That is today’s main topic. I noted the lack of production from the bench after each game. The bench has gone a combined 3-15 shooting and 0-5 on free throws in the past two games. The bench players, Gray, Ramon and Benjamin have all been big factors recently. Add in Kendall’s game that earned him starter minutes, and you realize how important the bench is to Pitt’s chances in every game.
Ronald Ramon’s recent injury has been a major factor in the reduced production from the bench.
He is the team’s fourth-leading scorer (7.5 points per game) and one of its best 3-point shooters in conference play (17 for 42). He is fourth in minutes played (26.0), fourth in field goals (44), fourth in field-goal attempts (110) and second in 3-point field goals (34).
Ramon came off the bench to score 21 points to lead Pitt past Rutgers. He has led the reserves in scoring in five of nine Big East games.
Compounding the offensive problems the past two games has been the untimely sag in production from the other bench players. Backup center Aaron Gray (4.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg) has not scored in the past two games. Reserve guard Keith Benjamin (2.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg), who had a breakout game with 10 points against Syracuse, has scored seven points in the past three games, none against St. John’s.
Senior forward Mark McCarroll (2.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg) is the biggest enigma of the season. He was a super sub last season, once scoring 26 points off the bench, but he has scored six points in the past six games. And John DeGroat, the junior-college transfer who was expected to be a big contributor, has scored two points in nine Big East games.
Let’s be somewhat fair to DeGroat and McCarroll. You can’t expect them to score much at this point. They are barely in the games. The combined minutes for the two in the St. John’s game was 4. They get maybe one chance to take a shot. I mean, yes they earned the lack of playing time with their lack of production and defensive effort early in the season. Barring any injuries it doesn’t seem likely they will get a chance to change that.
Publicly, Coach Dixon and the other players aren’t concerned. They probably aren’t regarding the big picture. This was just a couple games. It’s just, with the next 3 games, Pitt will need everyone producing and playing well.
