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Post by Speed Racer on Aug 15, 2008 10:23:22 GMT -5
People sleep on Pitt simply because they're Pitt - not Duke, UNC, or some other traditional powerhouse. But, simply put, Pitt is now a powerhouse program. They have probably a top five winning percentage in the country since 2001. They're on a seven year NCAA tournament streak - only a few other teams in the country can match that right now. Their 2009 and 2010 recruiting classes have the potential to both be top ten in the country.
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Post by Speed Racer on Aug 15, 2008 10:24:30 GMT -5
How?? The current team hasn't played one game! All we have to go by is the past. They had one good weekend. That is it. Who has this current team beaten? You can say that about ANY team. Pitt is simply a top five team talent wise. A lot can happen, sure, but it's hard to argue against that. I'm clearly not the only person who feels this way - I'm fairly certain that when the first polls are released they'll be in the top five.
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Post by duceisinmyheart on Aug 15, 2008 10:24:52 GMT -5
OK Maniac,
I will give you 5 teams that are better than Pitt.
UNC - Hansborough, Lawson, Ellington. Bobby Frasor is healthy and Danny Green is back as well. Tyler Zeller and Ed Davis is part of a sick recruiting class.
Texas- Still has the same core team minus Augustin, but I really like Abrams. I think they're a national title contender, easily.
Louisville- Samardo Samuels will be productive right away, sick sick player. Earl Clark is back. Sosa and Jerry Smith are still around.
UCLA - Darren Collison returns. Josh Shipp is going to be one of the top performers in the nation next season. Alfred Aboya and James Keefe are both capable post presences and Michael Roll should be healthy. Oh and I heard Jrue Holiday was pretty nice.
UConn- All their starters are returning, AJ Price should be healthy by start of the season. Great recruiting class. They are my favorites to win it all.
Who would you knock out to put Pitt in the top 5? I wouldn't list one team.
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Post by Speed Racer on Aug 15, 2008 10:26:33 GMT -5
I'd knock out UConn or Louisville simply because I think Pitt is the Big East favorite at this point. All three teams are easily top ten this year, but I see no reason Pitt isn't the favorite. DeJuan Blair was one of the top freshman in the country last year - why won't he improve? Sam Young was one of the best players in the country last year and has made huge strides each season. Is he suddenly going to get worse? Levance Fields is one of the top PG's and best leaders in the country - what's changed there?
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Post by jahallstar on Aug 15, 2008 10:26:38 GMT -5
How was their 2008? Was it even top 25? So pretty much they are bringing back a team that lost in the 2nd round of the NCAAs. And that means we should assume they are top 5?
Pitt has been a very solid regualar season team this decade. They have also been very good in the B.E. tourney. However they have not been good when it has counted. Sorry but it is true.
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Post by jahallstar on Aug 15, 2008 10:27:31 GMT -5
How?? The current team hasn't played one game! All we have to go by is the past. They had one good weekend. That is it. Who has this current team beaten? You can say that about ANY team. Pitt is simply a top five team talent wise. A lot can happen, sure, but it's hard to argue against that. I'm clearly not the only person who feels this way - I'm fairly certain that when the first polls are released they'll be in the top five. No! Other teams are bringing back players that did much more than Pitt last year. They have proven more!
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Post by Speed Racer on Aug 15, 2008 10:27:39 GMT -5
And who'd they beat?? Who are you to say that Big East tourney run last year was a fluke? They ran through Cincy, Louisville, Marquette, and Georgetown in four days with Levance Fields probably playing at 75%.
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Post by jahallstar on Aug 15, 2008 10:28:25 GMT -5
I really really like N.D this upcoming season. And I think Purdue could actually be really good as well.
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Post by jahallstar on Aug 15, 2008 10:28:56 GMT -5
And who'd they beat?? Who are you to say that Big East tourney run last year was a fluke? They ran through Cincy, Louisville, Marquette, and Georgetown in four days with Levance Fields probably playing at 75%. yes they had one good weekend. We already covered this.
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Post by Speed Racer on Aug 15, 2008 10:29:50 GMT -5
How was their 2008? Was it even top 25? So pretty much they are bringing back a team that lost in the 2nd round of the NCAAs. And that means we should assume they are top 5? Pitt has been a very solid regualar season team this decade. They have also been very good in the B.E. tourney. However they have not been good when it has counted. Sorry but it is true. It was easily a Top 25 season. They beat Duke, Louisville, swept Georgetown, Marquette - and they didn't have Levance Fields or Mike Cook, two starters and leaders, for the majority of the season.
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Post by Speed Racer on Aug 15, 2008 10:30:59 GMT -5
And who'd they beat?? Who are you to say that Big East tourney run last year was a fluke? They ran through Cincy, Louisville, Marquette, and Georgetown in four days with Levance Fields probably playing at 75%. yes they had one good weekend. We already covered this. If they would've stayed healthy last year that team would've five games. Maybe. You can't just ignore season damaging injuries such as the ones they dealt with last season. This year, they're healthy and extremely talented.
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Post by jahallstar on Aug 15, 2008 10:32:39 GMT -5
Why did they play so poorly against Michigan State? I mean lets be honest Pitt should have won that game with ease.
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Post by jahallstar on Aug 15, 2008 10:33:26 GMT -5
How was their 2008? Was it even top 25? So pretty much they are bringing back a team that lost in the 2nd round of the NCAAs. And that means we should assume they are top 5? Pitt has been a very solid regualar season team this decade. They have also been very good in the B.E. tourney. However they have not been good when it has counted. Sorry but it is true. It was easily a Top 25 season. They beat Duke, Louisville, swept Georgetown, Marquette - and they didn't have Levance Fields or Mike Cook, two starters and leaders, for the majority of the season. Didn't say they were a bad team...just not top 5. They have to earn that. You can't just give it to them.
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Post by Rocky on Aug 15, 2008 10:33:55 GMT -5
Pitt's a sick team. I love UCONN, but they're better than UCONN, especially with Price coming back from an injury.
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Post by Rocky on Aug 15, 2008 10:34:28 GMT -5
Maniac, are you going back to Pitt?
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Post by Speed Racer on Aug 15, 2008 10:34:35 GMT -5
Why did they play so poorly against Michigan State? I mean lets be honest Pitt should have won that game with ease. Various reasons. It was a tough draw for Pitt - two teams with physical styles. Levance Fields clearly wasn't at full strength at this point and I think the team was just a little worn down by then. When Levance Fields is healthy this team is really tough to stop. He wasn't healthy last season sub the first 11 games - coincidentally, they were undefeated through 11 games.
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Post by Speed Racer on Aug 15, 2008 10:36:13 GMT -5
It was easily a Top 25 season. They beat Duke, Louisville, swept Georgetown, Marquette - and they didn't have Levance Fields or Mike Cook, two starters and leaders, for the majority of the season. Didn't say they were a bad team...just not top 5. They have to earn that. You can't just give it to them. Preseason rankings are pretty much made based on talent. When the first polls come out this year I can virtually guarantee that Pitt will be in the top five. How do you argue against the poll makers and so called experts? Why is Pitt slated as the third most likely team to win the national championship according to Vegas? Why does ESPN feel that they're a top five team? These guys DO know something about basketball - they aren't putting them up there for shits and giggles. This stuff is based on talent, and talent wise Pitt is a top five team in the country.
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Post by jahallstar on Aug 15, 2008 10:36:59 GMT -5
1. Uconn 2. ND 3. Pitt 4. Georgetown 5. Louisville 6. Marquette 7. Nova
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Post by jahallstar on Aug 15, 2008 10:37:42 GMT -5
Stop looking at something posted 4.5 months ago.
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Post by jahallstar on Aug 15, 2008 10:40:34 GMT -5
From last seasons preseason rankings :
24. Pittsburgh: Jamie Dixon doesn't have true superstars, he has team players that work hard and win.
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Dave
All-Star
Ex-GM
Posts: 7,222
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Post by Dave on Aug 15, 2008 10:41:21 GMT -5
UNC, UConn, UCLA, Louisville and Texas are my top 5 Texas? you now have lost all little credibility you had
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Post by jahallstar on Aug 15, 2008 10:43:05 GMT -5
umm...Texas has a great team.
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Dave
All-Star
Ex-GM
Posts: 7,222
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Post by Dave on Aug 15, 2008 10:43:43 GMT -5
Still waiting Marty, Krup. Why aren't they a top five team? Like Jah said there are just better teams out there. I think Pitt is a great team just not top 5. Could they be a top 5 team sure but in August any team has a chance at being a top 5 team. I just think more realistically they are top 20 team in the country.
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Post by jahallstar on Aug 15, 2008 10:44:01 GMT -5
Hell you have to talk about Davidson too.. Lets not forget they took the national champs to the last second in the Elite 8. at least they have proven they can handle the pressure of the tourney.
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Post by duceisinmyheart on Aug 15, 2008 10:45:00 GMT -5
UNC, UConn, UCLA, Louisville and Texas are my top 5 Texas? you now have lost all little credibility you had A.J. Abrams is more than capable to take over at PG. Damion James, Connor Atchley, Justin Mason, and Gary Johnson are all back and should help them contend for a national title.
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