Kostas Pelechrinis
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kpelechrinis.bsky.social
Kostas Pelechrinis
@kpelechrinis.bsky.social
Information science professor at Pitt | 🏀 analytics at Mavs | Author of Mathletics
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printf(“Hello Blue Skies and full-court tries, and metrics that map urban vibes”)

Yes, this is what to expect from this account. Computer science, sports analytics and urban analytics
17 years ago today. I was actually watching this game and little did I know I would get a job at #Pitt a year later. Little did I also know what would the state of Pitt hoops would be now … :( youtu.be/-FBLqgFbymc
DJ Blair 23 rebounds vs UConn
YouTube video by José Ramón Sanchis
youtu.be
February 16, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Ok in the spirit of the #SoulPower release & #NBAAllStar weekend here is an ABA-focused arcade-style game. Only 4 ABA legends for now but more can/will be added:

sites.pitt.edu/~kpele/super-s…

It only plays on desktop/laptop since like a true arcade there is no touch screen! Share your results!
https://sites.pitt.edu/~kpele/super-s…
February 14, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Reposted by Kostas Pelechrinis
Very excited to host Cade Massy when the #NFLDraft is in Pittsburgh this year! If you're able to make it to Pittsburgh that week, then join us for FREE to see Cade's talk on the 'The Loser's Curse'! w/ virtual option for students #sportsanalytics
February 12, 2026 at 8:12 PM
No notes
February 9, 2026 at 8:12 PM
In an opinion article at WSG the previous president of Dartmouth made some nice points about universities. I agree with most of them. The one I disagree with? Campuses being apolitical. And this is why: medium.com/@kpelechrini...?
Should universities stay away from politics?
I recently read this opinion article on WSJ and while I agree with the majority of the points made, the suggestion that universities should…
medium.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Defend your freshly shoveled spot from aggressive drivers! Pick a chair defense wisely bc you have limited inventory. Folding chair > lux car, but watch out for beaters not caring ab ANYTHING. How long can you hold your spot? Play now & share your results: sites.pitt.edu/~kpele/chair...
January 31, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Well it would not be a snowstorm in #Pittsburgh without parking chairs. But if are not able to defend your spot with a physical chair, you can do it virtually: sites.pitt.edu/~kpele/chair...

This is a Rock, Paper, Scissors-type of game but with chairs and cars. Enjoy!
Chair Defender - Pittsburgh Parking Showdown
sites.pitt.edu
January 30, 2026 at 3:54 PM
January 26, 2026 at 12:59 AM
I guess we will now see whether checks and balances really work or if it is a myth. I wouldn’t hold my breath though
January 25, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Is this good? Full study: www.kielinstitut.de/fileadmin/Da...

Of course this is a short-term study -- so it remains to be seen if for example this leads to more reshoring (which I highly doubt as well)
January 19, 2026 at 5:20 PM
What this whole situation in Minnesota shows to me is that we are not talking about just division anymore but about manipulation. People are being fed simplified stories that turn fellow citizens into enemies and complex problems into easy villains. Many are fighting against imaginary [1/3]
January 10, 2026 at 3:25 AM
One of my favorite AI tools as of late is Gemini's Storybook. Instead of reading the same books every night with my 5-year old, we just create our own based on his imagination (which of course always involves dinosaurs). gemini.google.com/share/8b490d...
‎Gemini - direct access to Google AI
Created with Gemini
gemini.google.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Polls have been used to manipulate public opinions etc. for decades. The following excerpt is from a paper from 1984 (from all years) "The Impact of Polls on Public Opinion". The "evolution" of this are prediction markets. Wtf is this from polymarket? This is what happens when [1/3]
January 6, 2026 at 1:47 PM
I am not a NY's resolution guy but if you are, my suggestion would be for your resolution to be **to delay your real resolution** January is the worst possible month to launch a fragile habit: motivation is inflated & expectations are maximal #NewYear2026 [1/3]
December 31, 2025 at 10:49 PM
We put this screen at the City County Building 4-5 years ago as part of the Pitt Smart Living project. Glad to see it still running! It’s a bummer that the project was during COVID and didn’t allow us to do some cool stuff with #PublicTransport
December 31, 2025 at 5:29 PM
#Steelers offense today
December 28, 2025 at 9:49 PM
For ADs and college presidents/chancellors: NIL shouldn’t be a yearly scramble.
Endowment logic: invest in markets + innovation, preserve capital, fund athletes from returns—not donations.
Less donor fatigue. More long-term stability. Stop borrowing the future to pay the present.
December 26, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Coop’s birthday is literally basketball’s birthday as well! #MFFL
Happy 19th Birthday to Cooper Flagg. As an 18 year old he accomplished:
1. The first 18 yr old to score 40+ (42 vs Utah.
2. 3rd most pts as an 18 yr old (526), behind Kobe (539) & LeBron (625).
3. 2nd highest ppg before 19, 18.8 ppg, to LBJ (20.2).
4. 2nd most 20+ pt gms (12), to LBJ (14).
December 21, 2025 at 8:18 PM
UNL eliminating the #statistics department and the earth and atmospheric #sciences department is another sign that people (admins) take scientific progress for granted. Especially in a world filled with flawed use of ever increasing data, statistics nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news... [1/2]
Regents vote to eliminate four programs at UNL after more than 100 speak out against cuts
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted to eliminate four programs — educational administration; earth and atmospheric sciences; statistics; and textiles, merchandising and fashion design —a...
nebraskapublicmedia.org
December 6, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Bro really got a "peace prize" equivalent to the stickers parents give to their kids when they have a meltdown. And all these while his "department of war" is out there killing civilians off the coast of Venezuela... But it's FIFA we are talking about; birds of a feather...
WATCH: Trump knows he can’t really win a Nobel Peace Prize so he just had FIFA give him a made up award. Sad.
December 5, 2025 at 6:55 PM
#PittMBB started both halves with a Dallas action. First one they get into a high pnr, great screen by Corhen wide open 3 for Minor
November 29, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Amid the chaotic season it’s been fun to watch Flagg’s elite motor and IQ. Here he closes out, then contests a shot at the rim, grabs the rebound and scores in transition. But look at the contest. He sees the goal tending waiting to happen and avoids it!
November 23, 2025 at 10:42 AM
These #NBA executives would benefit greatly from my upcoming book on Bayesian thinking (with FO decisions and roster building as its testbed). I’d donate them a copy when it is out but I am sure they can afford it…🤷🏻‍♂️
Some NBA executives say Cooper Flagg could go as low as the sixth pick if he were to enter the 2026 draft

#NBAMEME #NBA #nbafeed #nbasku
November 17, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Greed always ends in the same way, whether it is greed for power, greed for money or anything else. The cup drains every single time.

spoiler alert: footnote from the book I am currently writing
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 PM
"If you make your hobby your job you won't have to work a single day" they said. But what if job dynamics and politics spoil the very things you enjoyed? Then your hobby dies, the work sucks, and you're left with an empty shell where joy used to be.
November 8, 2025 at 8:38 PM