Perhaps it is fitting that Pitt plays at Marquette for the final time on this day. Pitt leaves for the ACC and Marquette prepares for being in the Big Priest in 2014, it is unlikely the two shall see much of each other beyond the rare tournament meeting.

The history of both schools very rarely crossed until that fateful Sweet Sixteen game in 2003. That followed their joining the Big East and the games became battles. Was it a rivalry? I can’t say that. But the games were always tough. Few were sure things one way or another. And today as it ends it happens to be on the game where the Golden Eagles honor their 2003 team.

Bastards.

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No coherent theme to the stories in my tabs so it’s a good time for linking and letting them go.

If it helps in the Steven Adams’ future debate, Seth Davis from SI.com wants him to stay.

It’s nice to see Pittsburgh freshman center Steven Adams getting more comfortable, but I really think he would do himself a disservice if he went to the NBA. What’s the hurry, young fella? Get stronger, work on your game, come back to school, and go to the league when you’re ready to have an impact.

Coach Dixon attributes the drop in scoring in no small part to the zone and 3s.

Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon made a great point Thursday about low scoring in college basketball. Dixon said that teams attempting more 3-pointers has led to more zone defenses and using up more of the shot clock. Of course, he added that teams are defending better and more fouls aren’t being called. There are a lot of theories out there about low scoring, but perhaps the most important might be the lack of some fundamental shooting.

It’s purely anecdotal and perhaps perception, but it does seem that a lot more teams are utilizing zone defenses this season. They aren’t necessarily sticking with it exclusively, but they are shifting to it for stretches. Trying to keep teams off-balance.

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Here’s what I asked last week in regards moving the Villanova game so FSU-Pitt could start the season:

I guess my question is, how willing is Villanova to accommodate Pitt?

There’s just a bit of bad blood right now. The whole blocking Nova from moving to Big East football led by Pitt. Pitt leaving for the ACC. The schism of football and basketball at long last in the Big East. Egos and pride might make this a little more difficult.

Maybe it’s as simple as throwing some extra money towards Villanova. Maybe Nova is fine with changing their schedule. So far, no one has heard anything from the Villanova administration. But I can’t help but think that it would be the most Big East basketball thing to have Villanova gum this up as much as possible.

The answer — unsurprisingly — is: not much.

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I know it is common in just about every city, but I am not a big fan of the cross-media thing. Where a local columnist also does the radio show. (And by that, I mean, my general problem not specific to a particular guy.) Not because his work suffers or because he isn’t particularly good. It bothers me because every column written takes on an undertone of preparing for a topic on the radio show.

I thought about this as a couple weeks ago Joe Starkey did a column on Steven Adams. This week Ron Cook had his own column. Both centered on the issue of whether Steven Adams would return for his sophomore year (or even junior year). And hey, Chris Mueller also did a Steven Adams column — though, he is more radio guy first so I probably cut a little slack on that. For the record, Starkey thinks he will. Cook says, “who cares.”

In both you can almost feel how this is just prelude to using it as a topic on their respective shows.

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There is still so much for the splintering Big East to resolve. There’s no shortage of rumors and reports of how the Big Priest portion would love to be split in time for the 2013 season. That, however, seems to be an impossibility. From setting up a new conference — hiring people, finding a commissioner, getting NCAA recognition for an auto bid to the NCAA Tournament, and so forth — to the very thorny issue of the money reserves in the Big East — all the exit fees, NCAA Tournament units particularly.

Then there is the issue of poaching programs from other conferences to get to a 10-12 team conference.

[Outgoing Xavier AD Mike] Bobinski said if Xavier receives the expected offer from the departing Big East schools to become one of its new members then it would have to listen. It would be situation where there were like-minded schools with a common purpose. He also said that 2014 would be more realistic for any movement while 2013 could be a bit rushed, although everything is negotiable. He didn’t say Xavier would definitely leave, but it sure sounded like the Musketeers have given this a lot of thought and are likely gone if asked, whenever that occurs. Xavier and Butler are expected to be first up on the docket to join Georgetown, Marquette, DePaul, St. John’s, Villanova, Seton Hall and Providence — with the choice for a 10th or possibly 11th or 12th coming from a pool of Creighton (MVC), Dayton, Richmond, VCU and Saint Louis (all A-10).

Sorry, Duquesne.

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No doubt, you are aware that the Big East web site sell’s gear for all member schools. This still includes Pitt. It’s nice to see that they have embraced the  Pitt’s departure to the ACC.

It’s the description that really drives it home:

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So the theme in today’s stories for Pitt basketball is sharing the ball and assists.

One time it was Pitt power forward Talib Zanna zipping it to a cutting Lamar Patterson from the right corner; the next, center Steven Adams was slipping a bounce pass to Zanna from the high post.

Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin called it inexcusable that Pitt players dunked on the Bearcats’ zone defense.

Jamie Dixon finds it inconceivable that the Panthers’ passing isn’t discussed more, given their propensity for finding open players and for those passes leading to points.

“We’re not tops in the country in assists for nothing,” Dixon said. “We do it year after year. It’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough, except for (Pitt radio color analyst) Dick Groat. He’s the only guy that seems to talk about our passing.”

The Panthers rank among the nation’s leaders in both assists (sixth, 17.2 a game) and assists-to-turnover ratio (second, 1.57). They have averaged at least 15 assists a game every season since Dixon became coach in 2003-04, ranking as high as fourth (17.4) in 2010-11 and sixth (18.0) in 2008-09.

Good team numbers.

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Fine, I’ll indulge in this. If for no other reason than to provide a post that is actually on the topic. Damn, the fact that Pitt basketball is off until Saturday!

No puffs of smoke from the South Side indicating that any hirings have been made for the DC position.

There are names drifting about, but it is also clear that no one is really sure how serious either side is in the gig. Pitt and Coach Chryst really have a handle on leaks. Government agencies could learn a few things from this.

Keep in mind, these are just rumored names. Don’t treat them as facts. Try not to freak out on the speculation too much. Please?

Here are the names:

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So, since signing day last week, the reports have flown about Pitt getting Florida State at home on the opening weekend of college football. A marquee game to start Pitt’s time in the ACC. Monday night.

The topic has been bandied about, and strawmen have have been set up to be knocked down in explaining why Pitt should jump at the opportunity.

The Panthers are scheduled to open with Villanova on Aug. 31, but the prospect of a Labor Day visit (two days later) from Florida State recently became viable. To their credit, athletic director Steve Pederson and coach Paul Chryst jumped all over it.

My understanding is that Pederson first was presented with the idea. He approved it but left the decision with Chryst, who immediately and enthusiastically endorsed it.

Unfortunately, some people didn’t, judging from what I saw since the news broke Wednesday.

Usually, it’s the coach who’s paranoid, not the fans. Yet, I keep hearing these concerns: Pitt’s not ready for that kind of challenge so soon. … They couldn’t even beat Youngstown State in last year’s opener. … Remember Wanny’s first game, against Notre Dame? … They could get embarrassed on their home field!

Nothing but fear-based, negative thinking.

My only objection is that it is a Monday night game, and I really don’t know if I can make it for the game. My reasons for hesitating are purely selfish. I want to be there.

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Let me briefly sing the praises of James Robinson. The kid has been in a rough stretch. And most of the Cinci game was no different. He missed his shots. He only had one assist.

Teams are sagging off him when out there, daring him to shoot and playing to lanes to limit his effectiveness at passing. He only has 12 assists to 8 turnovers in the past six games. It’s to the point where despite being a starter, his minutes are that of a 6th man. Right now his inability to produce offense is a big problem, because Pitt needs production from the backcourt.

Even though his minutes have been dropping because of how much he is struggling offensively — he is only 3-19 over the last 6 games — there is no doubt of his mental toughness and his future as a leader of this team. He only played 18 minutes in this game, but he was out there in the final couple minutes. He didn’t make mistakes. He didn’t try and do anything special to show he should be out there more. And he calmly drained four free throws to help salt the game away in the final 60 seconds.

Robinson knows his limitations at the moment as does Coach Dixon. At the same time Dixon has confidence in him at the end of games, and Robinson rewarded that confidence.

I don’t know why for sure, but when the game reached halftime I felt extremely confident that my DVR-delayed viewing of Pitt-Cinci was going to end the right way. Maybe it was seeing Pitt score the final basket of the half as Cinci let up after a score. After seeing it happen in the first meeting with Cinci and the Michigan game, having Pitt down at the half but getting the bucket to keep the game closer felt positive.

Maybe it was that outside of Sean Kilpatrick there wasn’t much to Cinci’s offense in the first half. He was 15 of their 31 points and take his shooting out of the equation and the rest of the Bearcats were only 6-19 shooting and 1-6 on 3s. And with Cashmere Wright playing through an injury, there just isn’t anyone else on the Bearcats picking up the slack.

“The kid is giving everything he’s got,” Mick Cronin said. “He’s playing hurt and he’s giving everything he’s got.”

Sean Kilpatrick sympathizes with his friend.

“I don’t know how his body feels,” Kilpatrick said. “He’s probably feeling it worse than anybody else. He’s a shooter and that’s what’s going to happen sometimes. He can’t let it affect his game.”

The scary thing for UC is that unless Wright gets his game back, there doesn’t seem to be another player on the team capable of picking up  the slack and functioning as a scorinig complement for Kilpatrick. One thing’s for sure. Kilpatrick can’t do all himself. Just look at his one-point second half Saturday after he scored 15 in the first half.

Or maybe it is simply that this Pitt team has just kept on winning this month, and I’m starting to expect them to finish games.

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It’s a rare Saturday evening game for Pitt. Which coincides with an even rarer evening out with just my wife. So I’m back to DVR delay for this.

In the all-time series, Cinci holds a 9-8 edge. Before Pitt leaves the Big East it would be nice to make sure this series is knotted at 9.

Perimeter defense will be huge for this game. Cinci takes the most 3-pointers of anyone in the Big East (though after this past week they are now tied with Seton Hall) at 495 3FGAs. That’s about 21.5 per game. They hit at a 33% clip.  Pitt, by contrast has attempted 336 3s (14.6/game) and hits a bit over 35% of the time.

Pitt has to press their advantage inside to score. Pitt is shooting over 50% (518-980, 52.9%) inside the arc. Cinci, by contrast struggles more at well under 50% (409-875, 46.7%). That helps explain the volume of shooting they do from outside. They have to make up the difference of their weaker inside presence.

Seth Davis at SI.com is picking Cinci to eek out a 1-point win in a low scoring game.

I have to be honest. I haven’t thought or worried too much about the vacant defensive coordinator position. It isn’t that I don’t want to get it resolved. And obviously I want Coach Chryst to hire someone who is very good at his job (not to mention above average as a recruiter).

It is just that I really didn’t expect a new DC to be hired until after signing day. Most rumors and reports suggested/hinted/implied that Coach Chryst was going to be waiting until after this week to really move on the hire. So it seemed silly to wonder, angst and provide calorie-free updates when there really was no information or expectations.

Well, now we are reaching the point where a hire is going to be made and must be made. Coach Chryst has acknowledged as much during his signing day presser.

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This is one of my favorite parts of the signing day. The day after, when the stories are published of the kids signing their Letter of Intent to attend college on scholarship. It is one of the biggest days, and a day of pride.

For Jaryd Jones-Smith there is more than a little sadness to his day since his father recently passed.

Jones, 58, died on Dec. 22 after a battle with brain tumors.

“It’s been pretty hard on him, because he and his dad were very close. He wanted his dad to be a part of his signing day,” said Jones-Smith’s mother, Shirley Smith. Smith and Jones were not married.

Jones-Smith said his father would be “extremely happy” with Pittsburgh, a decision the senior made less than a month after his father’s passing.

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One of Jones-Smith’s last memories shared with both parents was the Burrs’ Senior Night in November, just a few weeks before his father was hospitalized.

While Jones-Smith was a key cog on West’s offensive and defensive lines, his father cheered loudly from the stands. After the game, the three posed for a picture together on the field – the last photograph of Jones-Smith and his parents.

“He was always there for me, especially with football,” Jones-Smith said.

Sorry, it’s a little dusty in here.

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Yes, we all know that the class rankings after you get out of the top 15 or so become very nebulous and subject to wild swings based on whatever formula a recruiting site uses. Scout.com — for example — places a higher emphasis on quantity than most sites. Something that hurt Pitt in their rankings last year, but gives Pitt a huge boost this year. That said we, like to know where Pitt is considered to be compared. Especially within the conference.

I have to say that it was and is taking some getting used to seeing Pitt listed as an ACC team. I understand it since Pitt will be playing there in the fall. It’s just having Pitt still playing and competing in the Big East in basketball. Not to mention that the official joining doesn’t take place until July (and a reminder to Pitt: don’t do any stupid videos about joining like Texas A&M did for the SEC).

So how did the four major recruiting sites view the Pitt class as a whole? And how did it compare to others in the ACC?

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