Hey, some basketball!
Any abbreviation that ends in “CU” has me thinking credit union, first. No matter what the Sweet 16 run a couple years back did for Florida Gulf Coast name recognition.
It’s another ESPN3.com game. Things get underway at 7:30 tonight.
FGCU is a senior-heavy team. They have a nice win over UMass, but they have also lost to FIU. They play at a faster tempo than Pitt (but then most teams do), but not breakneck. They struggle with offensive efficiency which is why they need to push tempo and get more possessions.
The challenge for Pitt will be in the very thin and not particularly tall frontcourt. Joseph Uchebo is out of the country to attend to his mother, who is ill enough that he headed back to Nigeria. I guess, potentially, that could mean Tyrone Haughton could make his first appearance of the season. That or more Derrick Randall than I’m comfortable seeing in a game.
I haven’t done nearly enough on basketball in light of the football changes, but it will be nice to watch an actual game involving Pitt.
The SEC has consistently had the best team and been the deepest conference over the past decade, but that has resulted in this media-fueled myth that SEC teams are unbeatable.
Classic moment today when Ole Miss was down 21-0, Bo Wallace reportedly tried to rally the Rebs by reminding them that, ‘We are the SEC!’ He then promptly choked up a pick 6.
I still think Bama wins it all. In fact I hope they beat the crap out of the Buckeyes. Because if any conference is truly overrated, it is the Big Joke.
Potential shouldn’t equal a ranking, it should be based on performance. There is no argument at this time that the Sec is any better than the Big 12 or the ACC. They may have more stars down in the southeast, but the way you play your opponents matters so much more. Should the top SEC teams beat the top ACC and Big 12 teams? On paper yes. On the field, its repetitively becoming questionable.
The reality is, with some talent, a good coaching plan, and a lot of heart, teams can accomplish a heck of a lot if they show up for their opportunity.
Clemson and Gtech were real nice wins and keeps the discussion about the ACC being in the top three conferences, front and center. Looks like Gtech will finish around 8 in the final polls and FSU will be in the top 6, if not higher. Clemson should make a nice jump too, so the ACC is positioned for 2 in the top 10 and three in the top 15.
Happy new year everybody!! Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2015. Wishing Pitt football 8 wins next year and a big finish to recruiting! Let the hiring begin after the MSU game today!
I also think Baylor wins by 2 touchdowns and scores at least 30 on MSU.
This was a down year for the SEC is every way except Top 25 rankings.
And would somebody in nation media every give Georgia Tech & Paul Johnson and TCU & Patterson some freakin’ credit?
I think Ohio State wins the championship but TCU would have beat them by 2-3 scores.
Comment by Upittbaseball 12.31.14 @ 8:35 pm
@ Markp – does the above count as one of his predictions for today? LOL
Hope this is true since he certainly is athletic with skills… with much more potential than any of the true 5s. But on the other hand, this was the only game so far where he was given extended PT.
Maybe JD has finally realized that the team must go small this year with Young and Luther at the 5 which means Artis and Jeter playing the 4, and some 3.
All we could hear in our hotel before the game were those obnoxious cow bells that the Mississippi State fans bring with them. The scene reminded me of the obnoxious Georgia fans who made fun of us Pitt fans in the 1977 Sugar Bowl. We all know how that game ended, right. ?
Tech should finish in the top 10 in 2014 and will stay there when the 2015 rankings come out. I expect to see Pitt in those rankings as well. Can’t wait for the Pitt vs. Tech game played in Atlanta this year.
I hope Pitt finishes its season by beating the Houston Cougars. If Coach Randolph can get the players excited about playing tough, Pitt will win. Pitt’s defense is not that bad, it just gets down on itself. A good defensive coach could turn Pitt’s defense around without too much trouble.
Hail to Pitt!
These names have all been mentioned here, but maybe a bit more info here on some of them.
But I want to the join one of the commenters to this article ‘Todd Graham Real Estate Agent’ in wishing you all a “Happy Coach Mike Haywood Day”
Not getting much media coverage of the Pitt team and bowl game prep. I hope the team is focused and prepared – we should be able to smash Houston in the mouth right off the start – does this team have the “killer” instinct needed to rise into relevance? HCPN does – looking forward to the change.
But first, Pitt has a bowl game to play – HTP!
For those who don’t agree with PN coaching MSU during the day and planning his Pitt staff and conditioning program at night…OSU OC Herman is coaching OSU during the day and planning his Houston gig at night…he also claims he stayed on to finish the project he started.
See below comment by Upitt. Ga. Tech fans make look different but will be bossing those SEC grads either now or in the future.
These Georgia Texh fans look like nerds and dorks.
Comment by Upittbaseball 12.31.14 @ 8:36 pm