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Brian Batko's Pitt athletics chat: 01.17.19
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Brian Batko
2:00
Good day, friends. A special offseason football chat commences now.
Pitt Is Back
2:00
What are your thoughts on the ACC scheduling the game that will decide the Coastal division for week one? Seems anticlimactic to me.
Brian Batko
2:02
Not sure if this is in jest or just supreme confidence, but hey, it's not that far-fetched. Virginia's defense should be really good again next year, and while Bryce Perkins didn't look the part in the rain against Pitt, he was excellent in his first season with the Hoos. As for Pitt, well, they are the kings until someone knocks them off.

Laying that all out seems like a solid way for the ACC to hype this game as one of their season openers.
Bob
2:03
What do you think the chances of the Pitt wrestling team pulling-off an upset of OSU this Saturday? #H2P
Brian Batko
2:05
Thanks for taking advantage of the now-properly-advertised all-sports headline of this chat, Bob. I'll just be real honest and tell you I don't know anything about wrestling, at any level. High school, college, WWE, none of it.

But I do know this: Oklahoma State is ranked No. 3 in the country and has blasted everyone it's faced so far this season, including an Oklahoma squad that lost 20-17 to Pitt but 41-2 to the Pokes. For Pitt's sake, hopefully the projected snowstorm this weekend doesn't hurt the crowd for Saturday's big match at 1 p.m.
Jack Straw
2:06
Will Kenny Pickett be the QB through the entire season next year assuming he remains healthy and if yes, what type of production do you anticipate?  Unfortunately, in the modern era, Pitt's offense and defense never seem to be good at the same time.
Brian Batko
2:08
If I had to bet my house on it, Jack Straw, I'll say yes at this point. I anticipate his production being better, mostly because this season was such a conservative approach that it'd be difficult to throw for even fewer than 141 yards per game. To your second point, that's kind of how I felt about this past season - that the defense was super experienced and battle tested, but the quarterback wasn't yet - and hey, they went out and made the ACC championship anyway.
D Squared
2:09
Do you anticipate any recruiting “surprises” , good or bad?
Brian Batko
2:11
Hi, Double D. Pat Narduzzi usually seems to have a good surprise or two up his sleeve this time of year, so maybe. A lot of it depends on what you'd consider a potential commitment from four-star Aliquippa defensive back MJ Devonshire, who's been one of the most discussed targets for Pitt for months now. I don't think you have any "bad" surprises to worry about, considering Narduzzi and company did a good job getting just about everyone signed, sealed and delivered last month. Only lost one verbal commit, Brandon Mack, and the other is essentially waiting to see if there's still a scholarship left for him.
Bob Weaver
2:12
A lot of supposed Pitt "fans" are downplaying the division championship.  I say this is foolhardy, and that winning the division is a nice milestone in the development of this program under Pat Narduzzi.  What say you?
Brian Batko
2:14
I don't disagree with you, Bob. The 7-7 record looks mediocre at the end of the day, errr, season, but without a stretch of consistency against ACC foes at a crucial time, Pitt doesn't make it to Charlotte and doesn't even get a 14th game. So, they'd be 7-6, and that's supposed to all of a sudden make this seem like a better season?

I don't know, call me crazy, but last time I checked, in order to win a conference championship game you have to get to one first. Any season that does that has a pretty good baseline level of achievement to fall back on, at the very least, says me.
Matt in Cleveland
2:14
Given where they are today, what should be considered a success for Pitt Men's Basketball: A. it's already a success, B. a 500 record C. a 500 record and win in ACC tourney D. NIT/CBI tourney E. NCAA tourney
Brian Batko
2:17
Can't go with A., because once a season begins and things progress or regress to a certain degree, you have to move the goal posts at least a little bit, right?

A .500 record, assuming you mean in the ACC, would absolutely be a success. That's a 9-9 mark in conference, 19-12 overall and would get this team into the NIT, if not the NCAAs.
2:18
And really, based off my own preseason expectations, winning 5-6 games in the ACC would be a success for Jeff Capel's first season. That seems almost like a lock, if these guys keep playing the way they have been.
cnp
2:18
Who's frontrunner for ACC player of the year so far? Also does McGowens have a legit shot at ACC Rookie of the year?
Brian Batko
2:20
Zion Williamson should be the front-runner for both. Between him and RJ Barrett, who are putting up massive numbers at Duke of all places, Trey McGowens isn't gonna bring home any meaningful hardware.

But don't let that take anything away from him. He's been nothing short of a revelation. At the start of the season I couldn't really see why he was a four-star prospect. His handle didn't seem that tight, his jumper seemed nothing to write home about, and he looked very much like a freshman. And now, I don't think Pitt should ever take him off the court. He seems to have the motor for that, too.
Rick
2:21
Between PSU and UCF, which is Pitt more likely to beat?
Brian Batko
2:22
Gotta say UCF considering this year's game is in Beaver Stadium, but both are considerably more winnable for Pitt than they were in 2018. A lot riding on the quarterback position for those two clubs this season, and I expect Pitt will see Tommy Stevens and Brandon Wimbush, respectively.
G
2:23
Is pitt gonna beat cuse this weekend and can they play duke close next Tuesday
Brian Batko
2:25
No. I just think the 2-3 zone isn't a great matchup for Pitt, and Syracuse, while inconsistent, seemed to find something against Duke. Believe it or not, I do think Pitt can play Duke close next week at the Pete. I'm much less enthused with Duke's roster now that point guard Tre Jones is out indefinitely.
D. Perecko
2:25
Hi Brian, I hope all is well!  If JEff Capel is not able to bring in a blue chip center/PF....Do you think the development of Terrel Brown will be enough for next year?
Brian Batko
2:26
Maybe! He looked like a forgotten man early on this season, but recently, and you could say finally, his natural talent is shining through. In college basketball these days, he's certainly big enough, he probably has just enough skill, and the rim protection has been a pleasant surprise on the defensive end. If Terrell Brown is Pitt's starting center through the 2020-21 season, all is not lost.
Coolio
2:27
What do you think is going to happen with Paris Ford? Do you think he leaves Pitt and transfers? If so this can't be a good look for Narduzzi.
Brian Batko
2:30
He might leave Pitt at some point, yes, but I'm not so sure it's a bad look for Pat Narduzzi if he does. Sometimes it just doesn't work out between a player and a program, or a player and a coaching staff. This is almost a little like the Antonio Brown situation on a smaller, Pitt scale. It's a bit baseless to speculate when only Ford himself knows how this is going to play out, and even he might not be sure of that at this point.
OK, folks, I've got to run. Heading over to Pitt to talk Syracuse with the players. Thanks for joining the chat this week.
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