It’s eye on the future for Pitt in the media today. While this article is supposed to be about how the freshmen — Sam Young, Levance Fields and Tyrell Biggs — can help and impact the Pitt team the rest of the way.
If what Craig Littlepage, the NCAA Tournament selection committee chairman, said is true about end-of-season performances having a huge bearing on determining the 65-team men’s basketball field, No. 9 Pitt will need continued solid efforts from its three freshmen reserves in order to finish on an upswing.
“The sky’s the limit for us,” said freshman forward Sam Young, the Panthers’ third-leading scorer. “People are saying our freshmen are going to fold. I don’t see myself as a freshman. I see myself as a competitor.”
Young, guard Levance Fields and center Tyrell Biggs have made huge contributions to Pitt’s successful season, and coach Jamie Dixon is expecting more of the same during a crucial stretch run and into the Big East Tournament next month.
The three of them have been at Pitt since the summer, playing together and with their teammates for a while now. The bonding, learning and trust amongst them and the rest of the team has made a difference in how this team plays on the court and the trust Coach Dixon has on them to play.
Still, the article can’t help but glimpse ahead to the next season.
Next season, Pitt loses only Krauser and fellow senior John DeGroat — both season-long starters — as well as junior Marcus Bowman, a former walk-on who will graduate early, and the Panthers will add at least two new players who Dixon is hoping will have a similar impact as has the current freshman trio.
Gilbert Brown, a 6-foot-6 swingman, and Austin Wallace, a 6-9 forward, have signed letters of intent to play for Pitt, which has one scholarship remaining.
The top target for that spot is 6-7, 210-pound forward Tyler Smith of Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy, who also is considering Iowa, Memphis and Kentucky.
The article fails to mention one other big addition to the team next season. Mike Cook, who transferred to Pitt from East Carolina and is sitting out the season. As luck would have it, though, he gets his own puff piece today.
“He has versatility,” Dixon said. “He can almost play point guard. He can play [shooting guard, small forward or power forward]. We knew he had versatility when we got him to come here and it’s been evident in practice. This redshirt year is good for him.”
Cook played two seasons at East Carolina and led the Pirates with 15 points per game last season. He had 25 double-figure scoring games last season, including six 20-point games. He had a career-high 24 points against South Carolina and 21 against Marquette. But when coach Bill Herrion was dismissed at the end of last season, Cook wanted a change. The losing had worn on him as did the weight of having to carry the team on his shoulders almost every night.
“I feel like myself again,” Cook said after practice earlier this week. “I’m playing more of a team game instead of trying to figure out a way to do things myself.”
Cook, a Philadelphia native who played with Memphis Grizzlies forward Hakim Warrick and University of Arizona Wildcat Mustafa Shakur in high school, is earning his scholarship this year by pushing the Panthers in practice. Coming from Conference USA, he has given his teammates tips on what to expect from some of the players who joined the Big East this season.
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Dixon said Cook needs to continue to work on his defense, his outside shot and his conditioning. He would like him lighter than 230 pounds when the season starts next year.Cook said he can bring another dimension to the team next season.
“I think I’ll give us a different look on the offensive end because I can play three different positions,” he said. “Sometimes coach has me play [power forward] in practice. My strength makes up for my size. The fact that I can play different positions will help me.”
Pitt could have yet another new look to it next year. A line-up featuring Fields or Ramon running point, Cook and Benjamin on the wings able to attack the basket with Young and Gray down low would be a something very different. More athletic and able to take the ball inside, kick out or just get it down low. The possibilities are intriguing.
Of course, all of that is speculative and for next year. Hopefully there is still a lot of basketball to be played in March and maybe into the beginning of April (we can dream).
Pitt appears to have lined up another good non-con opponent for next year. A home game with the University of Dayton. That means almost half the non-con is set for 2006: At Wisconsin and Auburn; Home for Duquesne, Robert Morris and Dayton. Sure would be nice if Pitt can get into a pre-season tournament for next season.
