The Odd Stat of the Week

Issue: Are you the type of person who typically gives credit when credit is due?

Short Answer: Sure I am, but...

Reasoning: ...I really despise everything Pittsburgh.  I don't watch hockey at all, but I hate the Penguins.  The Pirates haven't been relevant in years, but I still can't stand them.  Thankfully, since Pittsburgh is a smaller sized city, they don't have teams in all of the major sports, and, they only have one college program to speak of, the University of [crappy city] (Duquesne and Robert Morris are neck and neck for the next best).  So, as a longtime Cincinnatian and Bengal fan, I am afforded the opportunity to direct most of my hatred toward the Steelers.  And, rightfully so.  The Steelers have won three-times as many Super Bowls as the Bengals have been to.  Their quarterback (I'm not denying his talent here people - he is good, no doubt about it) has to be one of the biggest d-bags on the planet, and he is a Super Bowl winner two-times over (thank you Green Bay Packers).  And, just typing the name "Hines Ward" makes me want to vomit (he went to the University of Georgia too - I've been hating him for quite awhile). I don't hate them because they are good, but that makes me hate them more.

But, the NFL season is over (thanks again to the Packers), so I've been watching a lot of college basketball, and, living in Cincinnati (Big East team), I watch a lot of Big East games.  Quite a few of these games have featured the top-5 ranked University of Pittsburgh Panthers.  In watching the Panthers play I have realized a few things: 1) I like their Head Coach, Jamie Dixon; 2) I don't hate the team as much as I would like, you know, because of the "Pittsburgh" across their chest; and 3) They are damn good.  Even in the game the Panthers most recently lost at St. John's, they were winning most of the game (after the first ten minutes), and were beat on a lay-up where the St. John's player stepped out of bounds.  The Panthers are fundamentally sound and play great defense.  I think I may have them going far in my tournament bracket (even though the Big (L)East usually lays an egg in the tourney).

My Odd Stat of the Week will tell you that the Panthers have been damn good for awhile, and have been that good without much in the cupboard.  On February 7, when Pittsburgh won at West Virginia, they solidified their 10th straight season with 20+ wins and 10+ Big East wins.  With the parity that exists today in college athletics, that is nothing short of unreal.  Especially because they have done it in what is considered the top conference in the nation, by most (not me).  Pittsburgh has also done this without a single first-round NBA draft pick (they have had only four total first-rounders ever: Jerome Lane (of Bill Raftery "send it in Jerome!" fame as he broke the backboard) and Charles Smith in 1988, Eric Mobley in 1994, and Vonteego Cummings (uh, what?) in 1999).  Since 2002, when this streak started, Pittsburgh has only had 4 total players drafted, all in the second round (Chris Taft in 2005, Aaron Gray in 2007, and Sam Young and DeJuan Blair in 2009).  Good coaching, fundamental basketball, tough defense, and even tougher players, all of whom are unselfish, have made the Pittsburgh Panthers into a formidable force in college basketball.  And that makes me like them.  A little bit.