Here are five storylines that helped define the week with a little of my take on them as well.
5. Changes Coming To Pitt?
The Panthers finished off a 7-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 73-57 loss to Georgia Tech. A GT team that had just accepted a postseason ban for this season and essentially had nothing to play for but pride.
This leaves a sour taste in the mouths of just about anyone who has followed this program. What looked like a promising season back in December and January took a turn for the worst and now leaves questions for the future? Will there be changes?
Jeff Capel joined The Fan Morning Show Friday and had this to say about his team.
[link to tweet to embed: https://twitter.com/FanMorningShow/status/1235929161555996673 ]
He also didn't shy away from the possibility of some guys transferring and Pitt having some different faces in place next year. 93.7 The Fan's sports director Jeff Hathhorn, who has been around the Pitt program a lot this year calling games and hosting the "Jeff Capel Show" speculated this week that one of Xavier Johnson or Trey McGowens may leave. It isn't a sign of being unhealthy, I think it's more a sign of establishing the kind of culture you want to build things on and they are clearly still figuring that out.
4. Duquesne & Robert Morris Rolling
How bout those Dukes? Without a true home court this year, Keith Dambrot has Duquesne as one of the A10's better teams, getting them to win 11 conference games as on Friday, a school record.
It was a hard fought 80-77 overtime win against VCU this week that achieved that feat and Dambrot made it clear what the mindset is like this time of year and the relationships between him and his players.
Nice to have some influential friends like LeBron, too huh?
Dambrot believes this team has a shot to win the conference tournament. Even with 3rd ranked Dayton (as of 3/6) in the mix, who's to tell him he can't at this point?
Then there's Andy Toole and Robert Morris. The Colonials battled their way to the top seed in the NEC Tournament this year, with the reward being that they host every game they play in. A cold 2nd half against St.Francis Brooklyn almost ruined things on Wednesday night, but RMU survived a potential game-winning shot that clanked off the iron for the 59-58 win.
They've got the 4 seed LIU Brooklyn Saturday at 2. As of now, the Colonials hold the best chance of the three Pittsburgh area teams to get into the NCAA Tournament. If you're a hoops fan in Pittsburgh. the future is pretty bright, because all three coaches are pretty bright. And seem to be steering things in the right direction.
3. Penguins Snap Losing Streak
After a weekend full of disappointment as the Penguins lost twice to awful Western Conference teams, they were staring a 7-game losing steak in the face Tuesday night against Ottawa.
Fortunately, the Pens finally returned to form and won handily 7-3 as both Brian Dumoulin and John Marino returned on the blue line. Then on Thursday night, they took care of the Sabres 4-2 while Nick Bjugstad returned to the lineup.
What was serious doubt has now calmed the waters at least a little, but the intensity will no doubt ramp up from here. Lots of quality Eastern Conference games on the way in March, including 4 games against Carolina and 2 games against Washington starting Saturday. We will see just where this team lines up in the Eastern Conference pecking order in the next week or so.
2. MLBPA Files Grievance Against Pirates...Again
We've been down this road before. The Bucs were named among a group of teams that had a grievance filed against them last year, questioning their spending or lack thereof, revenue sharing money. Teams can use this for international pools, technology, hiring staff, etc and that's probably what will come of it or be the explanation from the franchise.
These grievances don't really mean much, outside of giving the fan base another reason to question the front office's business practices, which is also nothing new. The current regime has an extra out on these claims because, well, they've only been here for a few months. They've had to evaluate and try to clean up the mess they were left with.
It's a bit of a black eye in public perception to be sure, but for me, I'm just holding out hope...and it really is just hope...that if/when the Pirates and this front office gets into a position to spend to add to a winning team again...they do.
I know. It's hope.
1. Does A #1 Goalie Need To Emerge?
Matt Murray won both of those games in net this week. Before that, the Penguins had been going with a strict back and forth juggling between he and Tristan Jarry. Mike Sullivan proved to be correct in breaking that structure and riding the hot hand for Buffalo on Thursday. Does he do it again on Saturday against Washington?
The bigger question as the playoffs draw nearer and nearer is...does one need to emerge as the guy before the postseason begins? There are certainly differing opinions on this.
Former NHL goalie Martin Biron said on The PM Team Thursday that it is incredibly hard to juggle goaltenders like the Penguins have and you need to establish one as the #1. History tells us that you can get away with a share of the crease heading into the playoffs, as the Pens themselves did this with Matt Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury.
I don't think it makes or breaks the Penguins either way. I think Tristan Jarry has been the slightly better goalie this year but not enough to where I would be upset if Matt Murray were to start Game 1 of a playoff series. Especially if he's hot heading in.
In fact, I think it would do the Penguins well to have Matt Murray catch fire and be that guy. He has been there, done that. He's got 2 Stanley Cup rings. While he didn't start every game on the way to either, that fact can't be ignored. When the Pens needed him, in the biggest moments, he delivered. Tristan Jarry by way of just general inexperience hasn't done that. Who's to say that the postseason lights wouldn't be a little too bright? At least I know what Murray is capable of. While Jarry has been great, there would be that extra comfort level with Murray, at least for me.
Who knows, that might even be the factor that breaks a tie between the two if it is that close come playoff time.
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