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December 26, 2008

Yes, Yes I Know Perimeter Shooting

Filed under: Basketball,Internet,Media — Chas @ 10:03 am

Plenty of people questioning the ability of Pitt to go deep in March with their offense. Specifically the struggles on the perimeter. One exception would be Mike DeCourcy. He points out that Memphis got to the national championship game shooting nearly the same clip. Pitt at least shoots less 3s than Memphis. Which means that the team is less dependent on them or necessarily doomed if it is a cold shooting perimeter night.

But typically you can find — even in the most supportive writers — this from Fran Fraschilla (Inisder subs):

Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon: One more outside shooter
I love a lot about the Panthers, most of all their toughness. The defense and rebounding will keep them in virtually every game this season. And Dixon’s “foundation” of DeJuan Blair, Sam Young and Levance Fields rivals anyone this side of Chapel Hill. If there is an Achilles’ heel, at the moment, it is their inconsistent 34 percent outside shooting. Freshman Ashton Gibbs, who hails from the same high school as former Panthers star Brandin Knight, might be the guy who can help the most.

Or FoxSports.com’s Jeff Goodman:

Pittsburgh (12-0) — I’m not sold on the fact that Pittsburgh is the No. 3 team in the country, but the Panthers are certainly a team capable of making an Elite Eight or even a Final Four run. Jamie Dixon’s team is built around three players — point guard Levance Fields, versatile forward Sam Young and big man DeJuan Blair. Jermaine Dixon gives the Panthers a lock-down defender on the perimeter, but Pittsburgh still needs to find a consistent perimeter shooter.
Notches: Siena, Washington State, Texas Tech
Formidable Test: Jan. 3 at Georgetown
Key Question: Will the Panthers make enough perimeter shots when it matters?

I’m not saying I’m not concerned. I’m just waiting to see how things play out after the first week or two of Big East play. That’s when we’ll have a better sense of how things are really going.  Not to mention seeing the rotation really settle more.





Any chance of the Pitt-Rutgers Big East opener being moved from the 2:00 pm slot, assuming the Sun Bowl at the same time can’t? If not, guess we’ll have to find that ultimate sports bar with both games on the big screen.

Comment by Tim Dawson 12.26.08 @ 1:38 pm

Any brave souls going to the RU game along with me? There’s a new verb on campus, to be “rutgered.” The team will need our support.

Comment by steve 12.26.08 @ 4:42 pm

I was there for that abysmal game at the Pete when we got “Rutgered” — it was horrendous. Fortunately, this is a better Pitt team, and Rutgers will be coming off of a beat down at the hands of UNC. By the way, I know Levance is trying to get healthy after this foot injury. But, it’s hard to say he’s making much progress…3 points and 4 assists in 37 minutes against FSU — not gonna cut it.

Comment by Pitt fan 12.26.08 @ 5:21 pm

Levance will be fine, it’s just a matter of getting the conditioning in order. Once he sheds a couple of more pounds and game tests the foot a bit more, he will be back up to form.

Comment by Orange Julius Page 12.26.08 @ 6:02 pm

Tickets to that game should be free. Everyone’s going to be watching the Sun Bowl. Please don’t let us get Rutgered, steve!

Comment by maz. 12.26.08 @ 6:04 pm

Also, Aaron Gray with his third career double-double (and his first of the season) in 25 minutes here so far tonight.

Comment by maz. 12.26.08 @ 7:13 pm

there’s no chance the game is gonna get moved. just dvr the hoop game and watch it after the sun bowl

Comment by jtads14 12.26.08 @ 10:43 pm

Is the hoop game even nationally televised?

If not, I’m just watching the Sun Bowl. If it is, I’ll use the button on the remote that switches back and forth between two channels (it has several different names depending on the brand of TV). That button, by the way, is the single most underrated idea in television history.

Quick question, does anyone have an extra copy of the SI with Pitt DeJuan Blair on the cover? It was only a regional thing, and didn’t get the Pitt cover here in Florida.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my dad 12.26.08 @ 10:49 pm

Jimbo, follow this link for the SI cover.

Click here: link to sicovers.com

Comment by Ann 12.27.08 @ 12:29 am

Jimbo: the game’s on Full Court, which I think probably means 360 as well, which means there are 19 people scattered across this great land of ours, most of whom live in insulated-bunkers, who can actually watch the game.

Comment by maz. 12.27.08 @ 11:29 am

The hoops game is on Fox Sports Pittsburgh here in the Western PA area. I’m doing exactly what jtads says – watch the bowl game and DVR the hoops, hoping the tickers don’t give too much away.

Happy New Year to everyone.

Comment by KeyboardKev 12.27.08 @ 12:01 pm

steve, I will try to break away for the Pitt-Rutgers game at the RAC. Understandably, the NJ Pitt Alumni group apparently does not have anything planned. It’s not the season for bringing everyone together. I’ll probably see you at an anticipated Pitt function before the Seton Hall game 2/28/09 (although we will both be incognito).

Comment by BigGuy 12.27.08 @ 1:51 pm

Try to stop by at the RU game, BigGuy. Section 202, row O. I’m small (and getting smaller as the years pass by), glasses, with a few red hairs left. I’ll be wearing my good luck ’89 Pitt script warm up with the name (Nate) Bailey on the back.

Comment by steve 12.27.08 @ 4:47 pm

Steve-
I’ll be there for Rutgers with my parents. Not sure of the seats but I’ll stop over and say hi if you wanna talk Pitt basketball at halftime!

Comment by merlin 12.27.08 @ 10:12 pm

steve, merlin, if I am able to break away from work, I will look for you. I am sure you know that the BB game will also be televised over one of the MSG channels. I already set my TV recorder.

Comment by BigGuy 12.28.08 @ 12:23 am

Looking forward to dissecting the Rosario Woodall matchup with you.

Comment by steve 12.28.08 @ 4:50 am

If anyone lives in Shadyside, then the William Penn Tavern off Walnut will have both games on side by side. Stop by if you can.

Comment by Omar 12.28.08 @ 11:09 am

O/T: Is Jacquizz Rodgers officially out for the Sun Bowl?

Comment by maz. 12.28.08 @ 11:09 am

I read this morning in the PG that he’s officially out.

Comment by The Hagen 12.28.08 @ 1:12 pm

Kind of a shame about Rodgers. I know it helps Pitt’s chances of winning the game but I would have loved to see McCoy and Rodgers in the same game, and to be able to say we beat OSU at full strength as opposed to without their top weapon.

Comment by merlin 12.28.08 @ 3:08 pm

Give me a win, no matter how we get it. Its not like we recruit against anyone who is picking between us and Oregon State, which is the only way that it would matter whether they were at full strength. 10 wins and a bowl victory would be GIGANTIC to build on.

Comment by maz. 12.28.08 @ 6:19 pm

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