This can’t be easy. After UNC blitzed them, they start the Big East with Pitt and then UConn. In a one week span they will face the Nos. 1-3 ranked teams (for this week). That’s unprecedented in that kind of time span. And just for good measure they have to play Marquette and Syracuse in the two games after that.
That said, especially after last year, I don’t really feel any pity for the Scarlet Knights. A bit of revenge is what most want. It also means that Pitt won’t be taking Rutgers lightly.
Despite the Scarlet Knights’ upset losses at home, Pitt coach Jamie Dixon doesn’t have to look far to motivate his team for Wednesday afternoon’s game. Last season, Rutgers had a 9-11 record before it went on a 20-2 run in the second half to upset then-No. 13 Pitt 77-64 in Pittsburgh.
“You can’t have any type of letdown, because as our Rutgers game proved last season, it will result in a loss,” Brown said.
Naturally, any trip to New York or New Jersey involves a homecoming and stories of former teammates/close friends facing off. The reigning Big East Rookie of the Week, Mike Rosario and Travon Woodall are in slightly different places.
While Rosario leads the Scarlet Knights in scoring and minutes, Woodall sits behind Levance Fields at the point guard spot for a Pitt team that is the defending Big East tournament champion and is looking to make a run at an NCAA championship.
“I’m just trying to work my way back into the rotation,” Woodall said. “Playing behind Levance is tough because he rarely comes out of the game.”
“He just has to wait his turn,” Rosario said. “When you have older, experienced players in front of you, the only thing you can do is observe and pick up things. And that’s what he’s doing now, he’s picking up a lot of things that Levance does well and a lot of things that will help them win at the point guard spot. So that’s what’s making him a better player, too, because he’s getting better in practice by just going against him.”
Woodall also needs to get some confidence back. In the limited minutes he has seen, he has looked very unsure of himself out there. Not uncommon for a freshman, but he’s not going to be seeing a lot of minutes to find his bearings.
On the subject of point guards, Levance Fields says he is all the way back from his injury. Coach Dixon, would not say that when factoring in conditioning issues.
“I’m good,” Fields said. “I’ve been 100 percent since I got on the court. Every time I’m out there, I’m fine.”
But while Fields said he is fully healed — his foot is healthy and he’s in top condition — coach Jamie Dixon said his star point guard isn’t quite there yet.
“No,” said Dixon, when asked if Fields is back to his former self. “There’s no question. I mean, 11 months is 11 months. He’s getting better, and that’s all we can ask.”
Coach Dixon also felt the need to issue a correction on something else.
Never once, Dixon said, did he tell anyone that this Pitt basketball team is the best team that he has had.
“I’d never say that now,” Dixon said. “Best teams aren’t determined in December or January or February.”
It’s a good thing Dixon doesn’t hold grudges. That’s especially true in this case because the guy who misquoted him was Pitt forward Sam Young. It’s never good to be mad at your star player.
…
“What I said was they could be our best team,” Dixon said. “I made that real clear. I say that every year. It’s up to them …
“I made it real evident to the seniors that they have to do things they haven’t ever done before. They have to lead like never before. They have to do all of the little things like never before. They have to limit distractions like never before.
“They’ve done a good job so far, but there will be more [challenges] along the way.”
Sam Young was quoted, uh, paraphrasing what Coach Dixon has been saying.
