In both losses, Pitt had limited availability from Blair. That created the meme that Pitt can’t win without him on the court. Incorrect. Pitt can’t beat the best teams in the conference without him. Just like they couldn’t without Fields or Young on the court. UConn would struggle without Thabeet, Adrien or especially Price not playing. Villanova without Cunningham or Reynolds. Marquette without their guards and Hayward. Louisville without Terrance Williams, Samardo Samuels or Edgar Sosa.
Note, it isn’t whether they are playing well or not. It is whether they are playing. If those players aren’t on the court for big minutes, then teams can key in on just a couple other players. Always watch for the creeping jump that goes from not having your best players on the court to not having your best players play well.
We have been frustrated lately by Sam Young’s slumping play. The fact is, he needs to be out there. Having him out there, means that Young still needs to be accounted for by opposing teams. He helps open up the court for the rest of the team. Just like not having Blair out there, means teams can play further from the basket on defense and have more opportunities for rebounds. Even if the star players aren’t playing well, their presence matters.
Coach Dixon won’t let the team use the lack of Blair’s presense as an excuse.
“We’ve played without him before and we’ve won,” coach Jamie Dixon said.
That isn’t to say that Pitt wants to experiment playing without him.
That shows how much of an impact Blair can have for the Panthers when he’s in the game. And how much it hurts when he’s not.
“I think they can get through it, but having him is a big difference,” Bilas said. “Their efficiency is nowhere near the same when he’s out of the game. He’s the best offensive rebounder in the country, so you’re automatically going to get second shots. Plus, when he sets screens, they’re screened. He opens the floor for everybody else. You have to pay attention to him.
“I think their defensive lineup is a (heck) of a lot better with him in it.”
It’s obviously helpful that Pitt has gotten a lot of production from the bench — even if not a lot at Blair’s spot.
Gibbs is the top 3-point shooter in the conference, having made 26 of his 52 attempts (50 percent) from behind the 3-point arc. He is averaging 4.8 points overall.
Brown, who was supposed to be the top reserve, has been a steady, if unspectacular, contributor. He is averaging 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
But the player who is emerging as the top sixth man in the league is Wanamaker, who has been playing the best basketball of his short career in recent weeks. Wanamaker, who is averaging 7.9 points per game in Big East play (6.0 overall), has made 19 of his past 30 shots from the field and 9 of his past 15 3-point attempts. He is second only to Gibbs in 3-point shooting (46.3 percent) on the team.
“My confidence is sky high right now,” Wanamaker said. “When I see the ball going in the way it is now, that just makes me want to get to the gym every day and work harder.”
The strong play of the back-up guards has allowed Coach Dixon to go smaller at times and change the tempo. Even if Dixon isn’t completely comfortable with the pace.
