Once more. 6:50 PM on TNT.

I’m actually watching this game in a public place. I’ll either be completely reserved or a bit of a lunatic. There is no middle ground.

This should be a close game played. Tempo will be slow, but I expect the score to be in the 60s. Not a defensive struggle so much as efficient offenses willing to let the clock go to get their shots.  Whether it is Wisconsin with a swing style offense or Pitt with motion. Both teams depend on ball and player movement to find the best look.

I expect both teams to have a short bench tonight.

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Chas will post a NCAA-Pitt v Wisconsin open thread later but let’s get a football fix in for this morning. Good luck Panthers against the Wisconsin Badgers… merely a warm-up for the grand upset of OSU I’m sure.

DiPaoloa of the Trib addresses something that we have talked about regularly on here since the end of January bowl game – filling the need for departing LBs Nick Grigsby and coming up with a new LB two deep lineup.  If you remember the final players in the ’15 two deep were as follows:

Star Linebacker  3 NICHOLAS GRIGSBY (SR*, 6-1, 220) 44 Matt Steinbeck (SR*, 6-0, 210) 21 Jameel Poteat (SR*, 5-10, 215)

Mike Linebacker  47 MATT GALAMBOS (JR, 6-2, 240) 58 Quintin Wirginis (SO, 6-2, 240)

Money Linebacker 30 MIKE CAPRARA (JR*, 6-0, 230) OR 4 BAM BRADLEY (JR*, 6-2, 230) Cornerback

Grigsby has graduated so we’ll see SR Mike Caprara get even more playing time this season.  I have liked this kid every since he was recruited. Pitt fans love WPIAL players and even with the ‘too short” knock on him all he did in HS was to end up as Woodland Hills leading all-time tackler with 350 tackles (note that in this video he’s 207# and now he’s up to 240#)… and that is at a school with a very rich football history.  Plus he’s an exceptional student-athlete which I feel is so important in the locker room – especially for a senior.

Conklin is fortunate to have two seniors, Caprara and middle linebacker Matt Galambos, calling formations and schemes. When Bam Bradley recovers from shoulder surgery, it could be three seniors at a position that demands brains and brawn.

“It’s better to have three linebackers talking than just one,” Caprara said. Caprara, who earned a degree in communications and will pursue a master’s in marketing this year, said he devotes “countless hours” to football on and off the field.

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Note, I will be tossing up a second open thread specific for Pitt Wisconsin later in the afternoon. Reed also has some spring football notes. Busy day.

If you are a Cleveland area resident, hopefully I will see you at the watch party tonight. I keep promising to make one of these, this time for sure.

Good first day. Not a complete bracket destroyer unless you somehow had faith in Arizona, Baylor or Purdue making a run. Seriously. You were putting your faith in Baylor or Purdue to make it out of the weekend? You deserve what you get for that.

Arizona got manhandled by Wichita State in the opening round. Seems vaguely familiar. Did anyone make sure Sean Miller got an IV of fluids or something? I’ve never seen a coach sweat like that so quickly before. I was worried he was going to collapse on the floor from dehydration. Nope. Only Tony Bennett did that yesterday.

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