I did not see last night’s 92-72 win over Robert Morris. That leaves the box score info and media recaps to base the discussion.
The first thing that jumps out from the recaps is Coach Jamie Dixon really wasn’t enthusiastic about playing Robert Morris.
One of Rice’s reasons to play Pitt was for the sheer fun of it. Where’s the fun in losing, like the Colonials have to Miami (Fla.) and Xavier, ranked teams that appeared prior to Pitt on the schedule? Rice quickly pointed to the 12-1 second-half surge that nearly brought the Colonials back against a team which could win a national championship.
For the record, Dixon didn’t want to play Robert Morris. Doesn’t want to again, or at least while Rice is there.
“Mike really wanted to do it,†Dixon said.
If he does not want to play an assistant who was there for a year — two years ago — then maybe he’s being sincere about not liking the idea of facing Howland at UCLA if at all possible. This matters not just for the Arizona talk, but because Oregon is looking increasingly likely to make a change. Or it could be coaching paranoia about facing an assitant that might still have a good feel to plan against the players.
I have to say, if Pitt keeps building and sending assistants to new jobs, he’s going to have to change the philosophy and embrace it. There’s a bit of a coaching tree in the works.
Robert Morris shot extremely, extremely well in the course of the whole game.
Robert Morris shot even better than Pitt, hitting 57.4 percent from the field, the best of any Pitt opponent this season. Fields credited Rice’s offense.
“They did a good job,” Fields said. “They played real hard. They executed all the plays (Rice) called. They kept fighting. Every time they got an open shot, they didn’t miss. Some teams get open shots and they miss. Every time they had a chance, they made it.”
Pitt shot 66.7 percent from the field in the first half and led 53-33 the break. Pitt was 18 of 27 from the field and 7 of 11 from 3-point range.
Turnovers and rebounds, however, were a decided advantage for Pitt.
But unforced turnovers — the Colonials had 19 — and Pitt’s dominance on the boards — the Colonials only had two offensive rebounds and were outrebounded, 33-21 — started their demise.
“I thought we moved the ball well and we showed the versatility that we do have in the second half,” Rice said. “It’s difficult against the size, strength and discipline Pitt has.”
The size and strength of Pitt was on display with Pitt getting 33 FT attempts to RMU’s 15. After going 10-12 in the first half, Pitt was only 12-21 in the second.
Sam Young had a solid shooting night against the Colonials. Going for 23 points on 8-13 (and 7-8 on FTs) and no 3-point shots. It isn’t something to really take too seriously yet. You hope it sparks him out of the slump going forward.
Coach Dixon would not publicly rip his team — as his approach has generally been — but there is definitely something in the underlying words suggesting that the uneven effort in this game will not be acceptable going forward.
Jamie Dixon said he would have liked for his team to finish the game better than they did, but attributed the lackluster second-half effort to a variety of things, including a quick turnaround after playing Saturday with the Steelers winning the Super Bowl in between.
“We had a 20-point lead in the first half,” he said. “In some ways you’d like to make it another 20 in the second half. But they played hard and made shots. They’re very good offensively. I’m glad to see they’re doing so well.”
Unsaid was the defensive effort, or lack of it at time.
In the past couple games, Ashton Gibbs has gotten confident in taking shots not yet in the press conference.
Ashton Gibbs sat alongside Levance Fields in the postgame press conference, and the hot spotlights made the usually gregarious Pitt guard a little nervous.
Meanwhile, Fields, the old pro at this seemingly daily Q-and-A, dribbled away with answers and perspectives and suggestions.
Clearly, Gibbs didn’t belong up there with Fields.
But after another solid performance in Monday’s 92-72 win over non-conference and crosstown opponent Robert Morris at the Petersen Events Center, Gibbs is showing why he belongs in Fields’ backcourt.
Gibbs had three 3-pointers in 15 minutes, making that 22 points in two games for the true freshman.
“Getting in the gym every day and practicing hard made me more confident in my game,†he said, his only words into the microphone all night.
Know your cliches. Trust them. They are your friend.
superbowl is over…time for pitt hoops
i’ve noticed the same things you have, but i just think that is how he is. let’s just hope he snaps out of his shooting slump sooner rather than later.
it has been painful watching Sam walking around hanging his head, showing non-interest in team huddles if he is out of the game. Loafing around when calls go against him. Absolutely zero support for other teammates in the game. The guys doesn’t have to be a crazy hoopla guy, but it would be nice if he showed some interest. I think as a senior and leader, he needs a serious attitude adjustment when things aren’t going his way. If they are he’s great, but if they aren’t, he looses interest.
Even Louisville only has Earl Clark over Biggs. T-Will and Sam Young is a wash. UCONN has Dyson over Dixon and Adrien over Biggs. I don’t know about Thabeet over Blair.
blairs only faults are his shooting away from the basket and his propensity to get too emotional..he’s good for at least one tickeytack foul after a miss (but honestly, most kids are good for one of those a night)….he handles the ball incredibly for a big man….he even brought the ball up once after a steal and it wasnt ugly..he did a great job….
Ryan, I saw on TV a guy on stage today at the Steelers parade with a Pitt Basketball hoody but didn’t get a good look at his face — assumed that he was one of the players.
Harrangody (18 games) 25.1 PPG 172 FGM 359 FGA 47.9% FG% 13.2 rpg (next highest rpg is Hillesand at 5.4)
Blair (21 games) 14.9 PPG 131 FGM 220 FGA 59.5% FG% 12.9 RPG (Sam is next at 5.6)
analysis is that Harangody takes about twice the number of shots per game, he plays more minutes than Blair probably because he stays out of fould trouble since he plays little D
Gody doesn’t play any D and doesn’t rebound as well. He also has to take 400 shots to get his 20 points. That said, he is a very good player…and would start at Pitt in place of Biggs.
For the person who said Flynn would start over Fields: i’m glad you’re not our coach.
if Fields and Flynn play one on one, my bet is on Flynn. However, it is a team game and Fields make his fellow teammates much better. (note, a smilar argument about Koby vs Lebron. Koby may have better individual talent, but if he replaced Lebron on the Cavs, no way in hell would the Cavs have near the wins they now have)
– Blair is a beast, he was enthusiastic from before the opening tip til the final buzzer…that extended play where he dove for the save and then slammed home the rebound was one of the craziest plays ive ever seen……he’s fun to watch…..
– its going to hurt losing fields (alot), but i like the possibilities with a gibbs/dixon/wannamaker backcourt and having woodall and epps in the wings….
– sammy looks like he’s pressing, and he doesnt seem to be having fun out there….he mopes A LOT…and when he was taken out with 4 fouls, he was always the last off the bench during the huddle/time-outs…i hope im wrong, but it just seems like the team goes crazy with fields and blair but is subdued with young…i hope there isnt any inner rumblings, but it just seems like he wants to be the superstar, and gets angry that he isnt……..god i hope im wrong….
– the supporting cast has been fantastic…wannamaker, gibbs, brown and even nasir played great in their minutes….
– it was nice to see jamie stick with gibbs for the last 12 of the first when it was obvious he was hot..it was also smart of him to not give him too much down the stretch when we were protecting the lead…..i saw a post omar did a little back saying he was better then ramon, and i agree 100%…gibbs can play d and drive a lot better than ramon…his shot isnt as nice, but it falls more often than not……
– mcghee is goofy to watch, but he played well in his limited minutes d’ing up harangody…..
– harangody is great, but he can’t play against blair…..blair is a 10 foot jump shot away from being the best player in the country…..
– props to the zoo for being really loud the whole game..
– and the cheerleaders/dance team are more ‘talented’ then i remember from my days there……a few of them are stunning…..
all in all, a great experience, and a pleasure watching this team play……..