From the desk of Jim Snyder
Pitt must beef up their basketball schedule
Pitt finished No. 36 in the RPI rankings just prior to the start of the NCAA tournament. The RPI ranking justified the No. 9 seed that they received. Their non-conference strength of schedule was No. 86. You are not going to be reward in March for playing this kind of non-conference schedule in November and December. They must cut down on teams that have on the schedule with rankings above 200. This does not mean they have to schedule top ten teams. They need to replace these teams above 200 with teams in the 100-200 range. It would do wonders for their RPI ranking and seeding come March.
Unfortunately next year might not be the year to try a radical upgrade of the schedule. Louisville, Marquette, Cincinnati, DePaul and South Florida all join the league next year and the conference schedule will be brutal.
In addition it is hard to see Chris Taft and Carl Krauser returning next year. Krauser spent two years in prep school and will be 24 years old. He is also the father of a young child. If there is a reasonable opportunity to make money it would be hard to fault him on passing on the extra year’s eligibility. He will have been at Pitt four years and must graduate this year to gain the extra year of eligibility. I was glad to read this week that he is on track to graduate.
Chris Taft lived with his grandmother in a project in Brooklyn. She is still living there and he wants her out. If he has NBA opportunities that guarantee him a payday you would think he would take it. It is not cast in concrete but it is hard to see either of these players returning next year.
If Krauser and Taft leave Pitt would take a step back next year. The incoming class of Levance Fields, Tyrell Biggs, Sam Young and Doyle Hudson may turn out to be the best freshman class since former Pitt assistant John Calipari brought in Bobby Martin, Sean Miller, Jason Mathews, Darrelle Porter and Brian Shorter but they will still all be first year players.
A couple of weeks ago Rivals.com asked me to nominate an all-freshman team in the Big East. I nominated Ronald Ramon. They did a double-take when I nominated a player that did not start for Pitt. Shortly thereafter the Big East coaches put Ramon on their all-freshman team. It shows you how tough it is to make a big splash in their first year. Pitt needs to toughen their schedule going forward but next fall might not be the year to do it. They may want to wait until the following year.
Yesterday’s loss to Pacific was disappointing but not surprising after watching the Panthers all year. Some of their players simply are not quick enough or athletic enough to defend of the perimeter. It started early in the year when Carnegie-Mellon made a game out if an exhibition game. It continued into the Bucknell game and popped up periodically throughout the year culminating with the loss to Pacific. Early in the year many fans questioned Jamie Dixon for starting Yuri Demetris but in hindsight he did not have many options.
Keep in mind that Keith Benjamin suffered a high-ankle sprain in his senior year in high school. He then suffered a stress fracture in his freshman year at Pitt. The injuries have held him back and he has played little the last two years. He shows promise but he also shows the lack of playing time.
The only player on the Pitt roster that was highly ranked prior to coming to Pitt was Chris Taft. As it turns out this sophomore still has flaws in his game. Part of the solution going forward is to get better players.
It is our understanding that Jamie Dixon was rewarded with a one-year contract extension after last year’s 30-win season. He came into to the year with five years remaining on his contract. The Pitt basketball team has had a great four-year run but may have to take a step back for a year if Taft and Krauser do not return.
Where are they now?
Pitt fans may remember that Pitt recruited a quarterback out of Penn-Trafford by the name of Tony Zimmerman. In high school Zimmerman was an all-state player in 1993 and 1995. My recollection is that he was injured in 1994. Zimmerman was named Offensive Player of the Year in Western PA and USA Today had him as their Player of the Year in Pennsylvania.
Zimmerman quickly transferred out of Pitt and had a successful career at Duquesne. He set 14 passing records at Duquesne. He threw for 7,313 yards before his career was over at Duquesne.
In 2003 Zimmerman played arena football for the Quad City Steamwheelers and had a very big year leading his team to a 14-2 record.
I was talking to Chad Carson who helps produce the Big East sites for Rivals.com and he tells me that Tony Zimmerman is now the quarterback for the Nashville Cats in Arena Football League.
Are you ready for some football?
The Pitt football team starts spring practice tomorrow (Saturday) at the UPMC complex. The spring game is tentatively scheduled for Heinz Field on April 16th but there is still some doubt because the grass has been replaced and it may depend on field conditions.
Spring drills will allow Head Coach Dave Wannstedt and Offensive Coordinator Matt Cavanaugh a better look at just what they have on the hands. Both of the coaches have reputation for running the ball but the Pitt offense has shown little ability to run the ball on a consistent basis in recent years. This is a veteran offense so the question will be, “Can you teach an old dog new tricks?”
The Panther have been to a bowl five consecutive years including a BCS bowl last year. Pitt has won eight (8) or more in each of the last three years. They return nine (9) starters on offense including the talented Tyler Palko at quarterback. They also return seven (7) starters of defense plus both kickers. As a normal rule if you have this many starters back including a solid quarterback from an eight win season expectations will be very high. It almost guarantees Pitt will be ranked in the Top 25 when the preseason polls come out.
The key game will be the opener for Pitt with Notre Dame. This year the Panthers have a favorable schedule. Dave Wannstedt and Charlie Weiss take over college teams after stints in the NFL. They faced each other often being in the same division in the AFC. Pitt won last year out at South Bend. Can they do it again at home with a veteran team? If they do many Pitt fans will be dreaming about a New Years Day Bowl again this year.
On offense Coach Paul Dunn had moved Charles Spencer to left tackle. He should easily be able to handle this move. One of the questions will be who takes over at left guard and center? Please see our depth chart on the left hand side of this site for a look at the candidates. The other question will be can Raymond Kirkley hold off challenges at the running back spot? Sophomore Brandon Mason and freshman Rashad Jennings will be watched closely by running back coach David Walker this spring. The tailback spot may not be decided until fall camp when Pitt brings in several promising freshmen including LaRod Stephens and Conredge Collins.
On defense the big concern is the defensive line. Pitt simply must put more pressure on the quarterback if they are to improve. Coach Wannstedt has indicated that he wants to get more speed on the field when the Panthers are on defense. Coach Rhoads has moved Thomas Smith inside to play defensive tackle. Will any of the under classman step up this spring and grab a spot?
We have updated the roster and depth chart for your reference. We will try to update it as we move through the spring.
Coach Walt Harris usually held press conference after practice. It is our understanding that Coach Wannstedt will move the weekday press conferences to before practices hoping that some of the reporters that cover the Steelers will stick around to give the Panthers a little more coverage.
The rooster and depth charts have been updated. See the left hand side of this site.
This post was edited on 3/18 10:17 AM by Jim Pantherlairif(GetAdminCookie() != 0) {document.write(' (Revisions[/URL])');}
Pitt must beef up their basketball schedule
Pitt finished No. 36 in the RPI rankings just prior to the start of the NCAA tournament. The RPI ranking justified the No. 9 seed that they received. Their non-conference strength of schedule was No. 86. You are not going to be reward in March for playing this kind of non-conference schedule in November and December. They must cut down on teams that have on the schedule with rankings above 200. This does not mean they have to schedule top ten teams. They need to replace these teams above 200 with teams in the 100-200 range. It would do wonders for their RPI ranking and seeding come March.
Unfortunately next year might not be the year to try a radical upgrade of the schedule. Louisville, Marquette, Cincinnati, DePaul and South Florida all join the league next year and the conference schedule will be brutal.
In addition it is hard to see Chris Taft and Carl Krauser returning next year. Krauser spent two years in prep school and will be 24 years old. He is also the father of a young child. If there is a reasonable opportunity to make money it would be hard to fault him on passing on the extra year’s eligibility. He will have been at Pitt four years and must graduate this year to gain the extra year of eligibility. I was glad to read this week that he is on track to graduate.
Chris Taft lived with his grandmother in a project in Brooklyn. She is still living there and he wants her out. If he has NBA opportunities that guarantee him a payday you would think he would take it. It is not cast in concrete but it is hard to see either of these players returning next year.
If Krauser and Taft leave Pitt would take a step back next year. The incoming class of Levance Fields, Tyrell Biggs, Sam Young and Doyle Hudson may turn out to be the best freshman class since former Pitt assistant John Calipari brought in Bobby Martin, Sean Miller, Jason Mathews, Darrelle Porter and Brian Shorter but they will still all be first year players.
A couple of weeks ago Rivals.com asked me to nominate an all-freshman team in the Big East. I nominated Ronald Ramon. They did a double-take when I nominated a player that did not start for Pitt. Shortly thereafter the Big East coaches put Ramon on their all-freshman team. It shows you how tough it is to make a big splash in their first year. Pitt needs to toughen their schedule going forward but next fall might not be the year to do it. They may want to wait until the following year.
Yesterday’s loss to Pacific was disappointing but not surprising after watching the Panthers all year. Some of their players simply are not quick enough or athletic enough to defend of the perimeter. It started early in the year when Carnegie-Mellon made a game out if an exhibition game. It continued into the Bucknell game and popped up periodically throughout the year culminating with the loss to Pacific. Early in the year many fans questioned Jamie Dixon for starting Yuri Demetris but in hindsight he did not have many options.
Keep in mind that Keith Benjamin suffered a high-ankle sprain in his senior year in high school. He then suffered a stress fracture in his freshman year at Pitt. The injuries have held him back and he has played little the last two years. He shows promise but he also shows the lack of playing time.
The only player on the Pitt roster that was highly ranked prior to coming to Pitt was Chris Taft. As it turns out this sophomore still has flaws in his game. Part of the solution going forward is to get better players.
It is our understanding that Jamie Dixon was rewarded with a one-year contract extension after last year’s 30-win season. He came into to the year with five years remaining on his contract. The Pitt basketball team has had a great four-year run but may have to take a step back for a year if Taft and Krauser do not return.
Where are they now?
Pitt fans may remember that Pitt recruited a quarterback out of Penn-Trafford by the name of Tony Zimmerman. In high school Zimmerman was an all-state player in 1993 and 1995. My recollection is that he was injured in 1994. Zimmerman was named Offensive Player of the Year in Western PA and USA Today had him as their Player of the Year in Pennsylvania.
Zimmerman quickly transferred out of Pitt and had a successful career at Duquesne. He set 14 passing records at Duquesne. He threw for 7,313 yards before his career was over at Duquesne.
In 2003 Zimmerman played arena football for the Quad City Steamwheelers and had a very big year leading his team to a 14-2 record.
I was talking to Chad Carson who helps produce the Big East sites for Rivals.com and he tells me that Tony Zimmerman is now the quarterback for the Nashville Cats in Arena Football League.
Are you ready for some football?
The Pitt football team starts spring practice tomorrow (Saturday) at the UPMC complex. The spring game is tentatively scheduled for Heinz Field on April 16th but there is still some doubt because the grass has been replaced and it may depend on field conditions.
Spring drills will allow Head Coach Dave Wannstedt and Offensive Coordinator Matt Cavanaugh a better look at just what they have on the hands. Both of the coaches have reputation for running the ball but the Pitt offense has shown little ability to run the ball on a consistent basis in recent years. This is a veteran offense so the question will be, “Can you teach an old dog new tricks?”
The Panther have been to a bowl five consecutive years including a BCS bowl last year. Pitt has won eight (8) or more in each of the last three years. They return nine (9) starters on offense including the talented Tyler Palko at quarterback. They also return seven (7) starters of defense plus both kickers. As a normal rule if you have this many starters back including a solid quarterback from an eight win season expectations will be very high. It almost guarantees Pitt will be ranked in the Top 25 when the preseason polls come out.
The key game will be the opener for Pitt with Notre Dame. This year the Panthers have a favorable schedule. Dave Wannstedt and Charlie Weiss take over college teams after stints in the NFL. They faced each other often being in the same division in the AFC. Pitt won last year out at South Bend. Can they do it again at home with a veteran team? If they do many Pitt fans will be dreaming about a New Years Day Bowl again this year.
On offense Coach Paul Dunn had moved Charles Spencer to left tackle. He should easily be able to handle this move. One of the questions will be who takes over at left guard and center? Please see our depth chart on the left hand side of this site for a look at the candidates. The other question will be can Raymond Kirkley hold off challenges at the running back spot? Sophomore Brandon Mason and freshman Rashad Jennings will be watched closely by running back coach David Walker this spring. The tailback spot may not be decided until fall camp when Pitt brings in several promising freshmen including LaRod Stephens and Conredge Collins.
On defense the big concern is the defensive line. Pitt simply must put more pressure on the quarterback if they are to improve. Coach Wannstedt has indicated that he wants to get more speed on the field when the Panthers are on defense. Coach Rhoads has moved Thomas Smith inside to play defensive tackle. Will any of the under classman step up this spring and grab a spot?
We have updated the roster and depth chart for your reference. We will try to update it as we move through the spring.
Coach Walt Harris usually held press conference after practice. It is our understanding that Coach Wannstedt will move the weekday press conferences to before practices hoping that some of the reporters that cover the Steelers will stick around to give the Panthers a little more coverage.
The rooster and depth charts have been updated. See the left hand side of this site.
This post was edited on 3/18 10:17 AM by Jim Pantherlairif(GetAdminCookie() != 0) {document.write(' (Revisions[/URL])');}
