So how do you move on from an agonizing football defeat? Well if you're Pitt and you have one of the nation's best basketball teams, you look towards hoops season.
A win over Penn won't do anything to ease the defeat of a West Virginia loss, but itshould serve as a reminder to Pitt fans that we're pretty fortunate to have two decent teams to follow.
I know, save the football jokes, please.
At any rate, Pitt basketball will look to continue its strong start with a win over the Penn Quakers. This is the first meeting between the two teams since 1976. Penn is one of the nation's worst rebounding teams (No. 340), while Pitt is one of the best (No. 4). That plays right into the Panthers' hands and should be a big reason why the team wins its seventh straight game to start the season.
Penn has a few players worth keeping an eye on, most notably Jack Eggleston. Eggleston is a 6'8" 'do everyhing' forward who averages 16 points per game, while shooting 60% from the field. He also shoots 54% from three-point range and is the team's leader in rebounds, steals, and blocks.
Pitt is the first of several big-time teams the Quakers will play this season. Penn also will take on top 25 teams Kentucky and Philadelphia teams Villanova and Temple.
At home, Pitt should have little trouble with Penn.