Another Bad Sign From Pitt's Basketball Program

Last year, as the Pitt basketball season developed, there were disturbing signs of a lost team -- a breakdown in coaches' authority on the court, players preparing for big games by partying until dawn, strained personal relationships between players and coaches. The season ended with a loss to lesser athletes (but what appeared to be a better team) from Villanova.

Before this season has begun, another bad signal: a starter, Gilbert Brown, is academically ineligible.

The best explanation of this development, given the academic support resources associated with a program at the level of Pitt basketball, is dysfunction.