My advice, drink heavily. I’m married with a small child. I have no life of my own. If you’re reading this on a Saturday night without those excuses, just turn off the computer and do something else.

This comes directly from my notes during the game. I wrote this during the half:

40 minutes. Pitt has to keep it up. They can’t collapse when UConn makes their run — and they will. Both teams have made them at this point. They will in the second half. Pitt has to be ready to answer. No panic.

Unfortunately, Pitt didn’t listen. Pitt let themselves be taken right out of their game, with barely a whimper. This was all about the second half.

I don’t know, maybe it was the rim on one side. UConn shot under 40% at the one end and nearly 60% at the other. Pitt shot 50% at the “good” rim and 29% at the “bad” one. No, I don’t buy it either.

Here’s a question. In the first half, Pitt was 1-7 shooting 3s. What in the name of Sean Miller makes anyone think it is a good idea to then hoist 15 3-point attempts in the second half? Answer: No one was thinking. Pitt started settling for the deep shots when UConn made the halftime adjustment to really collapse inside — to defend and block the inside pass. Pitt stopped trying to work it inside.

And where the hell was Coach Dixon? In the second half he seemed to forget he was the coach. Pitt only used 2 timeouts for the entire second half — both 30 second ones. I mean, UConn goes on a 8-2 run to tie the game and nothing. Instead he waits for the media timeout after UConn scores another bucket. I like trusting your players, and I know he can call out the plays along the side; but the second half was like he wasn’t even concerned with the fact that they stopped trying to get the ball inside. Was that the plan? Did he care?

Pitt was out-played and out-coached in this game. UConn outrebounded Pitt. Shot better, got the ball inside, and executed. Pitt seemed to disintegrate as the game wore on. Played more individual ball. Coach Dixon seemed to just be taking up space.

UConn got great balanced production. 4 players scored in double figures. They got the ball inside, and barely concerned themselves with 3s. They could take and make mid-range jumpers instead. Just a really good team that keeps improving.

Pitt actually had the lead 63-62 with 4:02 left. Pitt scored 1 point the rest of the way. 1 point. They only got 4 shot attempts — all 3-point heaves — in that final stretch. Troutman completely gakked at the line, hitting only 1-4 in that period.

Ugh.

Let’s go to individual evaluations.

Troutman: Great first half, 6-8 shooting, 3-3 on free throws for 15 points and 5 rebounds. Second half, part of the collapse. He collected 7 more rebounds, but shot 1-5 and 5-11 at the free throw line. Picked a hell of a time to regress to last year’s free throw shooting ability.

McCarroll: Think he didn’t know it was his final home game? Got the start on Senior day. Despite not being a good defender, actually made some sparkplug plays including a couple good steals. Shot 3-4 for 7 points and even had a block. Of course he was 0-2 on free throws, I’m not sure you he shouldn’t just close his eyes when at the line at this point.

Taft: Had trouble with fouls — a dumb charge and a lazy, late grab against a baseline drive were most frustrating. Solid shooting 3-4, not so at the free throw line 1-4, for 7 points. Only 3 rebounds, but 2 blocks. The fouls kept him from doing more.

Krauser: Great assists to turnovers 7 – 2. Had 4 steals and 3 rebounds. Even scored 21 points. The problem was the scoring as Allen Iverson-like. He shot 7-18 which included a crushing 2-12 on 3s. Too many seemed to be rushed shots in an attempt to quickly answer. Krauser also gakked at the free throw line where he is usually near 80%. Today, 5-9 including 1-2 when shooting a technical.

Kendall: Extremely limited by foul trouble. He had the difficult job of trying to match up with Rudy Gay. A top freshman player capable of going inside and outside. Gay was the biggest match-up problem for Pitt. 4 fouls in only 12 minutes.

Graves: Bad game. 1-6 shooting. 1 assist, rebound, steal and turnover. A non-factor.

Ramon: Looked like a freshman on offense. 1-7 shooting 3s — several being wide-open looks — and 2-10 overall. For the most part he played good defense but one series near the end of the game showed his youth. Ramon missed a 3 with 1:17 left, Pitt down by 6. Pitt was unable to get a steal, and wasn’t trying to foul. Ramon ended up defending Gay, deep in the backcourt with 7 on the shot clock. Gay started to make a move, and Ramon panicked that he would get past and grabbed him for a foul. A dumb mistake. Ramon just hasn’t been the same since he hurt his shoulder in the beginning of February. In the six games he’s played this month, he is shooting 13-44 (29.5%) overall and an even worse 7-27 (25.9%) on 3s.

Pitt’s lack of productivity from its guards is a big problem at this point. It makes you wonder why Benjamin is suddenly buried on the bench again.