Big Lead Sports Bar

1/17/2010

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Pitt pulls it out: The Lousville Cardinals were the last visiting team to beat the Pitt Panthers at the Pete, back on February 24, 2008. On Saturday, they nearly did it again, but Brad Wanamaker hit a three-pointer with 15.6 seconds left and nailed two free throws with 1.9 seconds remaining to send the game into OT, where the Pitt outscored Lousville 13-8 and took home an 82-77 win.

The win boosted Pitt to 15-2 overall, 5-0 in the Big East, and 125-10 all-time at the Pete. They were led by Nasir Robinson's 26 points and 11 rebounds in a career-best game. Wanamaker added 20 and Ashton Gibbs scored 15 for the Panthers.

Just how crushing was this defeat for Rick Pitino? Let's put it this way: in his storied career, only "The Christian Laettner Game" in the 1992 NCAA tournament regional final was worse:

"Outside of Duke and Christian Laettner, this is the worst loss I've experienced, watching a team play so well and put itself in a position to win," Pitino said.

Pitt (currently #16 in the AP, but sure to be moving up) is back in action on Wednesday at home against #11 Georgetown. [ESPN]

Fleuryless, the Pens lose to Vancouver: With MAF nursing a fractured finger and Brent Johnston out with a lower back injuy, the Pens went with John Curry in goal at Vancouver, and it did not go well.

The young Pens netminder surrendered five goals on just 14 goals before giving way to Alexander Pechurski, a 19-year-old Russian called up from junior hockey on an emergency basis and signed to an amateur tryout contract. Pechurski stopped 12 of 13 shots the rest of the way, but the damage was already done: Canucks 6, Penguins 2. It's borderline impossible to spot Roberto Luongo a four-goal lead and expect to win the game.

The good news is that Evgeni Malkin scored his first goal in 15 games. The bad news is that the Penguin power play once again pulled an 0-for, getting shut out on three chances.

The Pens return home to face the Islanders on Tuesday at the Igloo. Pittsburgh's road trip wrapped up at 3-2. [ESPN]

Pirates sign Brendan Donnelly: The Buccos agreed to terms with the 38-year-old reliever on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million in base salary with performance bonuses that could push it to $3 million.

Donnelly, who spent 2009 with the Marlins, has a colorful background. He spent 10 years in the minor leagues, he was named in the Mitchell Report in 2007, and he appears to have an extreme dislike of Jose Guillen. He was a member of the 2002 World Champion Anaheim Angels and a 2003 AL All-Star. As an extra bonus, he had Tommy John surgery in 2007.

Donnelly has bounced around the majors of late, spending 2006 in Anaheim, 2007 in Boston, 2008 in Cleveland and 2009 with the Astros' Triple-A affiliate as well as Florida. Last season, he was 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA in 30 appearances for the Marlins. [MLB Trade Rumors]

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1 comment:

JW said...

I heard Pitino said this was his toughest loss since before he nailed some woman in an empty restaurant.

Hail to Pitt!