31 May
published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 – 11:34 am
Don’t miss great coverage like this from the NHL Network throughout the Stanley Cup Finals!
31 May
published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 – 10:24 am
31 May
published in category: College Sports on Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 – 9:41 am
The James Conner story transcends sports. Looking back at the career year Conner had and what to expect from him this season, the rest of the running backs on the roster.
The University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball team will travel to College Park, Md., to face Maryland in the 2016 ACC-Big Ten Challenge in a Nov. 29 contest at the XFINITY Center. Tip time and TV designation for the game will be announced at a later date.
ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will combine to televise all 14 games of the event matching top college basketball programs playing for conference supremacy and the Commissioner’s Cup. All 14 games will also be available via WatchESPN.
“The ACC-Big Ten Challenge is one of the premiere events in the early part of the college basketball season,” said head coach Kevin Stallings. “Maryland is one of the top teams in the Big Ten and we look forward to the matchup. This is a great non-conference game that will help us prepare for a challenging ACC schedule.”
Pitt is 1-2 all-time in ACC-Big Ten Challenge matchups, including a 72-59 loss to 11th-ranked Purdue last season at the Petersen Events Center. The Panthers are 0-1 on the road in challenge matchups with a loss at Indiana in 2014.
Pitt and Maryland have met nine times previously with the Terrapins holding a slight 5-4 advantage. The Panthers have won three straight in the series, including both games during the 2013-14 season prior to Maryland’s departure from the ACC. Pitt is 1-0 at the XFINITY Center with an 83-79 win over the Terrapins Jan. 25, 2014.
The Panthers return six of their top seven scorers from a year ago, including third team All-ACC selection Michael Young. The rising senior averaged 15.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game a year ago in helping Pitt to a 21-12 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Rising seniors Jamel Artis (14.4 ppg.), Sheldon Jeter (8.1 ppg., 4.8 rpg.) and Chris Jones (6.1 ppg.) also have extensive starting experience, while Ryan Luther (5.0 ppg.) and Cameron Johnson (4.8 ppg.) emerged as key contributors late in the 2015-16 season.
Maryland is expected to return several notable players from last season’s team that finished 27-9 and reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. Rising junior Melo Trimble, 2016 preseason All-America selection, is expected to make a decision on whether or not to enter the NBA Draft in the coming days.
A total of 10 teams – five from each conference – are ranked in Eamonn Brennan’s ESPN.com early preseason top 25 poll: No. 1 Duke; No. 5 Louisville; No. 6 North Carolina; No. 7 Virginia; No. 8 Indiana; No. 9 Wisconsin; No. 13 Michigan State; No. 14 Maryland; No. 16 Purdue and No. 17 Syracuse.
The Big Ten captured the Commissioner’s Cup in 2015 and 2014, winning eight of the 14 matchups both years. The two conferences split the previous two events, winning six Challenge games each in 2012 and 2013. The ACC won the first 10 Challenges (1999-2008), while the Big Ten won the next three (2009-2011). In the event of a tie, the Commissioner’s Cup remains with the conference that won the previous year. The ACC holds the 10-5-2 winning record in the previous 17 years.
27 May
published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, May 27th, 2016 – 4:24 pm
PIA Pittsburgh and Babcock Beer present the Pirates-Rangers Series Preview with Josh Taylor. Pitching match-ups, hot streak, closing on Cubs, who will be the DH? Interleague play.
27 May
published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, May 27th, 2016 – 3:53 pm
The comparisons are obvious aren’t they?
Game seven. A 2-1 final score. Evgeni Malkin’s gutty, role playing, little known, wing emerges among a group of stars to score both goals and save the season.
Bryan Rust=Max Talbot!
Ok, maybe not quite. There is a difference between a game 7 conference final and game 7 Cup final. Plus Rust doesn’t exactly have Talbot’s “the party is wherever Max is” personality. We likely won’t see Rust doing any “superstar treatment” or “rubber ducky” local TV commercials.
And after I made the Rusty=Max analogy to him in the locker room, Kris Letang pointed out another difference too: “Talbot had speed?”
Ouch. What a dart, Tanger! Talbot could skate back then. He just wasn’t Bryan Rust fast. But then again, how many are? Letang, Carl Hagelin and Connor Sheary come to mind. Luckily for the Penguins, they are all on the same roster. And that collection of team speed is the biggest reason why this team has won the NHL Eastern Conference in 2016.
Now Rust has apparently added hands to his repertoire of speed and tenacity. In 55 career NHL regular season games, the rookie totaled just five goals. He has five so far this postseason alone. Thursday night’s heroics were even something his coach didn’t see coming.
“I’m not sure Rusty would’ve been the guy that I picked (to be the hero),” said a smiling Mike Sullivan. “But certainly I love what he brings to this team. I’m happy for him for his effort and his contribution to this team in helping it win for the past 4 or 5 months now. To see him get rewarded with a few goals is a thrill.”
Hagelin knows all about that “all wheels, no finish” reputation. He’s been labeled with it at times over his career. But the 27 year old just finished with a career high 39 points in ‘16. And he can see Rust figuring things out as well. “I think it’s just a matter of getting into the NHL and getting comfortable. Sometimes it’s just a matter of slowing down and realizing you have a little more time than you think,” he said.
Ironically, on a night where finishing a few goals will likely cement his name in Pittsburgh for years to come, Rust’s inconsistency around the net was still an issue. He zipped his way into so many good offensive positions, he actually missed on at least four more prime scoring chances.
“Those last few minutes I was definitely getting nervous. If things didn’t go our way, I would’ve been kicking myself for missing those quality chances,” Rust laughed.
But a week from now…who am I kidding, by tomorrow…no one will remember the chances he missed. He’s just going to be Bryan Rust: THE GUY WHO WON THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL.
“On the bench, Nick Bonino said to me ‘You’re a Pittsburgh hero now.’ And I was, like, what?! Wait! What?”
Bryan, hit Carson Street one night between now and Game 1 vs San Jose. You’ll figure it out.
27 May
published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, May 27th, 2016 – 3:44 pm
Penguins beat writers Jonathan Bombulie and Bill West in-studio to talk about the Pens going to the Stanley Cup Finals! Sponsored by Goodrich & Geist, representing victims of negligence and cheering on the Pens’ quest to bring Lord Stanley home!
27 May
published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, May 27th, 2016 – 12:42 pm
Rob Rossi on the expectations that these Pens team have had to live up to. And Rossi predicts Pens winning the Stanley Cup in 5 games! House O’ Hockey is celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year, which also reflects the 25th anniversary of the Pittsburgh Penguins bringing home their first Stanley Cup! In spirit of this celebration, providing 25% off Replica Premier Penguins Jerseys (and select customization packages) and 25% off all left-handed sticks! HOUSE O’ HOCKEY on 3843 Old William Penn High Way in Murrysville.
27 May
published in category: Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, May 27th, 2016 – 11:23 am
Tim Benz, Guy Junker and Ken Laird on Pens winning Game 7 and going to the Stanley Cup Finals. Hear from Crosby and Sullivan and Game 7 hero Rust. And Ken Laird is leaving TribLIVE Radio to move to Boston. Sponsored by Mama Pepino’s Pizza and Pub located at 44 Monongahela Avenue in Glassport. Enjoy your next time out watching our flat screens, having delicious food & drinks, and having a great time at Mama Pepino’s Pizza, Pub and Billards! With the newly added Billiard room, enjoy 3,000 square feet of dedicated space for pool tables!
