Pitt....9th in 2023-24?

[Chescat]

Of course I'm hoping for a much better finish. How
much better? We were spoiled last year by an
exceptional group of guys exhibiting great chemistry.
Hopefully a similar chemistry will exist this year. On
paper, we brought in two seemingly very good transfers,
recruited well out of h.s, and have a few capable
returnees led by Hinson. So, why 9th then?

Well as usual, the other ACC teams didn't exactly
fall asleep during the off season. Duke returns
Filipowski and three other top scorers. UNC,
and Miami should come next. The team I think
could also challenge is Clemson. I like their big
guy and they brought in Girard as a transfer.

Now, back to Pitt. Can we surprise like last year?
Can we do better than 9th? I think the experts
picked us 9th, because of how bad we've been
the last seveal yrs ( last year was an exception
in their eyes). We lost talent, experience, and
chemistry, but we're not basement dwellers
either. So the safe pick is in the bunched up
middle of the pack with NC ST, WF, Cuse,
VT. etc. I can't argue with that, but hope we'll
again be the surprise of the league. With all
that said, I obviously haven't seen any of these
teams or players so far this year. Everything
I've posted here is "on paper"..... this is what
it looks like to me. Just my two cents.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Of course I'm hoping for a much better finish. How
much better? We were spoiled last year by an
exceptional group of guys exhibiting great chemistry.
Hopefully a similar chemistry will exist this year. On
paper, we brought in two seemingly very good transfers,
recruited well out of h.s, and have a few capable
returnees led by Hinson. So, why 9th then?

Well as usual, the other ACC teams didn't exactly
fall asleep during the off season. Duke returns
Filipowski and three other top scorers. UNC,
and Miami should come next. The team I think
could also challenge is Clemson. I like their big
guy and they brought in Girard as a transfer.

Now, back to Pitt. Can we surprise like last year?
Can we do better than 9th? I think the experts
picked us 9th, because of how bad we've been
the last seveal yrs ( last year was an exception
in their eyes). We lost talent, experience, and
chemistry, but we're not basement dwellers
either. So the safe pick is in the bunched up
middle of the pack with NC ST, WF, Cuse,
VT. etc. I can't argue with that, but hope we'll
again be the surprise of the league. With all
that said, I obviously haven't seen any of these
teams or players so far this year. Everything
I've posted here is "on paper"..... this is what
it looks like to me. Just my two cents.

About what I expected given the loss of Dior. I thought he needed to be All-frosh good for us to make the NCAAT. But maybe Carrington is better. 9th puts you right in range of making the NCAAT depending on quality wins and NET.

 

[NCanton Panther]

Of course I'm hoping for a much better finish. How
much better? We were spoiled last year by an
exceptional group of guys exhibiting great chemistry.
Hopefully a similar chemistry will exist this year. On
paper, we brought in two seemingly very good transfers,
recruited well out of h.s, and have a few capable
returnees led by Hinson. So, why 9th then?

Well as usual, the other ACC teams didn't exactly
fall asleep during the off season. Duke returns
Filipowski and three other top scorers. UNC,
and Miami should come next. The team I think
could also challenge is Clemson. I like their big
guy and they brought in Girard as a transfer.

Now, back to Pitt. Can we surprise like last year?
Can we do better than 9th? I think the experts
picked us 9th, because of how bad we've been
the last seveal yrs ( last year was an exception
in their eyes). We lost talent, experience, and
chemistry, but we're not basement dwellers
either. So the safe pick is in the bunched up
middle of the pack with NC ST, WF, Cuse,
VT. etc. I can't argue with that, but hope we'll
again be the surprise of the league. With all
that said, I obviously haven't seen any of these
teams or players so far this year. Everything
I've posted here is "on paper"..... this is what
it looks like to me. Just my two cents.

I don’t think a 9th prediction is surprising or a kick in the face/lack of respect to Pitt. Considering the abundance of experience and scoring we lost in the backcourt and it being replaced by 2 freshmen and 1 transfer, and further considering what other teams have added, can’t get upset with that prediction. I’ll sit back and root for a good season like last year.

 

[H2PisIT]

If Mike Hueitt ends up being in the Sidy N'Dir mold, it's on till the break of dawn. Sweet 16 much?

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Of course I'm hoping for a much better finish. How
much better? We were spoiled last year by an
exceptional group of guys exhibiting great chemistry.
Hopefully a similar chemistry will exist this year. On
paper, we brought in two seemingly very good transfers,
recruited well out of h.s, and have a few capable
returnees led by Hinson. So, why 9th then?

Well as usual, the other ACC teams didn't exactly
fall asleep during the off season. Duke returns
Filipowski and three other top scorers. UNC,
and Miami should come next. The team I think
could also challenge is Clemson. I like their big
guy and they brought in Girard as a transfer.

Now, back to Pitt. Can we surprise like last year?
Can we do better than 9th? I think the experts
picked us 9th, because of how bad we've been
the last seveal yrs ( last year was an exception
in their eyes). We lost talent, experience, and
chemistry, but we're not basement dwellers
either. So the safe pick is in the bunched up
middle of the pack with NC ST, WF, Cuse,
VT. etc. I can't argue with that, but hope we'll
again be the surprise of the league. With all
that said, I obviously haven't seen any of these
teams or players so far this year. Everything
I've posted here is "on paper"..... this is what
it looks like to me. Just my two cents.

Did you happen to listen to the Capel radio show by chance? Because the teams you mentioned are exactly the teams he mentioned when addressing the preseason poll. So well done if you didn’t.

On his show, Capel was bullish on Duke and Clemson, he said UNC brings a lot back but you just don’t know how they will perform, and Miami returns players from a FF team. He went on to say that the people voting frankly don’t have any idea how to vote because there is no way to know in this day and age. He went on to allude to the fact that he feels really good about his group but you just don’t know until the team faces adversity. Last year he knew after the VCU game that he had a good group. Time will tell with this group but it appears it has many of the same qualities, except this one has a little linkage that last years team didn’t have.

And if you listen to guys like Leggett and Austin, they seem like tremendous kids. So I can’t wait to see how they do on the floor. Hopefully Oakland is just as fun this winter on game day as it was last year.

 

[Vader_Storm]

Did you happen to listen to the Capel radio show by chance? Because the teams you mentioned are exactly the teams he mentioned when addressing the preseason poll. So well done if you didn’t.

On his show, Capel was bullish on Duke and Clemson, he said UNC brings a lot back but you just don’t know how they will perform, and Miami returns players from a FF team. He went on to say that the people voting frankly don’t have any idea how to vote because there is no way to know in this day and age. He went on to allude to the fact that he feels really good about his group but you just don’t know until the team faces adversity. Last year he knew after the VCU game that he had a good group. Time will tell with this group but it appears it has many of the same qualities, except this one has a little linkage that last years team didn’t have.

And if you listen to guys like Leggett and Austin, they seem like tremendous kids. So I can’t wait to see how they do on the floor. Hopefully Oakland is just as fun this winter on game day as it was last year.

There are at least 3 players waiting on waivers that aren't even eligible to play yet. Those are...

Efton Reid-Wake Forest, who also is now sitting with a foot injury

Kam Woods- NC State

Primo Spears- Florida State

And

Rodney Rice has left the program at Virginia Tech.

And

Jack Clark at Clemson who is projected to start has a hernia problem. His timeframe to return is unknown.

MJ Rice has left the team at NC State. He may or may not come back.

Chance Westry is out for a while at Syracuse, maybe the season. Kyle Cuffe is also out with a hand fracture.

Damari Monsanto is out with a knee issue for months at Wake Forest. He might not be back until January.

Chandler Jackson is suspended at Florida State and Cam'ron Flether also has a knee injury.


That's just the ones I know of, there may be more.

So obviously teams losing players that are captains or are projected to start are going to have an influence on these rankings.


Im not going to rank where I think Pitt belongs. But some of these teams are highly suspect in the preseason. For example, I didn't like Virginia Tech with Rice on the team to be good. I certainly don't like them without Rice.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

There are at least 3 players waiting on waivers that aren't even eligible to play yet. Those are...

Efton Reid-Wake Forest, who also is now sitting with a foot injury

Kam Woods- NC State

Primo Spears- Florida State

And

Rodney Rice has left the program at Virginia Tech.

And

Jack Clark at Clemson who is projected to start has a hernia problem. His timeframe to return is unknown.

MJ Rice has left the team at NC State. He may or may not come back.

Chance Westry is out for a while at Syracuse, maybe the season. Kyle Cuffe is also out with a hand fracture.

Damari Monsanto is out with a knee issue for months at Wake Forest. He might not be back until January.

Chandler Jackson is suspended at Florida State and Cam'ron Flether also has a knee injury.


That's just the ones I know of, there may be more.

So obviously teams losing players that are captains or are projected to start are going to have an influence on these rankings.


Im not going to rank where I think Pitt belongs. But some of these teams are highly suspect in the preseason. For example, I didn't like Virginia Tech with Rice on the team. I certainly don't like them without Rice.

I gotta admit, I have concerns about the league. All the legendary coaches are gone, and it appears the players are too.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I gotta admit, I have concerns about the league. All the legendary coaches are gone, and it appears the players are too.

Its hard to say how good these leagues will be year to year but the B12 and SEC have the best coaches so that's a huge concern.

 

[Chescat]

Did you happen to listen to the Capel radio show by chance? Because the teams you mentioned are exactly the teams he mentioned when addressing the preseason poll. So well done if you didn’t.

Actually I didn't listen to Capel's show. My picking Duke
1st was no stroke of genius LOL. Given Filipowski coming
back with a few others, it was easy. Same with Miami and
UNC. Clemson however is just my take. I've always liked
their Big guy, Hall. I think he's been underrated. They have
a few transfers who can play, especially Girard from Syracuse.
IMO they got screwed last year. They finished 14-6 in the league
as did we and Duke, yet no NCAA selection. They beat us and
Duke, but somehow lost to BC and Louisville. This should be
their year, let's see.

UVA will probably do well, given their coaching and style. The
rest including us are bunched up somewhere in the middle,
with BC and Louisville at or near the bottom. Thanks for the
KUDOS, however in the past I wondered how Capel saw and
predicted certain things. Coach Speak, I guess.

 

[Bethlehemjohn]

Of course I'm hoping for a much better finish. How
much better? We were spoiled last year by an
exceptional group of guys exhibiting great chemistry.
Hopefully a similar chemistry will exist this year. On
paper, we brought in two seemingly very good transfers,
recruited well out of h.s, and have a few capable
returnees led by Hinson. So, why 9th then?

Well as usual, the other ACC teams didn't exactly
fall asleep during the off season. Duke returns
Filipowski and three other top scorers. UNC,
and Miami should come next. The team I think
could also challenge is Clemson. I like their big
guy and they brought in Girard as a transfer.

Now, back to Pitt. Can we surprise like last year?
Can we do better than 9th? I think the experts
picked us 9th, because of how bad we've been
the last seveal yrs ( last year was an exception
in their eyes). We lost talent, experience, and
chemistry, but we're not basement dwellers
either. So the safe pick is in the bunched up
middle of the pack with NC ST, WF, Cuse,
VT. etc. I can't argue with that, but hope we'll
again be the surprise of the league. With all
that said, I obviously haven't seen any of these
teams or players so far this year. Everything
I've posted here is "on paper"..... this is what
it looks like to me. Just my two cents.

I am surprised it was that high. I like our team and would say anywhere from 6 to 11.

 

[Pittisit4me]

I am surprised it was that high. I like our team and would say anywhere from 6 to 11.

Depending on the young guys and chemistry developed or lack there of, I would even extend your range of outcomes to between 5th and 12th.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Well, 9th does look better than the earlier predictions that Pitt would finish 13th.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

I gotta admit, I have concerns about the league. All the legendary coaches are gone, and it appears the players are too.

It seems the only ACC coach that can approach "legendary" might be Tony Bennett. Even Larranaga isn't there. The rest are young and unknowns over the long term or just haven't proven themselves yet.