ESPN Gives Pitt Some Love

Shocking, I know, given the recent trend among media outlets to completely avoid Pitt in any discussions of title contenders, but Dana O'Neil writes a nice but more than predictable story about Pitt.

Will anyone figure out that Pitt is more than just a grind-you-down defensive team this year? Early signs point to no. But the Big Three will come alive in Big East play.

The Jam Really Is Paradise

No. 2 UConn takes on No. 25 Wisconsin tonight in the Paradise Jam title game. UConn thumped Miami despite Jack McClinton's 27 points, while Wisconsin stifled San Diego.

It will be a matchup of gritty defenses, one (UConn) predicated on rebounding and thunderously blocking shots, the other on hand-in-your-jersey man-to-man and closed-off cutting lanes.

I suspect UConn will win this game, but I'll be interested to see how the Huskies handle the Badgers' jarring defense. Wisconsin will provide UConn with a nice preview of what's to come in Big East hoops. A lot of teams in the Big East, especially Pitt and Georgetown, play physical, grueling man-to-man. That's not to say the Huskies don't pack a punch of their own -- they brutalize even the toughest teams with their own tempo and toughness -- but a game against Wisconsin, one of the toughest defensive teams in the nation, will be a nice way to prepare for the rigorous 18-game conference schedule.

The difference lies in the offense: UConn has multiple weapons who can score from all over the place; Wisconsin doesn't. With enough creativity and innovation, UConn will get points, even if its ugly.

Elsewhere
-- I highly recommend this Dana O'Neil story on recruiting. It's a wide-ranging topic that I'd like to analyze and write a lot about when I have more time.