Every other year or so, Pitt’s non-con tournament is something of a dog. A couple years ago it was a Philly thing with LaSalle and Penn. This time it is the Legends Classic in something that is anything but.
The University of Pittsburgh basketball team is slated to compete in the 2013 Legends Classic, November 25 and 26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Pitt will play two of three opponents: Houston, Stanford and/or Texas Tech. Those two games will be nationally televised on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.
In addition, Pitt will host two regional games as part of the Legends Classic at the Petersen Events Center. Those games will be played in Pittsburgh sometime between November 17-21. Game times and matchups will be announced at a later date.
On the plus side, unlike the last time when Pitt was in the “Legends Classic,” these games can actually be watched. In 2008, the thing was aired on HDNet (home of the CBI).
The other plus is that it is Pitt’s annual effort to make sure to play a game in the NYC.
USA Basketball has worked hard to keep the coaches in place for more than one year. So Florida’s Billy Donovan — who coached the Men’s U-18 squad last year — will return to coach the U-19 squad this year. James Robinson was a member of the 2012 group. He has been invited to try out to be a part of the U-19 group.
The camp will run from June 14-19 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Following the first three or four days of training camp, finalists for the team will be selected by the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team Committee. The official 12-member USA team will then train for three days from June 20-22 in Washington, D.C., prior to departing for the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship, which will be played June 27-July 7 in Prague, Czech Republic. Florida’s Billy Donovan will serve as head coach for the squad, while Virginia’s Tony Bennett and VCU’s Shaka Smart are the assistant coaches.
Last summer, Robinson was selected to play on the same USA National Team that captured the FIBA Americas Under-18 championship with a perfect 5-0 record at Sao Sebastiao de Paraiso, Brazil. Robinson led the Americans in assist:turnover ratio (6.00), totaled 12 assists and averaged 4.4 points and 15.6 minutes in the five games. Team USA averaged 97.2 points per game and outscored its opponents by an average 38.6 points per game. Robinson also represented Team USA in the 2012 Nike Hoop Summit game held in Portland, Oregon on April 7, 2012.
He’s got another good shot at making this squad as there will be plenty of scorers.
In the mood for way too early predictions in the ACC? Good. How about Pitt smack-dab in the middle at #7. Their capsule preview already had DeAndre Kane penciled in to the roster.
There’s still talent in the program, and toughness, and the additions of Kane and freshman forward Mike Young will help but there’s still an element of transition for Dixon’s program, both from last season to this and from the Big East to the ACC.
The Panthers won’t be scared of anyone, and won’t lose often at home, and they will be squarely in the NCAA tournament conversation, but they’re also not going to challenge Duke, UNC or the other two Big East newcomers for the regular-season title.
They also predict ND for #2 behind Duke. So, um, yeah.
Glad you finally found a pair of goggles that work, kid.
Not every year, of course (unless you’re Duke…), but those three teams are decent from time to time — especially Stanford.
With as much as Dixon has to retool, finishing around seventh and making the tournament would be a huge accomplishment.
What Miami’s season did show to everyone was; someone else besides UNC & Duke can dominate the conference. And since the ACC’ers have now been shown, they can get use to being dominated by PITT, Syracuse and next year L-ville from now on. 🙂
See how that works ! haha
So while making international teams is nice, if they only have him playing in the same mode as he did last year, that won’t help his Pitt team much.
Part of the reason why he had a tough time feeding the post as the season got into conf. play (besides playing much better competition), was that defenders played off of him, in the passing lanes, not respecting his outside shot.
Since Newkirk is not known at this point as an outside shooter either, it would seem imperative that JR vastly improve his shooting skills. As at least last year Woodie did make some 3’s to keep the defense stretched a tad. Jone’s outside shooting ability is also a big unknown at this point and unless Wright makes a big leap, he’s not very good from 3 either.
Enter stage left…..Durand Durand !
DID ANYONE SEE THAT THERE ARE GAMES BEING PLAYED ON THE ‘ACC NETWORK’
WHAAAAA? Did I miss something? I thought this was going to take YEARS.
Maybe it’s just a cbs syndication or something?
Do we have 2 available scholarships to give? If JJ transfers that would be 3 available scholarships?
I think a lot of us are wondering the same thing.
After Joseph Uchebo, a big nada. He was a nice get as long as his knees hold up.
Those Domers seem to have our number in all sports.
Oy vey !
Bucs win……Bucs win.
Pirates now have the 3rd best record in MAJOR League Baseball !!
This is going to be our year !
Go Bucs !
HTP !
VEV !
Plus they had a very tough april road schedule, where all the local sportswriters wrote them off after starting 1-6. Yet they finished April in 1rst place.
Man you hate everything Pittsburgh. I find hard believing you ever went to Pitt. Regardless of your blogging name.
Take your negativity and shove it dude !
suck on that !
You were probably nothing more than a thought in your daddy’s nut sack back then, so I will forgive you for not knowing that the Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the most storied franchises in baseball.
Much like our Pitt Panthers in college football.
And since the Cubs are in our divisional, you must certainly have to beat them, wiseass.
didn’t make it to 71 Series but remember cutting class to watch it
I’d also add that Pitt Football as one of the most storied programs is a major stretch? The years we won were awesome was the 1930’s so long ago they essentially aren’t even recognized. The 76 NCAA Championship was great and not too long ago but previous to that it was 1939. So storied not buying it. Unless you are in your 70’s or 80’s 90’s most have no clue about the 1930’s. As a side note we need to beat Seton Hall today!
BY DEFINITION PITT IS CERTAINLY A “STORIED” PROGRAM
sto·ried adjective \?sto?r-?d\
having an interesting history : celebrated in story or history
College football is about tradition and tradition involves history.
“A tradition is a belief or behavior passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past.”
Pitt’s football history includes 11 National Championships and a countless number of some of the greatest names to EVER play or coach college football. Our 11 NC’s ranks PITT 10th among all colleges.
And saying the Pitt’s 1930’s meant nothing because it was too long ago, is akin to saying World War 2 meant nothing because it was too long ago in the early 1940’s.
You can rest assure Oklahoma counts their title from 1915 and USC counts their’s from 1932. Why should it be any different with Pitt. And by the way it was 1937 before 1976 for Pitt.
Hail to Pitt !
The Pirates are tied for 6th among ALL Major League teams for World Series Championships with 5.
The Pirates are 1rst among ALL Major League teams with more than 2 World Series Appearances in Winning Percentage at .714 %
With names like Honus Wagner, Big Poison and Little Poison (ie. The Waner Brothers), Roberto Clemente, Connie Mack, Fred Clarke, Rube Waddell, Max Carey, Pie Traynor, Kiki Cuyler, Rabbit Maranville, Burleigh Grimes, Arky Vaughn, Ralph Kiner, Willie Stargell, Bill Mazeroski and many more to lengthy to list.
And the ONLY Major League team to win the World Series in the bottom of the 9th inning in Game 7, with a ‘walk-off’ Home Run !
By the very definition posted above.
The Pirates are indeed a “Storied” Franchise !
Yes I was there. Bert & Rooker pitched the Pirates back into the series that day.
I remember we took a very small battery operated TV to also watch the Steelers play the Bengals, as the Steelers were going for the 2nd back to back Super Bowl in 1979 and 4rth in 6 years.
PITT had freshman Dan Marino battling Rick Trancano for the starting QB slot in the middle of first of 3, 11-1 seasons. With that great defense anchored by Hugh Green, Rickey Jackson and Bill Maas.
It was a great time to be in Pittsburgh, truly the City of Champions in 1979.
dont pick on him.
dont worry abought thoes two EMel what you said is right they just want to fight with some one any
one they love a war of words.
HDNet is no longer the home of the CBI. This year it was shown on AXS (home of the Dan Rather reports). My wife and I watched because the College of Charleston played. Our daughter is an alum of “The College”.
Also while we make fun of the CBI, it could have been worse. We could have played in the college insiders.com tournament. That tournament doesn’t have any TV/cable coverage.
Well if we are honest we had one of the the top 5 stars and we used him for half of the game restricted his offensive game (facing the basket jump shot)and drank the kool-aid feed us by Dixon about his nerves.
He was not nervous when he handed Noels head on a plate in prep school or when he was under a microscope with NBA scouts who thought Dixon could coach.
He lost his confidence when he realized as with each previous team Dixon fear of losing oddly manifested itself in annoiting the team leader on and off the court to a medicore senior guard who destroyed the chesitry of the team or made the best recruits transfer. Woodall; wreck havoic on Robinson’s confidence and Adam’s frustration with not getting the ball took him out of his game[Dixon refusal to allow him to step out ruined his confidence in his jump shop}Gibbs; caused Birch to transfer; Fields,destroyed Young’s comittment and ruined the 08-09 team.
Pitt has hit it’s ceiling. We need to forget about final four and focus on the tournament – not one 5 star will play again at Pitt with Dixon there, but with the perennial soft non-conference schedule that we can count on because Dixon is no fool he knows his new contract was not built on NCAA wins or qualitiy wins but on the percentage of victories, with an occassional Robinson and Young he can stay at Pitt.
Both he and Howland did a good job but as a coach his micromanagement of the top players will limit his success. 08-09, limit number of shoots Fields takes. 12-13 keep the ball in Robinson’s hands and from first quarter of first game let Adams know this is his team at the offensive end -his mind set is different from Woodall’s he is an excellent passer and would of set up easy hoops.
Encouraging to hear they have Pitt going to NCAA.
Interesting they have JJ listed as a transfer and Kane added to the roster. LOL