…because its basketball time!
Keith here, making a random cameo appearance.
Pitt defeated California (Pa.) tonight, 80-65. The box score is only available in the Game Tracker right now, but it should be showing up on Pitt’s page anytime.
I didn’t get to watch the game, but the box score has some good and bad. It’s been a good-bad sort of day in Pitt sports I suppose – but I am not going to touch that. Here’s my take on the basketball:
Good: Levon Kendall; he shot 8-for-11 from the field and 2-3 from downtown. If he can regain the shooting touch he displayed two years ago, he could become one of the premier players (right now he is a premier role player) in the Big East – in a Dirk Nowitzki sort of way.
Bad: Mike Cook; I will not bash the guy; I will bash the unfair expectations Pitt fans seem to have for him. 0-5 from the field, 0-2 from three, 1 assist, 1 rebound, 2 fouls. I am not saying he wont turn out to be good (or great) but just be careful with him. Be nice.
Good: Antonio’s confidence; if a box-score line could ever indicate a player’s confidence level, than Graves’ does. He’s taking shots (4-9 from the field), taking three pointers (2-5), and – and this has never been a huge part of his game – dishing boat loads of assists (8). That’s my biggest surprise of the game.
Good: Aaron Gray’s free throws; the big guy was 5-5 from the line and didn’t turn the ball over once while scoring 23 points.
Bad: Little contribution from Benjamin or Young (coming back from injury).
Question: In what capacity is Fields going to be used this season? I didn’t watch the game so I couldn’t see what he was doing, but only two assists for everyone’s PG of the future isn’t good.
Good: R Squared; Ramon had 7 assists and zero turnovers. He also shot 2-4 from downtown. I just want to see him shoot more!
It’s only one exhibition game and it was against sub-par competition by Pitt’s standards, therefore none of this is an end-all-tell-all, just a jumping off point. With more good than bad maybe it will coax a few of you football fans (hello, football fans, anyone, anyone…. *crickets chirping*) away from the ledge.
I am still in shock over Pitt football game. Pitt could only make things happen in a two minute drill. This speaks to a general lack of intensity that Pitt displayed today, The secondary did not play well. The defense line was better, and Milicki was outstanding. The o-line showed the impact injury has had. Most distrubing was that every time Pitt got something going they did somethiing dump to kill the momentum. Conn game will be a real challenge now.
About the OLine – we have two guys with big time talent on it. One is a true freshman. McGlynn has always stunk and Villani, well, he’s a Bucknell transfer. Thomas needs work on pass blocking, but he’s going to be a good one. CJ Davis at center next year is a HUGE upgrade. But it will happen.
I am still in shock over Pitt football game. Pitt could only make things happen in a two minute drill. This speaks to a general lack of intensity that Pitt displayed today, The secondary did not play well. The defense line was better, and Milicki was outstanding. The o-line showed the impact injury Most distrubing was that every time Pitt got something going they did somethiing dump to kill the momentum. Conn game will be a real challenge now.