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January 3, 2009

Immediate Accolades

Filed under: Basketball,Big East,Conference,Internet,Media — Chas @ 11:33 pm

First, barring any shocks tomorrow, Pitt will be #2 and it won’t be in dispute. Pitt is off until the 11th.

The acceleration of news cycle. Bloggers and such, means that sports news orgs are now getting instant opinion stuff out on big games. There was little competition when Pitt-Georgetown was on other than Ohio St.-Minnesota or the International Bowl.

That meant quick love for Pitt.

So it’s time to cement Pitt as the Big East favorite and biggest threat to North Carolina this side of Tyler Hansbrough jumping off a house, breaking his leg and ending his career prematurely, because the Panthers were fantastic at Georgetown, grabbing nearly as many offensive rebounds (18) as the Hoyas did total rebounds (20) thanks to a 20-point, 17-board effort from sophomore DaJuan Blair.

That’s strong.

That’s convincing.

That’s why the Panthers should be the unanimous No. 2 team in the country.

And just so we’re clear, it’s not that I ever doubted Pitt, because it’s always been clear that the Panthers have a great coach (Jamie Dixon), some great experienced talent (Sam Young and Levance Fields) and a developed habit of winning. It’s just that I have trouble pushing teams to the top of the rankings when they haven’t beaten anybody of note (that, by the way, is the reason I have UCLA ranked lower than the Bruins are in both the AP and Coaches poll), and entering this weekend the Panthers were 13-0 with their best win coming by single digits over a Florida State team that had previously lost by double digits to Northwestern.

Meantime: No. 1 North Carolina had wins over Michigan State, Notre Dame and Kentucky; No. 2 Connecticut had wins over Wisconsin, Miami and Gonzaga; No. 4 Oklahoma had wins over Davidson, Purdue and Southern California; and No. 5 Duke had wins over Michigan, Purdue and Xavier.

In other words, Pitt’s resume was less impressive than the other four teams in the top five of the latest AP poll.

Before anyone starts complaining, even before the game Gary Parrish said Pitt was the #2 team in the country.

The game returned a lot of attention to Blair in the context of Pitt making a statement.

The Pittsburgh players termed their game against Georgetown a statement game, a chance to disprove those who believed the Panthers’ No. 3 ranking was built on nothing more concrete than a cloud of underachieving opponents.

The Hoyas were the perfect foil. Just five days earlier, they went into Connecticut and stomped the second-ranked Huskies. Now they were gunning for No. 3 in a building where they hadn’t lost since January 2007, a stretch of 29 consecutive games.

The Panthers got their statement, a 70-54 victory that now stands as John Thompson III’s worst home loss since the first game of his Georgetown career.

Blair provided the exclamation point. The sophomore almost single-handedly outrebounded the Hoyas, pulling down 17 boards to Georgetown’s 21, and chipped in 20 points to cement the double-double.

“Of course that inspires me,” Blair said of the lovefest that encompasses Thabeet and Monroe but never him. “I always have to show people more. It’s been that way my whole life, so I don’t really care about what people say about them. I’d rather just prove what I’m all about.”

“We know people were saying, ‘Yeah but who did Pitt play?'” Blair said.

When the Panthers gathered in the huddle, they actually said “statement game.”

“Yeah I heard that,” Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon said. “We didn’t bring a banner or anything along to practice but I heard them say that. We’re getting better. To me, that’s our statement.”

Of course, that also means welcoming having the target on the backs. Pitt is at the top of the Big East food chain at the moment.

After months of playing second-fiddle to Big East powers UConn and Louisville, the Panthers weren’t ready to let the Hoyas become the new talk of the town after their surprising defeat of the Huskies on Monday. Instead, Blair and his frontcourt partner and roommate Tyrell Biggs dominated the game inside, leaving the Hoyas struggling for any chance at the boards. The two combined for 34 points in the paint while Blair pulled down a Hoya-heartbreaking 18 boards.

“That’s my roommate. We’re best friends,” Blair said after deferring some of the credit to Biggs. “We’re trying to be the best frontcourt in the nation.”

And as big of a statement game for Pitt as this win was, it was also a coming out party for Blair. The sophomore said he had been concentrating on proving that along with his team being the best, he, in fact, was the premiere center in the Big East — not Uconn’s Hasheem Thabeet or Monroe, whom he had played with at the Amare Stoudemaire Skills Camp in June.

At the end of the game, it was very clearly heard the contingent of Pitt fans in the Verizon Center. In the comments, the size was put as significant. The Hoya fans were aware of it as well.

(11:54 am) There are a whole lot of Pittsburgh fans here. A bunch scattered in the lower bowl, and then practically all of the upper deck. So far, they’re louder than the Hoya fans.

(1:52 pm) Summers gets his season high today with those free throws. Hoyas are still down by 18, though, and the Pitt fans are getting a bit obnoxious.

Only “a bit?”





OK! I went to the game yesterday with some other PITT fans – my first PITT BB game since the 1970’s – and loved it. This team plays great basketball and is very disciplined. Blair was great to watch against the taller kids also, he’s excellent at using his body for position.

However, that Summers kid from G-Town may have been the best player on the court yesterday. I don’t know what year he is – but he has ice water in his veins.

Regarding the PITT fans in attendance. I was up in the upper deck surrounded by the “Zoo” and other PITT fans and can say that we did make a lot of noise. I was really impressed by how civil everyone was though.

Honestly, if that G-Town fan thought the PITT fans were ‘obnoxious” then he has the thinnest skin ever.

P/S: PITT girls are better looking than G-Town girls.

Comment by Reed 01.04.09 @ 6:56 am

read a statement in one of the Pgh papers where Gil Brown said his shouder is fine .

8 day layoff and then 2 home games against lower tier BE teams, then it starts hitting the fan. But,as coach says, we have to keep improving. I thought their passing as a team was far and away the best I’ve seen all year.

UConn and G-Town, to a lesser extent, is more a collecion of big talent but not necessarily a team. Pitt is somewhat the opposite

Comment by w bill 01.04.09 @ 8:36 am

I was at the game and I think the G’town blogger used the word “obnoxious” because Pitt fans started chanting “This is our house” at the 1:29 mark (right around the time of Summers’ FTs). Great job Pitt fans! I think Gtown is still on break so I was a bit underwhelmed by their student section, band, cheerleaders, etc.

Comment by C 01.04.09 @ 9:05 am

What is beginning to impress me most about Pitt basketball is it’s identity. The players change but the team stays the same. It’s amazing.

I’m not saying the talent levels don’t fluctuate, or one team isn’t better than another. The characteristics are just so constant, the bruising physical nature of the team was just the same before any of the current players were even recruited.

I think having that identity helps every aspect of the program, from recruiting to national recognition to wins. Say what you want about its play in the NCAA Tournament, the Panthers have found a system that works, they are sticking with it and improving upon it every year. I love it.

The Pitt football team is sticking with its system too…, but, well that’s like with a broken down car.

Comment by Keith 01.04.09 @ 9:09 am

The twin technicals: Slo mo shows Summers going right to Fields after a time out, either expecting Fields to give way or wanting to go.

I think Summers should’ve received the lone technical (but what they said to each other may have been the deal breaker).

You gotta love Fields’ feistiness. How about the steal from, and foul by, Summers late in the game?

His hubris sets the tone. Hail to Pitt!

Comment by steve 01.04.09 @ 9:52 am

As far as “identity” I disagree. This is the most different Pitt team offensively that I have seen.
Coach Dixon is allowing them to play “open” bball with quick early shots and not making them work the full shot clock on every possesion. I have never seen him green light this kind of shooting …ever.

Comment by dan 72 01.04.09 @ 10:01 am

Two guotes from today’s NYT article worth a look:

On Blair’s smile:

“I’ve got good teeth,” Blair, a sophomore, said. “Why not show them off?”

On Blair’s trimming down this season:

“The one thing is,” Wanamaker said, “we make sure he does still eat.”

Comment by steve 01.04.09 @ 10:19 am

One of the best complete games Pitt has ever played. A nice win in a tough place to play, especially for us. I would have never thought we would win easily, if anything I expected a 2 or 3 point nail biter. Blair is a beast whenever he decides to be.

When will the press start asking DW if he plans to fire Cavanaugh?

Comment by Rex 01.04.09 @ 10:39 am

Keith’s comment about the team’s identity is right on. The toughness of the team has remained through all of Jaime’s teams. I enjoy tough, hard-working, blue collar basketball, and the Pitt hoops program has stayed that way since Ben H was here. That is much different than any other program that I can think of over the past 6-8 years. I’m encouraged by seeing guys like Gilbert Brown, Wannamaker, and Biggs show improvement already this year. If we can go 9 players deep with the same toughness through the line-up, we will keep beating the shit out of our opponents. It would be great if McGee continues to improve and feeds off Blair and company – he has the size and body to intimidate people. The tougness and nasty rebounding that we showed yesterday will be HUGE for the remaining Big East schedule. Hail to Pitt!!! Great job to the team and the coaches for representing Pitt proud!!! … and hang in there everyone – our football team is improving nicely and will keep getting better!

Comment by Dishman 01.04.09 @ 11:12 am

Maybe if the G’town fans don’t like Pitt’s “obnoxious” fans, then they should stop selling their tickets to them. Just sour grapes from one of the most arrogent fan bases north of Durham. They just can’t accept that their time is past and that Pitt is now a Big East and national power in college basketball.

Comment by hail2pitt 01.04.09 @ 1:55 pm

Did anyone notice something going on between Sam Young and the fans in the front row? Just over 7 minutes into the game, Young hit a 3 from the corner and I think there was some sort of words exchanged. On tape you can see Young giving a look to the fans as he goes down court. At the next break in play, the ref was talking to someone at the scoring table. I watched the guy he talked to and he got an usher and they went over to talk to the fans on the other side of the court in the front row. Any thoughts on what might have been said to Young?

hail2pitt – don’t tempt them to restrict tickets sales to fans from the Burgh. A few years ago the owner of the Caps (Leonsis) blocked sales for a playoff game to phone numbers from the 412 area code. Not sure why the league didn’t do something.

Comment by C 01.04.09 @ 2:23 pm

I think a lot of Georgetown fans are frustrated by the fact that we’ve played them tough for a few years now. For whatever reason, we give them a tough game even when they lose. It’s makes them nervous that they can’t count on us as one of their victories – especially since the BE has become as tight as it has at the top.

Comment by Shawn 01.04.09 @ 2:48 pm

I think it was Pitt’s most dominant game since Chevy Troutman went off at UConn that time. I still haven’t come down from it.

Comment by Mark 01.04.09 @ 3:05 pm

GO BC!! UP 6 AT HALF AT CAROLINA!

Comment by maz. 01.04.09 @ 6:33 pm

BC BY 14!! GO EAGLES!!!

Comment by maz. 01.04.09 @ 7:13 pm

Never thought I’d be rooting for BC…

Comment by steve 01.04.09 @ 7:17 pm

Wow, I can’t believe more people aren’t on here commenting! That PG for BC is sick (although he’s definitely had better games).

They’re a young team, but they play with so much confidence. I definitely don’t think anyone wants to run into them in the tourney.

Comment by Maile Man 01.04.09 @ 7:32 pm

Fortunately, BC runs out of gas in the tournament every year. Sound familiar? Ugh.

Hang on here, Eagles!

Comment by maz. 01.04.09 @ 7:37 pm

BC is doing their best to gag this game away. Nice Travel!

Comment by Orange Julius Page 01.04.09 @ 7:38 pm

Everyone is so high on NC. Any chance Pitt WONT be No. 1 if NC loses?

Comment by Keith 01.04.09 @ 7:39 pm

It seems that every time that anyone sneezes on Hansjoke they are gong to get a foul called on them.

Comment by Orange Julius Page 01.04.09 @ 7:40 pm

Before this Carolina game:

RealTimeRPI rankings (SOS)
Pitt 1 (3)
UNC 8 (82)

Comment by maz. 01.04.09 @ 7:40 pm

i second that…..will pitt be no 1? that would be beautiful

Comment by chris 01.04.09 @ 7:40 pm

No chance that Pitt doesn’t ascend to #1 if UNC loses this game. See above RPI, I think we are getting votes for #1 either way.

Comment by maz. 01.04.09 @ 7:41 pm

Unbelievable

Comment by Maile Man 01.04.09 @ 7:42 pm

They cannot rebound to save their lives…

Comment by Maile Man 01.04.09 @ 7:43 pm

Weak foul call. I thought it should have been a jump ball. Hansjoke is soft.

Comment by Orange Julius Page 01.04.09 @ 7:43 pm

Does BC rebound the ball, like, ever?

I know Hansborough is already beloved by the refs, but is he really not capable of travelling? He does so about every second time he gets the ball. Including, and I have DVR evidence to back me up here, taking 5 steps (including shuffling his feet) before dunking and no one saying anything about it. Unreal.

Comment by maz. 01.04.09 @ 7:43 pm

Yeah, that last call was definitely a tie up (The one with Hansbrough). I have never appreciated Pitt’s rebounding any more than watching this game and the Oregon/UCLA game earlier.

Comment by Maile Man 01.04.09 @ 7:45 pm

Their Senior PG is MONEY (as long as he hits these)

Comment by Maile Man 01.04.09 @ 7:46 pm

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOUR NEW NUMBER ONE: THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH PANTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by maz. 01.04.09 @ 7:48 pm

WOW #1!!!!!!!!

Cele-brate good Obama come on….(Please tell me someone saw that South Park)

Comment by Maile Man 01.04.09 @ 7:48 pm

Ready to be Number 1 tomorrow! WOOOOO!

Comment by Orange Julius Page 01.04.09 @ 7:48 pm

Richly deserved, the Panthers will have a few days to savor their new spot on top before they have to get ready for Sunday’s game. We should get a few weeks on top, too, since we have two less-tough games in the next two weeks. Its been a long time coming. Thanks, especially, to Michigan for beating Duke, or else they’d be #1 now.

Comment by maz. 01.04.09 @ 7:50 pm

Number 1, Number 1!

And guess what? We’d beat ’em! They’re soooo skinny.

Comment by steve 01.04.09 @ 7:50 pm

Yea, thanks BC!

Comment by Brian 01.04.09 @ 7:50 pm

Maile-man,

Tremendous reference. I actually just punched my boss while waiving my Obama sign at a South Oakland bonfire.

Comment by Orange Julius Page 01.04.09 @ 7:50 pm

YEAAAAAAAAAAA PITT … loving it #1

Comment by ryan 01.04.09 @ 7:52 pm

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GO PITT

Comment by chris 01.04.09 @ 7:53 pm

So much for that unbeatable UNC squad. Being #1 is well deserved and we should brace ourselves for the “team to beat” talk. UNC might still be a better skilled team but Pitt hearts outweigh a truck right now.

Comment by Panthoor 01.04.09 @ 7:56 pm

Unbelievable! What a weekend! Number 1 for the first time in school history. That is awesome!!!

Comment by omar 01.04.09 @ 7:56 pm

Hilarious, OJP – one of my favorite episodes.

This is unbelievable. Even though it’s still way to early to be celebrating, just to be #1 in the polls is big for stuff like recruiting. Barring a loss similar to the one UNC had against a VERY good team next Sunday against St. Johns, we should hold the ranking for two weeks. That’s a big deal and well deserved…this isn’t one of those years where you could say we ‘fell’ into the spot like some teams do…they truly deserve it.

Congrats!

Comment by Maile Man 01.04.09 @ 7:58 pm

UNC is a really good team, but they are not the 1990 Runnin Rebels of UNLV as BC clearly demonstrated. If Pitt hustled to get back on defense, then I see no reason why we cannot play with, and beat, UNC.

Comment by omar 01.04.09 @ 7:58 pm

Man I wish I was off work tomorrow…a few shots of Crown have already been consumed (with presumably many more coming).

Comment by Maile Man 01.04.09 @ 7:59 pm

Yeah, I thought we could play with them before this game…truthfully, the way BC played in the last two minutes, I thought they were going to choke it away. UNC couldn’t make a shot at the end to save their lives. Their press against a young team and 3-4 offensive rebounds on each possession/free throws kept them in it. But an experienced and solid rebounding team could clearly play with them.

Comment by Maile Man 01.04.09 @ 8:01 pm

Gentlemen,

I would like to remind you of the biological concept of symbiosis.

How bad ass will it be at our recruiting weekend this week when the NUMBER ONE Pittsburgh Panthers take on St. John’s? Time for the Zoo to show these jokers some love and blow the roof off of the Pete!

Comment by Orange Julius Page 01.04.09 @ 8:03 pm

Fittipaldo chimes in, as excited as we are:

link to post-gazette.com

Comment by steve 01.04.09 @ 8:17 pm

Forget #2, Carolina went down tonight!

We’re #1 baby!!!!

And it might stay that way for awhile.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my dad 01.04.09 @ 8:22 pm

In that article, Fittipaldo says that Pitt hasn’t been #2 since 2002. Weren’t we #2 early in the season like two years ago?

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my dad 01.04.09 @ 8:29 pm

You are correct JCmd,

Pitt was ranked as high as #2 in the 06-07 for 3 weeks in late November to early December.

link to grfx.cstv.com

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Comment by Chas 01.04.09 @ 8:44 pm

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