YSU coach has learned from best

North Hills High School graduate John Robic had to feel fairly confident when he applied for the men's basketball coaching job at Youngstown State University in May 1999.

Robic's resume included 299 victories, nine NCAA Tournament appearances, two trips to the Final Four and a national championship, all as an assistant coach.

His top references were well-known coaches John Calipari and Larry Brown.

"They're two of the best coaches that I know of," said Robic, who brings Youngstown State (2-4) into Petersen Events Center tonight to face No. 20 Pitt (6-0). "I was lucky to be able to work for both of them."

YSU jumped at the chance to hire Robic, who immediately sparked a struggling program. He led the Penguins to a 19-11 record in his second season.

The good times didn't last. YSU moved out of the Mid-Continent Conference and into the tougher Horizon League before the 2001-02 season. It has struggled since.

Robic, 38, is 47-74 at YSU. He feels lucky that his mentors have provided a support system. He served two seasons (1986-88) under Brown as a graduate assistant at Kansas and 11 seasons (1988-99) at the University of Massachusetts, mostly under Calipari.

"I still stay in touch with those guys," Robic said. "They've helped me through tough times."

In fact, Brown and Calipari -- close friends -- maintain a network with many of their former proteges. The two showed up for one of Robic's first games at YSU.

"They sort of made the gym stop as they walked in," Robic said. "It put a little bit more stress on me. We won, and afterward, Coach Brown said, 'You coached a great game, but never wear a wool suit when you're coaching.' "

Every summer, Robic joins a number of coaches with ties to Calipari and Brown at a retreat in Memphis. Calipari is head coach at the University of Memphis. Brown coaches the NBA's Detroit Pistons.

Notables such as Jeff Van Gundy (coach, Houston Rockets) and Jerry West (GM, Memphis Grizzlies) are regulars at the retreat. Former NBA star and coach Isiah Thomas showed up this past September.

"It's just two days of basketball," Robic said. "We just go and talk. It's really a heck of an experience. It's kind of neat because those guys (Brown and Calipari) will invite some coaches who might be out of a job. Within the past two years, three or four guys who didn't have a job ended up getting one by being there."

Another coach who means a lot to Robic is former North Hills High School coach Tom Maloney.

"I just got a message from him, and he'll be at game (tonight)," Robic said.

Robic was a star guard under Maloney and went on to become a Division III All-American at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. He was the sixth-leading scorer in school history, despite playing only two seasons.

Robic began his coaching career at his alma mater, running the JV team. He went on to become a grad assistant at Kansas and was part of the Jayhawks' run to the national title in 1988.

That Danny Manning-led team was honored during Kansas's Midnight Madness celebration last month. Brown and Robic attended.

"I was lucky to be part of the program at Kansas," Robic said. "I tried to absorb as much as I could."

Game info: 7 p.m., Petersen Events Center

On air: WRRK-FM (96.9)

Coaches: Jamie Dixon, Pitt (1st year, 6-0); YSU, John Robic (5th year, 47-74)

Probable starters: Pitt, Chevon Troutman, F, Jr., 6-7, 10.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg; Jaron Brown, F, Sr., 6-4, 12.2, 5.3; Toree Morris, C, Sr., 6-10, 2.7, 3.7; Julius Page, G, Sr., 6-3, 13.7, 3.5; Carl Krauser, G, So., 6-2, 17.3, 4.3. YSU, Jonathan Mends, G, So., 5-11, 7.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg; Quin Humphrey, G, Fr., 6-0, 8.8, 2.2; Doug Underwood, F, Jr., 6-3, 8.3, 2.2; TeeJay Anderson, F, Sr., 6-6, 10.3, 7.3; Adam Baumann, C, Sr., 6-8, 12.5, 6.0.

The skinny: Pitt has a 26-game home winning streak and can tie the school record of 27 in a row with a victory. Only Duke and Southern Illinois have longer home winning streaks. The Panthers are 20-0 at Petersen Events Center. ... Pitt leads the series, 4-1. The most recent meeting was a 112-66 Pitt victory in 1993. YSU beat Pitt, 78-73, on Dec. 21, 1976. Pitt finished 6-21. ... After finishing last in the Big East in free-throw percentage last season, at 64 percent, the Panthers are worse at the line this season -- and also ranked last among Big East teams -- at 60.4 percent (64 for 106). ... Pitt assistant Joe Lombardi is a 1981 graduate of YSU and was a four-year letter-winner on the basketball team. ... Freshman forward Chris Taft leads Pitt in rebounding (8.5 per game), offensive rebounds (24) and blocks (11). ... Pitt is shooting 49.9 percent while holding opponents to 37.2 percent shooting. ... YSU, of the Horizon League, averages 77.3 ppg and has made a 3-pointer in a school-record 147 consecutive games. ... Teams have one common opponent. Pitt beat St. Francis, 90-69, on Nov. 22; YSU beat St. Francis, 77-61, on Nov. 29. ... Pitt junior forward Mark McCarroll has missed pratice this week with the flu. ... Junior guard Yuri Demetris' shoulder is better. He practiced this week.