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| (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File) |
I grew up in the 90’s. My first Pitt basketball memories are Ontario Lett towering over opposing players and Donatas Zavackas taking his shoes off in the middle of a game. I was 10 years old by the time Jamie Dixon took over as head coach and many great memories followed his hiring.
I was in attendance when DeJuan Blair wrestled Hasheem Thabeet
to the floor to gain possession of a loose ball. I vividly remember Levance Fields’ step back 3-pointer
at MSG to beat Duke and Ronald Ramon’s buzzer-beater against West Virginia. My brother and I still get a kick out of John
DeGroat getting to start as a senior, but getting taken out after
the very first media timeout every single game. I also
became a Fort Minor fan after the Big East tournament featured several of his
songs during each commercial break on one of Pitt’s championship runs.
One of the oldest photos in my phone is of me sitting in a
seat, about ten or so rows from the court.
I was in the University of Dayton’s arena before Pitt took on Oklahoma
State in the 2nd round of the 2009 NCAA tournament. That same tournament where Pitt would later
give up a last second layup to Scottie Reynolds in the Elite Eight.
I was also there when Pitt beat UConn to complete the home
court season sweep. They had successfully
won every game at the Petersen Events Center for the entire span of the 2008-09
season. At that point, the number of
losses at “the Pete” was barely above double digits.
I loved Pitt basketball growing up. This love for Pitt basketball led to a love
of college basketball. I would
vigilantly follow the Top 25 rankings and watch games involving those teams
ahead of Pitt in the rankings, even if they weren’t playing the Panthers. I dreamed of one day being a member of the
Oakland Zoo, the best student section in the nation for a decade. I had a passion for Pitt basketball.
However, I now sadly must admit something. Not only have I failed to watch a full Pitt
basketball game yet this season, but I only watched one or two last
season. Last night, I had no idea Pitt
played Monmouth, or played at all. When
Twitter started mentioning the impending loss for the Panthers, I can’t say I
particularly cared. I wasn’t going to
change the channel for this Pitt basketball team.
Therein lies the biggest problem with the current Pitt basketball program. It is not the losses
that are piling up or the recruits that keep leaving through the transfer
portal. The biggest problem is total
apathy from the fans. The Pitt basketball program has lost so many fans over the last several seasons to
apathy. Games are no longer watched nor
attended, and the team is barely even talked about.
I used to be able to name the entire Pitt roster,
including the team GPA boosters who only got minutes when Pitt was
blowing out a team like Monmouth. Now, I’m
sad to admit I cannot even name all the starters. I know John Hugley, but I pronounced it
Hug-ley instead of Hugh-gley for quite some time because that is how little I
have paid attention.
Kevin Stallings and Jeff Capel have failed to deliver a good
team in years, and the result of that isn’t anger or disappointment as much as
a lack of awareness of the program. When
Julius Page randomly walked up to the basketball courts in Scott Township Park
five or six years ago, my friends and I were giddy to have the opportunity to
play ball with one of our childhood heroes.
I called both my brother and father about it on my drive home, and told anyone
else who would listen. Now, a member
of the Pitt basketball roster could show up at my doorstep and I’m not sure I
would recognize any of them without a jersey on with their name on the
back.
It’s a shame and I miss great college basketball in Pittsburgh. I miss the Top 25 rankings and the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. I miss the Oakland Zoo. I miss my Dad and I feeling like a Pitt basketball game was worth our time to attend. I miss caring about Pitt Basketball.
Instead, I am apathetic toward the program
and that is the worst feeling a fan can have. It is also a problem that will take several good seasons for the program to overcome. If Pitt does not become relevant soon, they will continue on this downward path and continue to lose fans, like me, that were so passionate for so many years.