Well, the obvious storyline was that Krauser had a very bad game, but nearly forgotten in the initial frustration was that Gray didn’t exactly distinguish himself.
If nothing else, it debunked the popular theory that Pitt is so deep and so talented in so many areas that it doesn’t need its best players to have big games to win.
That’s not the issue. Actually, I think Pitt can win quite often including this past game if they just have average games. The problem in this game, is they had bad games.
Pitt won’t beat anybody in the postseason if it doesn’t get more from Carl Krauser and Aaron Gray.
It’s easy to finger Krauser for this loss. All it takes is one look at the bottom line: He shot just 3 of 16 from the field. He played very much as he did late last season when Pitt crumbled down the stretch, losing five of its final seven games, including first-round losses in the Big East and NCAA tournaments. He fired up too many bad shots at the wrong times. His assessment afterward was right on: “I was terrible.”
Gray was just as ineffective. He was outplayed on both ends by Kevin Pittsnogle, one of five West Virginia seniors who made sure their final night in the WVU Coliseuem was a glorious one. After outscoring Pittsnogle, 16-0, and outrebounding him, 8-2, in Pitt’s 57-53 home win against West Virginia Feb. 9, Gray was outscored, 26-7, last night. He took just five shots.
Krauser and Gray combined for 17 points, almost 14 fewer than they had been averaging in Big East games. They also had seven of Pitt’s 17 turnovers, a ridiculously high number that negated Pitt’s 41-24 rebounding edge.
“It was a tough night for Aaron and me,” Krauser said. “We were both off. That can’t happen, not at this time of year. Your stars have to be stars. Aaron and I are definitely the stars on this team. This can’t happen again. We have to step it up. I’m sure we will.”
While Gray didn’t get into foul trouble, at the offensive end he let himself be pushed away from the basket and out of position. As much as WVU’s defense and quick double-teaming, this kept Gray from getting as many touches with the basketball.
“At Pitt, Gray got the ball too deep underneath,” [WVU Coach John] Beilein said. “Tonight we did a great job at forcing him out away from the hoop and did some nice things on both sides of the ball.”
If Gray is unable to get the position or get free, he needs to seal off a side to give the wings a chance to penetrate to the basket. Instead, way too often he let himself float and move from side to side trying to get open. That allowed WVU players to stay around the basket and defend drives.
Joe Starkey tries to be positive.
If Krauser is guilty of anything, it’s wanting to win too badly. He stopped short of taking the blame for the loss but admitted to rushing a lot of shots.
Krauser shot 18.8 percent. His teammates shot 62.2 percent (23 of 37). Obviously, he wasn’t reading the game like a good point guard should (and he still is, essentially, a point guard).
“I was just overanxious to get this win,” Krauser said. “I can’t say I should have used (his teammates) more, because in my mind, I’m a competitor and a leader, so the leader needs to step up and make big plays.”
On the other hand … “A leader has to make the right plays. So, on some of my shots, I can say, yes, I should have kicked it.”
Pitt’s game plan, Dixon said, was to pound the ball inside, but center Aaron Gray also had a bad night, with only seven points and a team-high four turnovers.
Still, if I’m Dixon, I’m actually encouraged. Pitt walked into an incredibly hostile environment and fell behind 19-6 against a team that often uses five seniors. The Panthers fought back behind the likes of sophomore Ronald Ramon (12 points) and freshmen Levance Fields (10 points, no turnovers) and Sam Young (6 for 6 from the field, 12 points). It was anyone’s game when WVU led, 61-58, with a minute left. That’s when Young was whistled for traveling. Soon after, Krauser missed a driving attempt, and Levon Kendall missed a tip. It was that close.
For Pitt, all things remain possible. Krauser just needs to remember what year it is.
If this was January or even the beginning of February I’d agree with the optimism. It isn’t (– despite the confusion from a lot of sportswriters who it would seem are still a month behind because of all the Steeler football).
It wasn’t just Krauser and Gray, though, that put this team in a hole.
Pitt coach Jamie Dixon harped on two principles last week when the Panthers had seven days between games. He wanted his team to defend better and cut down on its turnovers.
With a bye in the Big East Conference tournament on the line last night, the Panthers failed miserably in both areas and West Virginia secured a 67-62 victory before 14,805 at WVU Coliseum.
Pitt’s inability to defend the 3-point line and take care of the ball were the two most glaring weaknesses in a loss that all but assures the Panthers will be playing on the first day of the conference tournament next week at Madison Square Garden in New York.
4 of Pitt’s first 5 possessions ended with a turnover. That was only the first 2:30 of the game. Despite digging themselves a big hole, turning the ball over, not doing a particularly impressive job defending the 3, and Gray and Krauser having bad games Pitt kept getting close. But…
That happened throughout the game. Pitt would draw close, but West Virginia would make a big shot to stem the tide.
Pitt pulled within one point again a few minutes later after Ronald Ramon made a 3-pointer, but Patrick Beilein made two 3-pointers to end the half and send the Mountaineers to the locker room with a 37-30 advantage.
The Panthers pulled to within two points twice in the second half and three points five times after that, but West Virginia always had an answer. Pittsnogle scored the bucket or made two free throws on four of those seven occasions.
“They played like seniors,” Pitt freshman Levance Fields said. “Pittsnogle hit some shots. He was ready for this game. [J.D.] Collins came in and made a long 3. Gansey made plays. They did what they had to do to win the game. We didn’t.”
This was Senior Night at the concrete toadstool, and WVU’s senior-heavy team rose to the occasion. Credit has to be given to a very good WVU team that didn’t panic when Pitt made runs at them. They kept playing their game and made things happen.
Beilein hitting those 2 3s at the end of the 1st half. One came on a broken play where Pitt had defended so well, and the ball got deflected to him for a shot as the shot clock buzzed. They seemed almost like luck at times, but it was simply taking advantage of that little open crack. Something Pitt just couldn’t do in the game.
Pittsnogle came up huge against Pitt in this game.
Pittsnogle said he had thought about that game almost every day since then. He had the date of last night’s rematch against Pitt circled on his calendar to remind him when he’d get a chance to make amends for that performance.
Pittsnogle made sure he let the Panthers know his off night the first time the two teams met was a fluke. He scored 26 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and made 2 steals in leading the Mountaineers to an important 67-62 Big East victory against Pitt on senior night at the WVU Coliseum, the final home game of his career.
He had help, often against Gray, but to his credit he stood his ground and didn’t let Gray back him down under the basket. With the second defender coming to try and swipe or tie-up the ball, Gray never could get set, dribble with his back to Pittsnogle, to really back into him. It was smart strategy and executed very well.
“Everybody has bad nights — probably not as bad as mine was (at Pitt) — but I wanted to show I can play,” Pittsnogle said. “I had to prove I could play against Aaron Gray. Everybody was saying I couldn’t. I’ve been thinking about this game since our game with Louisville ended (Saturday).”
With the win over Pitt, the Hoopies clinch the 3rd spot in the Big East Tournament and the coveted first round bye, regardless of the outcome of their season finale at Cinci. Even if they lose and Marquette,Georgetown and Pitt all finish with the same record, WVU holds the ‘mini-conference’ tie-breaker over the other 3.
Pitt will almost assuredly be the 6th seed.
