Firing Line
This Has To Stop
By Ellis G. Cannon
Publisher, Pittsburgh Sports Report
ESPN Radio 1250 Talk Show Host

College basketball has only recently regained a measure of standing on the Pittsburgh sports radar, thanks to Ben Howland and the success of his rebuilding efforts at the University of Pittsburgh. In its November 2003 issue, PSR addressed whether that recent success will be enough to keep the fan interest at that same level this year and beyond. We'd love to see the scope of the issue broadened beyond one school, but until other local programs make the step up, the success or failure of Pitt will answer the question.

The answer may have as much to do with who Pitt plays as it does wins and losses.

Although the Panthers again are in the midst of a successful season, and although the new Big East looks great, what they have achieved to date has not answered the question. At best, it has put debate on the issue on hold, pending the start of conference play this month.

The reason no clear-cut answer has emerged has everything to do with what passes for an early season schedule. Despite having taken a major step toward national credibility over the past couple of seasons, the Panthers are not taking the further step in that evolution.Their failure to assemble a credible non-conference schedule may well hurt them in a few short months. Indeed, if we've learned anything about March Madness, we know strength of schedule rules.

Unfortunately for Pitt, while continuing to draw quality prospects to its program and seemingly moving on in the post-Howland era, it has not capitalized on the leverage a program receives when it has moved up in college hoops coaching and media circles. When a losing program makes the kind of strides Pitt has, it gets a pass if it upgrades its schedule and takes a few on the chin. That's how acclaim turns into respect. It also goes a long way toward better preparing the team. To again pad the schedule with a ghastly number of non-competitive teams is not only deflating, but puts the program under a level of scrutiny - if not skepticism - by those in the know.

Take an email to highly-respected college basketball analyst Mike DeCourcy in the Dec. 29 Sporting News asking: 'Why is it that Pittsburgh, which won its first 10 games, isn't getting any attention?'

DeCourcy's reply, in part:

'Pittsburgh is playing perhaps the poorest non-conference schedule of any preseason top 25 team. It does not have big TV games to gain attention... The excuses made for this schedule are hollow. True, Penn State was coming off a strong season when the two agreed to a series, and Georgia was looking like a top 10 program. But both clearly were in shambles last summer, and Pittsburgh chose not to pursue games that would toughen their schedule - Pitt used similar non-conference scheduling the last two years to propel itself to regular-season league titles and consecutive trips to the Sweet 16. So there's some justification for the program to play it this way. But fans have no right to complain that the team isn't getting proper recognition.'

An exaggerated, but laudable, example of upgrading is at Michigan State, where the Spartans' schedule is littered with top non-conference opponents. While that may be premature for Pitt, upgrading is a must.

Pitt's played Chicago State, a team that defeated North Central College this season. North Central played Milwaukee School of Engineering last month.

That's not only inexcusable, it's unexplainable.

Cupcake scheduling is nothing new, nor should scorn be limited to Pitt. There's benefit to younger players and a new coach getting experience under these conditions. But this sort of thing has run its course if the Panthers want to avoid cynicism and ridicule. Just ask the empty seats at the Petersen Events Center.

Failure to upgrade their schedule jeopardizes the strides taken by the Panthers. It explains why national types have questions. Worse, it can lead to answers about college hoops here nobody wants to see.

Ellis Cannon is a regular contributor on the '#1 Cochran Sports Showdown,' aired Sundays at 11:35 on KDKA-TV.