This sucks. This really sucks.
Tough break for Pitt hoops: Sophomore G/F Durand Johnson out for the year with torn ACL, torn meniscus
— Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) January 12, 2014
Hate this.
Durand Johnson, has made such strides this year. Still prone to launching too many 3s, his all-around game has really improved.
He was Pitt’s first guy off the bench for a reason.
Hell of a time to start experimenting, but that will be what happens for Pitt and Coach Dixon. Going forward, Pitt has a couple options.
Chris Jones will see more playing time and opportunity. I don’t think it will be as simple as sliding him into the spot and minutes Johnson had.
The other thing to expect is Jamel Artis and/or Mike Young may find themselves getting a crash course in showing just how versatile they can be. Playing a bit on the wing and guarding small forwards.
The other way to go is more Josh Newkirk and having Pitt play more of a 3-guard group. Not as much size in the front court that way, but more speed.
Detrick Mostella has to be kicking himself, because this would have been a huge opportunity for him to slide in to the spot.
I expect Pitt to play a lot of Zone when they come to the Pete.
I put air cleaners and almost all the bars and restaurants in the SS….except for Jacks…..they didn’t care at all about smoke there.
he was the best receuiter penn state had would pitt be smart enough to give him a job.
no pitt would not be that smart maybe ohio state but if he came here it would help are recruiting
but would the AD have the brains to do it johnson would really help with are recruiting kind of off set franklin
but i have no hope that pitt would be that smart
we are so dumb abought thoes kind of things.
…. there is that 5 star DE too who is tied more to Johnson than PSU… that could be a huge boost on the side of the ball that needs it.
on the other hand he goes to OSU and now we really are caught in the middle of heavy recruiting on either side of us…
I agree Frankcan… let’s see an innovative move by Pitt here…
Notre Dame and OSU now after his D-line recruits.
something is not right with this… starting off not a good foot for Franklin… what did Johnson get a sense of that he did not like??
we have the one and the only Matt House.
Why would need anybody else.
Btw does Larry Johnson have any relatives/friends/anybody in Wisconsin. Know anybody in Platteville ?
UVA was way out of it and came back to win with the points as sos22 predicted. Hopefully he bet.
Cuse only up by 2 at the half.
But Holley didn’t even have Pitt on his list of schools.
You’re right Emel….Johnson needs to be from Wisky or be related to Chryst somehow to get a look (sigh)
If you have Ghostery you won’t be able to read the comments. I keep an Opera browser open for such sites.
but when have you ever heard of pitt being innovative when have every been smart the move would make to much sence i text THE ASST ad abought it but i am sure it will end up in the waste can
how come we can see what a smart move it would be and they cant i dont understand that.
Not a good idea.
Does Johnson have any affinity or ties to Pitt or Pittsburgh??? Bradley was always willing to come here. Article said Johnson recruits Deleware/Maryland/Virginia …
Also seeing tweets saying Franklin Slimier than Graham because at least he did not steal recruits his first day on the job… haha… SEC coaches saying Vandy’s recruiting class ‘scorched earth’…
… I say Franklin go’n to rub folks wrong way fast…
Cignitti took a few with him to Rutgers. Pitt could use a few blue chippers on defense.
I don’t think PC wants anybody around that knows anything about coaching/running a program.
Unless he within the Wisconsin/Chryst sphere of influence. Makes sense going after Johnson, but it’s the longest longshot.
didn’t Syracuse win up at BC in the final game of the year to become ‘bowl eligible’ ?
the trials at Creepy Valley aren’t all over yet, are they ?
Of course a BC win puts Pitt in 1st place in the ACC…
anyone know if Johnson has Pitt or pittsburgh ties?
He said flat out he wants to coach… sure his phone is ringing off the hook right now from B-10 schools at least…
Next year would be top 20 for sure, top 15 with 8 wins! It is time to pay for performance. At the worst, you get these guys for 2-3 years. At best, you keep them for 5-8 years and Pitt puts up the fence around a lot of places, not just PA.
Now go get em Paul Chryst!
These announcer are absolutely creaming themselves over the Orange.
They are smart, they are this, they are that. Everyone is a NBA prospect.
But they’re playing a 5-11 team.
GOD KNOWS WE WILL NEED THE HELP.
I personally took offense with “We are going to recruit from every corner of Pennsylavania.” and dominate the State, comments. Then after throwing down the gauntlet, he mentioned Pitt by name, with his “With all due respect to Pitt” statement. It was an unnecessary slap at the Panthers.
I’m betting that by the time Lyin’ Franklin leaves UPS for his next “dream job” he’ll make Urban Meyer & Fraud Graham look likes saints.
Syracuse will always hire him for their PR dept.
What a shill.
would they be smart enough to do that.
Well guess what ohio state is not dumb there fans dont have to beg them to use there brains they have all ready been in touch with coach johnson and have offered him a job.
that is how it goes at a school with a real AD.
That being said, f@#k Franklin! and the horse he rode in on!
However, since they’ve all at least taken a shit somewhere in the state of Wisconsin, they will have have a job for life..no matter how crappy they recruit, or how far off the line of scrimage they have their DBs play.
Great Pa. recruiters are there for the taking, but Pitt will sit on the sidelines and just watch them go by. All one has to do is look at how Slice has helped Dixon to see the picture.
Maybe someday Barry Alverez will allow Chryst to stop genuflecting at Madison and hire someone outside of Wisconsin. We can only hope.
Paterno loyalists won’t like this either… haha…
I’d love some bigger names too, but I don’t think our current staff deserves as much hate as they’re receiving.
On a separate note, since when did you guys (even the veteran fans among you) start thinking Pitt is in the same class as Penn St. or Ohio State? These are storied programs, not unlike Duke, UNC, Kansas, and Kentucky in basketball. Pitt has produced good talent (obvious from the number of NFL hall of famers) for sure, but we’ve never been the program that those other schools are. A few good years and one recent (and using that term is a stretch) championship doesn’t make a program. Remember George Mason in hoops? You might, you might not. Remember VCU recently? Probably more likely, but where are they this year? Are they filing out with five star kids? No. They’re not a storied program. Kids go where legacies exist. It’s better for coverage and provides a better opportunity to go pro. Make no mistake gentlemen, 5-star recruits aren’t interested in how diverse and gentrified Pittsburgh is. They want to hit the grid iron, have Espn gameday coverage, and get drafted by the pros. That’s it. Period.
Kids who are interested in the total package, however, will consider Pitt. They’ll be interested in the way Chryst sells the program, and he’s made it clear he’s the hands off type. These are facts, guys. I’m happy with our team. I’m happy with the direction. I’m happy with the staff, and if a few things had been different we’d be having a much different off season conversation.
So Franklin is a great recruiter. PSU has always done well
in WPa. That said he can only take 25 per year (after sanctions). I like PC”s approach to recruiting. He has expanded into the mid west, Pa, Oh, Fl, and NJ. We focus on local
kids which we value however it is not possible to fill all needs
Every year from WPa. Look for Pitt to win 8 games next year.
Go Pitt beat GT!
Tweet from the Post-Gazette this morning …. Larry Johnson close to being hired by Ohio State. That didn’t take long.
What arrogance. many PEDers not happy…
… and this guy was going to unit PSU and show respect to the Paterno cult…. ha…
Bobby Ingram is one of our best coaches and recruiters.
