1
0
Western Pennsylvania is a sports haven with all of the sports action a fan could ask for. You have NFL football and the tradition of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the NHL and an equal history of championships and hall of fame players in the Pittsburgh Penguins, MLB baseball with the Five-Time World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates, professional soccer with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, three major universities in Pitt, Duquesne, and Robert Morris, and WPIAL high school sports that have produced many legendary players. Mike Drakulich (@PghSportsNation) of NGSCSports brings you a weekly commentary focusing on the hot topics of the Pittsburgh sports landscape, and analysis of this week’s events. Jack Handy may have brought you deep thoughts… he just tells it like it is.
It’s the day after Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament, and the utter disbelief and absurdity of Pitt not being considered as one of the best 68 teams in the country hasn’t diminished one bit since the field was announced last night.
This was a Panther team that finished 4th in the ACC with a record of 12-8, and was 22-11 overall, reaching the ACC Tournament semifinals before losing a heart-breaker to #4 North Carolina 72-65, a game that was tied 62-62 with just two minutes left before RJ Davis hit a backbreaking three pointer that Pitt never recovered from. It was a particularly tough loss to swallow considering Blake Hinson and Ishmael Leggett combined for 11 points total.
Some of the most mind boggling teams that got in over Pitt were teams like Michigan State, which finished 8th in the Big Ten with a 19-14 record, Virginia which finished one spot ahead of Pitt in the standings, but was a paltry 5-5 in their last ten games, including an 11 point loss to Pitt on their own court, Clemson, who did beat Pitt twice, but finished 7th in the ACC, and was blown away by Boston College in their first game of the ACC Tournament 76-55, Dayton, who lost to Duquesne in the A-10 quarterfinals, and the ridiculous six teams that the Mountain West Conference has, despite their laughable combined record in the NCAA Tournament of 10-21 since 2013, with five of those wins coming via San Diego State’s run to the Championship game last year.
Once again, egos, money, and bias continue to destroy the fabric of college athletics.
*
The future is bright for Pitt basketball, especially if Bub Carrington, Jaland Lowe, and Ishmael Leggett all return, along with the Graham brothers and Federiko Federiko underneath. Lincoln Park star Brandin ‘Beebah’ Cummings will be joining the team, as will Amdy Ndiaye, a 6’10 power forward from Putnam Science Academy. Head Coach Jeff Capel can really solidify next year’s incoming class if he can get Cumming’s teammate, Meleek Thomas, to commit to Pitt, too. There will be additions via the Transfer Portal as well.
Know this… Pitt won’t get screwed out of the NCAA Tournament next year. You can mark that down right now.
*
The off-season of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been unlike any witnessed in the history of this franchise. The days of staying quiet in free agency and just relying on the draft are long gone with GM Omar Khan and assistant GM Andy Weidl running the show.
The entire quarterback room from 2023 of Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph are all gone, and have been replaced by Russell Wilson, who the Steelers signed via free agency, and Justin Fields, who Pittsburgh basically stole from Chicago for just a 6th round draft pick.
Pittsburgh has also added Patrick Queen, giving the Steelers an outstanding group of linebackers, safety DeShon Elliot, who will start alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick, cornerback Donte Jackson via trading Diontae Johnson to Carolina, and wide receiver Van Jefferson.
The Steelers are also taking looks at free agent wide receivers Tyler Boyd and Mike Williams.
The revamped Steelers defense, along with Arthur Smith taking over as offensive coordinator, have the Steelers in position to be one of the best teams in the NFL in 2024. Stay tuned on anymore signings the Steelers make by following me on X at @PghSportsNation.
The NFL Draft which takes place on April 25th through 27th can become the exclamation point on an already incredible job by Khan and Weidl.
*
The Pittsburgh Penguins took care of the Detroit Red Wings 6-3 on Sunday evening, and despite the 7-4 beating they got at the hands of the NY Rangers on Saturday, are somehow just five points behind Detroit for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. With 15 games left, can the Penguins make a push, or would they be better served to secure a top ten pick in next year’s draft, which as a lottery, could feasibly end up as a #1 overall pick?
*
Top 10 Eddie Murphy Comedies
- Trading Places
- Beverly Hills Cop
- 48 Hours
- Beverly Hills Cop 2
- Coming to America
- Another 48 Hours
- The Golden Child
- The Nutty Professor
- Beverly Hills Cop 3
- Bowfinger
Author Profile
- Your source for Pittsburgh sports!
-
From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team.
There's nowhere on earth that is more dedicated to its sports teams like Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The passion and pride of Pittsburgh's fan base is second to no one. From the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, to W.P.I.A.L. high school sports, "The City of Champions" has it all!
As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike Drakulich provides top notch opinions and coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers football & basketball, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, and Duquesne Dukes basketball, as well as all sports teams that represent Western Pennsylvania, including WPIAL High School Football.
For a refreshing view of sports, mixed with humor and uncensored opinions, check out Pittsburgh SportsNation today on Facebook, Twitter @PghSportsNation and videos with over 1,000,000 views on YouTube!
Latest entries
FeaturesMarch 18, 2024The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports
FeaturesMarch 12, 2024The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports
FeaturesMarch 3, 2024The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports
FeaturesFebruary 25, 2024The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports