A strong win. Pitt didn’t panic when Colin Falls was dropping 3 after 3 in the first half — it was scary impressive to see him drop 6 straight after missing his first. The thing was, take him out of the equation and the rest of the team was 5-16 in the first half. For the game, the ND guards shot poorly.

The first half was all about runs. Both teams made them. Neither team seemed out of it. It didn’t matter that ND went up by 9, you knew Pitt was going to close the gap.

This ND team just does not match-up well against Pitt. They lack a penetrating guard or small forward — Pitt’s kryptonite this season — so they either shoot deep shots or they throw it in to let their bigs try and score.

Chris Taft had a dominating game from start to finish. The kind of game that we knew he could have. This game cinched it for me that he is an NBA-caliber player. How else do you describe a b-ball player who seemingly sleeps through most of the season, then turns it on as the season winds down and the Tournaments loom.

Troutman got off to a slow start, but started getting more opportunities deeper in the game as he wore down the defense inside, and more attention was being paid to Taft.

Krauser did his thing. Not a great shooting percentage, but lots of penetrating and solid passes for the open bucket inside.

A very encouraging thing was seeing both Ramon and Graves driving to the basket. As a whole, Pitt seemed to be driving to the basket. Especially in the second half, it seemed that Pitt made a conscious effort to drive to the hoop. Clearly evidenced by the fact that Pitt only attempted 2 3-point shots in the second half. If the perimeter guys can start taking their guys off the dribble to get inside, it really opens up Pitt’s options on offense.

Pitt showed it could play a more open and faster game, while still playing defense. ND barely shot 40% in getting 77 points. Nearly 25% of the Irish’s points came from the free throw line. Pitt was able to run, and still get back on defense. Not something I’d advise them to do too often, but good to see them capable of doing it.

Defensively, Pitt played a solid game. Falls was hot for a while, but then only hit 2 more in the second half. For the game, ND could only muster 9 3s on 28 attempts. From the rest of the field they were pretty good hitting 16 for 34. Really, ND killed themselves by being impatient and taking too many 3s. Torin Francis was playing well. He was able to push back against Troutman and Taft, getting inside and some good looks at the basket.

In the end, though, it was their senior point gaurd, Chris Thomas, who keys this ND team. He had a miserable game. 2-13 shooting, and didn’t get that first bucket until about 5 minutes were left in the game. He did get to the free throw line several times and went 8-8. He just could not get any spacing. Krauser hounded him all game.

One other nice thing. At the end of the game walk-ons Bowman and Small got in for the final 30 seconds or so.

With this win, Pitt finishes 5th in the Big East and gets the first round bye. On Thursday they will play Villanova. Good. Not necessarily for revenge. I want Pitt to play ‘Nova for more experience against a forward like Sumpter who can take the ball inside or go out for a shot. Pitt needs to show if they have figured out how to defend against that type of player.

Individual Players

Chris Taft — In the game from beginning to end. Played 30 minutes of domination. 26 points (12-17 and 2-3 on FT), 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. Makes me believe he will be looking to take over in the tournaments.
Chevon Troutman — ND was keyed on stopping him, which is why he ended up with 12 free throw attempts (making 8). As the game wore on, Troutman got more and more clean shots at the basket and converted. Finished with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Did embarrass himself when he had a clear line to the basket, went up for the dunk and nailed the rim. Dropped himself on his ass.

Carl Krauser — Krauser was finding the open guy. Had 11 assists to go with 15 points. Played great defense, completely shutting down Chris Thomas. Had 5 turnovers, but also 3 steals. Did get a little too casual about free throw shooting and it cost him. He only went 4-8 at the line.

Antonio Graves — Some early fouls kept him on the bench for most of the first half. In the second half, he was excellent. Quietly, it was one of his most efficient and complete games. He drove inside successfully (4-6 for 11 points), took care of the ball (5 assists and 0 turnovers), and played good man defense grabbing 3 rebounds and 2 steals.

Ronald Ramon — He showed much more patience in letting the ball find him. Ramon made a conscious decision to go inside on offense a bit more, and converted. Most of his energy was spent on defense.

That is the number of wins now for the Pitt basketball seniors with a 85-77 win over ND.

Taft backed up the big talk with an even bigger game.

Once more, gloating in the comments.

In their last meeting the entire ND front court came up small. For Pitt, Taft matched them. It was a humiliating performance, culminating in his being sat for the last 10+ minutes of a game that went down to the wire. Taft has talent, but has been inconsistent at best this season. Now, everyone hopes that he really starts to put it together and that the BC game was the start.

After examining that loss, the third in a row for Pitt and, not so coincidentally, the third consecutive game in which he did not play up to his capabilities, Taft had an epiphany.

“I told myself after that game that if I don’t play good, it’s going to be real hard for us to win,” said Taft, a 6-foot-10, 250-pounder who remains a likely first-round NBA pick if he chooses to turn pro after this season.

“This is the perfect time to do it. It’s March. March Madness is here. I told myself that I have to step it up as best I can. This is the time players can show how good they really are. Hopefully, I can do that.”
…
“A lot of people will be in trouble if he plays like that,” point guard Carl Krauser said. “He’s getting real good on defense. He’s looking for his shot more. Once we get all things clicking, we’ll be unstoppable.”

Taft, who was voted to the Big East’s preseason first team, won’t be recognized in the same way Tuesday when the all-conference teams are unveiled. He might be lucky to make third team.

He might make 3rd team because the All-BE teams tend to be groups of 6. In another article on Taft, they play up the man-child angle.

Chris Taft was giddy the other day in proclaiming he’ll celebrate his 20th birthday during the Big East Conference Tournament next week in New York.
…
Less than two years removed from high school, Taft is still very much a youngster. The Coney Island native is addicted to video games and to Sugar Smacks cereal, which he eats before every game.

He is, essentially, a child trapped in an NBA player’s body — all 6-foot-10, 260 pounds of him. And, therein lies the rub with Taft, who has not lived up to expectations in the regular season, which concludes today.

He will not be a first-team All-Big East selection when the team is announced next week, despite being selected as such in the preseason.

Why? Because he’s been inconsistent. Taft is enduring growing pains, much like any other teenager. But he’s doing so in the public eye, amid high expectations.

For the record, I know several 30-something guys who fit the video game/sugar cereal mold. Granted, I have a very immature group of friends, but there is a reason why Entertainment Weekly does video game reviews — immature men is a strong demographic (sorry, getting a little off topic).

ND wants to win the BE Tourney, so they need the bye.

A victory over No. 24 Pittsburgh (19-7, 9-6), Jordan Cornette said, could help bring the Irish toward the one thing he and fellow senior Chris Thomas haven’t come close to attaining during their Notre Dame careers –a league tournament title.

“Pittsburgh is a huge steppingstone in terms of the damage we could do in the Big East tournament,” Cornette said. “If we get Pittsburgh, it puts us in even better position to make a deep run in that tournament and make a play at the conference championship.”

Notre Dame lost at Pittsburgh 68-66 on Feb. 12 when Panthers point guard Carl Krauser hit the winning shot, a runner in the lane, with 11 seconds left.

The Irish expect a similar battle this time around.

“We know everything about the team,” Cornette said.

“We might as well play for them, we know so much about them. So we know what we’re going to see and we just have to be able to do the things we need to do to win.”

There is a ND banquet tonight, honoring 100 years of Irish b-ball. I think we can all agree that we’d like to see the entire team looking less than thrilled at the ceremonies.

Krauser admits that the Pitt guards have to do better on the perimeter this game.

Panthers point guard Carl Krauser said the best way to muzzle Notre Dame’s perimeter game is to make the guards work for every shot. “Our guards have to make them put it on the floor and catch and shoot – we have to make them feel uncomfortable,” Krauser said.

There’s been no reported change on the status of Chris Quinn’s sprained ankle. He is still listed as doubtful. Personally, I’m betting he gives it a go. They might try to run some screens or just try and get him left alone in a corner for some open looks. I’m not sure how well he can stop and pop.

Here are the articles from the papers on Pitt’s schedule. Welcome to the new Big East. TV still rules and ESPN will be using it to fill-in the scheduling gaps previously filled by the Mountain West.

The Panthers play at least three, and likely four games, during the week as opposed to Saturday, the traditional day for college football. Pitt plays two Thursday night games, a Friday night game and likely will have another moved from Saturday afternoon to Friday night for television.
…
Pitt’s second game is at Ohio and is scheduled for Sept. 10, but is likely to move to Friday night (Sept. 9) and be televised on ESPN.

The Panthers then play the next two Saturdays, Sept. 17 at Nebraska and Sept. 24 at home against Youngstown State, before playing another Friday night ESPN game, Sept. 30, at Rutgers.

Damn. It looked like I was going to that Ohio game. Now it becomes a question mark.

And of course, thanks to the new “tradition,” the Backyard Brawl will be on Thanksgiving night.

Consider this a special extra. Pitt has released it’s football schedule.

Date ———— Opponent

Sept. 3 ———- Notre Dame (ABC)

Sept. 10 ——— at Ohio U.

Sept. 17 ———- at Nebraska

Sept. 24 ———- Youngstown State

Sept. 30 (Fri.) ——- at Rutgers* (ESPN or ESPN2)

Oct. 8 —————– Cincinnati*

Oct. 15 ————— South Florida*

Oct. 22 —————- Syracuse*

Nov. 3 (Thurs.) ——— at Louisville* (ESPN)

Nov. 12 —————- Connecticut*

Nov. 24 (Thurs.) ——— at West Virginia* (ESPN)

The wife is going to be pissed about me road tripping 3 straight weekends in October. Nice that all but one of the televised games at this point will be the roadies.

This might be a good time to remind some of the loyal readers about my season ticket and tailgate fund. I’ve received a couple contributions which are much appreciated. The money is going to be coming due soon, and Pat — who is the group’s buyer — is probably looking on the web for the sound clip from “Better Off Dead” regarding the need for $2, so I make my pitch.

There are a couple other things for Pitt football. A very early top-25 ranking.

21. Pittsburgh: The Dave Wannstedt era begins on the upturn. It’s Wanny’s job to keep folks excited about Pittsburgh football. Quarterback Tyler Palko looks like he can’t get the ball over rushers’ hands but threw for five TDs twice last season. His favorite receiver, Greg Lee, isn’t a burner, but holds onto the ball. Linebacker H.B. Blades (son of Bennie) has NFL aspirations. In the watered down Big East, the Panthers have a good chance to defend their 2004 title. Why they’re ranked here: Wanny’s honeymoon season will be a delight. There’s so much talent and momentum that Pittsburgh should win at least eight again.

This was followed up by a big puff piece on Coach Dave Wannstedt.

It is a provincial town. It matters to its people that the coach is a Pittsburgher. But it is not a national program. It hasn’t been for a while. Neglect, Miami, Virginia Tech and other factors have taken care of that. Last year Walt Harris won a share of the Big East, led the Panthers to the Fiesta Bowl — the program’s first New Year’s bowl in 21 years — then left.

For Stanford. Harris had accepted the job days earlier knowing he’d probably be fired if he didn’t.

That might have said more about the University of Pittsburgh than it did Harris.

He was never good enough, never personable enough for Pittsburgh. The perception was the program had hit a glass ceiling. But Harris broke into South Florida in recruiting, landing receiver Antonio Bryant among others.

That’s part of the reason why the only recruiting trips by air under Wanndstedt will be to the Sunshine State. Six coaches will be assigned to Pennsylvania. There was a perception that Harris had lost touch in Western Pennsylvania and the prestigious WPIAL high school league.

“The only place we’ll go outside of a five-hour car ride is going to be South Florida,” Wanny said.

At a recent basketball game against Connecticut, 68 junior recruits showed up, about 25 more than were expected. Spring practice opens March 19 with Wannstedt having at least one advantage. He’ll need those broad shoulders to carry the expectations.

Well the number of Junior recruits wanting to attend the UConn-Pitt game was helped by how big a game it was. Still, consider it to be yet another factor that points to the importance of having both a strong football and basketball program, and how one can help the other.