No broadband really feels weird. Go over to Keith Wehmeyer for a better, more coherent round-up.
Krauser and Gray were named to the All-Big East Tournament Team (PDF). Randy Foye, Villanova along with Nichols and Watkins from Syracuse were also named. No shock that McNamara was the Tourney MVP. He was deserving of it before the final game.
I found myself tossing and turning about the game last night, replaying key moments when Pitt missed opportunities or blew a defensive assignment. I’m only a fan. I can’t imagine what Dixon, and the players were feeling (and hopefully those refs).
That’s the hideous flip side to all 7 of Pitt’s losses being by 5 points or less. Essentially, that means each loss arguably have turned on 1 or 2 possessions. Whether it’s a blown call by the refs, a missed open look, a defensive breakdown, a turnover, anything. In a bigger loss, it can just be a bad game, a hot team or something else that almost makes it more palatable.
Pitt is 4-7 in games decided by 5 points or less, and 6-7 in 7 points or less.
I’m pissed at the refs but I’m not blaming them for this game. Pitt came out and played a lousy first half. Forget the 8-29 shooting in the first half, they were 3-17 inside the arc. That’s right, .176 2FG% and .417 3FG%. That Pitt was only down 9 at the half was amazing.
Yes, Pitt’s defense was a little soft in the first half, but give Syracuse a lot of credit. They still made a bunch of those shots. Pitt didn’t when given opportunities. Ramon and Fields went 0-8.
Stat wise, this game was completely befuddling. Syracuse actually outrebounded Pitt 35-34, but Pitt committed 1 less turnover than ‘Cuse 12-13.
While Pitt got startlingly great offensive production from Antonio Graves, 14 points on 4-7 shooting; Demetris Nichols, 15 points on 5-7 shooting was the counter balance for Syracuse.
The same could be argued for Krauser (16 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 TO) and McNamara (14 points, 0 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 TO).
Really it came down to the frontcourt. Terrance Roberts and Daryl Watkins looked nothing like the soft, lost players Pitt was able to shove around the last time they met. Both were aggressive and active. They produced points and were strong on defense. They outplayed Gray, Young and Kendall.
Luke Winn who blogged the BE Tourney for SI.com still likes Pitt’s guard production and capable of at least getting to the Sweet Sixteen.
While lauding McNamara and the Orange, there was this to say about Pitt:
Pittsburgh was the forgotten team in this tournament, and rather unjustly so; the Panthers had to beat 19th-ranked West Virginia and second-ranked Villanova on consecutive nights just to get to their fifth final in six years. But Pittsburgh fell behind by 15 points in the first half and had to battle back.
That’s what happens when there is an easier story. A single player and a hall of fame, media savvy coach who knows how to make the big story.
Here are the post game quotes from both teams.
Q. You guys weren’t expected to get to this point. How will this run you made bolster you going into the NCAAs?
AARON GRAY: We learned a lot from this week. Even as disappointed as we are as a team, you know, from just tonight’s effort, you know, we definitely learned so much. One of the biggest things we can take away from tonight is we got to bring it every night.
We started off real slow, and the guys did a great job of playing so hard and coming back. Our team was almost, like, determined at one point. We just didn’t make the final plays to come down the stretch. But, I mean, there’s so many positives that we can take out of this week. We’re real confident going into the NCAA tournament. I mean, we’ve beaten really good teams the last three nights, you know. To come up short to another very good team, you know, like I said, it’s all positive at this point going into the NCAA tournament.
Q. Coach, can you talk about adjustments you made. They were defending high post real well. You made adjustments. The zone looked more intense out there.
COACH JAMIE DIXON: I mean, you know, we didn’t shoot it great tonight. That has a lot to do with the zone. I thought we got the ball inside when we wanted to. I think second half we got a little bit used shot fakes around the basket, got some finishes too, as well. I thought we did a good job attacking. I don’t think it was any different than what we’ve seen in the past against them. We’ve always been pretty good against the zone.
I thought our defense, they shot the ball well. It’s, again, it was close. We want to really overanalyze this thing, it was a close game coming down to one or two plays. Don’t read too much into it. Two teams battles, two teams playing hard, and came up a little bit short on a shot or two and a rebound or two or deflection. It’s two teams that battled and played their hearts out.
…
Q. Carl, are you going to walk out of this thinking you should have won this game?
CARL KRAUSER: (Laughing). Yeah. Yeah, we’ll walk out of here thinking, “We should have won this game,” of course.
Q. Why?
CARL KRAUSER: Because, you know, I feel that we’re tough competitors, you know. Everything just felt right at the same time coming into the second half. We had the momentum and everything like that. Both teams are great, great competitive teams in the BIG EAST. I just always tip my hat to the other team and Syracuse did a great job.
Columns from Starkey and Smizik to round it all out.
