The Krauser Question
Black Magic Dichotomy
By Ray Mernagh

Carl "Black Magic" Krauser was in his element putting pressure on the defense with his "push the ball" mentality. His intensity resulted in a 2-on-1 advantage. All that was left was making the right split-second decision to either leave the ball for Chevon Troutman or take it to the rack himself.

As he approached the free throw line, the lone defender back hedged towards Troutman, hoping Krauser would force a pass that he might be able to deflect. Krauser, recognizing the poor dude was playing him to pass, wrapped the ball halfway behind his back as if he was going to make the difficult pass, then just as the defender stepped into the passing lane, Krauser brought the ball back to his right side and banked it in.

With a late lunge towards Krauser, the man on "D" compounded his initial error by fouling the Pitt guard for the "And 1."

"What a gorgeous play," gushed Dick "Hoops" Weiss of The New York Daily News, one of the most respected college basketball writers in the country. Only not everybody in the Peterson Events Center that day was satisfied with Krauser's decision making on the play.

"Pass the ball, Krauser," bellowed one loud-mouthed "fan." Soon he was joined by another, who stood up and screamed, "Make the simple pass, Krauser!"

Such is the perception of Krauser with many fans and media in this town. Words like "showboat" and "globetrotter" are often thrown around when describing him. Somehow, the word "winner" is seldom used. What bothers Krauser most? What's the one thing he can't let pass (no pun intended) that's said about him locally?

"That I'm selfish," says Krauser. "All the other stuff I can live with because people are ignorant sometimes, especially when the team struggles some like we did last year. They don't know what its like to sit in the huddle at the Pete or at the Carrier Dome with 20 seconds left and have every one of your teammates looking at you, telling you with their eyes that it is your time to make a play. But for anybody to think I have any other agenda in my heart besides winning they just don't know. If we could go undefeated with me only averaging 8 or 10 points a game, I'd be the first one to sign off on that, man, believe me. I bleed for this University because of the opportunity I've been given to better myself by representing it on the basketball court. I cherish this place."

How much does he cherish it? Enough to turn down offers in the low six figures across the pond in Europe. Enough to return and lead a raw, inexperienced group as it enters what is now the most demanding conference in America.

And while Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon says with conviction that this year's recruits are "the best group since we've been here," he also knows that having Krauser's 1,148 points and 407 assists back for one more season might turn what looked to be a year of growing pains into another post-season appearance.

"Carl's been giving us a great lift for four years," says Dixon. "In fact all of this success we've had in turning things around really started with him coming in and working so hard against Brandin (Knight) in practice. His intensity, toughness and competitiveness have come to signify what our program is all about."

Don't believe Dixon? How about Jim Calhoun?

"I love the way Krauser plays," says the UConn coach.

Or how about the unnamed Big East coach who says, "If I had 12 players like that kid, I'd have much better job security. I hear people say he looks to score too much and I laugh. Who else do you want shooting the ball the last two years? The kid's won big games on the road in this conference, he's absolutely fearless. The last guy they had like that was Knight."

When the news that Krauser was coming back hit an AAU event in Las Vegas this summer, every coach in attendance commented on what great news it was for Pitt and their fans that the best scoring point guard in the Big East was back.

Yet internet message boards that night were filled with "fans" saying his decision to come back could hurt the development of the young team.

One question: HOW?

Ray Mernagh is the lead basketball writer for PSR. He's currently writing a book that will detail a year inside the top mid-major basketball conference in the country: the MAC. Email him at Mernaghr@aol.com.