As I have previously stated, I’ve yet to see Pitt play, so I have relied on the radio feed from the internet for the game. (Brief aside, I will be attending the Penn State-Pitt game next Saturday. Disturbingly, it will be my first trip to the Pete.) As with most sports, that limits you to what you are told by the announcers. Judging by comments from those attending the games, though, there is a difference in the way Kendall’s game is being described and what people are saying. If I had to guess, I’d say Kendall is filling that Yuri Demetrius role from last year. No, not the flipped-out ex-boyfriend/stalker part. The reliable guy who will play a consistent defense and hustle. A player Dixon trusts on the court.
Coach Dixon, at this point, seems to be emphasizing the strong defense but not to the exclusion of giving all the freshman players some playing time. Sophomore Ronald Ramon has yet to find his outside shooting touch, but has been earning more playing time with stronger defense.
“Most of the years here, it’s always been about defense, going back to Julius [Page] and Jaron [Brown], Brandin [Knight] and those guys,” said Ramon, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound sophomore, who came to Pitt with a reputation as a shooter. “I want to keep the same tradition of playing defense. I think he’s looking for guys to step up and play defense.”
The easiest way to get on the floor at Pitt is to play shut-down defense, and Ramon has taken it upon himself to become one of Dixon’s most reliable defenders early this season.
Ramon quickly has earned the trust of the coaching staff. As the season has progressed, he is being used more and more and at the most important times. After playing just 15 minutes in the opener against St. Peter’s, Ramon’s playing time has grown steadily, from 20 minutes in the second game to 22 in the third game to a season-high 26 minutes against St. Francis.
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“We talked during the summer about what I had to do,” Ramon said. “He said I had to get better on defense and work on my game. He wanted to me to work on my ball pressure.”Ramon is holding his own on the offensive end as well. He is third on the team in scoring, averaging 7.8 points per game. Even more impressive is his assists-to-turnover ratio. Ramon has 10 assists and just one turnover.
And while his 3-point shooting has yet to come around — he is 5 for 15 — Dixon said it’s only a matter of time before his shots start falling.
Last year, pre-shoulder injury, Ramon had great shooting, but his defense wasn’t ready. He was playing too far off on the perimeter and had trouble keeping players in front of him without fouling as they slipped past him.
Right now he is showing better awareness and understanding of how to defend players.
Defense is not as instinctive as offense can be. It is much more of a learned and experienced process. Knowing the passing lanes, being ready for and getting past the pick, good footwork to not be caught on a drive, keeping the opponent in front of you and so on. All fundamental things that are harder and a lot less fun to learn.
Right now, from what I’m reading and hearing regarding Pitt, there is some solid individual defensive efforts. A team defense and consistency aren’t there yet.
The extent of Antonio Graves’ ankle injury won’t be known until sometime today.
Pitt’s next game is Sunday at 7:30 versus Auburn. Like Pitt, they are celebrating their centennial season. The Tigers are 2-1, losing on the road to Colorado State, and have a game tonight versus McNeese State. The Auburn Tigers are coached by Jeff Lebo. A name very familiar to those growing up in the Central PA area in the 80s. Expect some stories on the coach visiting Pennsylvania in the next couple days as the game draws closer.
