will throw out the first pitch on Wednesday night.
Blair, a star on the court at both Schenley High School and the University of Pittsburgh, will take the mound before the Pirates-White Sox game at 7:05 p.m.
“I have been a fan of the Pirates for as long as I can remember and I am thankful for this opportunity,” Blair said in a statement. “I am looking forward to getting out on the mound in front of my hometown crowd and taking part in such a cool Pittsburgh tradition.”
On the recruiting front, Pitt is targeting centers to finish the 2011 class. One of them is Desmond Hubert.
As for Pitt, Hubert said Panthers head coach Jamie Dixon “is a great guy.”
“I can sit down and talk with him. He makes me feel real comfortable when I talk to him. That’s a big plus for me. And then just they had a lot of good bigs lately [Sam Young, DeJuan Blair, Tyrell Biggs].”
The No. 7 center in the Class of 2011, Hubert, a rising senior at New Egypt (N.J.) High School said he also holds offers from UConn, Maryland, Wake Forest, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Rutgers and Seton Hall.
“I’m still pretty much wide open right now,” Hubert said. “Hopefully, after the live period I’ll be able to make my list.”
Hubert’s two front-runners right now are Pitt and Villanova. Should be an interesting battle for the 6-9 player.
Jaylen Bond, a 2011 verbal to Pitt, fought through injuries at “Rumble in the Bronx.”
Jaylen Bond, a 6-7, 220-pound combo forward from Plymouth Whitemarsh who committed to Pitt over West Virginia and Temple, battled an ankle injury but was still impressive in asserting himself. Bond said he wants to improve his handle and perimeter game going forward and imagines himself as a “Sam Young-type player.” “I think you’ll see a lot more to come of him,” Myers said. “He’s getting better and better.”
