Hope no one had too much to drink during the noon games. It is difficult to type effectively when the keys keep moving under your fingers. As for me, I’m out for the morning and early part of the afternoon doing the dad thing. One of the few pleasant and dry fall Fall weekend days in Ohio. That means stock family activity option #7 — a trip to an apple orchard. Whee.

I will be back, though, with time to spare before the game. ND is not a top-25 team at this point, but neither is Pitt. I think nationally, no one is sure where either team really is in the national pecking order. The perception/bias probably leans towards ND but they also benefit from that new coach smell.

Anyways, below the fold will be the liveblog. Most of you know the rules. It’s a moderated chat. Comments are approved or not as they come in. Reasons for not being approved range from being repetitive, trolls, ridiculously stupid, or just because I’m feeling capriciously unfair. Some of the trusted readers (regulars who have proven over time that they are reasonably sane and haven’t abused it) will get permission to comment without the approval process.

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The liveblog tonight will be hosted by the lovely and talented Luke. Luke has handled liveblog duties before, and been outstanding at it. Like any substitute, he tends to be a little more relaxed on certain aspects — comment approval in this case. So, don’t take advantage of his good nature.

I’m on DVR delay for this game. I’m working outside the house for the first time in, well, years. That alone cost me the trip to the ‘Burgh for the game. To still make sure there is someone taking care of the kids in the morning, I’m doing not going in until the early afternoon and not getting back until late. By that point, the game will probably be over. I will be watching when I get home, and hope to have observations/notes afterwards

It’s part of the reason I think my posting has been a little lax and a bit subpar lately. Rushed to get things done in time, as I struggle to adjust.

The game is about a 7:30 start. Luke will be starting about that time. As usual, the liveblog is below, but if you like to break it out into a separate window, Click Here.

It’s the start of a new season of liveblogging. For those of you who were regulars last year, you will recall the bitching on my part about the wife not allowing me to put a refrigerator in the basement to keep my beer closer at hand. Our house came with appliances left behind, including a fridge. So there wasn’t even a need to buy one.

Well, it took almost a year, but she finally conceded it. Really, though, it wasn’t me. It was everyone else who told her that not taking advantage of having the extra freezer and refrigerator space. Now I have to find something else over which to whine.

As usual, the liveblog is below, but if you need/want to break it out from the site Click Here.

The fun will start around 8:15 to get the pregame talking out of the way.

I have no clue about this game. I keep saying it, but it is true. The teams are evenly matched. I think both sides like the way they match-up with each other. I hate to say it, but I think this game comes down to which team just gets a couple more bounces and rolls. Or I could be working myself up, because I don’t want to set myself up for disappointment if I become too optimistic.

The tip-time is set for 4:50 PM ET. Looking at the way the GT-OSU game is going, I have trouble believing the actual time will be much before 5 PM.

As usual, if you need to break this out of the liveblog, Click Here.

A feature on Gibbs in USA Today on how he has been one of the go-to guys for Pitt. For some reason it seems a surprise to reporters that Pitt wants to make a deep run. What? You think they were going to play a “happy to be here” card?

The game is scheduled for roughly 2:45. We will see if it goes that way.

If you need to break it out from the blog Click Here.

Life interrupted things. Rest of the family got sick which put all the crap on me. In addition, this is the start of the busiest time for me with Fanhouse. So very little time the last couple as you can see by the lack of posting.

Things are somewhat sorted out. At least to the extent that there is no way in hell, there won’t be a liveblog tonight. I agreed with Gil Brown about wanting to see ND again, and after the beatdown they put on Seton Hall, I feel a little more trepidation. Holy hell, they suddenly know how to play defense and are being incredibly efficient on offense.

Fun starts at 7 with the game on ESPN.

If you need to break it out from the site, Click Here

The battle between the two Big East teams mentioned as most likely to take Big 11 blood money if they look East.

Senior day. Honoring Jermaine Dixon and Chase Adams.

Game time is 4:30 on ESPNFullCourt, FoxSports Pittsburgh, MASN, MSG+ (starting 30 minutes late) and BrightHouse.

On the line, finishing tied for 2d in the Big East with WVU and Villanova. To say nothing for grabbing the #2 seed in the Big East Tournament. A loss, drops Pitt to 4th in the Big East.

As usual. If you need the liveblog separated from the site, Click Here.

Otherwise, look down.

Surprise!

While I won’t be running things tonight, Regular, Luke has volunteered to take the reins tonight. Go easy on him, I think he spooks easily.

The fun starts about 9pm, on ESPN2. The dulcet tones of John Saunders to give you the game along with Mike Kelley.

To tide you over until the game, check out another great story on Jermaine Dixon. Yeah, it re-covers some familiar stuff with his past, but it is still a fine, fine story.

As usual, the liveblog can be broken out of the site if you prefer by Clicking Here.

Otherwise, just look a little lower.

I’m leaning towards a coffee stout for this game. Noon on Saturday. I really hope that Pitt isn’t feeling as lethargic as I am. It’s snowing again in the Cleveland area and I never shoveled out from the stuff that fell in the evening and night. I need Pitt to win so I can at least feel some motivation to shovel afterwards.

Quickly, Pitt’s struggling with rebounding and wants to finish strong down the stretch. The players knew they played poorly on Wednesday and paid for it on Thursday and Friday with “boot camp.”

Today is the 25th anniversary of the “sweater game” between G-town and St. John’s. There might be a little mention of this during the game.

LiveBlog around noon. ESPN360, ESPN FullCourt, MASN, MSG or FoxSports Pittsburgh have the game. Frustratingly, no HD.

If you need to break it out, Click Here. Otherwise, just look down.

7 PM on ESPN2 and ESPN360. John Saunders and Fran Fraschilla with the call.

Well, at least I feel good about the telecast. HD. Very good analyst and solid play-by-play. Plus Saunders is Canadian so you know he’ll be on the Olympic Hockey updates.

Usual things. If you need to break the liveblog out of the site,  Click Here.

Otherwise, right below.

Noon on CBS (where available) and it appears that CBS is streaming the game.

Big game. Pitt is in a position to move closer to a top-4 finish in the Big East and a double-bye in the Big East Tournament. Not to mention this kind of win puts Pitt in a better position to claim a #4 or even #3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Villanova needs this to stay paced with Syracuse at the top of the Big East and set themselves for a #1 seed.

As usual, if you need to you can break the live blog out from the site if you Click Here.

Otherwise, it is right below.

I’m probably hoping against hope that the Orange-Hoya tilt ends early. I expect that the first few minutes will be unseen.

9 PM ESPN2. We’ll get the liveblog going around then, unless there is severe absurdity ahead of it.

As usual, if you need to break out the chat from the site, Click Here.

Otherwise, you will find it below.

2-year old’s first trip to the dentist this morning. You can only imagine how much fun that was for all involved. Next time one of us is going to get anesthetized. I’m volunteering but may have to fight the wife for that one.

There will be a live blog here for tonight’s ESPN counter-programming to the opening ceremonies to the Winter Olympics. Which started another, uh, discussion with the wife when I let her know that there was a game tonight that I intended to watch on the big screen.

Most of the attention is on how the Oakland Zoo will behave. It seems like a non-story, because there is no real concern.

Pitt’s done well at home against top-5 teams. Which really means nothing since the sample size at the Pete is all of five games.

This is the start of another brutal stretch for Pitt. WVU, a trip to the Bradley Center against Marquette, home to face ‘Nova and then to South Bend — the only place where ND can win. Pitt needs to manage a 2-2 stretch.

This is the game that matters right now. No one believes Pitt will play as badly as they did in Morgantown, when afterwards Coach Dixon treated the team like children after they got in trouble while out with the parents.

Dixon had much more important things on his mind during that 75-mile bus ride home.

Not that he did much talking. Nobody did.

“It wasn’t pleasant,” said senior guard Jermaine Dixon. “Coach Dixon said he didn’t want to hear us talking. He didn’t want to hear anything. It just wasn’t good.”

Good news, Seth Davis at SI.com is picking the Hoopies.

LiveBlog kicks off right around 9pm.

If you need to break it out from the site, Click Here.

Otherwise, it is below.

Last week Deadspin had a bit about trademarks and they brought up how Robert Morris likes to go as “Bobby Mo” at times. Yet the university does not own the trademark. Honestly, I never knew they went by that. You would think in the storied rivalry that is Pitt-Robert Morris, I would know these things.

Liveblog in a couple hours. As usual, right below, or you can break it out by Clicking Here.

Backyard Brawl, basketball edition. Pitt is banged up. Confidence a little off. At the same time, Pitt has risen to play well against the good teams.

WVU is at home. They have only lost once at home. They have struggled at times, but still pulled out the games.

Liveblog below or break it out by Clicking Here.