Pitt BB Hire

[DragonsDoExist]

The 3rd of Pitt's 3 commitments for 2016, Crisshawn Clark, announced his de-commitment today. Although PF Corey Manigault who "re-opened" his commitment 2 days ago today reaffirmed that he will be sticking with the Panthers. Clark states that he needs to build a relationship with the new coach before he can commit to something he knows nothing about. Seems fair enough.

[El-Moldo]

Who wants a mail-order bride? Wouldn't have it any other way. No one wants a player who doesn't want to be there.

[Crimson's Ghost]

I have a hard time envisioning 20 wins for Penn State next year, but stranger things have happened. They could put it together I suppose.

[Crimson's Ghost]

I think Stallings wasn't too enthusiastic about Crisshawn Clark, who is Junior College player coming off an ACL tear. Dixon was willing to take a risk, I don't think Stallings can or wants to make that same risk. Stallings called Kithcart and Manigault before he even got to Pittsburgh on Sunday, he didn't reach out to Clark until Tuesday afternoon. He may have been honest about the situation with the player and said "I can't promise the same things Dixon promised to you. If you want you can come here, but the same amount of playing time may not be here."

[Crimson's Ghost]

Penn State has had 2 straight classes near or at the top of their conference. There will need to be a lot of busts and very few booms for them not to perform better than Pitt over the next 5 years.

Let's not act like Pitt has been some Duke, Kentucky, or Kansas over the past 5 years. When's the last time they made a sweet 16 or even a tournament game? They are a mid to bottom half ACC team that just lost their coach to TCU. They brought in a coach that was clinging to a job in the SEC but now we should expect them to improve in the ACC?

Penn State doesn't have to climb Mount Everest to catch Pitt.

Let's not act like Penn State has been some Ohio State, Alabama, or LSU over the past 5 years. When's the last time they made a BCS Bowl? They are a mid to bottom half Big Ten team that has had three coaches in 6 years. They brought in a coach that was moderately successful in the SEC but now we should expect them to compete with Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State?

Pitt doesn't have to climb Mount Everest to catch Penn State.





The whole argument was almost identically interchangeable, it's almost scary.




Look, I'm not trying to get in argument over which team is better when the season doesn't start until November. My point is, generally a Penn State fan is always going to assume they'll be better than Pitt at football until proven otherwise. There's been seasons where Pitt has been the better team, but the point is you'll generally feel better because you believe you have a better program.

Same thing for Pitt basketball, we're not going to assume Penn State is going to be better until they actually do it. The two situations go hand in hand, PSU fans can be arrogant about football - I've seen it. I know we're condescending to PSU about basketball.


Personally, I expect Pitt to beat Penn State in football, and I'm sure you expect PSU to have a better basketball record than Pitt. Kind of funny reverse scenarios.

[abpk2903]

Well I actually agree completely about where Pitt and Penn State football stand. Penn State is entering on of the most important seasons in program history. They survived the sanctions but now they need to start to claw their way back up the ladder towards being a top program in the country. Right now they sit mid pack in the B1G.

I think Pitt has an advantage in football playing in the weaker of the 2 ACC divisions compared to Penn State playing in arguably the toughest division in college football, the B1G East. The SEC West may be tougher but the gap has definitely narrowed. This makes it difficult to get to the 9-10 win plateau.

On the flip side, I think the ACC is a tougher basketball conference than the B1G right now and that hurts Pitt when they are trying to get back to where they were 8-10 years ago. As compared to Penn State, when it won't take a whole lot to get past some teams and towards the top of the conference.

I never said that I thought Penn State would win more basketball games than Pitt next year but I do think they will win more than Pitt over the next 4 years.

As much as it kills me to write this, I think I'm going to leave Heinz Field disappointed in September. Pitt wins that game by a TD, IMO.

[DragonsDoExist]

Looks like Kithcart has decided to stick with Pitt. Assistant coach Brandin Knight on the other hand will not return.