Sorry to have not posted in a few day. Honestly, I just had nothing. As usual with Pitt and a coaching search, everything remains dark. Literally nothing really leaks. That creates this whole different kind of insanity where everyone rushes to fill the void with speculation, crazed sources, and general lunacy.

I couldn’t bring myself to add to the crazy. Plus, the week leading up to Passover and Easter tends to create extra chaos at home and work.  So, my best option was to sit back wait.

And, hey. The wait is over.

(more…)

A reporter for the Waterbury Republican-American and blog, A Dime Back, both reported late last night that Dan Hurley has accepted the UConn job after boosters pushed his salary offer up to around $3.1 million. There’s no other confirmation at this point, but the rest of Connecticut media is running with it — and amusingly enough to give it a better veneer of credibility, are calling A Dime Back a “news outlet.”

Whoops. Even as I started typing the big boys are also saying it.

(more…)

That’s it? This is technically the third day of the watch for what the top target in the coaching search does. Seems like it’s been much longer.

Dan Hurley (hopefully) is expected to decide today between Pitt, UConn or staying at URI.

(more…)

Taking a moment from pissing on the angst of Pitt fans that there is no Pitt men’s basketball head coach in place. That present Rhode Island Coach Dan Hurley may not want Pitt.

To bring you this.

Rhode Island head basketball coach Dan Hurley has received a contract offer from Pitt with an annual salary north of $3 million, multiple sources have informed FanRag Sports. Hurley is currently weighing whether or not to stay with the Rams or accept an offer from either Connecticut or Pitt, the latter of which would serve as the more lucrative option.

Sources have also indicated to FanRag Sports that Hurley is likely to make a decision on his future at some point in the next 24 hours.

Hoo-boy.

(more…)

Nothing really to report or pass on. Just a couple articles and thoughts.

Eric Musselman is likely out of the running now. Simply because I doubt Pitt can wait for him now that he got Nevada into the Sweet 16. I mean, unless they KNOW they he is already in the can. Which I find highly improbable. Still, he seems like an amusing maniac.

(more…)

And by approaches, I mean in the next 72 hours. Not the next 6.

I’ve been enjoying the hell out of the NCAA Tournament this weekend. The wife and oldest are on a Girl Scout camping trip. Just the boy and I binging on basketball. Well, I’m binging. He’s casually watching every now and again while playing video games or with Legos.

The UMBC upset of Virginia was mind-blowing. And as much as it was presumed, that eventually a 16 would take down a 1. That was not the one anyone expected, and certainly not like that. The close calls over the years.  All the #1 seeds that may have struggled, even late into the second half, put it together to pull it out. Instead, to watch Virginia implode. It’s not just simply the way UVa panicked on offense and started rushing things.

It was their vaunted packline defense being shredded. Yes, UMBC was great on their 3-point shooting, but the way the guards just blew past them to the basket. That just doesn’t happen very often. Plenty of teams have tried, but rarely succeed.

Their head coach, Ryan Odom, once presumed to be the guy targeted by ECU as their next head coach might have other options (probably not Pitt, though).

(more…)

“Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.”

–Edgar Allen Poe

Obviously, Poe was familiar with coaching searches.

(more…)

Let’s take a moment from the grim-and-gritty world of Pitt basketball. The buyout skulduggery. The intrigue of who the next coach should be and/or will be.

A little lighter and breezier thing. Spring football practices. A time where about 4/5 of the fall roster is on-hand. Depth charts are theorized. Historic futures are projected. Optimism is rampant. And hopefully nobody gets hurt.

(more…)

Especially when the relationship crash and burns so quickly.

So, maybe Pitt is trying not to pay the full $9.4 million buyout to Kevin Stallings as previously reported.

In a meeting Thursday in which Stallings was terminated, 93.7 The Fan has learned the Pitt administration offered two paths for Stallings’ impending departure. He could:

•  Accept a reduced buyout of $4.8M, which works out to about half the sum of the buyout language in his contract.

OR

• Not accept the $4.8M reduced buyout offer and be met with a “for cause” termination for his actions at Louisville, thus forfeiting the totality of his buyout.

Multiple sources confirmed to 93.7 The Fan that Stallings was unwilling to accept either condition — and a previously reported $7.5M reduced buyout was never formally offered at the meeting to him — so his exact conditions in terms of separation from the University of Pittsburgh remain in flux.

I don’t know.

(more…)

I’ve been out for work since about 6 this morning and only got home a short while ago. I know what I missed. Now, I’m here and the decision was made to pop open one of my Dogfish 120s.

AD Heather Lyke’s press release was short and to the point.

University of Pittsburgh Director of Athletics Heather Lyke announced today that Kevin Stallings will no longer be the Panthers’ head men’s basketball coach.

“I want to express my appreciation to Coach Stallings for his commitment to our program,” Lyke said. “In moving forward, we have tremendous expectations for our men’s basketball program at Pitt and I believe we can achieve great things within the Atlantic Coast Conference and nationally. A national search for the next Pitt head coach will begin immediately.”

The relief for Pitt fans is palpable.

(more…)

Good news, spring football practices begin on Monday. There’s no pesky post-season tournaments to distract anyone from that for a second straight year. Yay?

Apropos of absolutely nothing, but my undying love for Bill Raftery is this gem of wisdom.

I asked the legendary Bill Raftery today if he’s ever thought about joining Twitter. His outstanding response: “No, and I’ll tell you why — because at 11:30 at night when I’ve had my 10th drink, I’m liable to say something that will cost me my job.”

Words to live by.

(more…)

There is more then a sense of inevitability to Kevin Stallings’ fate. Pitt plays at 2pm today at the Barclays Center against Notre Dame, and there is little reason to think things will be different then the previous 18 ACC games.

At some point after the conclusion of that game — be it days or a week — Stallings will be fired. All rumors and tips are that a buyout has been negotiated.

(more…)