Nothing particularly outstanding, just little things here and there to pass along. Several ESPN.com chats this week (all Insider Subs.). Pitt got some run. From Andy Katz:

Jonathan Abramovic (Daytona ): Why arent the Pitt Panthers ranked higher, they are undefeated.

Andy Katz: I’ve been wondering that for weeks. Pitt should be right up in the top five. The polls are a beauty contest at this point. Who looks good this week should get plenty of pub and the Panthers are playing as well as anyone in the country.

And someone offered this suggestion.

Eric – NYC: I feel like the preseason polls give legitimacy to teams that don’t deserve it and haven’t proven anything as of yet. Why don’t they wait until a month passes by before releasing the first poll? This would weed out non-contenders such as Kansas and Kentucky and let teams such as Pitt, NC State and Ohio State receive the acclaim they deserve instead of having to climb up all season. I think the polls would mean more by waiting a month.

Andy Katz: You’re speaking to the choir. But the same is true in football, too. But polls, whether by us, AP or the coaches, get plenty of pop in the preseason. They are popular and that’s why we do them. I wouldn’t be against it at all.

Have to disagree with that. People with the polls would still draw up their expected list, or at least compile a list of teams to watch. You are still dealing with visibility, biases, popularity and other issues. Pitt would have still been ignored for the first month or so, simply by virtue of their games not being on TV. Only 3 of their non-cons were televised and picked up on ESPN Full Court (The South Carolina game was only aired on Comcast South and not on the PPV).

Rece Davis:

Todd (Wilmington, DE): Rece, What are your thoughts on Pitt? To me, the Gray kid is getting better every day, Krauser looks more in control and these two freshman ( Young and Fields) look like they will really help the program.

RD: Totally agree. Gray was strong in the clutch last night. Seems like Fields (and Ramon) have taken some of the pressure of Krauser…but he still has the freedom to get his own. Assist to TO ratio for Fields and Ramon are very good. Young gives them some great energy. I don’t think they’ll run the table…but I think many have made too much of their early schedule.
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Josh (Knoxville, TN): So you’re answering multiple questions about UConn, Florida, Duke…how about a Pitt question? Why is this team still underrated nationally?

RD: I hit Pitt earlier, Josh. Quickly to reiterate…too much being made of early schedule. Like Gray’s development. Fields and Ramon have helped Krauser.
You make a fair point, though. When big east comes up …people talk UConn, Nova, even West Virginia…oh yeah, Pitt…those guys that nobody has beaten.

What, and miss a completely easy excuse to devalue them?

And finally Joe Lunardi speaks some real truth:

Wonger (Orlando): Why all the love for Florida but Pittsburgh has had to walk on water just to get into the top 25 and eventually top 10? Don’t get me wrong, I think they are both a little overrated (u and I could both hand pick 10 teams that would be favored come march) but as undefeateds go, they both deserve respect!

Joe Lunardi: Florida got the early attention by winning the NIT Season Tipoff. Other than that, their profiles are looking more and more similar each week. I currently have them No. 4 and No. 5 on my S-Curve, which is a whole lot closer than their different No. 1 and No. 2 seeds suggest.

And there it is folks. Florida was on nationally broadcast preseason tournament at MSG and knocked off two preseason top-25 teams — Wake Forest and Syracuse. That got them rocketing up the polls early. They have continued to win so they climbed further than Pitt. Add in a media friendly/popular coach like Billy Donavon and that is a combination that will get up there.

Personally, I’m not pissed about Florida being ranked #2. I’m annoyed Pitt is treated differently, despite the similar RPI and what is fast becoming a stronger Strength of Schedule both in and out of conference.

Speaking of strangeness, from SEC/ACC country (Atlanta) something that is sure to be generating some hatemail:

With Selection Sunday just 51 days away, it’s time to get serious about this college basketball business. Pretty much everything you’ll need to know will be revealed in the next few paragraphs. And if I happen to get any of these true-false propositions wrong, I will of course take my lead from Paul Hewitt and blame it on the refs.
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5. The SEC is down yet again.

True. Is this conference ever going to send another team to another Final Four? (The last SEC entrant to qualify was Florida in 2000.) Somehow the Gators have risen to No. 2 in the rankings, but that’s a mirage. They’ll lose within the next week at either Tennessee or South Carolina, if not both places. Alabama was sliding even before it lost Chuck Davis, and Georgia is still a year away from making a big push. And as much regard as I have for Tubby Smith, I must concede that there’s no reason for Kentucky to have lost six times already.
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10. It’s possible to be an unbeaten Big East team and still be underrated.

True. Pittsburgh is 15-0 and ranked No. 9, three spots behind thrice-beaten Gonzaga. And somehow Carl Krauser, the toughest player in the country the past three seasons, still never gets mentioned when the topic is the nation’s best point guard. Except in this space. I love the guy.

At SI.com, Luke Winn moves Pitt up 1 whole spot in his power rankings to #11 for road wins at Louisville and Rutgers. Judging by the sidenotes he cribbed from the media guide, I’m convinced he hasn’t actually watched the team play yet.

Meanwhile Seth Davis lists Pitt as a #2 seed in his 16 team bracket. He also relays an interesting anecdote as to part of the problems for BC’s struggles. They are going on the cheap to fly the kids the long distances.

I spoke with an ACC head coach last week who surmised that Boston College would get worn out unless the school flew on chartered planes for its road trips. BC flew commercially after losing on the road at Georgia Tech on Jan. 8 and lost at home by 18 points to N.C. State two days later.

Hey, at least they can be middle of the pack in football.

Not to mention this coaching carousel/domino theory.

Since most of you were probably watching football when I spouted my latest coaching domino theory on CBS last Saturday, I’ll repeat it again here. If Skip Prosser does take the Cincinnati job, then West Virginia coach John Beilein will be at the top of Wake Forest’s wish list of replacements. Beilein has an excellent relationship with Wake AD Ron Wellman, and he would have been hired at Wake if Prosser had turned the job down four years ago. Beilein has a long-term contract with an expensive buyout, but if he does leave, I would expect West Virginia to immediately go after Bob Huggins, a WVU alum. I know Huggins would have a shot at Missouri if Quin Snyder doesn’t hang on, but he has great affection for his alma mater.

And here’s the cherry on top: Since “resigning” from Cincinnati in September, Huggins has maintained a close relationship with schoolboy studs O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker. Those two are teammates at North College Hill in Ohio and have already said they’re going to play in college together. They are also originally from Huntington, W. Va.

Just to add to the paranoia, there is Huggins close relationship with J.O. Stright, Pope’s AAU Coach and the guy who nearly got him to transfer to a Florida prep school. Imagine Huggins recruiting in Pitt’s backyard.