Pitt beat reporter transcript

[spiral97]

can fine the whole transcript here (q&a with a pitt beat reporter - Ray Fittipaldo): http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07039/760510-175.stm

a few interesting MU mentions with regards to pitt:

PittHoopsatPittBlather: How many more regular season losses do you see on Pitt's schedule?

Ray Fittipaldo: I think last night's win set the Panthers up well for the rest of the season. They have three consecutive home games against Providence, Louisville and Washington. Barring a really bad game, they should win all three of those. After that, they have games at Seton Hall, Georgetown and Marquette and another home game against WVU. I'll go out on a limb and say two more losses (probably at Georgetown and Marquette).

night2001: Who is the 3rd best team in the Big East in your mind after Pitt and Marquette? West Virginia?

Ray Fittipaldo: Probably Georgetown. WVU had the benefot of an easy early schedule in the Big East. The Mountaineers will lose a few more games. That loss at Cincy could end up hurting them with the NCAA selection committee. I think it's going to come down to the last game of the regular season at Marquette for the regular season title. That's an ESPN primetime game. What better way to get ready for the Big East tournament?

roninbuc: Pitt seems to have a firm hold on the Big East regular season title right now, but do they have to also win the Big East Tourney for a top seed in the regionals (#1 or #2)? Does the overall strength of the Big East being down this year hurt their chances for a top seed?

Ray Fittipaldo: I wouldn't be so confident about the regular-season title. Marquette has a much easier schedule down the stretch and the final game of the season is at their place. I don't think the conference hurts Pitt all that much. The Panthers are No. 3 in the RPI, and that's what the NCAA selection committee looks at most. Pitt upgraded the non-conference schedule, so it would not be a problem.

[LastWarrior]

Too lazy to look at the Pitt schedule but is it really softer?

We play at G'Town, at DePaul, at Notre Dame, & home vs. Pitt.  I could see us easily losing any one of those games.

[Dish]

Interesting that it just hit me that it is possible for MU/Pitt to play back to back primetime Saturday night games on ESPN. The regular season finale on March 3rd, followed by a possible Big East Title game on Saturday night March 10th.

Although after watching MU in conference tourney's the last couple of years, my faith in them getting to that Saturday night BE Title game is a little edgy.