Let’s talk some hoops. The Trib had a bunch of stories on Saturday about the basketball team. Let’s just say they were a tad optimistic sounding — not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just that as a Pitt fan, it can be hard to grasp immediately without looking for the gray clouds.

Coach Jamie Dixon really likes this team and the way it looks. Brandin Knight, still trying to make it to the NBA has been working out with Pitt again. He likes their chances come March. The team has set the goal higher this year. Good. Still, Joe Starkey notes the early rankings are keeping Pitt kind of low. Doesn’t matter yet, who ranks Pitt where. Pitt won’t exactly be sneaking up on anyone this year.

There are questions of who will do what. Freshman shooting guard Ronald Ramon looks sharp and is drawing raves from the teammates. Center Chris Taft has added about 10 more pounds of muscle. Not clear who will be taking over the power forward from vacated by Jaron Brown. Mark McCarroll has the inside track but will be pushed by Levon Kendall (who played well for Team Canada over the summer) and JUCO transfer John DeGroat.

And some good recruiting news. Pitt got a verbal from Tyrell Biggs from Nanuet, NY. Biggs is 6’8″, 270 pound power forward. Rivals has him ranked #71 in their top 150. This is PItt’s second commit for the 2005 class. Considering Pitt had a bunch of near misses in the last couple months, this was a needed commit. Pitt still needs to start getting some kids from beyond the NYC area, especially as new St. John’s Coach Norm Roberts has already made significant progress in repairing relations with the local schools.