Storrs, Connecticut. Named “America’s Best Place To Avoid Death Due To Natural Disaster.” Also the home to the UConn Huskies and professional whiner Jim Calhoun. I never thought Jim was one to give a pile of credit to another team and then this comes up.
“Pitt can get to Atlanta and I think you’ll see them there,” Calhoun said. “They’re the best team we’ve seen in the league.”
Why thanks, that was very nice of you. You sure you’re not just saying it to make the 19 year old kids who just lost to them feel a little better?
“[Aaron Gray] is a difference-maker. It’s great when you have an ‘out’ pitch,” Calhoun said, dropping in a baseball analogy. “And they have a great out pitch when he can score like that.”
An “out” pitch? I would suggest staying away from any more baseball terms. And he’s not the only one to throw some good words our way, especially the guards. Some fo our own guys get into the love fest which was joined today by Andy Katz and Seth Davis.
“If you focus on Gray it’s a mistake, because he’s surrounded by some great shooters and passers,” Georgetown coach John Thompson III said.
“We have depth,” forward Mike Cook said. “Aaron Gray is great, but we have so many players on this team capable of scoring 20 points.”
“We have tremendous depth and a lot of guys who can score, but I think it’s our perimeter shooting that really sets this team apart,” coach Jamie Dixon said. “We’ve had other teams that were good at that, but none that were quite like this.”
And if you missed it before the game against Calhoun’s Huskies on Saturday, Aaron Gray had some of pain in his wrist after a dunk in pregame warm ups.
Gray said he was in some pain when he caught the ball Tuesday night, but after the game he said it hurt only “a little bit.”
There was no additional swelling or pain as of yesterday afternoon, Pitt officials said.
“I’m not too worried about it,” Gray said. “I was real happy with my play.”
At least Tony Allen has no room to laugh.
And finally, the team we’ll duel on Sunday, Marquette, is Ray Fittipaldo’s choice as the toughest team we’ll play the rest of the regular season.
pastorcarl: Who is Pitt’s toughest opponent the rest of the regular season
Ray Fittipaldo: That’s a good question. I’d say Marquette. The Golden Eagles won at UConn and have been playing well lately. That’s going to be a very tough game Sunday. Dominic James is one of the best point guards in the country. If Pitt had trouble protecting the ball against UConn, they’ll have similar problems against James and Co. After Marquette, I’d say West Virginia. The Mountaineers will be very tough to beat again.
James, who is only a sophomore, is one of those guys who we might have to end up labeling a “Pitt killer” if he can score on our guards and keep them from seeing open shots. I can be he’ll see his own open shots if we hand the ball over to him as much as we did to Connecticut.
