A couple hours to game time. Comment before, during and after.
HALFTIME UPDATE: Pitt losing 41-44.
Dominic James is astounding the way he keeps driving the lane. Novak has shot very well as Marquette is setting some great screens to free him.
Pitt has settled for too many outside shots. Too many 3s. Those 2 quick fouls on Gray really hurt. Fields has shot well.
Pitt really needs to pick up the defense because Marquette is shooting lights out.
FINAL UPDATE: Pitt loses 82-84.
Gray probably had his worst game of the season and Pitt still came close. Those missed free throws. Yes, Gray’s stand out because the game was on the line but there were others as well. Not to mention Pitt failing to block out on rebounds throughout the game. It’s like too many players have gotten lazy with Gray doing so much this season. That Fitzgerald put back off a missed FT around 7:35 in the second half was maddening.
It’s not a bad loss, and Marquette is very good. And there is an argument that Pitt had no business winning this game with the way Marquette shot and Pitt not playing its best defense. Still, Pitt made it close to nearly steal this one. They didn’t and it still sucks because they could have.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS: The Graves bashing seems to be reaching pathological. Here’s the full box score. Graves played 25 minutes, shot 3-4 and made his free throws (9 points), 3 assists and only 1 turnover. He was on the court for 16 minutes in the second half — the half when Pitt’s defense improved. I’m not claiming Graves is the best player out there, or even 3rd best off of the bench. He was not, however, a factor in why Pitt lost this game.
The problem in the second half was not defending the first shot. It was that Marquette got second chances. 10 offensive rebounds in the second half for the Golden Eagles. Aside from Gray, no Pitt player was working the defensive rebounds in the second half. Marquette crashed the boards, and there wasn’t any boxing out.
Add in 10 turnovers in the second half, and Pitt did plenty to shoot itself in the foot.
