The Future of Pitt Basketball & Other Dribbles ...

[DT_PITT]

** Good Evening to all of my PantherLair friends!

** If you are reading this at this point in the season, we likely share a couple of opinions about Pitt Hoops, without exception.

** The first is that we are miserable about Pitt Hoops at the moment.

** The second is that what happens the rest of this season, unless it’s something like a completely miraculous 8-2 ACC run, doesn’t really matter.

** But I’d like to ask everyone to put away any of your pro or con Dixon or Stallings biases, and grab hold of what I’ll put forth at the moment, which is truly what I believe about what has happened thus far this season.

** There are two simple realities that I believe in. One: There are significant problems with the makeup of our roster, and overall ability and depth, most of which can be attributed to our former coach. Two: there is enough talent on this team that we should be playing better than we are.

** While this is a black or white assertion, the extent of which both are true is true is certainly debatable. Engaging that debate back and forth is all conjecture, and really serves no purpose.

** Here’s what does matter. Do you believe that Kevin Stallings is the type of Coach who can get the most of the rosters he does create in years to come? Or in other words, how much does substandard achievement with this current group really matter?

** My answer? It doesn’t matter. That is … it doesn’t matter especially if he can correct his course beginning next year.

** I can’t read Coach Stallings’s mind, but it appears to me that he threw his system onto a group of seniors, for better or worse.

** In my mind, it’s hard to fault a new coach for going this direction with a group seniors who do have some talent, although being quite volatile, and few players behind them to groom.

** But it didn’t work, and in fact it appears as if it has failed miserably. The way I see it, this team will finish the ACC season no better than 3-15.

** Nonetheless, here’s only point that matters. Does this mean what our Coach is trying to do won’t work for any group – especially a group of his own -- or does it mean that it just didn’t work with this group.

** None of us know the answer to this, of course.

** But this much I do know. It’s completely unwise to suggest that Coach Stallings shouldn’t be around for year two so that we can get a better answer to this question.

** I might feel a little bit differently about this point if Stallings was driving a group slated for a top four AAC finish instead into a bottom four ACC finish. Actually, he’s driven an NCAA bubble team, at best, to a bottom four ACC finish, or maybe even a last place finish.

** This is a mightily discouraging result for sure, but it is not evidence that Stallings will never get it done. Nothing with this current group should be seen as evidence. They are just too volatile and too tough to coach.

** I’d be lying if I said I had real confidence that Stallings will get it done. It’s impossible for any Pitt fan to ignore his track record before he got to Pitt.

** All of this notwithstanding, whether he’s the guy long term to get his team to buy into what he wants or not, this program has a bigger problem in that any coach would have a huge mountain to climb regardless.

** At the moment, everything about this program is in a negative direction. And if you are of the mindset that cutting our losses with Stallings now is the better way to go, it’s important to realize that this increases that negative momentum all that much more.

** All of this may seem that I’m suggesting that Panther fans need to grin and bear it. But maybe the better way to characterize it is that Panther Fans need to wait and bear it.

** How long? Well, in my mind, not as long as one might think.

** We shouldn’t even need to wait until the beginning of next season. We might even know by September.

** It’s safe to assume that we have four more spots to recruit for next season. And we have immediate playing time to offer in the ACC next season. There is nothing better to entice recruits than immediate playing time.

** Along the same lines, at least two the next four players we recruit need to be players ready to give immediate quality playing time. Even with JUCO's or 5th year guys, that’s a tall order. But it’s the job Kevin Stallings signed up to do.

** I’m grateful to anyone who was good enough to read this far. So I’ll end with a summary.

** Like it or not, the future of Pitt Basketball for the next year or so is in the hands of Kevin Stallings. Unless for some reason he decides he doesn’t want to be here, he will be here, and he should be here.

** As a die-hard Pitt Hoops fan who cares deeply about this program, I know I will wait and bear it. I know that’s what needs to happen.

** I will wait and see what work Stallings can do with his roster before next season, or even with the quality of freshman recruits signed for 2018. If there is little positive movement, I also know my patience will wane.

** And if we are talking about another 3 win ACC season this time next year without any significant help on the horizon, that’s a whole new conversation too.

** But that conversation needs to happen later. Like it or not, that’s the future of Pitt Basketball.

 

[PittPoker]

** Like it or not, the future of Pitt Basketball for the next year or so is in the hands of Kevin Stallings. Unless for some reason he decides he doesn’t want to be here, he will be here, and he should be here.

Why DT, why should he still be here? Because he got this job under shady circumstances with Barnes and a corrupt search firm? You seem to pooh pooh the fact that he took a bubble team and turned it into most likely a last place ACC team in 1 season. That is a major accomplishment and not a good one. Do you realize how hard that is to do? In fact, I ask you to name 1 other coach that came to a basketball program, lost only 1 starter, returned 4 seniors and finished in last place?? Oh, and got a 55 point blowout loss at home to boot. That is disgraceful and I'm sorry but add his Vandy track record and if this team finishes losing 18 in a row he needs to be canned. It might hurt in the IMMEDIATE short term but it's ultimately for the betterment of the program.

 

[DT_PITT]

Why DT, why should he still be here? Because he got this job under shady circumstances with Barnes and a corrupt search firm? You seem to pooh pooh the fact that he took a bubble team and turned it into most likely a last place ACC team in 1 season. That is a major accomplishment and not a good one. Do you realize how hard that is to do? In fact, I ask you to name 1 other coach that came to a basketball program, lost only 1 starter, returned 4 seniors and finished in last place?? Oh, and got a 55 point blowout loss at home to boot. That is disgraceful and I'm sorry but add his Vandy track record and if this team finishes losing 18 in a row he needs to be canned. It might hurt in the IMMEDIATE short term but it's ultimately for the betterment of the program.

I didn't expect you to agree with me.

 

[DT_PITT]

Allow me to add one other point, which actually lies in contrast to everything I actually posted to begin this thread.

Over and over, people have been telling me the problem with this team is the roster. I get that regardless of how many times I wonder how most of this roster won 9 ACC games last year.

I hear that their problem is that they don't have a true point guard or a true center.

I get the problem not having James Robinson would have on the offensive end and if you look at Pomeroy's ratings, this is visible with our drop from 28th the 48th in offensive efficiency.

But on the offensive end, do you really believe that not having Nelson-Ododa and Maia are part of that drop off? Or do you really even believe that dropping 20 points in offensive efficiency is REALLY the problem.

The drop on the defensive end is where things are REALLY the most troubling year over year.

Last year, we ended the year ranked 54 in Pomeroy in defensive efficiency. Most of the year, we were in the 70's.

This year, we now rank 183 in defensive efficiency.

As far as defense goes, it's very difficult for me to believe the difference of a drop of over 100 points in defensive efficiency is because of James Robinson.

If we are to believe that Kevin Stallings can get things turned in the right direction, he has some work to do on the defensive end.

 

[jimmoyer]

All of this really starts with who the University hires as AD. Are we moving away from basketball and putting all of our effort into the football program or do we hire a strong basketball/football AD and get both programs moving. The new AD will likely have to make the assessments on Stallings very early in his tenure and if we play this correctly, this hire will come as a two for. Hopefully our new Ad comes in ready to push the basketball situation since the football program is on strong grounds. I think this hire needs to be the home run that Pitt needs and the future of both programs is at the right time for a heavy weight AD to come in and take charge. Nothing else matters right now until this position is filled. My guess is that Stallings has one more season to demonstrate big things or our new AD will be positioned to make the program in his own form. Need a major splash hire as AD to put Pitt in the right direction and take us to the next level.

 

[CougarClaws]

** Good Evening to all of my PantherLair friends!

** If you are reading this at this point in the season, we likely share a couple of opinions about Pitt Hoops, without exception.

** The first is that we are miserable about Pitt Hoops at the moment.

** The second is that what happens the rest of this season, unless it’s something like a completely miraculous 8-2 ACC run, doesn’t really matter.

** But I’d like to ask everyone to put away any of your pro or con Dixon or Stallings biases, and grab hold of what I’ll put forth at the moment, which is truly what I believe about what has happened thus far this season.

** There are two simple realities that I believe in. One: There are significant problems with the makeup of our roster, and overall ability and depth, most of which can be attributed to our former coach. Two: there is enough talent on this team that we should be playing better than we are.

** While this is a black or white assertion, the extent of which both are true is true is certainly debatable. Engaging that debate back and forth is all conjecture, and really serves no purpose.

** Here’s what does matter. Do you believe that Kevin Stallings is the type of Coach who can get the most of the rosters he does create in years to come? Or in other words, how much does substandard achievement with this current group really matter?

** My answer? It doesn’t matter. That is … it doesn’t matter especially if he can correct his course beginning next year.

** I can’t read Coach Stallings’s mind, but it appears to me that he threw his system onto a group of seniors, for better or worse.

** In my mind, it’s hard to fault a new coach for going this direction with a group seniors who do have some talent, although being quite volatile, and few players behind them to groom.

** But it didn’t work, and in fact it appears as if it has failed miserably. The way I see it, this team will finish the ACC season no better than 3-15.

** Nonetheless, here’s only point that matters. Does this mean what our Coach is trying to do won’t work for any group – especially a group of his own -- or does it mean that it just didn’t work with this group.

** None of us know the answer to this, of course.

** But this much I do know. It’s completely unwise to suggest that Coach Stallings shouldn’t be around for year two so that we can get a better answer to this question.

** I might feel a little bit differently about this point if Stallings was driving a group slated for a top four AAC finish instead into a bottom four ACC finish. Actually, he’s driven an NCAA bubble team, at best, to a bottom four ACC finish, or maybe even a last place finish.

** This is a mightily discouraging result for sure, but it is not evidence that Stallings will never get it done. Nothing with this current group should be seen as evidence. They are just too volatile and too tough to coach.

** I’d be lying if I said I had real confidence that Stallings will get it done. It’s impossible for any Pitt fan to ignore his track record before he got to Pitt.

** All of this notwithstanding, whether he’s the guy long term to get his team to buy into what he wants or not, this program has a bigger problem in that any coach would have a huge mountain to climb regardless.

** At the moment, everything about this program is in a negative direction. And if you are of the mindset that cutting our losses with Stallings now is the better way to go, it’s important to realize that this increases that negative momentum all that much more.

** All of this may seem that I’m suggesting that Panther fans need to grin and bear it. But maybe the better way to characterize it is that Panther Fans need to wait and bear it.

** How long? Well, in my mind, not as long as one might think.

** We shouldn’t even need to wait until the beginning of next season. We might even know by September.

** It’s safe to assume that we have four more spots to recruit for next season. And we have immediate playing time to offer in the ACC next season. There is nothing better to entice recruits than immediate playing time.

** Along the same lines, at least two the next four players we recruit need to be players ready to give immediate quality playing time. Even with JUCO's or 5th year guys, that’s a tall order. But it’s the job Kevin Stallings signed up to do.

** I’m grateful to anyone who was good enough to read this far. So I’ll end with a summary.

** Like it or not, the future of Pitt Basketball for the next year or so is in the hands of Kevin Stallings. Unless for some reason he decides he doesn’t want to be here, he will be here, and he should be here.

** As a die-hard Pitt Hoops fan who cares deeply about this program, I know I will wait and bear it. I know that’s what needs to happen.

** I will wait and see what work Stallings can do with his roster before next season, or even with the quality of freshman recruits signed for 2018. If there is little positive movement, I also know my patience will wane.

** And if we are talking about another 3 win ACC season this time next year without any significant help on the horizon, that’s a whole new conversation too.

** But that conversation needs to happen later. Like it or not, that’s the future of Pitt Basketball.

Great post DT, it's because if longtime fans like you I even want to visit the board under these circumstances.

I have a couple points to make myself.

First if all, almost no matter what we are stuck with Stallings for at least 2 years. Pitt does not have the budget, nor the boosters, to eat that terrible contract before it's half way done. It's just a fact and no matter how much people scream, moan, cry, throw temper tantrums, and wad their panties up into a ball every night, nothing will change that fact.

2nd of all, I just can't get behind this guy. He has never shown himself to be half the coach Jamie was, and the strength of his game, the recruiting - has been mediocre at best so far. He seems burned out to me. Past his prime, which was not much to speak of to begin with.

I won't complain about it. I will go to some games still, check them out on TV now and then, because I am a monkey - and something about the big disaster pulls at me.

But I have no hope for anything good to happen. Just hope & pray the new AD has balls, gets it, and can hit it out of the park when the new hire is eventually made.

 

[DT_PITT]

All of this really starts with who the University hires as AD. Are we moving away from basketball and putting all of our effort into the football program or do we hire a strong basketball/football AD and get both programs moving. The new AD will likely have to make the assessments on Stallings very early in his tenure and if we play this correctly, this hire will come as a two for. Hopefully our new Ad comes in ready to push the basketball situation since the football program is on strong grounds. I think this hire needs to be the home run that Pitt needs and the future of both programs is at the right time for a heavy weight AD to come in and take charge. Nothing else matters right now until this position is filled. My guess is that Stallings has one more season to demonstrate big things or our new AD will be positioned to make the program in his own form. Need a major splash hire as AD to put Pitt in the right direction and take us to the next level.

From everything I've heard and come to understand at this point, how soon, and who the new AD is an incredibly huge piece of this entire equation.

 

[InfoManiac]

I believe Stallings will get his chance to prove if he can build this program into a winner again. At a minimum he gets 2 more years.

I'm convinced, as he said on the radio show, that his only point of emphasis at halftime was to convince the team that defensive effort in the early minutes of the second was the key to winning the game. So with that I give he credit, he correctly predicted the future and prepared his guys for what they would face. What is disturbing is the execution. Do the guys not care or do they need more in depth instruction on defensive pressure? I'm thinking this point is 70% on the players and 30% on Stallings.

It was easy to see that Clemson was way more athletic than Pitt. This is an issue that needs to be resolved and its 100% Stallings responsibility to resolve it. Whether that is recruiting better players or finding a style or game plan that will maximize his players strengths, he needs to do something...,100% on Stallings.

This roster has lots of holes. Did Stallings recognize. that as he watched his first pickup games after being hired. I never saw him at Montour this summer so he didn't use that time to further evaluate his roster. I'm curious if he tried to find unsigned players in May who would be eligible and contributors this season, like some other coaches did, or did he spend his time on the 2017 class. If he realized his dilemma and didn't try to fill the roster then shame on him.

I think Stallings system can work, but either he needs some tweaks to that system to improve it, he needs to explain it better, or he needs guys that will listen, absorb and execute.

Obviously I'm not impressed with the defense either.

Stallings has a great opportunity in front of him to either prove his worth or confirm his past mediocrity will be his legacy. If he fails at Pitt his next stop is as a color commentator not as a coach. I don't see him getting another chance.

The one certainty is I'll be attending each home Pitt game from tipoff to final buzzer and at least 1 or 2 of the remaining road games. A losing record won't chase me away.

 

[cruzer]

Well reasoned DT. I suspect that Stallings will get at least another year, maybe two. That said, I'll draw a comparison between our program and a typical stock. Sports programs, like stocks, ride momentum. Our program momentum has been a gradual, but clear decline for the past 3 years. This year, the stock (Program) crashed. One thing I've learned in the market is that you're almost always better off cutting your losers quickly. I'd be inclined to cut my losses.

The analogy does clearly have a big flaw....you can sell a stock instantly and stop the bleeding. With 5 years left on a guaranteed contract, you actually have to pay a ton of money to stop the program bleeding. Furthermore, you're never sure if bringing in a new coach will ultimately solve the problem.

I'm just happy I'm not having to make this decision.

Cruzer

 

[gary2]

** Good Evening to all of my PantherLair friends!

** If you are reading this at this point in the season, we likely share a couple of opinions about Pitt Hoops, without exception.

** The first is that we are miserable about Pitt Hoops at the moment.

** The second is that what happens the rest of this season, unless it’s something like a completely miraculous 8-2 ACC run, doesn’t really matter.

** But I’d like to ask everyone to put away any of your pro or con Dixon or Stallings biases, and grab hold of what I’ll put forth at the moment, which is truly what I believe about what has happened thus far this season.

** There are two simple realities that I believe in. One: There are significant problems with the makeup of our roster, and overall ability and depth, most of which can be attributed to our former coach. Two: there is enough talent on this team that we should be playing better than we are.

** While this is a black or white assertion, the extent of which both are true is true is certainly debatable. Engaging that debate back and forth is all conjecture, and really serves no purpose.

** Here’s what does matter. Do you believe that Kevin Stallings is the type of Coach who can get the most of the rosters he does create in years to come? Or in other words, how much does substandard achievement with this current group really matter?

** My answer? It doesn’t matter. That is … it doesn’t matter especially if he can correct his course beginning next year.

** I can’t read Coach Stallings’s mind, but it appears to me that he threw his system onto a group of seniors, for better or worse.

** In my mind, it’s hard to fault a new coach for going this direction with a group seniors who do have some talent, although being quite volatile, and few players behind them to groom.

** But it didn’t work, and in fact it appears as if it has failed miserably. The way I see it, this team will finish the ACC season no better than 3-15.

** Nonetheless, here’s only point that matters. Does this mean what our Coach is trying to do won’t work for any group – especially a group of his own -- or does it mean that it just didn’t work with this group.

** None of us know the answer to this, of course.

** But this much I do know. It’s completely unwise to suggest that Coach Stallings shouldn’t be around for year two so that we can get a better answer to this question.

** I might feel a little bit differently about this point if Stallings was driving a group slated for a top four AAC finish instead into a bottom four ACC finish. Actually, he’s driven an NCAA bubble team, at best, to a bottom four ACC finish, or maybe even a last place finish.

** This is a mightily discouraging result for sure, but it is not evidence that Stallings will never get it done. Nothing with this current group should be seen as evidence. They are just too volatile and too tough to coach.

** I’d be lying if I said I had real confidence that Stallings will get it done. It’s impossible for any Pitt fan to ignore his track record before he got to Pitt.

** All of this notwithstanding, whether he’s the guy long term to get his team to buy into what he wants or not, this program has a bigger problem in that any coach would have a huge mountain to climb regardless.

** At the moment, everything about this program is in a negative direction. And if you are of the mindset that cutting our losses with Stallings now is the better way to go, it’s important to realize that this increases that negative momentum all that much more.

** All of this may seem that I’m suggesting that Panther fans need to grin and bear it. But maybe the better way to characterize it is that Panther Fans need to wait and bear it.

** How long? Well, in my mind, not as long as one might think.

** We shouldn’t even need to wait until the beginning of next season. We might even know by September.

** It’s safe to assume that we have four more spots to recruit for next season. And we have immediate playing time to offer in the ACC next season. There is nothing better to entice recruits than immediate playing time.

** Along the same lines, at least two the next four players we recruit need to be players ready to give immediate quality playing time. Even with JUCO's or 5th year guys, that’s a tall order. But it’s the job Kevin Stallings signed up to do.

** I’m grateful to anyone who was good enough to read this far. So I’ll end with a summary.

** Like it or not, the future of Pitt Basketball for the next year or so is in the hands of Kevin Stallings. Unless for some reason he decides he doesn’t want to be here, he will be here, and he should be here.

** As a die-hard Pitt Hoops fan who cares deeply about this program, I know I will wait and bear it. I know that’s what needs to happen.

** I will wait and see what work Stallings can do with his roster before next season, or even with the quality of freshman recruits signed for 2018. If there is little positive movement, I also know my patience will wane.

** And if we are talking about another 3 win ACC season this time next year without any significant help on the horizon, that’s a whole new conversation too.

** But that conversation needs to happen later. Like it or not, that’s the future of Pitt Basketball.

Excellent post - I might quibble with one sentence but I don't want to appear to detract from it so I won't

 

[NC Panther]

I think that Stallings now realizes that this year's team is absolutely un-coachable. Artis also mentioned in yesterday's post game presser that there is a fracture in the team. This is a complete clusterF.

Would KS have still taken the job if he knew what he knows now?

Of course he would and why? He was gone at Vanderbilt and he knew it.

Unfortunately, Pitt is now stuck w/ him.

Beyond the $ that is owed him and it's a very considerable amount - what many aren't thinking about:

So say Pitt *does* cut their losses and fires Stallings at the end of the season.

Remember, we had to scrape the bottom of the barrel just to get him a year ago.

What do you think the coaching community would think of Pitt and a potential opportunity if they fire Stallings after one year?

Other coaches would be like...."I ain't going to Pitt - hell, they won't give you half a chance."

Best case scenario? Stallings blows a fuse...(and he *does* have a temper).... and threatens to "kill" another player like he did at Vandy or something along those lines.

Then...Pitt can fire him w/ cause and other coaches that may consider Pitt won't have the above reservations.

But beyond that (and he's not going to walk away from the $ because no team would hire him as a H/C at this point)....all we can to do at this point is hope...scratch that...Pray that he can somehow turn this thing around.

I for one don't think he can.

We're going to have *nothing* next year and..... only youth and potential the following year.

And yes, despite what Dixon did early on, he's absolutely responsible for the mess he left.

Imho and it pains me to say this..... Pitt basketball died this year...and it will be a very long time when/if it will ever be resurrected.

 

[bayardstreet]

Dixon might have us at a better record this year if he was coaching or he might have checked out also from frustration. But, he recruited the seniors and those are the players who should provide leadership and toughness. They didn't do this last year and they haven't this year

When you watch time after time after time opposing guards blowing down the lane untouched you realize it's all about lack of desire and effort to play any type of defense. It's not surprising that Stallings couldn't get more out of them. They were not sad by Dixon leaving but shortly after The season started they reverted back to their true selves.

You are wired at birth as they say. You really never change when it comes to most character traits.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

First off it's plainly obvious that Pitts current roster isn't able to play well under Stallings offensive or defensive systems . Is this due to roster deficiencies , system complexities , athletic limitations or low bb IQ . Easy answer all of above .
Second next years team will have no resemblance to this years team , but it's current makeup suggests a lot of growing pain . Do you use jucos or grad transfers to bridge the gap ? I suggest looking for transfers from elite programs , write next year off . Does winning two or three more games really mean anything ?
Three , future PITT teams under Stallings or any other coach will have players better suited to playing defense and rebounding . They probably will have a team that consists of guards , forwards and centers ! They might even have someone who plays in the paint !
Four can Stallings recruit good enough players ? Even though next years class was at this point a little disappointing it consists of two guards ,a forward and a center . Two guards ! A center!!! Can you believe that ?
Five , is Stallings the guy to lead Pitt to the top of the ACC ? I don't think so , but I don't think he was hired to win championships . Pitt bb equals middle of the pack that's what Pitt wants otherwise Stallings is never hired .
Six ,Pitt will stand pat at HC for at least two more seasons for one simple reason $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

 

[mo cheeks]

Allow me to add one other point, which actually lies in contrast to everything I actually posted to begin this thread.

Over and over, people have been telling me the problem with this team is the roster. I get that regardless of how many times I wonder how most of this roster won 9 ACC games last year.

I hear that their problem is that they don't have a true point guard or a true center.

I get the problem not having James Robinson would have on the offensive end and if you look at Pomeroy's ratings, this is visible with our drop from 28th the 48th in offensive efficiency.

But on the offensive end, do you really believe that not having Nelson-Ododa and Maia are part of that drop off? Or do you really even believe that dropping 20 points in offensive efficiency is REALLY the problem.

The drop on the defensive end is where things are REALLY the most troubling year over year.

Last year, we ended the year ranked 54 in Pomeroy in defensive efficiency. Most of the year, we were in the 70's.

This year, we now rank 183 in defensive efficiency.

As far as defense goes, it's very difficult for me to believe the difference of a drop of over 100 points in defensive efficiency is because of James Robinson.

If we are to believe that Kevin Stallings can get things turned in the right direction, he has some work to do on the defensive end.

I do think Maia and Robinson added a ton to defensive efficiency. also, losing Luther has been a killer on both defense and offense. the fact that Stallings did not bring in any 5th year help is mind boggling. have to wonder if Stallings is mailing it in or if he still has fire in the belly.

 

[ameoba defense]

I think that Stallings now realizes that this year's team is absolutely un-coachable. Artis also mentioned in yesterday's post game presser that there is a fracture in the team. This is a complete clusterF.

Would KS have still taken the job if he knew what he knows now?

Of course he would and why? He was gone at Vanderbilt and he knew it.

Unfortunately, Pitt is now stuck w/ him.

Beyond the $ that is owed him and it's a very considerable amount - what many aren't thinking about:

So say Pitt *does* cut their losses and fires Stallings at the end of the season.

Remember, we had to scrape the bottom of the barrel just to get him a year ago.

What do you think the coaching community would think of Pitt and a potential opportunity if they fire Stallings after one year?

Other coaches would be like...."I ain't going to Pitt - hell, they won't give you half a chance."

Best case scenario? Stallings blows a fuse...(and he *does* have a temper).... and threatens to "kill" another player like he did at Vandy or something along those lines.

Then...Pitt can fire him w/ cause and other coaches that may consider Pitt won't have the above reservations.

But beyond that (and he's not going to walk away from the $ because no team would hire him as a H/C at this point)....all we can to do at this point is hope...scratch that...Pray that he can somehow turn this thing around.

I for one don't think he can.

We're going to have *nothing* next year and..... only youth and potential the following year.

And yes, despite what Dixon did early on, he's absolutely responsible for the mess he left.

Imho and it pains me to say this..... Pitt basketball died this year...and it will be a very long time when/if it will ever be resurrected.

You hit the nail on the head here. Most promising young coaches have respected mentors in the game. You can best believe these mentors would strongly suggest passing on going to Pitt. They've seen the negativity that Dixon was faced with here, and to see a veteran coach runn off after only one year, Pitt would quickly be put on the "coaches graveyard" list of programs to be avoided. You think the board is negative now, wait until the new hire comes in from the NEC or Summit League. Hey, Thad Matta is probably going to be out at OSU. Maybe we can get him? LOL!

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

I do think Maia and Robinson added a ton to defensive efficiency. also, losing Luther has been a killer on both defense and offense. the fact that Stallings did not bring in any 5th year help is mind boggling. have to wonder if Stallings is mailing it in or if he still has fire in the belly.

Or any recruits

 

[Nardog2]

You hit the nail on the head here. Most promising young coaches have respected mentors in the game. You can best believe these mentors would strongly suggest passing on going to Pitt. They've seen the negativity that Dixon was faced with here, and to see a veteran coach runn off after only one year, Pitt would quickly be put on the "coaches graveyard" list of programs to be avoided. You think the board is negative now, wait until the new hire comes in from the NEC or Summit League. Hey, Thad Matta is probably going to be out at OSU. Maybe we can get him? LOL!

An up and coming coach would not have passed on Pitt. They weren't getting the millers, but that doesn't mean they couldn't get a young guy who had success at lower levels.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

An up and coming coach would not have passed on Pitt. They weren't getting the millers, but that doesn't mean they couldn't get a young guy who had success at lower levels.

Maybe, maybe not. Up and coming coaches are paid way more handsomely than they used to be. It's easier to wait on a job.

Look no further than our football coach. I realize it's not exactly apples to apples as he was an assistant but the point remains. He made quite a nice living as an assistant and passed on other head coaching jobs.

 

[eastcoasthoops]

You hit the nail on the head here. Most promising young coaches have respected mentors in the game. You can best believe these mentors would strongly suggest passing on going to Pitt. They've seen the negativity that Dixon was faced with here, and to see a veteran coach runn off after only one year, Pitt would quickly be put on the "coaches graveyard" list of programs to be avoided. You think the board is negative now, wait until the new hire comes in from the NEC or Summit League. Hey, Thad Matta is probably going to be out at OSU. Maybe we can get him? LOL!

Hold up. You think a Kevin Keatts type coach who is making in the $300-$500k range is going to pass up ~$1.5 mil because of "negativity"?

C'mon. Nobody passes up FU money. Nobody.

 

[thebadby2]

Allow me to add one other point, which actually lies in contrast to everything I actually posted to begin this thread.

Over and over, people have been telling me the problem with this team is the roster. I get that regardless of how many times I wonder how most of this roster won 9 ACC games last year.

I hear that their problem is that they don't have a true point guard or a true center.

I get the problem not having James Robinson would have on the offensive end and if you look at Pomeroy's ratings, this is visible with our drop from 28th the 48th in offensive efficiency.

But on the offensive end, do you really believe that not having Nelson-Ododa and Maia are part of that drop off? Or do you really even believe that dropping 20 points in offensive efficiency is REALLY the problem.

The drop on the defensive end is where things are REALLY the most troubling year over year.

Last year, we ended the year ranked 54 in Pomeroy in defensive efficiency. Most of the year, we were in the 70's.

This year, we now rank 183 in defensive efficiency.

As far as defense goes, it's very difficult for me to believe the difference of a drop of over 100 points in defensive efficiency is because of James Robinson.

If we are to believe that Kevin Stallings can get things turned in the right direction, he has some work to do on the defensive end.

I'm one of the posters emphasizing that going from Robinson at PG to no PG at all is a big reason why this team is so much worse than last year's. The lack of even a warm body to defend and rebound in the post this year also hurts, to a much lesser extebt. So I'm clear, I certainly believe that going from Dixon to Stallings is the easily the biggest reason for the disaster, no doubt about that. But-with the roster we have this year, I do not believe that Dixon, or anyone else, could have made the tournament or even made the bubble that we got very lucky to make last year. It's not just that we don't have a point guard, we don't have any legitimate guards at all. We don't have any live bodied bigs. We'd be better defensively under JD, we'd win a couple more games and lose a couple in less humiliating fashion, we'd be more competitive but not enough for any decent ACC team to worry about, but let's face it, this group of players never bought in to Jamie's defensive emphasis either. They sucked defensiveky last year too, just less so than this year. I seem to remember you personally lamenting that last year, and you were correct .

Honestly, with this group of players, we should have just gone full-on Paul Westhead-at-LMU-style run and gun, play zero-defense and try to scorer 120 PPG. That would have required a level of conditioning and maybe a speedy ball handler or two that we don't have but I'll bet it would have worked out better than having this bunch of marshmallows sit down and pretend to defend in the half court every possession. And as long as they're free to take whatever open shots they want to take in Stallings' offense, why do it from half court sets against an entrenched defense when you could be getting uncontested shots in transition?

One thing is for sure-we are in for some rough years ahead, but I will be very glad to see Young, Artis and Chris Jones move along from Pitt. Young, Artis and all their shots and points that we won't have anyone capable of replacing, but just to not have to watch their selfish, lazy, pouting play anymore. What a sorry legacy they will leave. The senior class that killled Pitt basketball.

 

[ameoba defense]

An up and coming coach would not have passed on Pitt. They weren't getting the millers, but that doesn't mean they couldn't get a young guy who had success at lower levels.

You're right, an up and comer wouldn't have passed on Pitt last year, but if you fire Stallings after only one year, it becomes a different ballgame. Kevin Keatts will soon have his pick of jobs. He doesn't have to wait for Pitt. I could see him at O$U if they move on from Matta.

 

[eastcoasthoops]

Maybe, maybe not. Up and coming coaches are paid way more handsomely than they used to be. It's easier to wait on a job.

Look no further than our football coach. I realize it's not exactly apples to apples as he was an assistant but the point remains. He made quite a nice living as an assistant and passed on other head coaching jobs.

I have to disagree. And this is where Barnes/Pitt failed in the process of replacing Dixon. Particularly when Barnes sold us all the "Splash Hire" line.

For Pitt to have replaced Dixon with (and I'm just going to us this name as a reference point) a Sean Miller type coach...an established, successful, relatively young P5 coach or a G5 coach with cache...they were going to have to offer far in excess of market value for not only his contract but also for his staff. That would be the price point to play in that pool of coaching talent, especially in context to where the Pitt program had fallen, its league, and the talent currently in the system. Turning the Pitt ship was never going to be an easy job. Even more so a risk for an established successful coach not looking to damage his reputation. Therefore, money...BIG money was going to have to do the talking. Obviously Pitt wasn't able or willing to do that.

So the next solution is to mine the lower ranks for younger, hungry, less established coaches. Say a Kevin Keatts. These guys in the Colonial/CUSA world make around the $300k-$500k range. Kevin Keatts is not going to turn down $1.5 mil a year from Pitt because of "negativity". Man, a $1.5 mil offer is awfully enticing to a guy making a third of that.

However what Barnes decided to do was go the low route. He essentially just rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic. Stallings ain't young, ain't hungry, and while he maybe a generally respected name within coaching circles, he was never going to move the needle here in Pittsburgh. I am still baffled that Stallings was the choice. Just absolutely baffled.

 

[eastcoasthoops]

You're right, an up and comer wouldn't have passed on Pitt last year, but if you fire Stallings after only one year, it becomes a different ballgame. Kevin Keatts will soon have his pick of jobs. He doesn't have to wait for Pitt. I could see him at O$U if they move on from Matta.

Yes agreed. This is the predicament Pitt is in. Firing Stallings now (while I think justified on principle) would not just poison the well for Pitt, it would also burn down the town, salt the fields, and lay waste to everything still standing.

 

[NCanton Panther]

Allow me to add one other point, which actually lies in contrast to everything I actually posted to begin this thread.

Over and over, people have been telling me the problem with this team is the roster. I get that regardless of how many times I wonder how most of this roster won 9 ACC games last year.

I hear that their problem is that they don't have a true point guard or a true center.

I get the problem not having James Robinson would have on the offensive end and if you look at Pomeroy's ratings, this is visible with our drop from 28th the 48th in offensive efficiency.

But on the offensive end, do you really believe that not having Nelson-Ododa and Maia are part of that drop off? Or do you really even believe that dropping 20 points in offensive efficiency is REALLY the problem.

The drop on the defensive end is where things are REALLY the most troubling year over year.

Last year, we ended the year ranked 54 in Pomeroy in defensive efficiency. Most of the year, we were in the 70's.

This year, we now rank 183 in defensive efficiency.

As far as defense goes, it's very difficult for me to believe the difference of a drop of over 100 points in defensive efficiency is because of James Robinson.

If we are to believe that Kevin Stallings can get things turned in the right direction, he has some work to do on the defensive end.

Ok I'll be the black sheep in the family here and instead of 'patting you on the back' and giving you an atta boy for your OP, and just say that this follow-up post is way more than just in contrast to the first. It is down right hypocritical.

I gave an encouraging thumbs up in another post a few days ago to a claim that your standards had sunk. Contrary to Pittgirl's claim I didn't owe her any explanation. But I thought I owed you one. I wasted a considerable amount of time trying to figure out how to send you a 'private' conversation like one of our esteemed posters sent me a while back to explain something he didn't want on the board for everyone. But I for the life of me couldn't find anyway to start a 'conversation', maybe you have to be premium to do this.

But with this hypocritical follow-up, I feel no need to explain any longer.

 

[Big Marty1]

You're right, an up and comer wouldn't have passed on Pitt last year, but if you fire Stallings after only one year, it becomes a different ballgame. Kevin Keatts will soon have his pick of jobs. He doesn't have to wait for Pitt. I could see him at O$U if they move on from Matta.

I'll take Matta right now.

 

[King Of All Message Boards]

I have to disagree. And this is where Barnes/Pitt failed in the process of replacing Dixon. Particularly when Barnes sold us all the "Splash Hire" line.

For Pitt to have replaced Dixon with (and I'm just going to us this name as a reference point) a Sean Miller type coach...an established, successful, relatively young P5 coach or a G5 coach with cache...they were going to have to offer far in excess of market value for not only his contract but also for his staff. That would be the price point to play in that pool of coaching talent, especially in context to where the Pitt program had fallen, its league, and the talent currently in the system. Turning the Pitt ship was never going to be an easy job. Even more so a risk for an established successful coach not looking to damage his reputation. Therefore, money...BIG money was going to have to do the talking. Obviously Pitt wasn't able or willing to do that.

So the next solution is to mine the lower ranks for younger, hungry, less established coaches. Say a Kevin Keatts. These guys in the Colonial/CUSA world make around the $300k-$500k range. Kevin Keatts is not going to turn down $1.5 mil a year from Pitt because of "negativity". Man, a $1.5 mil offer is awfully enticing to a guy making a third of that.

However what Barnes decided to do was go the low route. He essentially just rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic. Stallings ain't young, ain't hungry, and while he maybe a generally respected name within coaching circles, he was never going to move the needle here in Pittsburgh. I am still baffled that Stallings was the choice. Just absolutely baffled.

I guess my statement may have been too general. And I'd probably have to agree that a guy making 300-500k is likely to take the job. I was speaking more of the guys who are more in the million range.

Wasn't Keatts toxic to some due to his potential ties to the Louisville stripper story? My assumption is that he wasn't in the mix.

Maybe it was cronyism and Barnes went right for Stallings. Maybe Enfield was offered and Pitt wouldn't meet his salary demands as some have said. And maybe a guy like Will Wade or others like him are waiting for something they consider better. Im sure we'd all like to know.

 

[ameoba defense]

I'll take Matta right now.

Matta wouldn't be a sexy pick, but his track record is better than Stallings.

 

[thebadby2]

Matta wouldn't be a sexy pick, but his track record is better than Stallings.

You serious? His record isnt just better than Stallngs, it's better than Dixon's-but last time I checked, he had one of the better jobs in college basketball. I know his seat is getting warmer, but I don't think he's going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[Delpanther]

** Good Evening to all of my PantherLair friends!

** If you are reading this at this point in the season, we likely share a couple of opinions about Pitt Hoops, without exception.

** The first is that we are miserable about Pitt Hoops at the moment.

** The second is that what happens the rest of this season, unless it’s something like a completely miraculous 8-2 ACC run, doesn’t really matter.

** But I’d like to ask everyone to put away any of your pro or con Dixon or Stallings biases, and grab hold of what I’ll put forth at the moment, which is truly what I believe about what has happened thus far this season.

** There are two simple realities that I believe in. One: There are significant problems with the makeup of our roster, and overall ability and depth, most of which can be attributed to our former coach. Two: there is enough talent on this team that we should be playing better than we are.

** While this is a black or white assertion, the extent of which both are true is true is certainly debatable. Engaging that debate back and forth is all conjecture, and really serves no purpose.

** Here’s what does matter. Do you believe that Kevin Stallings is the type of Coach who can get the most of the rosters he does create in years to come? Or in other words, how much does substandard achievement with this current group really matter?

** My answer? It doesn’t matter. That is … it doesn’t matter especially if he can correct his course beginning next year.

** I can’t read Coach Stallings’s mind, but it appears to me that he threw his system onto a group of seniors, for better or worse.

** In my mind, it’s hard to fault a new coach for going this direction with a group seniors who do have some talent, although being quite volatile, and few players behind them to groom.

** But it didn’t work, and in fact it appears as if it has failed miserably. The way I see it, this team will finish the ACC season no better than 3-15.

** Nonetheless, here’s only point that matters. Does this mean what our Coach is trying to do won’t work for any group – especially a group of his own -- or does it mean that it just didn’t work with this group.

** None of us know the answer to this, of course.

** But this much I do know. It’s completely unwise to suggest that Coach Stallings shouldn’t be around for year two so that we can get a better answer to this question.

** I might feel a little bit differently about this point if Stallings was driving a group slated for a top four AAC finish instead into a bottom four ACC finish. Actually, he’s driven an NCAA bubble team, at best, to a bottom four ACC finish, or maybe even a last place finish.

** This is a mightily discouraging result for sure, but it is not evidence that Stallings will never get it done. Nothing with this current group should be seen as evidence. They are just too volatile and too tough to coach.

** I’d be lying if I said I had real confidence that Stallings will get it done. It’s impossible for any Pitt fan to ignore his track record before he got to Pitt.

** All of this notwithstanding, whether he’s the guy long term to get his team to buy into what he wants or not, this program has a bigger problem in that any coach would have a huge mountain to climb regardless.

** At the moment, everything about this program is in a negative direction. And if you are of the mindset that cutting our losses with Stallings now is the better way to go, it’s important to realize that this increases that negative momentum all that much more.

** All of this may seem that I’m suggesting that Panther fans need to grin and bear it. But maybe the better way to characterize it is that Panther Fans need to wait and bear it.

** How long? Well, in my mind, not as long as one might think.

** We shouldn’t even need to wait until the beginning of next season. We might even know by September.

** It’s safe to assume that we have four more spots to recruit for next season. And we have immediate playing time to offer in the ACC next season. There is nothing better to entice recruits than immediate playing time.

** Along the same lines, at least two the next four players we recruit need to be players ready to give immediate quality playing time. Even with JUCO's or 5th year guys, that’s a tall order. But it’s the job Kevin Stallings signed up to do.

** I’m grateful to anyone who was good enough to read this far. So I’ll end with a summary.

** Like it or not, the future of Pitt Basketball for the next year or so is in the hands of Kevin Stallings. Unless for some reason he decides he doesn’t want to be here, he will be here, and he should be here.

** As a die-hard Pitt Hoops fan who cares deeply about this program, I know I will wait and bear it. I know that’s what needs to happen.

** I will wait and see what work Stallings can do with his roster before next season, or even with the quality of freshman recruits signed for 2018. If there is little positive movement, I also know my patience will wane.

** And if we are talking about another 3 win ACC season this time next year without any significant help on the horizon, that’s a whole new conversation too.

** But that conversation needs to happen later. Like it or not, that’s the future of Pitt Basketball.

Agree with all of this! Not a comfortable place to be but that's where we are at...more evidence of the clueless oversight of Pitt athletics.

 

[Jeffburgh]

** Good Evening to all of my PantherLair friends!

** If you are reading this at this point in the season, we likely share a couple of opinions about Pitt Hoops, without exception.

** The first is that we are miserable about Pitt Hoops at the moment.

** The second is that what happens the rest of this season, unless it’s something like a completely miraculous 8-2 ACC run, doesn’t really matter.

** But I’d like to ask everyone to put away any of your pro or con Dixon or Stallings biases, and grab hold of what I’ll put forth at the moment, which is truly what I believe about what has happened thus far this season.

** There are two simple realities that I believe in. One: There are significant problems with the makeup of our roster, and overall ability and depth, most of which can be attributed to our former coach. Two: there is enough talent on this team that we should be playing better than we are.

** While this is a black or white assertion, the extent of which both are true is true is certainly debatable. Engaging that debate back and forth is all conjecture, and really serves no purpose.

** Here’s what does matter. Do you believe that Kevin Stallings is the type of Coach who can get the most of the rosters he does create in years to come? Or in other words, how much does substandard achievement with this current group really matter?

** My answer? It doesn’t matter. That is … it doesn’t matter especially if he can correct his course beginning next year.

** I can’t read Coach Stallings’s mind, but it appears to me that he threw his system onto a group of seniors, for better or worse.

** In my mind, it’s hard to fault a new coach for going this direction with a group seniors who do have some talent, although being quite volatile, and few players behind them to groom.

** But it didn’t work, and in fact it appears as if it has failed miserably. The way I see it, this team will finish the ACC season no better than 3-15.

** Nonetheless, here’s only point that matters. Does this mean what our Coach is trying to do won’t work for any group – especially a group of his own -- or does it mean that it just didn’t work with this group.

** None of us know the answer to this, of course.

** But this much I do know. It’s completely unwise to suggest that Coach Stallings shouldn’t be around for year two so that we can get a better answer to this question.

** I might feel a little bit differently about this point if Stallings was driving a group slated for a top four AAC finish instead into a bottom four ACC finish. Actually, he’s driven an NCAA bubble team, at best, to a bottom four ACC finish, or maybe even a last place finish.

** This is a mightily discouraging result for sure, but it is not evidence that Stallings will never get it done. Nothing with this current group should be seen as evidence. They are just too volatile and too tough to coach.

** I’d be lying if I said I had real confidence that Stallings will get it done. It’s impossible for any Pitt fan to ignore his track record before he got to Pitt.

** All of this notwithstanding, whether he’s the guy long term to get his team to buy into what he wants or not, this program has a bigger problem in that any coach would have a huge mountain to climb regardless.

** At the moment, everything about this program is in a negative direction. And if you are of the mindset that cutting our losses with Stallings now is the better way to go, it’s important to realize that this increases that negative momentum all that much more.

** All of this may seem that I’m suggesting that Panther fans need to grin and bear it. But maybe the better way to characterize it is that Panther Fans need to wait and bear it.

** How long? Well, in my mind, not as long as one might think.

** We shouldn’t even need to wait until the beginning of next season. We might even know by September.

** It’s safe to assume that we have four more spots to recruit for next season. And we have immediate playing time to offer in the ACC next season. There is nothing better to entice recruits than immediate playing time.

** Along the same lines, at least two the next four players we recruit need to be players ready to give immediate quality playing time. Even with JUCO's or 5th year guys, that’s a tall order. But it’s the job Kevin Stallings signed up to do.

** I’m grateful to anyone who was good enough to read this far. So I’ll end with a summary.

** Like it or not, the future of Pitt Basketball for the next year or so is in the hands of Kevin Stallings. Unless for some reason he decides he doesn’t want to be here, he will be here, and he should be here.

** As a die-hard Pitt Hoops fan who cares deeply about this program, I know I will wait and bear it. I know that’s what needs to happen.

** I will wait and see what work Stallings can do with his roster before next season, or even with the quality of freshman recruits signed for 2018. If there is little positive movement, I also know my patience will wane.

** And if we are talking about another 3 win ACC season this time next year without any significant help on the horizon, that’s a whole new conversation too.

** But that conversation needs to happen later. Like it or not, that’s the future of Pitt Basketball.

I appreciate you work greatly.

However, I would differ to an extent about something and this not a broad defense of Stallings.

But, I don't think he had tried to force his system on these guys. IMO, he used what he knows or believes in relative to the game to fit that to them. I believe this strongly, and that Artis is the PG highlights that.

I think he looked at what he had, saw that he did not have a center or PG who could play this year and decided to take the lineup, plug in his best player and try set them up for success by letting them do what they want to do - shoot. And used the player who has the most ancillary sills to be the point - Artis. And try to get them to rebound collectively with their height.

Did it fail - yeah. But, IMO, he TRIED to adapt to what he had given his knowledge of the game and what he knows.

I would add to this point that he has tried pretty much every defense used in this history of the game, switching man, all kinds of zones, some 3/4 court presses off of those ...

He just simply is not not as good of a coach as JD and as it has played out has suffered not having recruited them, they have no loyalty or connection to him, so he has even less influence over them than JD had.

 

[NCanton Panther]

I appreciate you work greatly.

However, I would differ to an extent about something and this not a broad defense of Stallings.

But, I don't think he had tried to force his system on these guys. IMO, he used what he knows or believes in relative to the game to fit that to them. I believe this strongly, and that Artis is the PG highlights that.

I think he looked at what he had, saw that he did not have a center or PG who could play this year and decided to take the lineup, plug in his best player and try set them up for success by letting them do what they want to do - shoot. And used the player who has the most ancillary sills to be the point - Artis. And try to get them to rebound collectively with their height.

Did it fail - yeah. But, IMO, he TRIED to adapt to what he had given his knowledge of the game and what he knows.

I would add to this point that he has tried pretty much every defense used in this history of the game, switching man, all kinds of zones, some 3/4 court presses off of those ...

He just simply is not not as good of a coach as JD and as it has played out has suffered not having recruited them, they have no loyalty or connection to him, so he has even less influence over them than JD had.

Thank you, appreciate something other than a lazy assessment by many of what has been going on or more apt, claims that absolutely no attempts at coaching supposedly occurring.

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

I have to disagree. And this is where Barnes/Pitt failed in the process of replacing Dixon. Particularly when Barnes sold us all the "Splash Hire" line.

However what Barnes decided to do was go the low route. He essentially just rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic. Stallings ain't young, ain't hungry, and while he maybe a generally respected name within coaching circles, he was never going to move the needle here in Pittsburgh. I am still baffled that Stallings was the choice. Just absolutely baffled.

Remember when Danny Nee was hired by Duquesne and he said he was happy not to have to work 18 hour days anymore? Basically admitted he was mailing it in at Duquesne. Hate to give any hint of age bias, but that is the same vibe I get with Stallings/

 

[gary2]

I appreciate you work greatly.

However, I would differ to an extent about something and this not a broad defense of Stallings.

But, I don't think he had tried to force his system on these guys. IMO, he used what he knows or believes in relative to the game to fit that to them. I believe this strongly, and that Artis is the PG highlights that.

I think he looked at what he had, saw that he did not have a center or PG who could play this year and decided to take the lineup, plug in his best player and try set them up for success by letting them do what they want to do - shoot. And used the player who has the most ancillary sills to be the point - Artis. And try to get them to rebound collectively with their height.

Did it fail - yeah. But, IMO, he TRIED to adapt to what he had given his knowledge of the game and what he knows.

I would add to this point that he has tried pretty much every defense used in this history of the game, switching man, all kinds of zones, some 3/4 court presses off of those ...

He just simply is not not as good of a coach as JD and as it has played out has suffered not having recruited them, they have no loyalty or connection to him, so he has even less influence over them than JD had.

I am in agreement with you.

The one sentence I would have quibbled with in DT's OP was the business about forcing his system on the team. I don't think Stallings did that. I have posted previously, I don't think we are seeing Stallings preferred style of play. We are seeing what he thinks(thought at this point) would work best for this particular team.

 

[gary2]

Ok I'll be the black sheep in the family here and instead of 'patting you on the back' and giving you an atta boy for your OP, and just say that this follow-up post is way more than just in contrast to the first. It is down right hypocritical.

I gave an encouraging thumbs up in another post a few days ago to a claim that your standards had sunk. Contrary to Pittgirl's claim I didn't owe her any explanation. But I thought I owed you one. I wasted a considerable amount of time trying to figure out how to send you a 'private' conversation like one of our esteemed posters sent me a while back to explain something he didn't want on the board for everyone. But I for the life of me couldn't find anyway to start a 'conversation', maybe you have to be premium to do this.

But with this hypocritical follow-up, I feel no need to explain any longer.

Somewhat agree with you on DT's follow up post. Did not bother to point it out because I felt DT;s original post generated some of the best basketball discussion the board has seen for awhile. I am commenting now because I believe you legitimate point deserves some support.

As to conversations. you might be right about the premium assumption. I too have participated in a conversation someone else started. I can't figure out how to start one either. I googled "how to start a conversation on rivals.com" - There were results but none that we helpful. Sorry I can't help you with that.

 

[Nardog2]

You're right, an up and comer wouldn't have passed on Pitt last year, but if you fire Stallings after only one year, it becomes a different ballgame. Kevin Keatts will soon have his pick of jobs. He doesn't have to wait for Pitt. I could see him at O$U if they move on from Matta.

I agree with this. Barnes royally screwed Pitt over last year.

At this point, I serriously would roll with brandin knight.

 

[pitt-girl]

I think that Stallings now realizes that this year's team is absolutely un-coachable. Artis also mentioned in yesterday's post game presser that there is a fracture in the team. This is a complete clusterF.

Would KS have still taken the job if he knew what he knows now?

Of course he would and why? He was gone at Vanderbilt and he knew it.

Unfortunately, Pitt is now stuck w/ him.

Beyond the $ that is owed him and it's a very considerable amount - what many aren't thinking about:

So say Pitt *does* cut their losses and fires Stallings at the end of the season.

Remember, we had to scrape the bottom of the barrel just to get him a year ago.

What do you think the coaching community would think of Pitt and a potential opportunity if they fire Stallings after one year?

Other coaches would be like...."I ain't going to Pitt - hell, they won't give you half a chance."

Best case scenario? Stallings blows a fuse...(and he *does* have a temper).... and threatens to "kill" another player like he did at Vandy or something along those lines.

Then...Pitt can fire him w/ cause and other coaches that may consider Pitt won't have the above reservations.

But beyond that (and he's not going to walk away from the $ because no team would hire him as a H/C at this point)....all we can to do at this point is hope...scratch that...Pray that he can somehow turn this thing around.

I for one don't think he can.

We're going to have *nothing* next year and..... only youth and potential the following year.

And yes, despite what Dixon did early on, he's absolutely responsible for the mess he left.

Imho and it pains me to say this..... Pitt basketball died this year...and it will be a very long time when/if it will ever be resurrected.

"Remember, we had to scrape the bottom of the barrel just to get him a year ago."

Is this true and if so, what are the sources? Cause I've been trying for months to get the answer to this question.

 

[Nardog2]

Thank you, appreciate something other than a lazy assessment by many of what has been going on or more apt, claims that absolutely no attempts at coaching supposedly occurring.

You seem to get really defensive anytime someone questions stallings. Is there a reason for this?

 

[DT_PITT]

Ok I'll be the black sheep in the family here and instead of 'patting you on the back' and giving you an atta boy for your OP, and just say that this follow-up post is way more than just in contrast to the first. It is down right hypocritical.

I gave an encouraging thumbs up in another post a few days ago to a claim that your standards had sunk. Contrary to Pittgirl's claim I didn't owe her any explanation. But I thought I owed you one. I wasted a considerable amount of time trying to figure out how to send you a 'private' conversation like one of our esteemed posters sent me a while back to explain something he didn't want on the board for everyone. But I for the life of me couldn't find anyway to start a 'conversation', maybe you have to be premium to do this.

But with this hypocritical follow-up, I feel no need to explain any longer.

The point to the follow up is really to demonstrate the amount of work that needs to happen on the defensive end. I don't see what the big deal is. It still fits the main theme which is that the future of Pitt Basketball is with Kevin Stallings. Should we NOT point out factual details that pertain to his results? Isn't this exactly what some folks would get mad about in reference to Dixon supporters not wanting to hear criticism leading to the "JIG" label.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

I think that Stallings now realizes that this year's team is absolutely un-coachable. Artis also mentioned in yesterday's post game presser that there is a fracture in the team. This is a complete clusterF.

Would KS have still taken the job if he knew what he knows now?

Of course he would and why? He was gone at Vanderbilt and he knew it.

Unfortunately, Pitt is now stuck w/ him.

Beyond the $ that is owed him and it's a very considerable amount - what many aren't thinking about:

So say Pitt *does* cut their losses and fires Stallings at the end of the season.

Remember, we had to scrape the bottom of the barrel just to get him a year ago.

What do you think the coaching community would think of Pitt and a potential opportunity if they fire Stallings after one year?

Other coaches would be like...."I ain't going to Pitt - hell, they won't give you half a chance."

Best case scenario? Stallings blows a fuse...(and he *does* have a temper).... and threatens to "kill" another player like he did at Vandy or something along those lines.

Then...Pitt can fire him w/ cause and other coaches that may consider Pitt won't have the above reservations.

But beyond that (and he's not going to walk away from the $ because no team would hire him as a H/C at this point)....all we can to do at this point is hope...scratch that...Pray that he can somehow turn this thing around.

I for one don't think he can.

We're going to have *nothing* next year and..... only youth and potential the following year.

And yes, despite what Dixon did early on, he's absolutely responsible for the mess he left.

Imho and it pains me to say this..... Pitt basketball died this year...and it will be a very long time when/if it will ever be resurrected.

I find it interesting almost funny that some people ( not you this was a good post to use for an example) who post on this site alot, don't understand the first thing about business, how search firms work, and think PITT will fire Stalling or he'll just get disgusted and cash in his chips!
Right now Stalling an average to below average coach is holding all the cards and is calling the PITT administration.Show me your cards!
I guess he Stallings thinks they're not all that smart since to his amazment PITT gave him a "blueblood" lenght contract and he was barely hanging on to his previous job.
What other U would have made that mistake? I can't think of any.
Who would quit a $1.5 mill per yr = $ 9.0 mill over 6 yrs job after just barely escaping getting fired. Plus he has now learned how bad things are in PITT basketball program worse than he initially thought!
No matter how bad things get he'll show up on the bench, stay out of trouble, go through the coaching motions, etc. until PITT shows their cards.
I think Stallings has Aces and PITT has two's.

This truly mediocre basketball coach outsmarted a great U PITT. Its hard to believe!

 

[DT_PITT]

I find it interesting almost funny that some people ( not you this was a good post to use for an example) who post on this site alot, don't understand the first thing about business and think PITT will fire Stalling or he'll just get disgusted and cash in his chips!
Right now Stalling an average coach is holding all the cards and is calling PITT administration.
I guess he Stallings thinks they're not all that smart since to his amazment PITT gave him a "blueblood" lenght contract and he was barely hanging on to his previous job.
What other U would have made that mistake? I can't think of any.
Who would quit a $1.5 mill per yr = $ 9.0 mill over 6 yrs job after just barely escaping getting fired.
No matter how bad things get he'll show up on the bench, stay out of trouble, go through the coaching motions, etc. until PITT shows their cards.
I think Stallings has Aces and PITT has a bunch of two's.

Exactly.