Barnes's comments about scheduling

[Sean Miller Fan]

I was encouraged that it seemed like he wanted to upgrade the non-con but he fed the reporters' the Pederson/Dixon line that teams are scared to play us there. Where did that come from? We lose about 50% of our games there against Power 10 conference teams these last 5 years.

That comment just seemed off the wall and is not a good sign. Teams are happy to home and home with WVU but not Pitt? Sorry, not buying it.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

It comes from putting a spin on not securing a series.

 

[Voice of Danno]

Teams will come if we offer a home and home. No one of consequence is going to play here or even at Consol if they don't get a return game. If we haven't a home and home, then it's pretty arrogant of the athletic department.

For instance, with the break up of the Big East Syracuse will play Gtown and St. Johns for the next few years alternating home games. This year they played at Gtown at St. Johns on the road. And Boheim is worse than Dixon about playing non conference teams on the road.

Seriously, how many true non conference road games have we played in the last five years?
I am not counting the City Game as a road game as the NCAA counts it as a neutral site.

We didn't play any this year. We played Hawaii last year but that was a tune up for the Maui Classic. We didn't play any two seasons ago.

Maybe it's time we grow some and play somebody at their gym.

 

[California Panther]

Teams will come if we offer a home and home. No one of consequence is going to play here or even at Consol if they don't get a return game. If we haven't a home and home, then it's pretty arrogant of the athletic department.

For instance, with the break up of the Big East Syracuse will play Gtown and St. Johns for the next few years alternating home games. This year they played at Gtown at St. Johns on the road. And Boheim is worse than Dixon about playing non conference teams on the road.

Seriously, how many true non conference road games have we played in the last five years?
I am not counting the City Game as a road game as the NCAA counts it as a neutral site.

We didn't play any this year. We played Hawaii last year but that was a tune up for the Maui Classic. We didn't play any two seasons ago.

Maybe it's time we grow some and play somebody at their gym.

The Hawaii game was not at Hawaii's "home gym"

 

[Voice of Danno]

The Hawaii game was not at Hawaii's "home gym"

So we haven't played a true road non conference game in three seasons. Really makes me proud. Villanova played at VA this year. Hell, UNC played at Norhern Iowa and Texas. We can't even play at Youngstown St.

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

I think they will play one or two and/or wvu now to make it a bit more interesting ooc. He commented on the ticket sales slipping a bit.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

So we haven't played a true road non conference game in three seasons.

We played at Indiana last season.

 

[Saboteur]

JD is the highest paid employee at Pitt and desrves the heat he is taking.
If you don't want heat, coach at Robert Morris.
Sorry, but not challenging yourself is not going to win you any admirers. The opposite is true.

 

[California Panther]

We played at Indiana last season.

But that was a part of the ACC-Big 10 challenge, not a game Pitt scheduled.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

But that was a part of the ACC-Big 10 challenge, not a game Pitt scheduled.

So if we exclude all the road games we play we never play any road games. Got it.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

I think they will play one or two and/or wvu now to make it a bit more interesting ooc. He commented on the ticket sales slipping a bit.

Well, it isn't good that the majority of Pitts non-conference home games are worse than RMU's (OOC home games) for crying out loud.

Getting some more good teams in the Pete will only sell more tickets

 

[Joe Magarac]

Dixon will not schedule home and home with any team with a pulse.
I am tired of hearing that other teams don't want to play at the Pete or we just can't find dates that meet both teams schedules. That's disingenuous.
I was born at night, but it wasn't last night.
I am tired of paying my hard earned season ticket money to see a bunch of non conference stiffs year after year.
The empty seats at the Pete show that this is a shared opinion.
Along with the decline in play, recruiting and coaching.
How much longer until things change.

 

[TD_istheman]

Dixon knows his seat is warming up, he won't go near anything except cupcakes.

 

[ameoba defense]

Nobody wants to come here means Kentucky and Kansas won't come here. They need to lower their sights. I bet Cincy would come here. Xavier too. How about Memphis? Temple? Iowa? UConn maybe?

 

[Delpanther]

We played at Indiana last season.

That wasn't voluntary though! That was a game dictated by the big 10/ACC challenge. We'd have never scheduled that game otherwise.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

That wasn't voluntary though! That was a game dictated by the big 10/ACC challenge. We'd have never scheduled that game otherwise.

Probably not. None the less, it was a road game and it was last season.

 

[levance2]

Nobody wants to come here means Kentucky and Kansas won't come here. They need to lower their sights. I bet Cincy would come here. Xavier too. How about Memphis? Temple? Iowa? UConn maybe?

Are those the programs you are satisfied to say are of the same caliber as Pitt?

 

[ClarkLotTgate]

Dixon will not schedule home and home with any team with a pulse.
I am tired of hearing that other teams don't want to play at the Pete or we just can't find dates that meet both teams schedules. That's disingenuous.
I was born at night, but it wasn't last night.
I am tired of paying my hard earned season ticket money to see a bunch of non conference stiffs year after year.
The empty seats at the Pete show that this is a shared opinion.
Along with the decline in play, recruiting and coaching.
How much longer until things change.

basically... the ROI on Pitt Season BBall tickets isn't good anymore.

Playing cupcakes and then having a good team, that competes with good teams... ROI is fine
-which is what we've had for a decade or so.

Playing cupcakes and then getting worked at home in conference...ROI is terrible
-which is what's happening this season

Playing good non-cons (losing a good share of them) and getting worked at home in conference...ROI is terrible
-but you might be able to scalp some of the tickets for lower your cost basis.

 

[vinniep33]

Are those the programs you are satisfied to say are of the same caliber as Pitt?

I bet Cal would come here to play, and yes we are now on the level of the programs listed above, sans Kansas.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

I've been a critic of the OOC schedule for several years but everyone's forgetting it's a business . When it becomes obvious to those in charge that continuing to play a lot of unattractive opponents is costing them $$$$$ that's when they'll change it.

 

[TD_istheman]

Business or protecting a record .?

 

[ClarkLotTgate]

losing is bad business
going to anything other than the NCAA tournament is bad business.

playing a somewhat stronger Non-Con and losing and not making the tournament is bad business.

I feel like i'm taking crazy pills here.
Losing=Bad
Winning vs cupcakes=is not bad
winning vs good programs=very good.

no one would be complaining about the schedule if we were 21-3

 

[Saboteur]

losing is bad business
going to anything other than the NCAA tournament is bad business.

playing a somewhat stronger Non-Con and losing and not making the tournament is bad business.

I feel like i'm taking crazy pills here.
Losing=Bad
Winning vs cupcakes=is not bad
winning vs good programs=very good.

no one would be complaining about the schedule if we were 21-3

But we aren't 21-3 anymore than we are in the Top 10, 15 or 20.
Facts matter....fiction doesn't.

 

[levance2]

But we aren't 21-3 anymore than we are in the Top 10, 15 or 20.
Facts matter....fiction doesn't.

So why would it be better to be 14-9 right now? Because you would have enjoyed watching Pitt lose to UConn in November?

I understand the entertainment argument, although I don't personnaly agree. This team just isn't that good. Scheduling harder opponents means they will have more losses and not be any better. Rutgers played Creighton, Clemson, St. John's, and Seton Hall OOC and lost them all because Rutgers is garbage.

EDIT: Here's a better example. Georgetown currently has the #35 overall SOS in Pomeroy, but they lost to Maryland, Duke, Monmoth, UNC Ashville, and UConn. Even if they finish 17-4 (10-8) in a reasonably strong Big East, they won't get a bid because they lost too many hard games early.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

So why would it be better to be 14-9 right now? Because you would have enjoyed watching Pitt lose to UConn in November?

I understand the entertainment argument, although I don't personnaly agree. This team just isn't that good. Scheduling harder opponents means they will have more losses and not be any better. Rutgers played Creighton, Clemson, St. John's, and Seton Hall OOC and lost them all because Rutgers is garbage.

Clemson lost 5 OOC games to Power Conference team. We lost 1. Yet, we are both on the bubble. Losing some of those games isnt that damaging. And, guess what, we might not lose all of them.

 

[shermars]

Dixon is responsible for making the schedule also? I thought the schedule was made by the AD?

 

[levance2]

Clemson lost 5 OOC games to Power Conference team. We lost 1. Yet, we are both on the bubble. Losing some of those games isnt that damaging. And, guess what, we might not lose all of them.

You are proving the wrong side of the argument. Clemson isn't getting a bid because of their OOC, regardless of the SOS. They are getting in because they beat a bunch of good teams in the ACC. Pitt could've done the same thing, but we didn't, and we won't. With Pitt's OOC SOS, even half of the good wins that Clemson has would make us a lock.

Clemson actually has a worse OOC SOS than Pitt does according to Pomeroy. Clemson losing to UMass and Minnesota would be analagous to Pitt losing to Eastern Washington and Cornell. Those losses are dreadful.

 

[ClarkLotTgate]

Dixon is responsible for making the schedule also? I thought the schedule was made by the AD?

AD's schedule in football
Coaches schedule in bball
-this is normal, not some bizarre pitt thing.

 

[shermars]

AD's schedule in football
Coaches schedule in bball
-this is normal, not some bizarre pitt thing.

Thanks. I did not know the coaches schedule in Bball.

 

[Pittx9]

Compare these teams and let's see who everyone thinks are the most deserving ones.

Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Team 4
18-6 16-6 17-6 18-6
RPI - 15th RPI - 40th RPI - 43rd RPI - 32nd
SOS - 47 SOS - 54 SOS - 110 SOS - 59

Personally I think teams 3 and 4 are not tournament worthy at the moment. 1 and 2 still have a good chance. After some input I will reveal who the teams are.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Compare these teams and let's see who everyone thinks are the most deserving ones.

Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Team 4
18-6 16-6 17-6 18-6
RPI - 15th RPI - 40th RPI - 43rd RPI - 32nd
SOS - 47 SOS - 54 SOS - 110 SOS - 59

Personally I think teams 3 and 4 are not tournament worthy at the moment. 1 and 2 still have a good chance. After some input I will reveal who the teams are.

1. Team 1
2. Team 4
3. Team 2
4. Team 3

 

[Pittx9]

1. Team 1
2. Team 4
3. Team 2
4. Team 3

I'd agree with that even. 1 is clearly the best. I think 2 and 4 are close, pretty much bubble teams. I will say this now though, I think 3 is clearly the worst, has little chance of making the tourney, yet they are still somehow ranked right now.

 

[ClarkLotTgate]

Compare these teams and let's see who everyone thinks are the most deserving ones.

Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Team 4
18-6 16-6 17-6 18-6
RPI - 15th RPI - 40th RPI - 43rd RPI - 32nd
SOS - 47 SOS - 54 SOS - 110 SOS - 59

Personally I think teams 3 and 4 are not tournament worthy at the moment. 1 and 2 still have a good chance. After some input I will reveal who the teams are.

1
4
2
3

 

[Pittx9]

1
4
2
3

So we are all so far agreeing #3 is the worst. Well that is #25 Wichita State. Personally I have a huge problem with them being ranked, they are not a tournament worthy team.

 

[Saboteur]

So why would it be better to be 14-9 right now? Because you would have enjoyed watching Pitt lose to UConn in November?

I understand the entertainment argument, although I don't personnaly agree. This team just isn't that good. Scheduling harder opponents means they will have more losses and not be any better. Rutgers played Creighton, Clemson, St. John's, and Seton Hall OOC and lost them all because Rutgers is garbage.

EDIT: Here's a better example. Georgetown currently has the #35 overall SOS in Pomeroy, but they lost to Maryland, Duke, Monmoth, UNC Ashville, and UConn. Even if they finish 17-4 (10-8) in a reasonably strong Big East, they won't get a bid because they lost too many hard games early.

You get to argue what could have been while I argue what is. You will always win that argument because you can switch scenarios at the drop of a hat. IF.....in perpetuity.
But here is the reality.....absent early tests we know what Pitt has on the floor. We also know that JD has a history of scheduling in this fashion and his recent history (over the last 4 years) is spotty.
I'm not arguing just for the sake of entertainment. I am also arguing that we have the wrong mindset.... I think the better way to prepare anyone isn't to coddle them nor is it to destroy their confidence.
Instead, I think pre-season ought to be a time to challenge your team to become their best and NOT TO position them to be in a good position when the fire gets hot. No one won a championship in December. Nor does they lose it then.
To me, an NCAA berth is not success unless you have some success when there. Sweet 16 is success...one and done ain't. The CBA ain't. Losing in the first round of the NIT ain't. Beating Colorado (making a rare NCAA appearance) and then going home ain't.
We know what we have and the empty seats tell you better than I can.
Business right? yes it is. And in my business I have to make a profit or I don't eat.

 

[ClarkLotTgate]

So we are all so far agreeing #3 is the worst. Well that is #25 Wichita State. Personally I have a huge problem with them being ranked, they are not a tournament worthy team.

...but they aren't an "at-large" or "bubble team" they are first place in their conference and will auto-qualify. so you're not looking at comparable teams.

 

[Pittx9]

...but they aren't an "at-large" or "bubble team" they are first place in their conference and will auto-qualify. so you're not looking at comparable teams.

Doesn't matter if they don't win their conference tourney. They could end up an at-large team. They're gonna get in the tourney though, but they have no business being anywhere near the top 25 right now. They're also by far the worst of the 4 blind resumes. But honestly if they don't win their conference tournament, as it stands now their resume is not impressive at all.

 

[magadog]

I was encouraged that it seemed like he wanted to upgrade the non-con but he fed the reporters' the Pederson/Dixon line that teams are scared to play us there. Where did that come from? We lose about 50% of our games there against Power 10 conference teams these last 5 years.

That comment just seemed off the wall and is not a good sign. Teams are happy to home and home with WVU but not Pitt? Sorry, not buying it.

Really has Pitt lost 50% of their games played against Power 10 conference teams in the last five years? I understand that Pitt has struggled in the ACC, but if you exclude those games, how has Pitt faired against the Power 6-10 conferences?

 

[magadog]

JD is the highest paid employee at Pitt and desrves the heat he is taking.
If you don't want heat, coach at Robert Morris.
Sorry, but not challenging yourself is not going to win you any admirers. The opposite is true.

JD carried the weight for his first 10 years when the big east provided literally no money to the other sports. The basketball team's success was parleyed into mandatory seat donations that was used to fund other sports. Way back when Pitt needed the additional home games for additional revenue. I understand that this was then & not now, but to fault him for playing by the university's rules for so long & trying to manipulate the RPI game...it has gotten stale.

The last two years, the team has struggled & the peripheral fans have jumped ship. The fans who never wanted Dixon are pounding their chests.

The meltdown after losses & the complaining that this player sucks is getting old. These players aren't pro's, but will be your fellow alumni.

 

[Saboteur]

JD carried the weight for his first 10 years when the big east provided literally no money to the other sports. The basketball team's success was parleyed into mandatory seat donations that was used to fund other sports. Way back when Pitt needed the additional home games for additional revenue. I understand that this was then & not now, but to fault him for playing by the university's rules for so long & trying to manipulate the RPI game...it has gotten stale.

The last two years, the team has struggled & the peripheral fans have jumped ship. The fans who never wanted Dixon are pounding their chests.

The meltdown after losses & the complaining that this player sucks is getting old. These players aren't pro's, but will be your fellow alumni.

Give me a break. JD makes a ton of money and getting criticized comes with the territory. Get a pair.