Or his twitter could have just been gone on by a friend who had his phone? Or we could have just accidentally done that?

Chas, what is going to explode first, your liver or your head?

No fucking joke – now some of the people who were originally Tweeting that Birch was outta here are backtracking. Maybe he’s not leaving after all?

“@TheRecruitScoop
Despite rumors, Pittsburgh freshman Khem Birch is not considering transferring to Kentucky, nor as he asked for his release, per a source.”

I give up!

It can’t be good that teammates are tweeting about him leaving, even if he ends up staying. I’d like to see a bit more player leadership — maybe I’m old school but I don’t think jumping to twitter should be your first step as teammate.

Feel like I’m working a junior high dance…..Drama….Drama….. Drama.

In this age of “high tech” it seems people have a responsibility to use their toys wisely. E=mails, twitters, tweets, whatever need not be sent or received as TRUE. We humans have had the printed page for centuries and the phone since Alexamder G.(I don’t like his middle name) Bell gave us the phone. Why start rumors just to upset people or lives? End of sermon. Rev. George of Columbus.

JW – I look at it as though it were a policial campaign. If you can’t say something directly – in this case current players (Woodall, Gibbs) then they’ll pass it on to their “surrogates” (Wannamaker, McGhee) to do some of the heavy lifting. Kinda the same thing here. My guess, is they got wind of it and, like us here on this board, their heads ALL COLLECTIVELY EXPLODED. Hell, some of us can’t go 10 minutes without venting about something on the internet – what makes you think a 19/20 year old will be able to? But, they can’t say anything directly because then Dixon will destroy them for leaking it soooooo they just pass the news off to their friends who aren’t with the team but still really connected to it. I’m not to bent out of shape about it. It is what it is. I would imagine they probably said something to Birch, probably like a million times already since they’ve known about it, but maybe he didn’t want to listen or whatever.

Dokish has great sources at Pitt and he just said that he couldn’t get anybody to confirm that Birch was leaving and that Jamie Dixon didn’t even mention it to his source. But then with all of the tweets, he’s assuming Birch is at least thinking about it.

Why would he think he could make the first team for Kentucky if he can’t break into the starting lineup at Pitt? I’m not going to worry about this unless it actually happens, which I don’t think it will. Hope not! Imagine next year, having Birch and Steven Adams in the front court…

Calipari=slime, if he were to transfer there, there is more to it then just basketball….

Or this could be Todd Graham fucking with us….

I’m also considering leaving pitt.

Hey, so am I!!

Oh, that’s right. They kicked my ass out 35 years ago.

“ALOPEWQWVCXRLUTSFDO;ISDYOTDO[SFD!!!!!”

-Chas Rich

Yup, I think Pitt has finally done it. Being the biggest diehard amongst a crew of Pitt diehards has finally driven Chas off the deep end.

The Panthers will do that to ya…

What’s next, the baseball team is going to pull an OWS for spring training?

At least SP has had plenty of practice hiring coaches in the last year…hopefully he understands by now that the program and university would be well served by a swift hire.

teryl Austin

Like I said on another subject post have him talk to Charles Smith before doing anything stupid, something 18 and 19 y/o’s do (I know at that age I did)and he may appreciate playing the 5 at PITT. Also, as someone else said have Sam Young talk to him about what it takes to be in the NBA. I wish I had known at that age what I know now, and several PITT alumni are in a position to explain to him what it really takes. I hope he does not think he can do it(ala Mark Blount someone else to have him talk to) as easily as say Karl Malone.

I’ve been saying for all the games since Penn when Birch had a double, double, with 15 & 10, that he should be getting more PT. Birch has a far greater upside than Taylor. Against the teams with physical centers like OK. State, move him over to PF or SF and move Nas if need be.

Not only will we lose a Mac’s All-American, we would get stuck with the one who, once Birch is gone, will go back to his old Sleepy ways. Not that’s he far from that now.

And as I’ve said ad nauseum, get him as much PT now so he’ll be ready for the BE schedule/

KC Keeler

NAS HAS GAME.

Chas

As a two time Pitt dad and a fan long before either of my sons attended Pitt, I have truly enjoyed and appreciated Pitt Blather so thank you for all you do.

As for the next HC, one of my sons suggested Brian Schottenheimer – son of Marty Schottenheimer (former Pitt linebacker) and currently the Jets OC. Brian could bring Marty in as his DC. Just don’t let him bring Matt Cavanaugh back as QB coach.

Voytik looks solid as commit to PITT:

link to espn.go.com

“It can’t be good that teammates are tweeting about him leaving, even if he ends up staying. I’d like to see a bit more player leadership — maybe I’m old school but I don’t think jumping to twitter should be your first step as teammate.”

I get the impression Birch had pretty much told them he was gone or that was their understanding and Dixon or someone sat down with him and changed his mind. Either that or Dixon has so much loyalty from these kids that they lashed out at the new kid complaining.

nice post, Jim. I agree. Birch is young and feels unappreciated. Have someone who has been there sit him down and talk to him. Remind him of the long term advantages of playing at Pitt under Dixon. He will earn his minutes and benefit from the process. Chas Smith, Sam, Aaron, and DeJuan can provide insight with Pitt under Jamie and the Pitt/NBA voice of experience.

And bashing him is not the way to handle this. HTP

He is what 18, 19 years old? I would be surprised if he didn’t have thoughts about his future. In my day (Fred Flinstone powered cars), these same thoughts were common. You looked down in the dumps, shared thoughts with friends, they took you drinking and it was over.
Now, they tweet. Just different times. Hey anyone who questions their value and worth is actually thinking about their future. Usually, that gets better long term results.
In the 1980 NBA finals, Magic Johnson played center…way out of position…to leadhis team to a championship. If the 2nd greatest player and greatest ambassador of the game can do it (and maybe the best team player of all time IMO), then everyone else can.

I still don’t get the fuss. It sounds like it could be entirely rumor mongering. Has anyone even confirmed it was HIS Twitter? Or an internet hoax? Or that he wasn’t just messing with people? Given his patented Khemtrail, the dude obviously has a sense of humor.

It’s like ‘I saw on this internet so it has to be true’

Twitter is saying Birch has left campus and off to Canada to talk with the family. This sucks.

I am now reporting that I am considering leaving my desk and going to the kitchen to get some water. God Bless.

Chas, are you sure that Birch wouldn’t be eligible at Kentucky in January 2103 if he transferred right now?

Dixon would have to release him out of his scholarship, before his next program’s spring semester begins.

If Dixon does, then Birch can play in January even though as Chas stated, he would be a mid-season addition … but he still would be allowed to practice with the team until then

Some recent tweets from Fittipaldo.

rayfitt1 ray fittipaldo

#Pitt practice moved back 3 hours until 3 today. Still no resolution on birch situation.
18 minutes ago »

rayfitt1 ray fittipaldo

#pitt players entering pec for practice anxious to find out about khem birch sitaution. One player saw on twitter for first time this a.m.
3 hours ago »

rayfitt1 ray fittipaldo

Former Pitt recruit Jaylen Bond, who was jettisoned for the Khem Birch signing,had 18 and 12 for Texas the other nite off the bench.

Is it accurate to say that Bond was “jettisoned” for Birch. I thought he simply left to go to what he thought was a better situation?

multiple sources reporting that Birch is not at the 3:00 pm practice.

it is very accurate to say that Bond was jettisoned for Birch. You may remember that Birch was supposed to be next year’s recruit but at the 11th hour, decide to forego his final year at prep school and enter Pitt. That left pitt over the limit and Jamie tried to convince Bond to go to a prep school to improve his gardes — he instead opted for Texas.

link to eye-on-college-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com

birch is gone

Hey Birch, don’t let the door hit ya on the back side.

Post-Gazette reporting he is gone:
link to post-gazette.com