I’d say Pitt’s reputation in basketball the last few years is the reason the team is getting ranked or close to ranked, as opposed to Clemson.
Pittsburgh is 9-0 and Clemson is 11-0. Are the Panthers or Tigers any good? Hard to tell. Pitt’s best win is probably over Auburn, which would have mattered in football. Clemson can be proud of beating South Carolina but shouldn’t shout too loud about wins over Puerto Rico Mayaguez or South Carolina State. Both teams walloped Coppin State and Penn State. Pitt Coach Jamie Dixon and Clemson Coach Oliver Purnell must attend the same school of easy scheduling.
Clemson is in the 30s when it comes to receiving votes in both polls. They have non-con games remaining at Georgia tonight and Elon. Still amusing to read Penn State listed as one of the cream-puffs on the schedule for unbeaten Pitt, Clemson and Texas A&M
In showing how little concern there is for Gamecock basketball, the only story in the paper focuses on the retirement of BJ McKie’s number and the school’s relationship with past players.
McKie, who was a McDonald’s All-American at Irmo High, said one of his best decisions was to attend USC, but he added that today’s high-school players are less likely to associate tradition with the school unless familiar faces are watching from the bleachers.
“I think they (USC officials) could improve upon a lot of things like that. That’s why some players don’t come back. I really think they could do a better job of organizing things to a certain degree,” McKie said. “The university has a lot of things to work on as far as getting the former players to come back. Some bridges have been burned, and a lot of people know that because players don’t come back.
“This is a good first step.”
One that will include other former players and coaches. Several former Gamecocks, such as Melvin Watson and Larry Davis, are expected to attend tonight’s game. Former coach Eddie Fogler, who recruited and coached McKie and led USC to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, said he will attend.
Hyman said the school plans to invite all former men’s basketball players back for a game later this season.
McKie, who plays for Andrea Costa Imola in Italy, said he has maintained a healthy relationship with USC since graduating in 1999; he said he has worked at summer basketball camps at the school and occasionally stays up late in Italy to watch the Gamecocks on satellite television.
Recently departed Pitt players have been spotted frequently at the games, and that is a credit to their relationship with Coach Jamie Dixon and the Pitt Athletic Department for making the effort — as players from further back have been showing up at the games. Of course, winning really makes it a lot easier and desirable to attend the games.
The game will not be shown on TV in Pittsburgh, nor on ESPN Full Court. If you live where Comcast/Charter Sports South is shown(some places in the South), you can see the game. Otherwise you can listen for free on the internet via the South Carolina website, or on the local radio if you are in the Pittsburgh Radio Network range.
This will also be one of the first games where Aaron Gray will not have a huge advantage at Center.
South Carolina’s Brandon Wallace, who stands 6-11, will be the first opponent Gray has faced who has the height and quickness to defend Gray in the post. A slender but long-armed junior, Wallace has the task of standing up to Gray in the lane.
“It’ll be good to see Aaron go up against someone who isn’t 6-7,” junior power forward Levon Kendall said with a smile. “I’m looking forward to seeing that.”
Pitt has dominated the middle in each of its first nine victories. Gray has registered six double-doubles and Kendall, after a slow start, has scored in double figures the past three contests. He is third on the team in scoring with 7.9 points per game and second in rebounding with 6.8.
Kendall will have his hands full with South Carolina sophomore Renaldo Balkman, the Gamecocks’ second-leading scorer with 11.7 points per game and their top rebounder with 7.2 per game. Balkman, who is 6-8, also leads the Gamecocks with 20 blocked shots. Wallace has 18.
“It’s a nice challenge,” Kendall said. “He is putting up some nice numbers and is really active. He’s doing lots of little things. We’ll see if we can lock them down and show them how good we are inside.”
Wallace is only 200 pounds and Balkman just 210, so Gray will have an advantage with his girth. But Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said Wallace’s and Balkman’s athleticism will challenge Pitt’s front line. Gray is going to have to show he’s capable of defending Wallace on the perimeter. Wallace can step away from the basket and make outside shots. He is 7 for 17 from 3-point range and has a nice midrange game as well.
Reads to me as the kind of players who can get Pitt’s inside guys in foul trouble. Part of it will depend on how the game is called. Kendall is going to have to be able to keep his guy in front of him.
On offense Pitt is stating their intent to go inside first to open up the perimeter
“We should always stay with what’s working for us,” Krauser said. “We shouldn’t change the chemistry and flow of the team.”
Said Kendall: “That’s always the game plan. Once the big guys are established it opens up everything for the guards. I think our best games are when that happens. Guards start worrying about us and doubling down on us. It spreads everything out. That’s been one of our strengths.”
As noted yesterday, this is an important year for South Carolina and Coach Dave Odom. They have returning talent from a bubble team that won the NIT. The SEC is down a bit with a lot of players having turned pro last year.
Besides Temple this season, Marquette and Clemson are the other teams to beat the Gamecocks, whose only loss in the starting lineup was Carlos Powell, the MVP of the NIT.
“I think this is our deepest team since I came to Carolina,” South Carolina coach Dave Odom said. “On most teams I’ve coached, you always have one or two guys that, for whatever reason, you don’t have the confidence to put them in during prime time. I don’t think there’s anybody on our team that I would cringe if they had to go into the game when it’s on the line.”
Tarence Kinsey, a 6-6 guard, leads South Carolina in scoring (16.5 ppg.). Renaldo Balkman, a 6-8 forward, is the leading rebounder (7.2 rpg.) and is second in scoring (11.7 ppg.).
The oddsmakers, mostly, don’t like this game. Some slight edge given to the Gamecocks for being at home, but it just looks like they aren’t sure about Pitt. When even the gamblers aren’t sure what to think, you are definitely an unknown quantity.
