11-1-17 by The Pitt News

volume 108 | Issue 59

cover by Garrett Aguilar

luther leads young squad in senior season David Leftwich Senior Staff Writer

Ryan Luther is one of Pitt’s three returning players on this year’s men’s basketball team. Anna Bongardino ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR

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As Ryan Luther watched all but two members of the Pitt basketball team depart this off-season, his dedication to the Panthers never wavered. “I knew I wanted to be here,” the senior forward said. “I knew I made a commitment coming out of high school, and I didn’t really want to be somewhere else.” Before a tumultuous season last year under first-year head coach Kevin Stallings, the Panthers knew they would need to replace four graduating seniors at the end of the year. But then the dismissal of first-year Justice Kithcart foreshadowed an off-season of unexpected departures and a decommitment before the team even reached its final regular season game. These changes left the program in a tough position with a new coaching staff and only three remaining players. The team was in for a big transition, but Luther dealt with it in stride. “I just wanted to make the best of my four years here,” Luther said. “It’s where I wanted to be.” Raised just 20 miles north of the City, in Wexford, Luther grew up a Panther basketball fan and a member of an impressive basketball family. His two older siblings, Jodie and Bill, his twin brother Collin and Luther himself each scored more than 1,000 points in the Western Pennsylvania Athletic League. Luther wasn’t even the first of his siblings to play at Pitt — Bill played at Pitt Johnstown from 2010-2013. “My older brother and my older sister and a lot of people in my family played basketball, so even though I played other sports, that was kind of the main one,” Luther said. “I knew I had a future pretty early on.” Lettering each season of high school, Luther gradually grew into his 6-foot-9 frame and increased his production. By the end of his junior season, he had broken the all-time scoring record at Hampton High School, averaging 21.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game that season — and colleges took notice.

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Luther received offers from Duquesne University, the University of Dayton and George Washington University, and headed into his senior season set to choose between these three schools. But, just weeks before making his decision, a fourth school entered the fight: Pitt. Once former head coach Jamie Dixon made an offer, Luther had his answer. “When I got the opportunity at Pitt, I didn’t think I could pass it up,” Luther said. “Playing in my hometown, being able to experience it with my family and being able to play in one of the best, if not the best, conferences in the country.” Luther didn’t become complacent after locking down his commitment to Pitt. Instead, he dominated Pennsylvania high school basketball, averaging 22.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game en route to winning the 4A Pennsylvania State Player of the Year award. Though he was continuing his basketball career just 30 minutes away from Hampton High School, a lot changed when Luther came to Oakland and joined the Panthers in 2014. Academically, the transition to college was not difficult for Luther. He had a GPA greater than 3.5 in high school, which helped his transition to the business school as a marketing major. In his career, he has already been named to the All-ACC Academic Team twice. On the court, however, Luther had a much steeper learning curve. “It was a big adjustment,” Luther said. “I was one of two or three new guys and it was kind of like jump in and figure it out on your own or be left behind. It was really intense when I got there and it was a huge adjustment, and I think it really helped me grow up quickly.” Luther appeared in 23 games that first year, but mostly played a complementary role, averaging fewer than eight minutes per game. In his sophomore season, he appeared in all but one game and increased his scoring output from 1.9 to 5.0 points per game, but still wasn’t a primary contributor. When Dixon left the Panthers to join TCU in 2016, Stallings and his staff immediately connected with Luther. Set to play a “sixth man” role on an experienced team, Luther and the Panthers were poised for a big See Luther on page 3

Luther, pg. 2 year. “I was very impressed with Ryan when I joined the Pitt staff last year,” assistant coach Kevin Sutton said. “I found him to be a genuine person that cared about the game of basketball and cared about his teammates a great deal.” Luther was a big contributor to Pitt’s early 12-3 record, averaging more than 20 minutes on the floor while putting up slightly more than six points and four rebounds per game. In his best performance of the season, Luther dominated, scoring 20 points and grabbing seven rebounds in a Dec. 17 victory over Rice. Luther looked to be on his way to an impressive season, but fortunes for Luther and the Panthers quickly changed. After the Panthers lost to No. 14 Louisville Jan. 11, Luther suffered a stress fracture in his right foot during practice Jan. 13, forcing him to miss the next 12 games and the majority of the ACC schedule. Luther said the injury helped him “appreciate being healthy and being out there.”

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During Luther’s absence the team went 3-9, and once he returned things didn’t improve. The Panthers went on to lose their final four games to conclude the season at 16-17, placing second to last in the ACC with a 4-14 conference record.

After the sweeping roster changes at the end of last season, Luther quickly emerged as the new centerpiece of the Pitt basketball team. As the only remaining player to average more than 10 minutes per game last season, the Panthers needed

When I got the opportunity at Pitt, I didn’t think I could pass it up. - Ryan Luther “Even though I didn’t get to have the season I wanted to, both individually and as a team, that kind of put things in perspective for this year,” Luther said.

him to take on more responsibility. Luther’s coaches said he made an effort to improve as a leader. “He took over our workouts last spring

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and became much more vocal,” Sutton said. “He realized that it was going to be important for us and for the success of the team that he had to become more of a vocal leader.” Beyond his newfound leadership, Luther has improved his game over the past three years — specifically improving aspects such as his handle and shot. According to his coaches, he’s also constantly working to get better in order to shoulder more of the responsibility on the floor. “He can shoot the ball, he can drive, and he surprises people with his athleticism,” assistant coach Dan Cage said. “He’s coachable, he wants to be coached, he has big hopes, aspirations and wants to be successful.” With the Nov. 4 season opener against Slippery Rock quickly approaching, the national media predicts the Panthers will finish last in the ACC. But Luther wants to prove them wrong. “It just matters what we have in the locker room, and we’re just trying to prove people wrong and win games,” Luther said. “I’m trying to make the best of my senior year because it’s going really fast.”

Pitt shoots for bigger basketball crowds

The Oakland Zoo celebrated the Panthers’ first score at the 93-90 victory over Eastern Michigan last November. TPN File Photo

Bailey Frisco

Staff Writer Tanisha Brown is a longtime college basketball fan — she started watching with her dad growing up. When she began attending Pitt, the Panthers quickly earned a place in her heart and her presence at the Petersen Events Center. “I really got into it when I came to Pitt,” Brown said. “I began rooting for Pitt when I started going here and I forever will.” But a recent coaching shift and underwhelming season surprised her and other fans. The senior social work student attended every men’s basketball game she could during her first two years at Pitt. Jamie Dixon had been coaching the team since 2003, but he left in 2016 to accept a coaching position at his alma mater, TCU. Brown attributes the recent

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drop in attendance at men’s basketball games to his departure, describing it as “a shock.” “Me and my friends would camp out for the Duke game and Syracuse game, and it was so much fun,” Brown said. “I think the atmosphere was a lot different back then, when Dixon was coach.” There has been a steady drop in attendance at Pitt men’s basketball games over the last four seasons. After the 20122013 season, the ticketing office said the attendance averaged about 10,200 per game. Last season, however, the Petersen averaged about 8,300 fans per game. Ben Smith, the assistant athletic director of ticketing at Pitt, said he thinks this trend is not just a Pitt problem, but a nationwide one. He partially attributes this trend to the ease of viewing games. See Attendance on page 8

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f life were like the movies, this year’s Pitt men’s basketball team could sneak into March Madness and win the whole thing. But life isn’t a movie, and Pitt will be lucky to win 10 games. The Panthers’ second season with head coach Kevin Stallings as the leader will start with as much uncertainty and mystery as the first did. The Panthers’ roster is mostly first-years and transfers from junior colleges and is likely the worst team in the ACC. But, according to Stallings, the team can handle that. “As a coach, I’ve been around long enough to know that you don’t know what you have until adversity hits you,” Stallings said. “That’s when you find out who you really are and what you’re really made of. Are they really going to stay together and keep being that group that they are right now? I think this group will be.” The Panthers feature a myriad of new faces, with only three players returning from last year’s team. Pitt is entering a fullon youth movement with seven of the 11 new scholarship players entering the program as first-years. Senior forward Ryan Luther — a 6-foot9 do-it-all big man and former sixth man

Men’s basketball: building from the

bottom

up Brandon Glass Staff Writer

See Men’s Basketball on page 7

Redshirt senior guard Jonathan Milligan will be returning to the court for the Panthers. TPN File Photo

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Men’s Basketball, pg. 6 — and redshirt senior guard Jonathan Milligan — a 6-foot-2 quick-knockdown 3-point shooter — will both be returning to the court for the Panthers. Redshirt senior guard Zach Smith sat out last season because of transfer rules, but will also be back with the Panthers this year. Since the Panthers aren’t returning any starters from last season, their success as a team depends a great deal on the ability of the new fearsome threesome of junior college and graduate transfer players — Jared Wilson-Frame, Kene Chukwuka and Monty Boykins. These players — players that, at least, have some experience in college play — should be able to adapt their games to the ACC and are likely to play significant minutes for the Panthers. There is a real possibility that all three will start on opening day for Pitt. Wilson-Frame has the potential to rack up some points for Pitt. The guard/forward was the leading scorer on his Northwest Florida State College team last year, averaging 15.4 points per game. Wilson-Frame

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boasts a well-rounded scoring arsenal, attacking the rim off drives and raining in 3-pointers. “This is something I’ve been watching, preparing myself for for a long time,” Wilson-Frame said. “This level, no matter who you’re playing, you have to bring it every day. I knew that’s how it would be.” The Swedish-born Chukwuka, a recruit Stallings brought in from New Mexico Junior College, adds much-needed size to Pitt’s thin front court. In his lone season with the Thunderbirds, Chukwuka showed off some shooting touch from the perimeter. His willingness to take long-range shots is a nice fit in the modern basketball landscape. Boykins has the highest potential, as a former starter for the Lafayette Leopards when he was healthy. He missed most of his last season with the Leopards due to a shoulder injury. Now, the 6-foot-5 guard will get a fresh start as the sharp-shooting veteran on a young team. Even though the team is young, there are already some budding standouts. Firstyear guard Marcus Carr might be the Panthers’ most intriguing new player. The Toronto native comes to Pittsburgh by way of

Florida powerhouse Montverde Academy, where he played alongside fellow Canadian and ESPN’s 2018 top rated recruit R.J. Barrett. Carr could be an impact player from the start. Whether by necessity or skill — and there is plenty of both — the first-year guard should be in the starting lineup by the end of the year. Carr’s ability to set up elite teammates might be what brought him to this point, but now, he’ll have ample opportunities as the leading man. While Carr might end up in the spotlight, Khameron Davis, Shamiel Stevenson and Parker Stewart will most likely be competing with one another for limited minutes. Defensively, the Panthers might struggle to find an identity. Young players can take time to adjust to the collegiate game, especially in the ACC. On top of that, the Panthers aren’t a team with a ton of length inside. First-year center/forward Terrell Brown is the tallest player on the roster at 6-foot-10. The recently reinstated and 6-foot-9 center from Nigeria, Peace Ilegomah could offer some help inside in spot minutes. Don’t be surprised if Stallings begrudg-

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ingly breaks out some zone play to mitigate potential Panthers defensive shortcomings early on in the year. Wing depth will be another concern for Pitt all season. At 6 feet 7 inches, first-year forward Samson George is the Panthers’ sole player with a true wing size of 7-foot-1. He’s a power forward — though on offense, he plays like a big man. St. John’s junior transfer Malik Ellison, though, is sitting out the season due to NCAA transfer rules. Ellison may well be joined on the bench by former-Pitt-clubbasketball-players-turned walk-ons, sophomore Anthony Starzynski and junior Joe Mascaro. It is highly unexpected that either player would end the season with any stats, let alone any minutes on the court. There’s no denying it, the Panthers face low expectations. Yet, the upside of low expectations is that the young players will get plenty of time to learn. The year will likely be a long one for Stallings, his coaching staff and any fans who decide to watch. “We’ll get knocked on our head a few times, but these guys I’m pretty sure are going to compete,” Stallings said. “There’s enough talent there that eventually we’ll be a good team.”

Attendance, pg. 4 “You can access a game via your phone, or if you’d rather go to a bar to watch the game and have drinks there while you watch the game,” Smith said. “There are just so many different options now than there have been in the past.” Though nationwide attendance has been steadily going down, Pitt’s 18.6 percent drop is much higher than the 4 percent drop seen on average across the country’s Division I schools like Duke and Baylor between 2013 and 2017. Though he said it wasn’t the entire reason, Smith cited the performance of the team last year — 16 wins and 17 losses — as having an impact on the numbers. “Maybe fans didn’t really see the effort on the floor that they wanted to,” he said. Panther fan Derek Sellers, a junior chemical engineering major, said he was disappointed watching the last season, especially since he had high expectations for the team going into the year. He is trying to feel more optimistic now that

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the new coach, Kevin Stallings, has spent more time getting to know the players on the team and bring in new ones. “With a new coach, you don’t really know what to expect, and obviously they’re not his players. He didn’t recruit them at all,” Sellers said of the roster last season. “But, going into this season, knowing that he has his own players, I have a better feeling about it.” According to Smith, a drop in attendance at any athletic game does hurt finances, but the athletic department can draw from revenue from another sport when one is underperforming. For example, he said the athletic department is able to lean on ticket sales and profits of the football team during times when the turnout for men’s basketball is low. Losing longtime season ticket holders for men’s basketball is a major factor in why the attendance is lower these last few years, according to Smith. Other entertainment opportunities in the city, such as other professional sports teams, may be drawing people away. But he said they are trying to focus on the opportunities it has opened up. “While it is a disappointment to lose

some of those longtime season ticket holders, having available seats also allows us to market and cater to a group of fans that maybe we haven’t been able to before,” he said. Smith outlined a few changes the athletic department is implementing to win back the fans they lost in recent years that will be implemented in the future.. Prices will be lowered in an effort to increase sales and make the games more affordable. The department will also be offering new ticket packages, single-game tickets and group purchases of tickets for the lower level of the Pete. The department is also considering changing some purchasing procedures, such as when tickets go on sale. “While we are down in attendance with the general public, it does allow us to kind of market our product to a group of individuals that are our future donors and future season ticket holders,” Smith said. The athletic department is also looking into ways to attract students to attend some of the less popular games, according to Smith. For example, the first 500 students in the doors at some of the less

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games will receive better seats for more popular games like Duke, West Virginia and Syracuse. Sellers said the Oakland Zoo executive board is also looking to drive up student attendance at basketball games. As one of the vice presidents of the student cheering section’s board, he said the Zoo is taking additional measures to raise interest among its peers, including looking to involve players in videos for their social media page. “In the past, [the Zoo] used Twitter a lot. We’ve noticed that is not really as effective as before, so we’re trying different ways,” Sellers said. “We’re sending emails, getting different students involved outside the executive board of the Zoo.” Brown said although her senior year schedule is her busiest yet, she hopes to attend some games this season. She is staying positive with her prediction for this season. “I know there is a lot of new recruits this season, and since Stallings has a season under his belt now and finally got adjusted to the Pitt atmosphere, I think it could definitely improve,” Brown said. “I definitely see potential.”

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WELLNESS WEDNESDAY: Three women in the U.S. each day are murdered by their intimate partners.

This number is shocking, especially because we often only hear when a victim of domestic or dating violence is murdered when it involves a celebrity or sports figure, or if it happens locally. Sadly, on Oct. 8, the Pittsburgh community was stunned to learn that Pitt student Alina Sheykhet had been killed. Charged by police in her death is Matthew Darby, her ex-boyfriend, a Pitt Greensburg student. But Alina is not a statistic. She was a vibrant, smart, sweet young woman whose life was cut short. In an abusive relationship, the burden of keeping safe unfortunately falls on the victim, when accountability should not be on the victim but rather on the batterer. It’s the batterer who commits crimes such as assault, stalking and terroristic threats. It’s the batterer who uses abusive behavior, such as emotional, psychological or financial abuse. It’s the batterer who utilizes a pattern of power and control over their partner, leading to increasing danger, isolation and deterioration of the victim’s self-esteem. Yet we often still blame the victim, even though the batterer’s behavior is always a choice – and never the fault of the victim. It bears repeating – violence is never the victim’s fault. With that said, there are red flags to watch out for, and lethal violence can often be predicted, planned for and avoided with the help of domestic violence professionals. Spotting the signs of abuse isn’t always a simple process because there are many different types that can affect women and men, regardless of age, race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion or sexual orientation. But there are some common characteristics among abusers that you can spot, if you know what to look for in a relationship.

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How To Spot an Abuser: • Abusers often deny the existence of any violence, or attempt to minimize the seriousness of their actions and the effects on the victim. • Abusers may objectify their victims, treating them as nothing more than property or a sexual object. • Abusers seek to put others beneath them through physical or verbal abuse, rather than lifting themselves and others up. • Abusers often do not take responsibility for their actions. They blame their violence and abuse on their victims, or outside factors such as alcohol, financial problems or even a “bad day” at work. They may apologize and promise to change, but they continue the abusive behavior. • Abusers often don’t show their true selves outside of the relationship, often appearing kind or charming to others. Many are experts at hiding their behaviors from the world, which is why many victims face doubt and skepticism when they come forward. Some people simply cannot believe that someone they know, who seems so friendly and charismatic, could be capable of such terrible acts.

Look for these common warning signs and characteristics to help you identify a potential abuser. • Severe jealousy – remember that jealousy is not love • Possessiveness • Unpredictability • Name calling, insults or disparaging language • Explosive temper • Controlling and manipulative behavior • Antiquated beliefs about roles of women and men in relationships • Rape or sexual coercion • Sabotage or refusal of birth control methods • Animal cruelty or abuse • Blaming the victim for anything bad that happens • Obstruction of the victim’s ability to work or attend school • Controlling finances • Accusing the victim of flirting with others or having an affair • Dictating what the victim wears and how they act • Stalking, in person or online • Demeaning, embarrassing or humiliating the victim either privately or publicly • Harassment of the victim • Abuse of other family members, children or pets

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Help is available, conﬁdential and free. If you think that you or someone you know may be in an abusive relationship, call the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh’s 24-Hour Hotline at 412-687-8005, ext. 1, or Toll-Free at 877-338-TALK (8255) for help or information. Downloading the RUSafe app to assess whether you or a loved one may be in a dangerous relationship is a helpful tool to start a conversation and reach out for help. In addition to comprehensive services for victims, WC&S also runs intervention groups in the community for batterers. Journeying from being a victim of domestic violence to a survivor takes courage, and WC&S is proud to help 6,000 adult and child victims each year. Please reach out to WC&S if you or someone you love needs our help.

ith the women’s basketball season approaching, this year’s Panther squad will feature experience and excitement as a squad of returning players and fresh faces prepare to make an impact. “I don’t look at us as being so young anymore because we do have the experience,” head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio said. “I look at us as a more experienced team ... with so many new players.” With six new players, Pitt’s roster will need to fill some big roles from last season. For starters, the Panthers will be without last year’s leading scorer, forward Brenna Wise, after she transferred to Indiana. On top of leading with 14.3 points per game, Wise was the team’s leading rebounder with 6.4 rebounds per game. And she was the only Panther to start in all 30 games. Pitt will be without some other familiar faces on the court this upcoming season, including center Brandi Harvey-Carr — last season’s second-leading scorer — and forward Destinie Gibbs. Harvey-Carr played her final season as a graduate transfer and Gibbs as a redshirt senior. Despite the losses, Pitt is returning with a plethora of talent from last year’s team. Now a senior, Aysia Bugg could be a main facilitator in Pitt’s offense, as she led the team in assists per See Women’s Basketball on page 12

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: A WORK IN PROGRESS Adin Link Staff Writer

Junior forward Kauai Bradley is one of eight returning players on the women’s basketball team this season. John Hamilton MANAGING EDITOR

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Change the system to avoid pay-for-play scandals Will Schulman For The Pitt News

The Federal Bureau of Investigation made headlines in the sports world when it arrested 10 people Sept. 26 for a pay-for-play scandal, in which coaches, agents and shoe company employees sent and received bribes involving college basketball recruits. Among the arrested were multiple college basketball assistant coaches and Adidas’ director of global sports marketing for basketball, Jim Gatto. This was undoubtedly a big story — but for college sports fans, it was completely unsurprising. Recruiting scandals are the norm in bigtime college athletics. From the hundreds of thousands of dollars given as gifts to Reggie Bush, to the close-knit relationship between Ponzi-schemer Nevin Shapiro and the Miami Hurricanes football team, to the Louisville Cardinals coaching staff providing escorts to potential recruits — it should not be shocking that this latest scandal was so unsurprising. At the root of the scandal — like many — is money. College basketball is a multibillion-dollar industry. The NCAA tournament itself, less than a month long, generates more than a billion dollars of revenue. And the crucial driving force behind it all is unpaid student-athletes. People will always argue over whether or not college basketball players should be paid — even if they should be, establishing a fair and legal pay-for-play system in college sports would be a nightmare. But there are easy ways to prevent future scandals that rely on already existing frameworks — open the NBA draft to high school athletes and ex-

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pand the NBA developmental league to provide opportunities for young players to develop. Opponents of pay-for-play systems are quick to bring up scholarships as justification for student-athletes’ free labor. Others point out slightly higher graduation rates of college athletes than non-athletes, and argue their academic experience is worth it. But regardless of the cost or purported academic enrichment, the graduation rate of players on teams that qualify for the NCAA tournament — the biggest prize in college basketball — is around 50 percent, compared to more than 70 percent for all Division I basketball players. This means the more successful players are at basketball, the more revenue they generate for their school — and the less of a chance they have at graduating. At the University of North Carolina, more than 3,000 studentathletes took “paper classes,” which, according to the Washington Post, “had minimal or no teaching and extremely generous grading for assignments that took little effort.”

TNS Many of my fellow college students, myself included, struggle to balance the workload of college, keeping an active social life and maintaining good health. Can anyone blame these athletes for taking “paper classes?” Many young athletes attend elite basketball schools simply to prepare themselves for the NBA. Admittedly, these athletes choose to accept their scholarships and attend these universities. No one is forcing these athletes’ hands — their decisions seem entirely voluntary. Unfortunately, this is not the reality of the situation. The NBA collective bargaining agree-

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ment, signed in 2005, changed the NBA’s eligibility requirements so that players must be at least 19 years old and spend a year out of high school before they can enter the NBA draft. Amateur players must find a way to continue playing basketball in this year — which comes at a crucial time in their athletic development. The NCAA has a monopoly on amateur college basketball. Players who want to play in the NBA have little choice but to attend a Division I school. Some players have opted to play in international leagues for the year after high school, where they’re compensated for See Schulman on page 12

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Women’s Basketball, pg. 10 game last year at 5.4. But she is currently out with a knee injury, so her role could be filled by sophomore guard Jasmine Whitney. Whitney played her first college season last year, playing in all 30 games and starting in 17. She earned the ACC Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week title twice, while also posting eight double-figure scoring performances. In addition to Whitney and Bugg, Pitt returns another starter in junior forward Kauai Bradley. Bradley was a staple on the defensive side of the ball last season as she led the team in steals and was second in blocks. Pitt will also be receiving offensive help from forward Yacine Diop as she returns from the injury that led to her medical redshirt season. Before her junior-year injury, Diop started every game as a sophomore and was Pitt’s second leading scorer in the 2015-2016 season. With eight returning players, the Panthers have welcomed a six player first-year class, including highly touted international prospect Kyla Nelson. Nelson, hailing from Worthing, England, was the captain of Great Britain’s senior women’s national team. She also played for Oaklands College in England where she averaged 16.1 points per game. McConnell-Serio also recruited 6-foot-2 forward Magatte Sall. Originally from Senegal, she played for Victory Rock Prep in Florida. Prior to that, Sall competed for ASC de Thies in Senegal where she was named MVP in her

Schulman, pg. 11 their labor. But this isn’t a fair solution. If we want to support student-athletes on both fronts — student and athlete — then we shouldn’t be forcing them to move to a foreign country to be able to make a living. Many students aren’t able to afford the rising cost of college, and if they aren’t getting their money’s worth for their degrees, then we’re failing them. True, some 18-year-olds simply aren’t ready for the NBA. The high level of competition against more physically developed athletes could have a detrimental effect on young players. To address this issue, the NBA has a developmental league — which should be expanded to ensure available opportunities for all basketball players. The developmental league could follow Minor League Baseball’s model, where players rise through multiple minor leagues

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sophomore and junior seasons. The Panthers international ties in the firstyear class continue with forward Pika Rodriguez who played in the U19 FIBA world cup this past summer for Puerto Rico. Rodriguez even competed against the United States U19 team coached by McConnell-Serio. “When you have players that can have that type of experience, playing internationally at a high level, they bring that to your team,” McConnell-Serio said. “There’s a different level of play and that needs to be contagious. It brings the level of play up among the team as well.” This new talent might be just what the Panthers need. Pitt’s struggle was evident in its 13-17 record last year, but the team struggled against ACC opponents even more, recording a 4-12 season. The ACC Blue Ribbon Panel released its preseason awards and rankings earlier this month, in which the Panthers are predicted to finished in 13th, only ahead of Boston College and Clemson. “You never really know what you look like until you see your team against another team,” McConnell-Serio said. “We’re just excited about what we’re seeing, but hopefully it transfers into game situations.” For the women’s basketball team to succeed this year, the players will have to quickly adjust to playing with such a young group of new teammates. The Panthers’ first regular season chance is Nov. 10, against the Youngstown State Penguins at 7 p.m. in the Petersen Events Center. before earning a promotion to the majors. Baseball players drafted out of high school can decide whether to sign a minor league contract or play at a college. It’s no surprise there aren’t stories of recruiting scandals in college baseball — players have no incentive to accept illegal bribes when they can be legally paid for their labor. This model would offer legitimacy to the notion of the student-athlete and ensure college basketball players who opted to attend universities did so with a choice. It would open up better opportunities for those who actually want to gain an education, as well as those who simply wish to be professional athletes. And even if the student-athletes aren’t considered, changing the system would at the very least prevent coaches and corporate executives from profiting off of young talented stars — putting their careers back in their own hands.

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Rachael Crabb

Editorial Policies Single copies of The Pitt News are free and available at newsstands around campus. Additional copies can be purchased with permission of the editor in chief for $.50 each. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the students, faculty or University administration. Opinions expressed in columns, cartoons and letters are not necessarily those of The Pitt News. Any letter in tended for publication must be addressed to the editor, be no more than 250 words and include the writer’s name, phone number and University affiliation, if any. Letters may be sent via e-mail to letters@pittnews.com. The Pitt News reserves the right to edit any and all letters. In the event of multiple replies to an issue, The Pitt News may print one letter that represents the majority of responses. Unsigned editorials are a majority opinion of the Editorial Board, listed to the left. The Pitt News is an independent, student-written and

student-managed newspaper for the Oakland campus of the University of Pittsburgh. It is pub lished Monday through Friday during the regular school year and Wednesdays during the summer. Complaints concerning coverage by The Pitt News, after ﬁrst being brought to the editors, may be referred to the Community Relations Com mittee, Pitt News Advisory Board, c/o student media adviser, 435 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260. The editor in chief has the ﬁnal authority on editorial matters and cannot be censored, according to state and federal law. The editor in chief is selected by the Pitt News Advisory Board, which includes University staff, fac ulty and students, as well as journalism professionals. The business and edito rial offices of The Pitt News are located at 434 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260.

The Pitt news crossword 11/1/17

The Pitt News

Business Manager JILL BALDAUF advertising@pittnews.com

Sales Manager MATTHEW HOUCK

Marketing Manager KATIE BOZZO Production Manager MAYA PUSKARIC Account Executives

Rachel Buck Kavi Galal Isabel Scrabis James Gavaghan Andrew Restrepo Dave Barone Paige Franjione Sean Hennessy

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November 1, 2017

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November 1, 2017

I N D E X

Rentals & Sublet • NORTH OAKLAND • SOUTH OAKLAND • SHADYSIDE • SQUIRREL HILL • SOUTHSIDE • NORTHSIDE • BLOOMFIELD • ROOMMATES • OTHER

For Rent North Oakland 3,4,6 houses available January and August 2018. Lawn St. Ward St. Call 412-287-5712.

South Oakland ** 3 and 4 Bedroom Houses/Apartments in South Oakland. Available for rent August 2018. Very clean with different amenities (dishwasher, laundry, A/C, washer and dryer, 1-3 baths, off-street parking, newer appliances & sofas). Check out my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KenEckenrodeRealEstate/. Call Ken at 412-287-4438 for more information and showings. **AUGUST 2018: Furnished studios, 1,2,3,4 bedroom apartments. No pets. Non-smokers preferred. 412-621-0457. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Bedrooom Houses. August 2018. Bouquet St, Meyran, Semple, Neville, Chesterfield. 412-287-5712. 2-3-4-5-6-7 bedroom apartments and houses available in May and August 2018. Nice, clean, free laundry, includes exterior

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Employment • CHILDCARE • FOOD SERVICES • UNIVERSITY • INTERNSHIPS • RESEARCH • VOLUNTEERING • OTHER

maintenance, new appliances, spacious, located on Meyran, Bates, Oakland, Semple, Wellsford, Dawson, Juliet. 412-414-9629. 4 BR Home - Semple Street, located near Louisa. Equipped Kitchen, Full Basement. New central air added. Renting for August 2018. (412) 343-4289 or 412-330-9498. 6, 7, 8BR house for rent. Carpeted, appliances, porch, laundry facilites. Off-street parking available. Five minute walk to Pitt. No pets. Aug. 1, 2018. 1 year lease. Call 412-983-5222. Apartments for rent. 2,3,4, and 5 bedroom apartments available. Some available on Dawson street, Atwood street, and Mckee Place. Newly remodeled. Some have laundry on site. Minutes from the University. For more info please call Mike at 412-849-8694 August 2018 rental. 3 BR/1 BA apartment. 2 off-street parking spaces included. Large storage room. Wall-wall carpeting, Kitchen w/dishwasher, Washer/Dryer in laundry room. $1800/ month+ utilities. 724-934-0653. Before signing a lease, be aware that no more than 3 unrelated people can share a single unit. Check property’s compliance

Classifieds

For sale

• AUTO • BIKES • BOOKS • MERCHANDISE • FURNITURE • REAL ESTATE • PETS

notices

services

• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE

with codes. Call City’s Permits, Licensing & Inspections. 412-255-2175. Immediate- Large Updated 2BR 2BA Apt. Washer/Dryer with Porch. $900+ Call Jeff 412-445-7681 South Oakland Student Housing: 2, 3, 4 & 5 BR House. Updated Kitchen, Baths, A/C, Laundry, some with parking. August 2018 Availability. 412-445-6117.

Rental Other 1,2,3 BR. Apartments, prices range from $450-$750 per person. Some include utilities, some you have to pay. Call Jarrad 814-403-2798 Several 1-4 bedroom apartments for rent in Oakland, North Oakland and Friendship available for 2018-19 school year. 1 Year lease, Aug-July, staring at $775. Call 412-586-7575 for more information.

• ADOPTION • EVENTS • LOST AND FOUND • STUDENT GROUPS • WANTED • OTHER

R A T E S

Insertions

Add.

1-15 Words

$6.30

$11.90

$17.30

$22.00

$27.00

$30.20

+ $5.00

16-30 Words

$7.50

$14.20

$20.00

$25.00

$29.10

$32.30

+ $5.40

(Each Additional Word: $0.10)

Deadline:

Two business days prior by 3pm | Email: advertising@pittnews.com | Phone: 412.648.7978

available. Must be 18. Experience not required but helpful. Immediate openings. 412-738-1618. bigtfeight@earthlink. net Seeking an experienced, female Elderly Caregiver to start work immediately. $25/hour, she would be working for up to 5 hours daily Mon-Fri for my diabetic Grandma. All applicants email stephen. lamar@outlook.com directly for further details.

Services Educational Phlebotomy Training Centerwww. justphlebotomy.org 2 evening classes weekly, 5 weeks + excellent Clinicals. Call 412-521-7334.

Employment Services Other Employment Other GENERAL LABOR. Need workers for light-duty construction, renovation, painting, landscaping. Part-time and weekend work

Exclusive Discounted Business Class Air to Europe and Worldwide. Also, coach fare for US Travel and Worldwide. I have 35 years experience. Call 412-884-0543 or email me your request joann.uts@gmail.com.

November 1, 2017

pittnews.com

November 1, 2017