Delaware State is an ESPN3.com internet broadcast tomorrow. So, no liveblog. Open thread will be posted.

Scout.com updated its top-100 2011 basketball players. Khem Birch checked in at #10 and Durand Johnson is listed at #80. Neither were on the list before. Birch came in because he reclassified from 2012. Johnson, just earned the move-up by how he has played and improved.

What is astounding, and disturbing about just how tough the Big East is in recruiting and talent is this from a Q&A with Rivals.com basketball recruiting guy, Jerry Myers.

Because Khem Birch is coming to Pitt in 2011, will that change the ranking for its class? Where would Birch rank? He was fourth in 2012. Where is he in 2011?

– Frank from Pittsburgh

Adding Birch to Pittsburgh’s 2011 class places that class right behind Rutgers as the No. 5 class in the Big East and the No. 16 class nationally.

As for where Birch’s individual ranking, it is likely he will be ranked somewhere between No. 8 and No. 12 when the 2011 Rivals150 is updated.

One. This is a top-20 recruiting class, but is not even in the top-quarter of the Big East. Yeesh.

Two. This is one of Coach Dixon’s best recruiting classes in terms of rankings. You can argue about busts and that rankings are nebulous, but they aren’t that far off with top talent. What Pitt and Coach Dixon have accomplished and what is expected of themi just seems more amazing (if that’s possible).

Gary McGhee got some stories going into this past weekend. As usual, and appropriately it was for his defense and rebounding.

“I know my role will be defending and rebounding,” McGhee said. “I just have to focus more on offensive rebounding to get my buckets. That’s what I’m trying to focus on now. I’m not going to get as many touches because we have so many great scorers on the perimeter.”

McGhee is not a naturally gifted offensive player. His hands often betray him and his post repertoire is limited to one unpolished jump hook move. He will never be mistaken for DeJuan Blair, whose silky soft hands and offensive rebounding skills made him one of the most effective post players in the history of the Big East Conference in his abbreviated two-year college career.

But McGhee does not have to be Blair for this version of the Panthers. He can play fifth fiddle to Ashton Gibbs, Brad Wanamaker, Gilbert Brown and Nasir Robinson. And if he can contribute some points when opportunities present thems elves he will be doing enough to help the Panthers win on most nights.

McGhee has been doing just that lately. He has 26 points in the past three games after being held to five points or fewer in four of the first five games.

“I just wasn’t finishing strong early on,” McGhee said. “I’ve been in the gym working on it, just keeping after it. [Wednesday night] I came out and finished strong around the basket.”

That he has. Rather than just trying to put up a shot or trying his iffy-hook, he has been powering to the basket and trying to slam the ball home. No shying from contact or avoiding fouls. I have to believe Coach Dixon and the staff have made it clear that he is better served putting it in and shooting 50-60% on the +1 rather than 40-50% on a weak put-back — and still contend with FT shooting.

It isn’t just McGhee, though, hitting the glass. Pitt is doing plenty of team rebounding.

Pitt’s most effective offensive rebounder is sophomore center Dante Taylor, who has almost twice as many offensive rebounds as defensive rebounds. He has 29 offensive boards and 16 defensive rebounds entering a game today against Rider. But he is not the only one who possesses the desire and ability to go after missed shots.

Talib Zanna has 21 offensive rebounds, Gary McGhee has 17. Eight players have 10 or more.

Whereas Blair was Pitt’s dominating force in his two seasons with the team, Dixon believes this team will rebound well because so many players are capable of contributing on the glass.

“I don’t think we’ve gotten completely to where we want to be rebounding-wise,” Dixon said. “I think we’ll have a lot of different guys rebounding. It’s not going to be a one-man show. We’ve got guards that rebound and a number of big guys that rebound. The combination of those things will help us be a good rebounding team. But I’m not satisfied and I don’t think our guys are either.”

The offensive rebounding has been big so far this season. Especially in some of the early games where Pitt’s shooting was less than impressive in the first half. The other thing that has helped has been a bench that not only has been productive, but can change the pace.

Coach Jamie Dixon has a unique situation on his hands. His reserves at several positions are better offensive players than the players who start in front of them. That has produced a different dynamic in games.

The reserves are not in the game to protect leads. More often than not they are helping the Panthers extend leads. Three of Pitt’s top six scorers are reserves. Backup center Dante Taylor is fourth on the team in scoring, backup power forward Nasir Robinson is fifth and Woodall is sixth.

“I think coach Dixon keeping Nasir coming off the bench, that’s helping,” Woodall said. “We’re all sparks coming off the bench. The starters are doing their job, and at the same time you have more guys who can contribute a lot more. We have guys who can be starters coming off the bench. Nas basically is a starter. Then you have myself and Dante. We’re all trying to play aggressive. With me pushing the ball, it’s making it a faster-paced game, so we’re scoring more.”

If you want to read into that, Woodall appears to be enjoying the chemistry his group has when they get into the game. That’s part of the benefit of a deep roster and experimenting in the non-con with the rotation. I don’t disagree with Woodall. Robinson is (and should) getting more minutes than Zanna at the moment. But coming off the bench seems like a great move for him. I think it helps keep him from early foul troubles and his energy and effort is a good jolt to the team.

The Oakland Zoo notes that Pitt plays in the pre-season NIT next year.  At least now we know what event Pitt is using for a trip to MSG. But that is looking too far ahead. There is the game tomorrow and then Saturday’s game at the Con with Tennessee.

Coaching matchup to watch: Tennessee’s Bruce Pearl vs. Pittsburgh’s Jamie Dixon, Saturday, 3:15 p.m., ESPN. Since the start of last season, Pearl’s team seems to be at its best when the news off the court is at its worst. The Volunteers beat then-No. 1 Kansas last season following the arrest of four players, including star forward Tyler Smith. After Pearl was hit with sanctions from the SEC office this season, the Volunteers won the Preseason NIT by defeating Villanova. Dixon, too, knows about getting the most out of a team with a chip on its shoulder. Both coaches get their players to play tough, aggressive defense, so this likely will be an ugly game.

Tennessee’s Coach Bruce Pearl is very good at playing up the opponent.

“We haven’t come close to seeing physical until we play Pittsburgh,” Pearl said. “Physicality is what they’re known for; it’s their deal, it’s their personality.”

The Vols have this week to prepare for the Panthers as they’ll practice around final exams, which end on Tuesday.

“Doesn’t matter,” Pearl said. “We could spend two months on Pitt and it wouldn’t make much of a difference.

“They are that good.”