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January 14, 2008

Wow. Pitt never trailed or was tied in this game. In the second half, the Hoyas never got closer than 3 points. As Dixon said in the post-game interview with Bilas, this team is just getting better. They keep practicing, they keep working. They weren’t going to focus on who wasn’t there.
It was a great gameplan against Georgetown. Make it harder to get the pass inside, deny the entry, don’t sleep on the backdoor cuts. Make Georgetown settle for jumpers and feel pressed to shoot rather than make that extra pass. Sounds simple, but Pitt executed it so well.

So here are some of the notes I took down during the game.

Right from the start, there could be an argument that Georgetown will have a problem with Pitt. Not because Pitt got out to an 8-2 start. It’s because Georgetown doesn’t press. It’s guards don’t do that. Their defensive style is to wait in the halfcourt and frustrate teams. That’s something Pitt can handle.

The bad news early was that Sam Young decided he should be taking the 3s early.

Good news, the refs were going to let this be a real Big East game. There were no fouls called on either side until under 14 minutes to go in the game.

Throughout the entire first half, Pitt was focused on this game. There was intensity and fire. What wasn’t there was recklessness or letting emotion get the better of them. I don’t know if it came from the Oakland Zoo to the team or the Zoo recognized and was with it. It just was so clear that there was a connection.

About halfway through the game, Pitt was leading but had missed a lot of shots. That was fine by me because Pitt had a 6-0 offensive rebounding advantage at that point. More shots, more chances. Pitt was just getting to the ball. Keep getting chances and more shots were going to fall.

Ramon was able to come off a couple of great screens to hit some big threes. I am/was a big Aaron Gray fan. That said, with a guy like Blair. So much more athletic and quick that creates some real flexibility for Pitt. Blair was able to come out to the perimeter to set those screens to free Ramon. That has been something Ramon has needed this year. A chance to get free for his shot. It seems Pitt has been working on the screens to get him free and they were paying off tonight.

Gary McGhee learned a hard lesson tonight about how much more he has to learn. He was completely unable to handle being inside against Hibbert. He picked up two very, very quick fouls and then a third almost as soon as he came back in the second half. 3 fouls in 2 minutes. I want to see him get in the rotation and learn more, but I don’t think I’ll be second-guessing Dixon too hard in games where McGhee sees very limited or mop-up minutes only.

Pitt was just so physical with Georgetown. Not dirty, just going hard and not giving ground. Wallace and Ewing, Jr. both struggled with it. DaJuan Summers got very frustrated and picked up 3 fouls in the first half. He was completely taken off his game. Huge since the heir apparent to Green was unable to do much.
At halftime, both Digger Phelps and Stacey Dales were all about how Georgetown was in a great position down only 1 — #%^@*&! halfcourt 3 at the buzzer. Why? Because G-town was shooting 50% while Pitt had shot only 33.3%.

There was barely a cursory acknowledgment that Pitt was leading because they had many more shot attempts thanks to superior offensive rebounding and second chance points. What amused me, was that the extra shots thanks to better offensive rebounding and fewer turnoevers was exactly why G-town avoided being upset by UConn a couple days ago.

The second half, not only saw Pitt still get to the ball faster and have the chances. Pitt started hitting more shots inside. They killed the Hoyas when they went into a zone. There was a clear comfort zone for Pitt from about the free throw line to about 3 feet further inside for Pitt to drop open jumpers. Pitt now has inside guys — Young, Blair and Biggs — who can hit in that area.

More of Pitt’s shots were falling with the open space and Georgetown, got frustrated and rushed more shots.

At halftime of the OK-KS game, they got to the Pitt highlights and of course there was no acknowledgment of how off they were on what they thought. Instead it was about how Pitt dominated on the offensive boards. Hindsight dictated how important that was.

Phelps also spoke of the tremendous job Coach Dixon has done in keeping Pitt focused on the court. Not whining about the injuries or using it as an excuse.





the zoo and the crowd were awsome tonight, i never heard it that lowd before. Great win!!
Hail to Pitt

Comment by brian 01.14.08 @ 10:32 pm

Pitt just landed 4-star WR A.J. Alexander and Terrelle Pryor was in attendance at the Pete… does Wanstache have another trick up his recruiting sleeve?

Comment by Brett 01.14.08 @ 11:17 pm

a student in the zoo had a check-list sign like the one that shady checked off last year, and pryor flat refused to sign it even with cam saddler and shady urging him on

Comment by kamesh 01.14.08 @ 11:37 pm

K. Benjamin is playing out of his freakin’ mind. I said earlier in the year that if he averages more than 6 a game, I’d dance naked on Forbes. I think I’ll wait till it warms up a little to do that.

Comment by Crackbaldo 01.14.08 @ 11:55 pm

Awsome win, especially with who was in the crowd tonight. KDKA is also report that A.J. Alexander of Altoona gave his verbal to PITT today. Cha-ching!!! The Wanstachio does it again.

Comment by Dug 01.14.08 @ 11:59 pm

Among those in the crowd were Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Terrelle Pryor, the 6-foot-6 quarterback from nearby Jeannette (Pa.) High who is considered the top unsigned major college football recruit. Fans chanted “We Want Pryor,” and one fan held up a sign “Marino, Ditka, Dorsett … Pryor.”

Comment by Ira 01.15.08 @ 12:51 am

Loved what Bilas said after his interview with Jamie Dixon…

“Not trying to put together a recruiting film for Coach Dixon, but how could you not want to play for this guy…he believes in his players and his role players…he believes they can come in and win.

I know he may not win a coach of the year award, but he should…this guys is lights out coaching this year…

DaveD

Comment by DaveD 01.15.08 @ 12:56 am

How bout that douche bag from the Wash Times slammed us yesterday as you pointed out, and today he writes:

“And after entering the game shooting 41.5 percent from 3-point range as a team, Georgetown finished a season-worst 3-for-20, and most of those shots were virtually uncontested.”

That’s right. No pitt players on the floor. We didn’t win, they beat themselves. We also didn’t win the Brawl, they “lost” it or it was a thumb injury… Never get any respect. What a fucking gas bag. Maybe he should watch the tape before he writes about it…

Comment by Stuart 01.15.08 @ 4:11 am

Pitt looked very focused last night. I’m a pretty casual BB fan but watching this group of kids play two things were obvious, they work as a team and enjoy themselves. Case in point was Blair jumping up and down on the bench at the end of the game.

Comment by Reed 01.15.08 @ 4:16 am

That was such a sweet win to behold. As someone who goes to both Steeler games and Pitt BB games, it is so nice to know that once the Steeler season ends you don’t have to half-heartedly root for the Pens (I just didn’t grow up with the sport) until football season arrives again. I used to get excited about spring training, but that was when the Pirates fielded a Major League team. HAIL TO PITT.

(Does anyone know how or why Pryor was there?)

Comment by Bob 01.15.08 @ 8:43 am

He was there to get attention…and to get a sweet ticket to a good basketball game. Him and Charlie Batch sat together and looked at his phone the whole time and when he wasn’t doing that he looked pissed off. Literally the whole stadium chanted his name at one point and the checklist was in his face, but that only drew a half-hearted smile.

Comment by tdemps 01.15.08 @ 8:50 am

pryor is still a long shot, and although wanny is the best closer in the business and it was a great game pryor doesnt seem to ever get swayed. Fans need to focus more on getting Jared Holley, who i hear is committing in the next few days, and Josh Jenkins.
If pryor by some act of God decides Pitt then good, but its still very very unlikely.

Comment by Adam 01.15.08 @ 9:25 am

Isn’t it funny that good shooting teams from the outside (Duke,Georgtetown,) somehow don’t shoot well against Pitt–what a coincidence! It reminds me of what they said about Bob Gibson in 1968–he has to be the luckiest pitcher around, because the other team hardly puts up any runs in the games where he is pitching! I am just so proud of this team–and Dixon ought to be coach of the year for what he has done with this team. We have gone from “wait till next year” after Fields injury, to “who is gonna beat us?” We talked some smack before the game, and really backed it up. I love this team–sometimes the shots won’t fall, and foul shots remain a problem–but game in and game out, they make you proud to be a Pitt fan–they always play hard, and bring their intensity every night.

Comment by tph60 01.15.08 @ 9:29 am

Great game to watch last night, very focused, tough D. I just hope there is no let down after a big win like the Duke game. Dejuan Blair is just plain fun to watch, I love his enthusiasm and tenacity. If we can somehow weather the storm until Levance gets back this will only make the team tougher and deeper.

Comment by Rex 01.15.08 @ 10:04 am

anyone have doug gottlieb’s email? i’d like to tell him where to put his ‘pitt is going to the NIT w/ out fields and cook’ prediction!!

Comment by Scott 01.15.08 @ 10:09 am

I think the national media has to stop writing these “woe is me” stories about Pitt, and start writing “This team is good, regardless of who’s starting” stories.

Pitt has punched their NCAA dance ticket…they’re playing now to refine their game, their younger players, and to get a high seed.

If Pitt can sustain their level of play, and Fields comes back and compliments their game, Pitt could make a seriously deep run.

Comment by ColtConvert 01.15.08 @ 11:04 am

I hope pryor doesn’t choose pitt. he has an attitude and it will be all about him, not the team, wherever he goes. I think OSU will suit him well.

Comment by matt 01.15.08 @ 11:58 am

As a Pitt Student and member of the zoo i thought I would pass this email along:

Dear Oakland Zoo Members:

Congratulations on an outstanding win over #5 Georgetown last night. Just like our
team, your efforts were world-class. Thank you.

We are so proud that the nation was able to see again how great the Oakland Zoo is
and how special our University is. You made the difference in “Our House” last
night!

Hail to Pitt!
Jamie Dixon and Steve Pederson

….

Also Bob Pomp/Smisik said on the nightly sports call last night that it was the “loudest its ever been at the pete”… pretty awesome home court advantage!

Comment by Matt D 01.15.08 @ 12:18 pm

I’ll be honest, I think that Steve Pederson coming back to Pitt is going to be one of the best things to ever happen to our athletic department. All of these “little things” like the e-mail, as well as the christmas card with the WVU game featured, not to mention the letters sent to the season ticket holders. Pederson is pouring his all back into this university and I think it is scary to think what we can accomplish under his guidance. It’s refreshing to see our athletic department taking a pro-active approach to reaching out to the fan base.

As for Pryor at the game, it’s still a one-in-a-million chance we land him, but last night surely didn’t hurt our chances. Perhaps he looked around and envisioned playing basketball at the Pete after the football season is over. I did notice on pantherlair.com that 2 more recruits signed, which leaves us with 3 remaining scholarships, although I could be wrong. Let’s hope that Jenkins makes a decision pretty soon…and hopefully the decision will be Pitt.

Comment by Jake 01.15.08 @ 12:47 pm

Well I hope he does choose Pitt. Just because he doesn’t want to take part in these sort of displays doesn’t mean he’s got an attitude problem. So he doesn’t want to ‘verbal’ to Pitt.. that shows no more of an attitude problem than someone questioning a kid’s character on an internet forum..

Comment by ChrisA 01.15.08 @ 12:50 pm

I bet Michigan girls are much better looking than Pittsburgh girls. Same with OSU, WVU, Oregon, etc.. I have nothing to base this on other than the fact that I have looked at PITT girls for the last 4 years and the only thing that is constant is blond hair, blue eyes…excuse me… blond hair, big thighs.

I don’t blame Pryor for not “checking the list.” Even if he is considering PITT, he obviously is not ready. You can not hold that against a 23…excuse me… 18 year old kid.

Anybody else think that Sam Young looks like he could be Greg Oden’s father? Talk about players who look like their 30…

Huge win last night. Keep it up boys.
Hail to PITT

Comment by Todd Gack 01.15.08 @ 1:05 pm

i have to preface this post by saying that this information is completely unsubstantiated hearsay, BUT…a little birdie just told me that pryor is making an offical visit to Pitt the weekend of January 26th. honestly, i don’t believe it and can’t necessarily vouch for the source of the information, but with the soap-opera like drama that surrounds his recruitment i wouldn’t be shocked. has anyone else heard anything?

Comment by ECH 01.15.08 @ 1:40 pm

I look at it like this, If Pryor comes – Great. hes a great athlete and his commit shows the confidence in the future of this program. You can never go wrong landing the #1 5 star recruit in the country.

If we dont get him, oh well we still have a great class coming in and perhaps all of the attention that he garners would be a big distraction anyway.

Comment by Rex 01.15.08 @ 1:55 pm

Todd, you need to get out of the basement a little more often. While I’m the first to say our cheerleaders need their meal plans cut back from “ultimate unlimited” to “reasonable” and know they’re no SEC girls, i also grew up in a pig ten state. The girls are there look like cows with wigs. They have to be the ugliest conference i’ve ever seen. I’m sure there are some diamonds in the rough, and due to the fact several of their schools are much, much larger than ours, there are several good looking ones at each school. But on average, its not even close. And i’ve been to Michigan several times (and will be there this weekend) and no one is good looking in that state. (Unless that was sarcasm/joke and i didn’t catch it…)

Comment by Stuart 01.15.08 @ 1:58 pm

great win. just remenber guys this is only Jan. On to Cincy.4-1 on 3-2 big game ahead.

Comment by alcofan 01.15.08 @ 2:00 pm

I heard the same thing about Pryor – he probably wants a free trip to D&B.

I still say he’s going to Michigan 100%.

Comment by Stuart 01.15.08 @ 2:03 pm

Great article on MSNBC website on Pitt BB:

link to beyondthearc.msnbc.msn.com

Comment by matt 01.15.08 @ 2:09 pm

First, I think that we need to have Pederson extend Dixon’s contract (with a HUGH buyout clause and I mean HUGE) what he is doing with these players is unbelievable. Second, let Tyrelle Pryor go to Michigan with that former Hoopie coach, if he does not play QB I think he may become a negative force for a team. He will thrive in the spread offense but will never make it to the NFL from there. If he is willing to be a dropback type passer (not a good use of his speed) and redshirt for a year or willing to change positions please sign him. I think his attitude is not condusive to either.

Comment by Jim 01.15.08 @ 2:44 pm

SportsNation Doug Gottlieb: (4:05 PM ET ) Yeah, uh, my bad. Hey be honest, any other team loses their starting PG and their leading returning scorer who is also their best passer, you would think they were going to fall off too right?
Jamie Dixon is one terrific coach to keep this thing going. BY the way, anyone else think LeVance Fields looks like Donovan McNabb?

Comment by Ira 01.15.08 @ 4:33 pm

I say Pryor will be coming to Pitt 100%

Comment by TMGPanther 01.15.08 @ 5:14 pm

I thought Douche fans were bad….maybe they could get together with the GU fans and they all could talk about how “lucky” Pitt must be that most teams miss a large majority of their 3’s against us…

link to hoyatalk2.proboards48.com

“We went inside a lot. Of our 20 or so threes, at least 15 were wide open.

Just missed ’em.”

Right. Same with Douche. “Just missed em.” Boy, we’re one lucky team…

Comment by Stuart 01.15.08 @ 5:28 pm

Just saw Scout’s updated rankings…

1. Baldwin now a 5-star WR (#6 in the country)
2. PITT ranked 14, PSU ranked 24
3. PITT has more 5-star recruits (3) than the entire Big East combined (0)
4. PITT has close to as many 4-star recruits (5) as the entire Big East combined (8)

I really hope all of this can translate into W’s on the field (and BCS bids)

I bet my friend $100 that PITT finishes next CFB season ranked higher than PSU.

I also bet the same kid (PSU ’07) $75 bucks that PITT advances past the Sweet 16 (I would have bet more, he must not be confident)

Hail to Pitt, Hail to $$$ in my pocket.

Comment by Todd Gack 01.15.08 @ 6:11 pm

Pryor’s girlfriend (of 3 years)is a freshman at Pitt Greensburg.

Comment by Marty 01.15.08 @ 6:27 pm

Good luck with those bets Todd, Seriously.

Comment by ChrisA 01.15.08 @ 6:37 pm

The ESPN Insider has an article on Fields return this year. Since I’m not a subscriber I couldn’t access the article.

Comment by TMGPanther 01.15.08 @ 8:11 pm

I love Andy Katz but this is nothing insightful- no one is sure when Fields will be back- it could be at the BE tournament it could be before.

Comment by dan 01.15.08 @ 8:28 pm

ND out scored Cinn 64 to 40 in the second half tonight

Comment by TMGPanther 01.15.08 @ 9:47 pm

I’m getting a Zoo shirt and showing up at the next game at the Pete

Comment by Tiger Paul 01.15.08 @ 9:48 pm

For what it’s worth, a quick Google search brought up the Holley is set to announce Wednesday morning at the Easton High gym. Don’t know about any of you cats, but I remember meeting a bunch of kids from Easton including two of my better friends at Pitt, in the early part of the decade.

link to pennlive.com

Comment by johnny 01.15.08 @ 10:48 pm

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