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NCAA released the schedule for Regionals. The only home basketball game during that period is a women’s game at noon on 12/15, so hopefully if Pitt is hosting this round it can be played at the Pete.

...joining the fight to defeat ALS.

C'mon man, PRIORITIES!!!

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Release from Pitt:

University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gabel will introduce new Director of Athletics Allen Greene this Wednesday at a 10 a.m. press conference held in the arena of the Petersen Events Center.

This is inspired by the Morning Pitt this morning. I subscribe to a site called cbbanalytics.com, which gives you full access to one team (Pitt) with a free membership. One of the most interesting tools on the site is the lineup tool, which tracks the statistics for each individual group of five players that a team uses.

It’s a small sample size with three games and 120 total minutes played, but I think it’s interesting. Here are the four highest usage lineups we have used this year, with their ORTG and DRTG.

1. Lowe, Leggett, Dunn, Guillermo, Corhen (31 minutes) - 119.2 ORTG, 83.8 DRTG (+35.4)

2. Lowe, Leggett, Dunn, Austin, Corhen (14 minutes) - 142.8 ORTG, 48.9 DRTG (+93.8)

3. Lowe, Leggett, Cummings, Austin, Guillermo (9 minutes) - 170 ORTG, 68 DRTG (+102)

4. Leggett, Dunn, Austin, Guillermo, Corhen (8 minutes) - 91.5 ORTG, 77.5 DRTG (+14.1)

A few takeaways:

1. The lineups that have Guillermo and Corhen on the court are not as productive as the lineups that only have one of them on the court. This is true both offensively and defensively.

2. The Lowe, Leggett, Dunn, Austin, Corhen lineup is obnoxiously efficient on both ends of the floor. That’s probably because the group of Leggett, Dunn and Austin has been a 97th percentile trio in college basketball this season (just those three in isolation are 132.8/77.8/+55.1). It’s still early, but I think that will end up being their best lineup this season.

3. Ish Leggett’s numbers have been absurd, and he is operating on a first team all-ACC level early in the season. He is 13/13 in attempts at the rim, his EFG% is 76.6% (94th percentile), he’s taken our toughest defensive assignments (and is in the 100th percentile for defensive win shares) and his advanced stats are pretty much in the very high 90 percentiles across the board. He is on pace to have a special, special year.

4. Zack Austin has also been a stupid good defender. His Hakeem Percentage (the total of a player’s steal rate and block rate) is 16.2%, good for 97th percentile. His block percentage alone is one of the best in college basketball. If he can provide enough offense to stay on the floor, he is a special defender, and is operating at an ACC all-defensive team level right now, if not ACCDPOY.

Just some thoughts as I play around with the lineup tools. Again, it’s a really small sample size and trying to draw too much from lineup data with under 10 total minutes played is going to be pretty faulty. But I think it’s an interesting look - partially because I think it tends to align with the eye test that a lot of us have been talking about.

We need to talk about how weak these Big Ten schedules are. The league, in and of itself is as bad as its ever been outside of Oregon and Ohio State. PSU and IU are decent teams but more like 8-4 or 7-5 SEC type teams. Neither plays Oregon and there's not another good team in the league. Its amazing how far beating a bunch of glorified mid-majors can get you. Of course, we lost to one on Saturday.

Incredibly sad. Looks like a complete loss.

Great place in Carnegie. Or was.

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It was nice knowing ya.

Lol

nm

I know he is almost certainly not coming here. Can anyone confirm he isnt or is it still a fraction of a mystery

Release from Pitt:

PITTSBURGH – Omari Witherspoon, a top prospect out of Washington, D.C., signed his scholarship agreement to join the Pitt Men’s Basketball program for the 2025-26 season, head coach Jeff Capel announced Thursday morning.

“Omari is an exciting young player who has made a big jump in his play and in the recruiting rankings in the past year,” said Capel. “He is an intense competitor and versatile guard with the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways. We are excited to have him in our program and look forward to watching him continue to grow and develop.”

Witherspoon, a 6-foot-4 guard out of St. John’s College Prep in D.C., is an attacking combo guard with the ability to score at all three level as well as utilized his size and court vision to set teammates up. Last season, he helped his high school squad to a 25-8 and a top 10 ranking in the state (No. 9), while earning DCSAA First Team Class AA All-State honors. He was also named MVP of the Behan Strong Invitational.

Current Pitt standout Ishmael Leggett also attended St. John’s College Prep.

Witherspoon surged up the recruiting rankings with a strong performance on the AAU and camp circuit this summer. A four-star prospect according to 247 Sports, he jumped from No. 191 in the nation all the way up to No. 104 overall in 247’s summer rankings update.

Last summer on the Under Armor circuit with DC Premier U17, Witherspoon averaged 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists over a 16-game schedule.

Witherspoon held nearly 30 scholarship offers and chose Pitt over a finalist group that included Maryland and Vanderbilt.

Title says it all. He’s average at best. The longer he stays the longer they’re not serious about taking the next step.

He’s gone so far backwards after winning the ACC it’s depressing

The Pitt defense held Virginia in check for most of the night on Saturday, forcing Anthony Colandrea into two interceptions. However, two third-quarter touchdowns and a late field goal secured the victory for the Cavaliers.

Who is at the WVU game? Should be a big weekend. Heard a great Elijah brown story in the parking lot too. Can’t wait for that kid

Just got the news today that my daughter was accepted to Pitt, her parents’ alma mater! We are so proud! Particularly as Pitt has gotten so much harder to get into than when we were students.

Hail to Pitt!

(Now we just have to figure out how to pay for it)

Pat Narduzzi said this afternoon that Eli Holstein has not been cleared by the medical staff yet.

Nm

Eli concussed ? Either way Nate has gotten the snaps this week so there's that .

Have seen enough and no national CHAMPIONSHIP since I was living in texas. Pat Narduzzi...... and as a friend used to say you can not make apple sauce out of monkey greese and oranges. You always think and think and THINK and sleep on it. And if you wake up and it is still a dry bagel in a donuts sheath you get the hell out of the breakfast. Gentlemen a hot name my neighbor has brought to my attention could be former steelers cosch Bill Cower. Any man worth his way in table salt can look at our coach and notice a LACK of testosterone. NEED!!!! to win the next game. Need to win then all because I am getting PISSED. Fo not mean to sound like a lose cannon but was at the last game and got home way to damn LATE to watch a poor game and then drive down 79 at 25MPH with high beems because of all the deer. Also a very thin coyote.