Oddly enough, I felt better about this game than any other in a while. I’m not happy about the outcome, but there was enough to encourage me rather than just make me crazy.
In Fields’ 3d game back, the offense had much better flow. Only 4 turnovers, 18 assists and the ball was worked inside more. DeJuan Blair saw a lot more touches in better spots better shots. From inside the arc, Pitt was 23-44. Considering how badly Pitt has been struggling with scoring and shooting, going for nearly 45% against one of the best defensive teams in the country is a positive.
I’m bothered that DeJuan Blair keeps losing his man at the top — over and over again. With Pitt’s lack of size, there’s no one that can handle the opposing big man dropping down. The only good thing is that there aren’t many big men that are actually threats to shoot from outside as the players Blair has had to defend in the past week plus. The defense did get 7 steals and helped create 14 turnovers. Pitt limited their possessions, but gave up plenty of easy baskets and open looks.
I can’t believe how poor and inconsistent the perimeter shooting has been. Is it any shock to know that when Pitt has shot below 33.3% on the perimeter Pitt is 0-6 in the Big East? Pitt doesn’t need to be unstoppable from outside. They just need to be a threat. The ball was kicked out more this time rather than just passed along the perimeter. The open looks didn’t help, though.
But like Rex said, Dixon needs to do something to find a way to put the game away. I’m not ready to say that the season is finished because the past 3 losses have been to ranked teams.
Next game is a must win.
Would anyone have believed it if you were told that Pitt is a bubble team back in December?
The BE tourny is going to make or break this season. We are not a lock.
I’ll be psyched if they make the NCAAs and overjoyed if they get a win. That would be a pretty great year for this squad.
The defense needs to tighten up alot, Blair gets lost at times with the high screen, and that zone was terrible defending the perimeter yesterday. The zone hurt their defensive rebounding as well, when Louisville actually did miss.
Was it just me or did it appear that no one other than Young or Blair wanted to step up. We need better athletes. Did anyone see that Young is considering going pro after this year.
We need 3 out of next 4 but I don’t see being better than 2 and 2.
What i don’t understand is you guys want more “athletes” to run up and down, so we score 80, but if our D is this bad, they just get more posessions and score 90. We had 2 kids score 20 points, only turned the ball over 4 times, and still lost.
We scored 70+ in the last two games. The problem is you have to have more points than the other team at the end, and we’ve given up a minumum of 72, and an average of 75 the last 3 games.
Hmm….lets see here, checking last years BE bracket…oh, lost to Pitt when it mattered. Well i’m sure you did better in the tourney…wait, what? Lost in second round? huh… Well you must have gotten us the year before in the BE tourney…what? Lost that game to us too? Wow…
Beat us when it matters, then talk shit.
Why is it that, with 2 minutes left in close games, Young never seems to touch the ball. Or am I imagining that? If not, is it just because they are covering him more tightly? His pouting tendencies aside, he’s been our best scorer all year and needs to have the ball in his hands late in the game (and, yes, I realize he had a dumb turnover late in the Louisville game).
And I would kill for a player like McAlarney. I love Ramon, and think he gives his all, but his trademark has been inconsistent shooting. A guy like McAlarney can be streaky, but when he’s on, he’s freaking on and changes the complexion of the whole game, opens up the inside, etc. Just one lights out shooter would be so huge. Can we get one of those, please?
“Right now, I’m starting to feel like my back’s against the wall,” said junior forward Sam Young, who surpassed 1,000 career points. “But at the same time I feel like as a team we are starting to come together. I think that motivates me more than the losses or the disappointment.”
Next year, however, we have a very athletic, tough, and sharpshooting group of freshmen coming in. I’m a freshman now, and by my junior year we’ll have a lineup consisting of Wanamaker, Blair, Brown, McGhee, Robinson, Woodall, Dixon, Gibbs, and Patterson. A lot of very good athletes and very good shooters. Hopefully by that point Gary will have evolved into a solid big man (he’s shown flashes), DeJuan can be a very good PF/C, and our guards and wing play should be fantastic. I expect to see Pitt improve every year over the next few years, and that’s what I mean by high ceiling. I know this year is what we’re focused on, but this team is by no means struggling long-term.
Pitt had a tough stretch with 5 games in 17 days. They went 2-3 losing to the 3 ranked teams on the schedule. Only one of the 3 losses was a terrible performance (Marquette). The other 2 were close games where Pitt just didn’t get it done. Big deal.
long pass (maybe that’s why he threw that one away) for the bunny.
Just 3 years ago, Pitt fought through all screens and never switched, which is why they were so great defensively.
Agreed after looking at TYVO, Pitt played much better against L’ville but did anyone notice that 7 of the last 10 Louisville baskets were layups, at the rim? That is inexcusable!!!
One of Blairs other problems is taking poor angles back to his man – he always seems immediately head to where his guy used to be, and the ball gets thrown behind him cause he doesn’t realize his man is cutting to the basket. He needs to get that figured out.
I understand why dixon prefers the hedge and recover, but i personally think we should trap and rotate like UCLA does – nearest guy picks up the screener to prevent the pass, everyone rotates and if the guard gives up the ball, one of the two that trap release to the open man on the side opposite the ball. But, that’s not dixons way, so we’re stuck with hedge and recover. Until Blair gets better at it, its going to be “get our of position and then get backdoored.”
Pittsburgh: It is impossible for me to watch Pitt without thinking about Mike Cook, and just how good Pitt could have been with him and a healthy Levance Fields for an entire season. It is a real tribute to that team and program that the Panthers will be in the NCAA Tournament, but the injuries have really affected what could have been a truly special season.
This team, OUR team, is good…let’s be patient and see how the rest of the season plays out. I, for one, am encouraged by the team’s spirit and the way they competed yesterday—-not a W, but they gave their all!
Hail to PITT!
-al-