I won’t pretend it wasn’t frustrating. In the abstract, going into this past week and even heading into the game, I was expecting that Pitt was at best a toss-up to win this game in Louisville. And the way the game went in the first half, it sure looked that way.

The team battled back in the second half. Turnovers went down, and so did the shots. The defense, which wasn’t bad in the first half, was even better. Then came the OT which I missed almost all of because CBS felt that Ohio really needed to see the start of the predictably easy game for Indiana-Ohio St.

The one lesson I truly learned is that I need to stop procrastinating and finish setting up the basement desktop computer to be wired into the home network. I mean after I replace the sump pump in the basement — yay, thunderstorms a couple days after snow being dumped on us. But I digress.

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Sorry about no WVU recap or preview of this game. Snow days with the kids, and doing extra parenting duties to cover for going to Senior day and the regular season finale next Saturday.

From what I understand, Louisville is a 1 point favorite at home. I’m only shocked it isn’t more. Louisville is unbeaten in Big East play at ther new joint. Even before Pitt beat the Hoopies on Thursday night, Luke Winn at SI.com had Pitt #1 in his power rankings and had a tremendous chart showing efficiency margins in home/road splits. There’s a reason Pitt is on top of the Big East. Of course, Louisville has one of the biggest boosts at home, so yeah. This is going to be Pitt’s toughest road game of the year.

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It’s finally out. The Big East got their marching orders from the Mouse Monopoly. The Big East released all the schedules. So why waste time? Here’s the Pitt football schedule.

Well, I think some things obviously jump out on that schedule.

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Not sure much of an introduction is needed for this. It’s the Backyard Brawl. It’s at the Pete. It doesn’t start until 9pm on ESPN. On a Thursday night. The best thing for public safety in Morgantown may be a TV blackout.

The last 9pm Thursday game was a year and a week ago at Marquette. That worked out rather well, even if I did overdo the Gemini.

I’d like to hope that Pitt wins this one going away, but I think we all know that isn’t going to happen. Dante Taylor will be a game-time decision. If he can’t go, that means Richardson is the primary back-up to McGhee.

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Backyard Brawl games at the Pete, have been some of the most stressful, taut, exciting games for Pitt in the last few years. Ramon’s game-winning 3 and the 3OT game are some of the best wins at the Pete. Pitt is 6-1 versus the Hoopies in the Pete. Huggins-based Hoopies are winless at the Pete.

Beyond the hatred and never wanting to lose games at home, this is a big game. This game is something of a must-win for Pitt if the team wishes to win the Big East regular season outright and lock down a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament.

“We know what’s at stake,” senior forward Gilbert Brown said. “We want to win the Big East regular championship. We know we have to do it in these last four games.”

To that end, Pitt needs to go 3-1 in the final four games of the season. Not trying to look ahead much, but beating Louisville on Sunday at the Chicken Center is going to be a toss-up at best. Not losing any more home games this year is vital.

The thing is, WVU is almost in a must-win situation in their final four games. At least if they want a good seed in the NCAA Tournament and the Big East Tournament. Remember this factoid, Huggins coached teams have never finished worse than 5th in a conference regular season. This year the Hoopies sit at 8-6. Finishing 11-7 gives them a good shot at finishing at worst, tied for 5th in the conference. A 3-1 finish for them would be about what they need.

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Pitt baseball has been improving under Coach Joe Jordano. So much so, that you can actually listen to some of the games this year on the radio and via a livestream.

WPTS has Pitt baseball broadcasts this year. The first one is this Saturday at 3pm against IPFW

If you are in the ‘Burgh Pitt’s student radio station is 92.1 FM. Otherwise you can listen on the WPTS Website.

Anyways, here’s the press release and broadcast schedule.

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Welcome to the new theme. Pitt isn’t scoring enough.

The offense that once struck fear into the opposition has slowed to a crawl. The Panthers averaged 78.5 points per game through the first seven Big East Conference games. In the past seven games against conference competition, they have averaged 63 per game.

In the first seven games, the Panthers scored 72 points or more in every game and had 80 or more three times. In the past seven the highest total is 71 (twice) and they have been held below 60 three times, including twice in the past three games.

“We just haven’t been hitting shots,” sophomore guard Travon Woodall said. “It’s been a stretch where we’re playing a lot of games. We’ll get back to what we’re used to. But right now, we’re not hitting shots. Coach has been emphasizing taking enough shots and getting our shots up. We have to get back to that.”

There are some reasons for the big drop in scoring, most notably the absence of leading scorer Ashton Gibbs for three of those games. The Panthers also happened to play the Big East’s worst defending teams early on in the conference schedule.

Five of the first seven opponents are currently ranked 11th or higher in the league in scoring defense. Of the past seven opponents, five are among the top seven in the conference in scoring defense.

Yeah, go figure, Pitt’s offensive numbers dip when they play better defenses. Add in three missed games for Ashton Gibbs, which allowed a lot more collapsing by defenses without the real threat of 3-point baskets.

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As we all know, the season ticket plans were announced last week. I felt compelled to mention it to my wife, who was less than thrilled to find out that I’d have 8 games to attend this year. You would think she would be happier to get rid of me more frequently. The price is really good for the package, and only someone determined to make excuses would complain about the overall home schedule that includes ND and Utah in the non-con.

Only thing missing from the plan? Well, aside from the actual schedule. Any explanation as to what the hell will be the system/policy/plan this year with parking. That’s still a mess that needs to be a lot clearer, simplified and understandable. I don’t know if the administration realizes quite how much that nasty surprise a few weeks before the start of the season cost them a lot of good will.

In a nod to the talent on Pitt’s team last year, six Pitt players have been invited to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine: Jason Pinkston, Jon Baldwin, Greg Romeus, Jabaal Sheard, Dion Lewis and Henry Hynoski.

Romeus was considered a late first- or early second-round pick before the season but is likely to be a middle-round pick at best.

Tailback Dion Lewis is projected as a third or fourth rounder but could improve that with a good 40-yard dash time.

Offensive tackle Jason Pinkston, like Baldwin, has a lot of natural ability scouts like, but some question his focus.

The one Panther whose stock has improved is defensive end Jabaal Sheard.

He has shown enough to convince scouts he could make the jump to the outside linebacker spot in a 3-4 defense — similar to the transition made by Steelers star LaMarr Woodley.

The other former Panther headed for Indianapolis is fullback Henry Hynoski, who is rated the top fullback in the draft by several scouting services. But his prospects depend on which teams, if any, want a traditional fullback.

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I’m trying not to be bitter. I’m trying, really. When Hardy scored that basket at the end, I was willing to tip my cap and be gracious.  A really tough shot that went in. Gilbert Brown did a fine job guarding him and driving him deep, without touching him — or breathing on him — to get whisteled for the foul you know Hardy would have gotten.

Well, I was at first. But then the replays. The angles. Oh, by the inverted ghost of Tim Higgins. How could a ref standing right there not see that? Ignore it? Not make the right call?

Don’t get me wrong, Pitt did enough wrong in the game. You could make the case that this was the game were Pitt’s poor foul shooters — Robinson, McGhee and Taylor combined 2-9 on FTs — finally cost the team a game.

There’s plenty. But when a call that egregious is missed. When it isn’t one, but both feet that appear to have been over and on the line? When the official called everything for Hardy in the final minute? Then pretends nothing was amiss?

In very fine new book called, Scorecasting, there’s a chapter entitled “So, what is driving home field advantage?” It somewhat helps explain much of this. It talks of referee bias in home court situation. Not blatantly favoring a team, but how it influences games. It is most obvious when it comes to plays and fouls that involve turnovers. Suffice to say, this falls in as one of the most blatant examples you can encounter.

I’m on DVR delay at my parents today. A delayed trip to for the kids to see their grandparents has me tied up during game time. Last time this happened, well, it was the Tennessee game. No, I’m not worried at all, why do you ask?

Not to worry, the liveblog is in competent hands (I think). Luke might be around to help. As may Maz. Confirmed and making his first attempt at running the show, Bryan of the fine Pitt Script blog. Go easy on him.

It’s a nooner on ESPN. Dave Pasch and Doris Burke on the call.

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As just about everyone is aware of by this point, Ashton Gibbs has been cleared to play for tomorrow’s Nooner at MSG.

“I was probably the happiest man in the world when they gave me the OK to play,” said Gibbs, Pitt’s leading scorer at 16.3 points per game. “I’m feeling good.”

The 6-foot-2 Gibbs, injured Feb. 5 against Cincinnati, took part in his first full-contact practice Thursday.

He said he didn’t feel any soreness after practice. And following a visit with Pitt trainer Tony Salesi, Gibbs, who grew up in West Orange, N.J., was cleared to play in his hometown.

“I went all-out (at practice),” he said. “I felt good. It’s not sore or anything. It feels normal. (Salesi) told me everything was fine.”

Gibbs, who may wear a small brace or tape his knee as a precaution, said his rehab consisted mainly of icing the knee, riding a bike and strengthening his quadriceps.

He was expected to miss 10-14 days and returned right on schedule.

“It’s close to 100 percent,” he said. “I can feel it a little bit, but it’s nothing major.”

I take it, this means he hast to return that bowtie to Orlando Antigua.

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So, this will be the first big game at MSG during the Big East regular season for Pitt since… I have no idea. Were there any during the Mike Jarvis era? Wow. Just think about that. Pitt has had some big games at the garden for the past 8-10 years. Duke, Texas, the Big East Tournament games. But when was the last time you can remember a big game there with St. John’s? Godspeed Norm Roberts.

As much as Pitt fans and the players in recent years like to speak of MSG a home-away-from-home, Pitt is only 4-7 at MSG vs. St. John’s. With two of the winscoming in the last few years. Prior to 2008, you would have had to go back to 1995 to find a win at MSG for Pitt over St. John’s. Much like the Nova streak at the Pavilion, though, this is skewed by the fact that Pitt only played 3 games at MSG vs. St. John’s between 1995 and 2008. But I digress.

I Haven’t done one of these all season, but when Pico (formerly of East Coast Bias) now part of the SBN Borg collective, contacted me there was sufficient time and curiosity. You can find my answers to his questions right here.

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Hello fellow Blather-addicts, welcome back to another edition of Pitt by Numbers; the tempo-free statistical post that gets by on blue-collar toughness and physicality.

Throughout the pre-conference slate we were told that this is Jamie Dixon’s deepest team yet. The early repetition of this proclamation has led a few of the regulars on this blog to go the other way and call our bench overrated. Now, in the wake of Pitt’s 3-0 performance in Ashton Gibbs’ absence we’re back to lauding what guys like Trevon Woodall and Talib Zanna bring to the table.

We can spend all day throwing out qualitative statements about Pitt’s depth, but just how deep are the Panthers? More importantly, how much does depth matter?

I wanted to see if there was some kind of trait that teams who make deep runs into March have in common when it comes to how they rely on their bench. I took the last four years worth of Final Four teams and compared the percentage of minutes, points, rebounds and assists that came from their benches. Here is how they compare to this year’s Pitt team. (You may have to maximize your browser to view the graph)

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Obviously we have severely underestimated the secret society in New Zealand that Coach Dixon obviously holds the Blofeld spot. Do not fail him.

We know that Pitt has a verbal from Steven Adams, and that he has joined the NBL’s top team, the Wellington Saints this year. While Dixon’s tentacles have his people carefully positioned to guard, protect, and nurture Adams until he gets to Pittsburgh in 2012, that wasn’t enough.

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No it wasn’t a great effort. Not from the crowd at the Pete. Not from the team. We can all agree on that. I’m reasonably certain Coach Dixon wasn’t pleased, and I’m sure everyone already knows that they can’t do that against even an average team. So, let’s skip that admonishment.

Thankfully, USF is a subpar team, Pitt was at home, and better to get the letdown effort out of the way now rather than this weekend.

Am I going to lose it over a weak effort? No. This sort of things happens at the pro level all the time, it really is amazing it doesn’t happen more often with college kids. This is still the team that pounded UConn and Georgetown. That stepped on the throat of bad teams like Seton Hall and DePaul.

Is it frustrating when it was happening? Was I yelling at my computer? Shaking my head? Actually getting a little nervous at times? Oh, yeah.

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