I don’t expect Pitt to win but I’d love to see it happen. I admire coach K as a coach and all he has accomplished in his life. I also feel he’s the biggest crybaby you see on TV I’d win with Six parade all American s. Every year. I realize winning brings them in to Duke and he’s a good coach but he never seems content or happy even when he’s winning big. Today I hope we stay with them and make it a game. Don’t quit and play hard H2P

Personally, I hate watching that PUNK named Allen.

Would be great to see Pitt do a number on him and Duke today.

Of course, the chances of that happening are about as good as Jamie Dixon making it to the Final Four.

jk

OK, maybe a little better.

jk2

Llegomah – new recruit. Looks like a good rebounder, and a nice “plug” around the hole. How long before the Zoo starts chanting, ” Llego-mah Eggo!” ???

Sorry. I couldn’the stop myself.

Funny… think that beats “Give Peace a chance.”

Line is Duke -16.5. Like Pitt but a win would be a miracle.

If Duke decides to play defense, we get trounced.

If they don’t …we hang with them.

From the last thread.

It is indeed very sad and tragic to hear about Dante Taylor selling drugs to teens.
Part of the much larger and tragic story of America’s inner cities and how the Gov’t created them, and nurtured them into the crime ridden gang infested hellholes they have been for a couple decades or more.

I hope the young man is able to straighten out his life.

agree …. east side of Cleveland is an even bigger example than anywhere in Pgh

There would be nothing worse than Pitt getting trounced and Dickie V continually singing the praise of Coach K …. so I am thankful for that

Watching the Pre-Game. Is Duke playing anybody today or is it just playing itself?

25+ from Artis… 25+ from Young… would do the trick.

So we’re going to have to beat the REFs too!

Looking good so far up by 2

Nix brings energy to this team

Might be able to get by with 20 and 20 from Artis and Young.

Someone said it earlier. Starting with last year, I’ve never seen a team that gives up easy drives down the middle of the D as Pitt! It is Jr Hi taught fundamentals !!

Pitt’s poor passing is hurting their chances to stay with Duke. Did Pitt forget how to drive to the basket?

Liking it so far, keep up the recruiting and I am fine giving Stallings a couple more years.

He is much more engaged and animated from the sideline today.

Got FOUR Collegians and a 12 year old… but playing like Hoosiers.

Obviously, half-time adjustments KEY! Going to find out how KS stacks up to CK.

Jones is an idiot!!!

Yep as predicted Duke hardly played defense, we shot 51% Fg and we hung.

Nix had best game of his career with 7 points and 5 rebounds. Why he wasn’t playing earlier(as I harped on… game after game) in scrub part of season to get him minutes and reps is anyone’s guess.

Nix was the 3rd best player for Pitt today.

Artis never got HOT from THREE-land. Difference in the Game.

This team won’t even make the NIT’s. Maybe that other tournament…..the only post-season tournament we ever won the other year.

It was so inconsequential I can’t even remember the name of it.

Jones is terrible. Stallings should win coach of the year in the ACC for winning any games with this crew.

Last 5 or 6 minutes to the end of the game is when coaching counts. 3 bad possessions where Pitt just went down and Artis or Young took horrible shots instead of setting a play.

If a play was called but they are not listening to the coach they should have been benched – but how can you preach offensive freedom then punish kids for not playing disciplined basketball. Either bad communication technique or bad game planning. Mediocre coach mediocre results.

Come on Fall.

H2P

Is it still in existence, or did it go the way of the BBVA Compass Cumquat Bowl ?

And of course all the MIS-Plays… Turnovers… expired Time, etc.

Pitt had this Game for the Winning.

Rockports 1-10. Turd

Wow, Pitt was better with Nix than Jeter

@PittofDreams They actually did havethe game in hand until the last 5 minutes….again.

It is a pattern with this group.

Kinda like pattern baldness…

Artis missed 3 WIDE open 3 in the last few minutes and Cam missed 1. Of course it was Stallings fault that his players threw 4 balls into the stands and traveled several times. Such poor coaching…

Those were bad 3’s. Not set up by a play – they were selfish shots. That is bad coaching.

When Pitt loses (which is often now, like every game) the pricks at ESPN update the standings records almost immediately.

Still only showing 1-8 in ACC on Cbssports.

Already, and has been, 1-9 in ACC on disney/abc/espn fake news since like 3pm.

Rosie should have been playing the whole year, only one that plays really hard….would have been an example out there, for the rest of these loafers.

Wrong Tommy, 2 of the 3’s were wide open in the corner and he missed badly on both. The other one was at the top of the key. No Duke player was near him. Brick City….

Artis & Cam shot poorly so we lost. They both have to shoot well since we have no PG, PF and Nix is our only center.

Set up a play? LOL….is Artis supposed to pass the ball to himself? He’s the freakin’ PG!

Oh well…that’s enough of this wreck, which is the Pitt bball team.

Have a good rest of the day bro’s.

Only good thing that happened, i made $700 during the course of the game.

Disagree Jackagain That top of the key 3 was a bad shot at that time in the game. Pitt was down by 4 and was making inside shots. Hold up, set a screen and take it inside and get another foul on Duke at worse – stop the clock. There was no one to really rebound a miss on any of those attempts; plenty of time was left to try and penetrate and get fouled or then kick out for a good 3 with players positioned to rebound a miss – with the selfish shots there was no chance of a rebound and put back…which is what happened and Duke goes down and opens up the lead.

The shot from the corner – same thing. Artis and Young panicked and tried to win the game all by themselves. Again.

Young’s shot was pure garbage, but not Artis’ shots. BTW, Artis & Young have to win the games by themselves. We have no PG, SG (Jones? LOL), PF and Nix is the only center. We’re a team of all SF’s.

Again, you can’t set up good plays without a true PG. It’s YMCA ball for Pitt until Stallings replaces all of these guys with his guys. Maybe Cam stays…that’s it.

I think it will still be YMCA ball as long as Stallings is the coach. I don’t like his style his methods or his past records.

He has lost me for the duration – will not be paying money to see his trainwrecks.

He is a 2 and done coach imo. Wrong man for the program to succeed in the long run.

You do know he’s already 2X the recruiter Dixon was at the top of his career don’t you?

I’ll wait 2 years to see what he does with his recruits first.

Can’t blame you though for not going to any more games this year/

Was out so couldn’t watch it and didn’t even bother to DVR..sounds like didn’t miss much.

I agree with you Tommymac but we will have Stallings for at least 2 more seasons after this one probably a 4th unless the wheels really fall off. He has an entire team coming in so hoping Stallings can make it work with those guys…he really failed with these ones..though listening to his interviews it’s not his fault.

Dixon was never said to be a good recruiter – when Pitt paid $$ for the good assistants who could recruit, Dixon could coach the young men they brought into the program and mold them into a disciplined team that got great results.

Stallings probably is a better recruiter – but from his results this year and his past record at IS and Vandy he is at best mediocre making those recruits into a disciplined team that knows how to win games.

Dixon = Better Game Coach
Stallings = Better recruiter.

The Program needs someone who can bring excitement back by Winning. A better game coach backed up by the $$ to hire and keep assistants who are great recruiters.

Good discussion – thanks. 🙂

Did Pitt have a BB game today?

Huh!

What are they now, 1-10 in the ACC?

Huh!

Dixon did zero with Jones, Wilson and a ton of other guards like Ipps, etc., and lost Newkirk. He knew when to leave…

Just saw on local TV that our Sears is having a UGE Rockport clearance sale tonight and tomorrow. I’m going shopping tonight!! Wonder if they still carry the Mustard Rockports?? !!

One thing that would help, Stallings should YANK Kitchcart’s scholarship.

from Andy Katz
ESPN Senior Writer

Pitt is the first team since the ACC went to 18 league games three years ago that has had to play back-to-back road games at North Carolina and Duke (in any order). The Panthers are handling the challenge. This won’t happen too often now with unbalanced schedules. A number of ACC schools won’t play UNC and Duke on the road in the same season, let alone consecutively.

Yea, that sounds about right – Experiment/mess with Pitt –

and they played both teams pretty tough

Erie – can you say, “Reheaded Step Child?”!!

@PittofDreams….he may yank it..somebody probably not coming back with the amount of commits coming next year.

@Erie…in Stallings defense, Pitt’s conference schedule may have been toughest conference schedule in the country. Home and Away with NC Louisville Virginia and Syracuse…though Syracuse a little weaker…

..look at Pitt’s RPI…55 for 12-11 team..that’s amazing.

The record for Highest RPI ranking for a sub-.500 team: 67 (Georgia Tech – 2008)

–looking at the state if college hoops ..a lot of average teams this year..if Pitt won say two of these past nine games..they actually would be a solid bubble team.

The next three games are winnable….and then they have FSU home and away at Wake….can they win the next 5? If they do then they are actually on the bubble. (I’m not predicting they will win the next 5, but wouldn’t be surprised if they did.)

Unlike a lot on this board I think they have talent on the team to win..it’s other reasons they are not.

@milo – “wouldn’t be surprised…..” , me either…I’d be absolutely friggin’ SHOCKED!!!

At least these last 2 games were watchable.

Milo, Pitt has some talent but they don’t have a basketball team. You don’t have a basketball team with no PG, center or true PF….that and a SG who can’t shoot.

Pitt wont even get an NIT invite this year. Its CBI again. This team is an abortion.

Dixon planted the seed for Pitt’s downfall. He knocked Pitt up and left town.

Bad day for the Big 12. #’s 2,3 & 7 (the hoopies) went down. L’Ville had a perfect day at #6. Too bad Virginia lost.

Well there is no way they get NIT unless they win out… the NIT does not take losing conference records….though NCAA’s has…figure that one out. Pitt won’t get in any tourney this year.

@Jackagain…agree not a team…no coach either..they were missing all you wrote last year except a PG and still made the tourney.

I’m not saying what I wrote was gonna happen, just showing how few wins Pitt would of needed to get into tourney this year. And they could set record for highest RPI with a losing record….Which makes this year that much more disappointing.

@ milo,
They were a marginal tournament team last year. Maybe jr made that much of a difference. Clearly the coach can only do so much.

Guys this season has been toast for a while. No reason re-arrange the deck chairs. If anything, the last 2 games at North Carolina and Duke, have been an improvement. The Panthers played hard and they played well. As well as they played today, they didn’t have enough depth to hang in there at the end. Having one or two more players capable of giving some quality minutes makes all the difference. Luther not being available hurts this team more than most because it lacks depth to begin with.

Moving to football, Mike Vukovcan at Pittsburgh Sports Now posted that Pitt Defensive Line coach, Tom Sims has been let go.

Re: Nix vs Jeter… in the 2nd half, I think Grant Hill noticed this….Pitt switched to a 2-3 from a 3-2 so Nix could play under the hoop. It’s what opened up all the 3s from the outside. I think if Jeter had not picked up dumb fouls 35 feet from the basket the 3-2 zone would have prevents Punk Allen from getting hot. Duke reacted to the switch in defense well.

Chris Dokish

“Stallings says he prefers to bring in offensive players & teach them defense, but he’s got three elite defenders among the six.”

Dixon liked to bring in defensive players and teach them defense.

Jacksagain, I remember one sport writer referring to early Dixon era players as piano carriers not players.

Savannah: Sears is so deep in debt they’re blowing out inventory strategically and regionally just to maintain some cash flow and keep from going dark. Their blowouts aren’t widely advertised because they have no marketing budget. Appliances & Craftsman line will never be deeply discounted, everything else can be. Land’s End gave them a license agreement, in certain markets they’ve been blowing that stuff out and that’s good quality. Leaving a Nashville meeting I heard about this and bought and shipped $1000 of jeans sweaters khakis shirts for the kids paid $425 incl shipping. Really hope Sears doesn’t bring down commercial real estate markets when they shutter.

Sears’ lines can probably never be deeply discounted. Craftsman is not a tool maker but a Sears’ brand. Every few years, Sears gets a new contract with a tool maker (Ridgid, Snap-on, Stanly and Black & Decker, etc) and then distributes them under Craftsman bfrand. I assume they do the same with appliances and almost everything else they sell

When I grew up Mom bought my school clothes at Sears, Dad bought his hammer and nails at Western Auto. Sixty years later their son shops at Amazon. Their are three Sears within ten miles of my house and I’ve never been inside any of them. My best friend from college manages malls in the southeast. He told me their inside forecasts are worse than gloomy insofar as occupancy and traffic are concerned. This is adversely impacting their rent factors of course and forcing them to negotiate fire sale terms with new tenants who are more likely repairing mobile devices than selling underwear. It is only a matter of time until the retail commercial real estate market experiences a collapse and major correction. So, with no more malls to build, maybe the out of work construction companies can bid on building a new football stadium near the Hot Metal Bridge…………….nurse, nurse….

Guys – my Sears reference was a joke, aimed at UPitt’s Rockport salesman references to HCKS! But I think that any planned Rockport clearance would be a direct result of the “Negative Ad Campaign” originating in Texas! If this campaign continues, expect Rockport stock to fall as well!

Note: my sarcasm loses its bite when I have to explain it! I’ll try to do better!!

UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
The University of Vermont announced plans to develop a new athletics complex on campus, instead of looking to downtown Burlington or South Burlington’s City Center for the project. The proposed concept presented to UVM trustees Friday includes keeping Gutterson Fieldhouse for hockey, and replacing Patrick Gymnasium for basketball, as well as a new indoor turf facility, pool, indoor tennis center and a health/fitness zone. The project carries a price tag of $80 million, considerably less than the $200 million when the idea of creating a new athletic complex was first broached in 2009. – Austin Danforth, Burlington Free Press.

Looks like the cost to build sports complexes may have fallen since 2009. (ikr)

FWIW, I was up Freeport Maine back in 04 and found a pair of Rockport’s at shoe outlet for $59 …. marked down from $135 (or something like that). Best pair of dress shoes I ever had …. still have and wear them occasionally

Team played hard the entire game…lost to Dukes talent and hot hand at the end….Just wish this team would have played so hard all season and Nix would have played significant minutes all season. That guy shuts the door in the paint when he clicks into a game.

Sears sold their Craftsman brand this year to Stanley for about a billion bucks. That store is toast…short it into a penny stock.

They’re trying to shift to sears hometown stores before they implode. Landlords all over the US have been negotiating with them for 5-7 years, carrying them rather than having a big box vacancy. In good markets their spaces will get absorbed, in marginal markets they’ll bring cap rates down.