The good thing about both of Pitt’s losses this season. There hasn’t been a lot of time to between the loss and the next game. Notre Dame tomorrow at noon. I expect it to be tough. The Domers have lost four straight. They have to be desperate. The scouting report is simple. You stay one-on-one with Harangody — he’s going to get his double-double — but completely shadow Kyle McAlarney. Keep him from getting free and dare anyone else on Notre Dame to beat you.
I guess in the big picture, it’s good for the Big East that Villanova got the big win. They were severely lacking in quality wins, so that helps their NCAA Tournament resume.
Bad shooting in the second half — yes, techincally, Pitt shot a decent 9-20 but they were 0-8 on 3s — was created in no small part by settling too much for jump shots. Credit the ‘Nova defense with a good portion of that. They really locked down in the second half to stop the penetration.
The other part of the problem for too much jump shooting was no one inside with Blair hit with foul troubles. Only one foul upset me as being a weak call. The bigger problem was Blair not being smart when drawn outside. It’s one thing to bump a bit inside, especially against another big guy. It is something very different to be out in space from the basket and knocking a guard off.
There is still no reason to panic. I do wish the team would show more in adjusting to how the refs are calling the game. The team is saying the right things, but they actually have to do it.
Sure, I would prefer Miller keeping his redshirt as opposed wo what happened to Lucas Nix this year or Dorin Dickerson 2 years ago, BUT again this may be the year and they have no frontcourt depth …. plues they are likely to have an ample number of talent front court personnel 3 years from now
Basketball is a game of momentum. Dixon also sometimes replaces his starters too early when they breakout early as in the Villinova game. After eight minutes they believed they were over matched and the Pitt starters were in the “zone.” Poung the nail further and break their spirit.
Believe me, if this was like most other Pitt teams with little chance of getting past the Sweet 16, I wouldn’t be suggesting this … but this year, I believe you should leave no stone unturned.
McGhee did not contribute in the 2nd half, and Pitt was forced to use a frontcourt of 6’6, 6’6 and 6’5 down the stretch
I’m not sure what you people want from a backup center…he’s shown he’s learned some post moves, and he’s further along than Gray was at this point – considering this is his second year and Gray already would have had 1 RS and 2 playing years.
Leave the kid alone…what our players need to do is learn to finish shots when getting decked, cause more often than not you’re not going to get the call if your jersey says “Pitt”…
As for second guessing Jamie Dixon… All of you can Shut the F–K up right now!
Next I will be reading that we need a Pittsburgh guy to coach this team?!?!?!??!
Coach Dixon could get another job in a minute. He’s taken this team to where it is nationally and he has done this with players that other top 20 schools didn’t want.
He is has done a flat out great job as a coach.
Nonetheless, blogs like these are for us coaching wannabes, and it because we are all passionate fans of the Panthers … and I personally believe there are some legitimate constructive criticisms that are posted here.
An example — anyone who has followed Pitt sports blog over the past few years knew that the criticism of fb def coordinator Paul Rhoads passive style of defense, from 2003 thru the embarassing Navy game of last year, where his teams gave up rushing yards in spades. I, for one, detested how all the LBs lined up 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and tey and the DL barely ever made penetration to disrupt the offense. All of sudden last year 07, Pitt starts blitzing and begins attacking resulting in Wanny’s 1st win against a ranked opponent (Cincy), and that defense has done very well ever since (except Rutgers 08) … and I read that one of the reasons Wanny picked Bennett last ear for DC was his aggressive defensive style
ltl sometimes Dixon does substitute, or call a timeout, when Pitt is on a run. It does tend to kill some momentum. I guess he feels like it is a good time to steal some minutes for the starters or that it is better to throw the subs in with a lead or the momentum. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn’t. You can’t argue with Dixon’s results.
Wannamaker played great on Wednesday and deserved more minutes. The guy who has been a complete disappointment so far is Gil Brown. He isn’t even the sixth man anymore, Wannamaker is. Brown needs to step up for Pitt big time. We need his energy and athleticism. Hopefully he does today.
Gil Brown can jump with the best of them … but he is a thin 6’6 who is not suited for playing the 4 or 5. McGhee is a solid 6’10 but unathletic and frequently uneffective. Robinson is 6’5. Miller is 6’8, 230 lbs, and the last two things I read about him in the Post-Gazette over the past month is how Dixon loves his ahleticism.
anyway this is a huge game today. if we lose we may drop out of the top ten. nd’s backs are against the wall. they are in danger of a free fall. I have been waiting to see blair vs harangody with great anticipation. i hope the big fella has a statement game. LETS GO PITT!
Pitt better start playing like it…
“Just go down and hock threes all day, boys!”
That’s not basketball.
And geez Sam…
1) he has been practicing with the team
2) there was no large body, other than McGhee, to defend or rebound when Blair and Biggs were in foul trouble, and it is naive to think it won’t happen again … and by all accounts, Miller is much more athletic than Mchee; he outplayed Mcghee in the summer league
3) what is the value of redshirting Miller when this team has a chance to go far and needs all the frontcourt depth plus the fact there are 3 big bodies coming in next year
I’m not implying that Miller will be real effective, but there well may be a game in late March when they will need a key rebund or two, or more inside defense when Blair and/or Biggs have to sit