Pitt-Marquette

Only was able to get home and watch the game starting with ~4 minutes left in the second half and pitt down 60-51. Nice comeback to force OT with Ramon showing some nice touch. And the in OT, once they were able to put Gray back in the game, I thought they had it won. But Gray's 3 missed free throws + Kendall's turnover near the end + Marquette's lights-out FT shooting doomed the Panthers.

You can now argue that Oitt is 0-3 in their three toughest games -- 2 of which were eminently winnable if they could make some free throws. Next couple of games should be cakewalks but i am starting to get the uneasy feeling that disappointment lurks ahead for this team in march.

In other news, the confusion of yesterday in the hiring of Tomlin or Grimm seems to have faded away. Tomlin is the choice. Will see what he says tomorrow when the announcement is official.

Tomlin?

SI.com is reporting that the Steelers have chosen Mike Tomlin as their new head coach. Wow, that would be a shocker given that everyone thought the job was Grimm's...but the Steelers have a history (ok, only two coaches, but that worked for 30+ years) have choosing defensive assistant coaches, which would have made it between Tomlin and Riveria. Will see if the rumor comes true as no other source has been able to coinfirm yet.

My take...the Rooney's choose someone who impresses them + they choose a minority living up to the Rooney Rule.

2007 Lineup

Now that the Laroche for Gonzalez deal is done, we have a stab at a lineup for 2007 (BTW, who else thinks this could be yet another Rincon for Giles or Christensen for Wilson kind of deal. Relievers are almost a dime a dozen vs. good position players).

1B - Laroche
2B - Castillo or Sanchez
SS - Wilson
3B - Sanchez or Bautista
OF - Bay
OF - Duffy
OF - Nady
C - Paulino
P - Snell