Looking ahead to tipoff …
Game: Pitt (11-7, 0-5 Big East) vs. No. 1 Syracuse (19-0, 6-0)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
TV, radio: ESPN, 93.7 The Fan
Here is the official live summary, and here are news updates on our Pitt page. Orange you glad John Grupp is on the scene for coverage?
This may get ugly quick, but wouldn’t it be awesome for the first Big East win to come again #1 in the country. It would be shocking due to the way this season has transpired to this point. Still rooting for Pitt!
DK: Actually crossed my mind after how well they played at Marquette … but not for long.
One great thing about college basketball is that anything can happen and it usually does. It is highly unlikely that Syracuse will finish the season undefeated so Pitt might as well be the first to beat them.
Also, really like that college basketball, the NHL and the NBA play some matinee games on MLK Jr day. I think it helps in a small fashion to reinforce the legitimacy and importance of the holiday.
Number 1 usually loses to someone unexpected. Most college teams are so close in talent that a team coming in flat can lose. Who saw Florida State 90 UNC 57 coming?
Ugly start.
Agreed with Pitt waiting for the TV timeout as opposed to panicking with a TO that would get the crowd going further. Pitts has had the shots…just can’t get them to fall. Coaches can’t say much about that.
Gibbs has some skills!
Nice beating of the press. Players with good positioning for rebounds. Pitt is playing well in attempt to dig out of early hole.
Its the oldest story in the world: can’t turn the ball over to good teams. Pitt has 11 TO with 2 min to go
Down by 9 at half. Not insurmountable, given the slow start.
Second half about to start. 35-26 Orange. Most blowouts are determined in the time period between the second half and first media timeout.
Pitt owns the boards and Gibbs can score. Hopefully no blowout.
Dante Taylor must cost Jamie Dixon all kinds of sleep.
18:26 Technical on Pitt bench for someone jawing.
Check the rims-nothing is falling.
First media TO. 46-34 Syr, Starting to slip away.
Dumb foul by Syr. 12:44. Lead cut to 8
11:01 Media TO. Time for Aaron Rogers to sell insurance. 48-40 Orange.
Rodgers, of course.
51-45 Orange. The 3 is the great equalizer.
After rare take away from Pitt Boeheim wants a TO. 6 pt lead for Syracuse.
Nice to see Derrick Coleman at the game.
Orange come out strong after TO. Now 59-49. Pitt wants TO at 7:07. Don’t know what Boeheim told them but there is a reason he is a good coach.
6:53 TV Timeout Orange still up by 10.
Agh…the turnovers. But Syr finding it hard to run and hide. Still 10 pt lead with 5 to go
4:22 TO Orange. 60=52. Beware of Syr. coming out of TO’s
What was that Gibbs?
62-52. 3:16 left. Syracuse going for 20 in a row. Pitt trying not to drop 7 straight.
2:30 left. Syracuse in the one and maybe.
Pitt taking their time..meanwhile game is slipping away.
1:20 left. Syr. forced to call TO after nice press by Pitt. 65-54.
Orange’s Melo fouls out but crowd is leaving. 67-58 Orange. 53.6 left
Final score 71-63. Despite cutting it to 6 at 51-45, the Orange were never really in jeopardy of losing this game. Syr. now 20-0. Pitt remains winless in league. Goodnight all.