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March 22, 2008

It’s Already Been Enough

Filed under: Basketball,Fans,NCAA Tourney — Dennis @ 1:31 pm

Most of the conversation you’re going to hear when if Pitt loses is “Was it enough?” A lot of people will tell you it’s not enough unless they finally make it past the Sweet Sixteen. This year is a different situation though. The Mike Cook and Levance Fields injuries took this team from Final Four potential to just another average group. We were supposed to be lucky to finish .500 in the conference and nobody could have ever imagined the amazing run at the Big East Tournament. We avoided getting upset by Oral Roberts and now we play a traditional power in the 4-5 match-up of the second round. As the guys on ESPN Radio put it, there won’t be any shame in losing to a good Michigan State led by Tom Izzo, a coach that has had plenty of NCAA Tourney success.

However… this is a different team. Sure they have flashes of Pitt teams from the past eight years, but they also play a faster, quicker, and more athletic brand of basketball. At this point, Fields is looking better than ever, even with the hair flowing a little longer. They are physical enough to match up with Michigan State and yet fast enough to possibly hang with run-and-gun Memphis. Izzo says he would give Jamie Dixon a Coach of the Year vote:

“If I had a vote for national coach of the year, he’d have to be right up there, for surviving what he went through this year in a tough conference,” Izzo said. “With the injuries he’s had … he’s battled that. He’s had 25-point losses and turned it around. I think that’s the mark of a great coach, getting knocked down a few times, yet getting his team back.”

Maybe I’m writing this so I can look at it later and read this instead of saying something stupid with the thoughts of the game fresh in my head: even if we lose tonight, it has been plenty enough to call this a successful season. I’m getting a little worried though.

Also, has this been the most exciting Pitt basketball season in recent memory? Washington’s overturned buzzer-beater, Fields’ trey to beat Duke at MSG, Ramon’s buzzer-beater over West Virginia, the crazy comeback at Syracuse, and then four wins at the Big East Tournament.





I agree with this post entirely. Sure it would be a dissapointment if the Panthers don’t advance, especially if others in the Big East do that Pitt defeated this year. I think this season has been an over achievment to this point, and hopefully Pitt fans can keep that in perspective. I think Pitt will win tonight, but if they don’t, I will think of this season as a huge success, and I hope other Pitt fans will as well.

Comment by Scott 03.22.08 @ 1:46 pm

As for exciting, don’t forget holding on at Washington and handling Georgetown at the Pete on national TV…there have been some great wins this season. This just can’t, and won’t, end tonight.

Comment by merlin 03.22.08 @ 2:00 pm

Merlin, that Washington game seems like it happened years ago. I completely forgot about it — thanks for the memory-jog, it’s been added to the list.

Comment by Dennis 03.22.08 @ 2:04 pm

I’ll be satisfied with whatever outcome as long as we play hard and smart for 40 minutes tonight. There would be no shame in losing to a well-coached team like Michigan State.
That said, it’s been a really interesting season and it would be a shame for it to come to an end this evening. Let’s go Pitt!

Comment by Dave in Orlando 03.22.08 @ 3:06 pm

Don’t forget about Gil’s slam to end the game vs. Cincy in front of the hundreds of Terrible Towels to end Pitt’s three game losing streak!

Damn, this season has been crazy!

Comment by Tony 03.22.08 @ 3:24 pm

Enough of this idle “if we lose tonight” chatter!We’re going to beat Michigan State AND Memphis, rendering any such discussions moot. Moot, I say!

Comment by Jeff 03.22.08 @ 3:39 pm

Nice post — agreed w/ what everyone has said.

WVU is up 7 on Duke with 10 min left in the game…should be a good finish.

Comment by Dane 03.22.08 @ 3:50 pm

“…even if we lose tonight, it has been plenty enough to call this a successful season… Also, has this been the most exciting Pitt basketball season in recent memory?” Chas
_________________________________________

You might be in the minority with this one here, Chas. But I concur wholeheartedly.

The buzzer-beaters and comebacks vs. Washington and Duke (as I’ve previously commented) were truly awe inspiring. The WVU win was a thriller. But given that each team played a pivotal role in undermining the others’ confidence at some point during conference play, the hands-down, outright season-changing game of ’07-08 (perhaps the decade) came in that beyond belief game against Syracuse. The confidence of the team was rapidly restored, and the momentum seized ultimately lending itself to the improbable 4-in-4 that would, conclusively, return the program to BE prominence. IMO, the Orange implosion was so demoralizing a blow that whatever their resolve to avenge the lost next year, the repercussions of that contest will remain longstanding indeed.

So yeah, if we happen to go down to the Spartans tonight, I’ll be the last to think it a failure.
DO NOT GET ME WRONG PANTHER FAITHFUL; I want to win this and win it all as bad as the next man.

Comment by Neil 03.22.08 @ 4:11 pm

Neil, just for clarification, I posted that, not Chas.

WVU is taking it to Duke right now — only a few minuted left and they look so much better than the Blue Devils.

Comment by Dennis 03.22.08 @ 4:17 pm

sorry about the misquote there, dennis. It’s you I agree with. but damn if you didn’t sound like Chas in that post. Good column

Comment by Neil 03.22.08 @ 4:21 pm

Our rivals in Morgantown just upped the ante against Duke IMO.

Now’s our turn to hold serve tonight against Mich State.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my Dad 03.22.08 @ 4:30 pm

We really have to win now. I will not tolerate West Virginia going further in the tourney than us.

Comment by Will 03.22.08 @ 4:34 pm

I have to admit, I was rooting for WVU to beat Duke. Every Big East win in the postseason is further proof that the conference is the strongest and deepest in the land. That will only help Pitt on the recruiting front. Big-time players want to play in big-time atmospheres. The UConn loss to San Diego was a bit disheartening. I feel for them with the loss of Price, but they simply have to beat that team.

Comment by Dave in Orlando 03.22.08 @ 4:57 pm

[…] I knew it was good for me to write about Pitt’s season having already been enough. Win or lose against Michigan State, it was enough. I’ve already reread that post five times – I’m positive it’s kept me from saying something I’ll regret later. I’ve had about 40 hours to digest it – I think it’s time to move on. […]


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