Coaches v. Cancer

Are we locked into whatever half-assed preseason tournament we hosted this year for future years?  I forget what it was called, but we played Houston Baptist, St Louis, NC A&T and possibly someone else four straight days.

Do we have to do that again or can we opt out for a real tournament?  And should we?  Thats four home games of revenue Pitt would be losing.

Personally, I kind of hope the slot goes to Rutgers.  I like playing big-time opponents out of conference, but not that early.  I mean, if they match us up with UCLA or Duke first, and we win one lose one, it looks really good.  but if we aren't ready people will call us out all year.  Besides, I'd rather see Rutgers have a shot to upset one of those teams big time.  The Big East is already gonna look great but what if its last-place team takes down an opponent like that?  That almost gives helps more than if Pitt knocks 'em off, and if Rutgers loses, who cares?

I know that last bit is a stretch, generally regular glory is better than reflected glory, but with the insane schedule the Big East brings Pitt doesn't ned to add any more tough games to its schedule.

I've been off the boards for some time now, but I'd like to give my two cents.  I think Pitt should play as many difficult OOC opponents as possible.  It would be great if Rutgers could pull off an upset for the BE, but that is highly unlikely.  I am aware of how strong the conference games will be, but we do not need to play a bunch of cupcakes early in the year in whatever "tourney" they have in Oakland (or Mellon Arena).  Those easy wins do nothing for a seasoned team.  If we were young at many positions, I'd agree with scheduling the "confidence builder" games...but we are projected to challenge for the BE crown.  Maybe (just maybe) we'll be able to get over the sweet 16 hump...

There's no reason to play a cupcake type of schedule. Some schools get it more than others.

Oh, I don't want to play cupcakes, but I'd rather ramp the schedule up as it moves forward rather than play the toughest ones first.  That isn't just for fear of losing them-even if you win that momentum has died by the time it matters.

Just my opinion, though, and I fully understand the opposite one.  It WOULD be pretty sweet to open a season with wins over UCLA and Duke...

These aren't in the coaches vs. Cancer tournament, these are regular games:

Syracuse vs. Memphis

Georgetown vs. Memphis

Virginia @ Syracuse

Syracuse vs. Kansas

Syracuse vs. Florida

Duke vs. Pitt

Sorry for the Biased look at things, but that's all I know for right now.