Not a great dunk.

Also about the future looking bright. Can we talk about:
Dwight Miller.
I arrived at the game this weekend about 2 hrs early to watch warmups. Pitt hadn’t started warming up at this point, but instead coach Sandal was taking Miller through an individual workout. A lot of the time he had miller picking and rolling to behind the 3 point line to pop a three. He had a very pretty stroke and to have a 6’9″ big man who can pop the three would be so valuable. The kid looked like a natural out there. It also says the coaches have confidence in him shooting this shot if they are working on it. I doubt Blair or McGhee work on that shot. Coach also had him faking and driving to the basket. For his size he looks very quick and explosive off the floor to the rim. I think the red shirt is going to pay off and this kid looks like he may be a stud some day. The best part: I don’t think he missed a free throw the whole workout.

that’s pretty sweet news. i actually worry about the abundance of forwards they’re going to have. i worry there won’t be enough p.t. to go around: zanna, taylor, miller, and richardson.

I agree, the redshirt was what this kid needed. I don’t know him personally and I haven’t seen him play but scouts say he is a better than great project. Hopefully he adds depth behind our fast food All-American next season. Richardson, if he stays with this class looks like a redshirt to me.

PF

Taylor -starter
Miller -first off bench
Zanna -depending on development, 3-8 mpg
Richardson -redshirt

I’m sure Jamie Dixon will play someone like Zanna as a Center if need be. If Blair comes back then we could potentially have a nastier front court than this season. Videos like these add to my excitement.

I actually saw Dwight on his way to the arena near Sutherland Hall that morning. He had a very determined look on his face and a ball under his arms. Yeah, I’ve been watching him in pre-game warm-ups and noticed that he can shoot. Looking forward to see what he can do. Can’t hurt that he practiced against Dejuan Blair and Sam Young every day…

Blair and Thabeet named Co Big East Players of the Year. What a joke. Putting Thabeet on the same level with Blair is an absolute joke. How can you be someone’s equal when that person so thoroughly embarassed you, including costing you millions of dollars and taking your manhood? What a complete joke.

What coaching idiots voted for Tabeet over Blair? Id love to see that ballot. Can we see it anywere?

I assume that Blair and Young split the Pitt vote and allowed Thabeet to share in POY. Oh , where was T Williams Chas? Place yourslef in the “clueless” category.

I think we’ve all watched Miller work out and warm up and he does look to have some bounce and finesse to his game.

If Blair comes back, then the frontcourt outlook is awesome. If he doesn’t, they’ll at least have big and talented bodies to throw out there, but it will be a total work in progress as we watch them mature into the college game.

The backcourt concerns me much more. We’re just not used to worrying about ballhandling and passing and rhythm in the halfcourt offense, because Fields has been taking care of that aspect of the game for years. We faced life without a PG when he went out last year, and it was painful to watch.

In fact, Pitt has played a style of halfcourt offense that requires the PG to handle the ball the huge majority of time for years on end (Krauser always had it, sometimes to the team’s detriment). Think how often the rock has to go back to Fields before anything happens in Pitt’s current offense — a few passes around the perimeter and then the ball back to Levance to get things started. I think next year, by necessity, will have to be different just because there’s nobody on the roster to replicate those skills.

How Dixon handles that gaping hole in his talent and skills mix will be the most interesting thing about Pitt hoops next year.

Thabeet POY share in spite of being out performed by almost every above average center in the league. Sure he dominated teams like Seton Hall, but I am pretty sure that Blair, Haragody, and Monroe all got the best of him. Blair performs his best against the best that is why he should have been hands down POY.
Thabeets games vs. good competition inside:
vs. Gonzaga: Thabeet 9pts 1 blk, 2 REB Heytvelt had 15 pts and 3 REB
vs. Georgetown: Thabeet 4pts, 7 blks, 7 reb/ Monroe 16 pts 3 reb
vs. ND: Thabeet 9 pts 5 blks 11reb/ but Harangody had 24 pts 1 blk 15 REBOUNDS!
vs. Pitt: Thabeet 8 pts, 3 blk, 10 reb BLAIR: 22 pts, 1 blk, 23 reb
vs. ND the second time; he clearly outplayed Harangody but still gave up 14 pts.
vs. Pitt second time: Blair sat a lot and he got some easy buckets but did nothing of a POY candidate.
Thabeet is the Defensive player of the year yes, but by no means is the POY in this league.

Yinzer: Your numbers are crazy high for Thabeet in the first game against Pitt. More like 4 pts, 4 reb, if I recall. Your point, however, is well-taken: Thabeet BLOWS.

good catch maz…i accidentally put up robinsons numbers…yes Thabeet was even less impressive 5 pts, 2 blks, and 4 REB…
Thabeet is the inverse of Harangody. Thabeet all D- no offense and not a very good reboudner…Harangody, no defense very good on offense…Put them together and yes then Thabeet could be co-player of the year…but shouldn’t be when compared to Blair…O well, you know it will just put a chip no Blair’s shoulder and he always play well when he has that.

Everyone bows to Calhoun, I love the guy, but we own Connecticut. Fine, I can’t wait for our players to school this conference. We are odds on favorite in Vegas (5-1) but were third in the Big easy. I’ve been waiting for this my entire life. Sam going to rip the postseason ala Melo.

I think Blair is going to stay. Especially if we only make it “just” to the Final Four and don’t win it all this year. (Of course I want us to win it all.)

He’s having too much fun being the BMOC to leave at this point.

Blair is as good as gone either way. Stock is as high as it is going to get and 3 other starters are leaving. Nobody in their right mind would project PITT being better next year with Blair than they were this year.

I get the feeling that Shady liked being BMOC more than Blair does, and he left Oakland for greener pastures.

I agree with Todd. Blair’s stock is way high and he’d be foolish to risk injury for another year. He’s a 1st rounder for sure.

“He’s a 1st rounder for sure”

A 6′-7″ center in the NBA? That’s interesting. I don’t think that Blair can play facing the basket so a center it is. The NBA “tryouts” should give Blair a good clue. I suspect (hope) he goes that route rather than hiring an agent right away ala Chris Taft.

Blair is gone….there is no point even discussing what things might look like if he comes back next year. This is a special team and a special year. Let’s enjoy the ride….we’re very fortunate. Hail to Pitt!

We shall see. ESPN reported this morning that Blair is hinting at returning next year.

The nice thing about college basketball/NBA is that he can actually go through the process (like Gray and Young before him) and get a true sense of where he is. Nobody is going to blame him for leaving if that’s what he chooses to do.

But to say with certainty that he “is as good as gone” or that “his stock is as high as its ever going to be” is foolish. An aspect of his game that would go a long way toward making him an even better player is the development of a face-up game (as BigGuy mentioned). Given the leaps and bounds others have made before him with this coaching staff I’d say there is a strong possibility that if he stayed we’d see an even more dangerous and dominant Blair next season. And that’s something that would certainly improve his stock even more.

Also, this seems like a decision that DeJuan with the support, not pressure, from his family.(something I still believe influenced Shady)

* Seems like a decision that Blair will be able to make with the support of his family, not pressure from his family like the games we saw being played with McCoy’s decision.

With all of the talk and all of the hype about Blair being co-POY, I am curious about what is going through Sam Young’s mind. I think that he thinks he was snubbed. Like all great players, Sam has an ego (although many players don’t publicly display it like Sam has in a few interviews). I believe that it was Sam’s ego that drove him to work as hard as he did to develop his skills and then to take control of the last UConn game. I hope that if Pitt does name an MVP for this season Sam is at least a co-recipient.

Young is definitely getting short shrift, so hopefully that motivates him to have great performances during the big dance.

Don’t know what to think about Blair. It does bother me that he appears to have the NBA on his mind, because I feel like it could be a distraction for him. I know he gets asked about it by the press, but I just wish he would say: “I’m focused on winning a national championship. Any talk about the NBA can wait ’til the season is over.”

I hear where you’re coming from Carmen, but would it really make you feel better if he said that? I mean who wouldn’t be thinking about it? Especially a 19 or 20 year-old kid. I think he is just being honest. I’m not too worried about it though, he seems focused on the task at hand. And if the NBA is motivation for him to rip down 15 or 20 rebounds a game and play as hard as he can, I’m ok with that too. He’s been a team player his entire career at Pitt. Not to mention that Levance, Sam and Biggs are well aware of what needs to be done and will make sure that this team is ready to play.

Since someone mentioned Young’s ego… Have you guys watched any of Dixon’s interviews lately? Everytime Young’s name is brought up (glowingly) by a reporter, Dixon basically calms them down and says Young is a consistently good player. Then Dixon manages to turn the conversation to how spectacular Fields has been. My point… I would be slightly upset if I were Young…

I agree that Blair’s stock is high but he has to develop another aspect of his game. Tenacity alone doesn’t score over more aggressive and experienced NBA Centers. The kid is unbelievable and I have no shame in saying that I love him but in my opinion he has to stay, at least one more year. Shady is a RB with an OL, TE’s and maybe even a FB blocking for him. 5’10 RB’s translate well into the pro game but 6’7 NBA Centers are going to suffer. Two different situations here.

I don’t want him to miss out on his shot, he deserves it. At the same time I want him to be more than a spark plug off the bench in the grown man’s league. NBA rebounding will be tougher and the brutality of it hurts to watch. Some have proven that they can rebound and not be 6’10, David Lee(6’9) who plays for my Knicks has proven that. Blair is a 6’7(maybe a tall 6’6)Center though and along with the Point Guard, in my humble opinion, is a position where you can be ridiculously exploited in the NBA. The last thing I want is Baby Bear feeling homesick and broken.

Let’s not be so fast in pushing the kid out the door yet. He may be 1 move away from being a lottery pick so why rush it? I understand that injury can happen but it’s a gamble either way. He’s going to be a successful NBA player whether people like it or not, I just hope in the end that he’s happy with his decision.

-that dunk was at my old highschool.

Anyways, I hope Young uses the tourney for his NBA resume. Basically knowing his performance could lead to millions. (well further millions)

If we win the NC… Blair will leave. Which is the only scenario that wouldn’t bother me too much.

If he also uses the tourney as an nba resume and tears it up.. .and leaves.. can’t blame him. (but i hope in that process we get the NC)

But I hope he does the process right, and doesn’t pull a Taft, and I think by taft doing that, he will always serve an example for future pitt players on what not to do.

Young is such a tremendous and dominant player. While I feel bad for him that he isn’t getting the recognition that he deservs (he very well could/should have been player of the year)it might be best for the team if he sort of flies under the radar as ridiculous as that sounds given he’s our leading scorer. He is doing wonders for his draft stock and he is the guy who is going to carry this team through the tournament when we need it most.

Agree that Blair needs a face-up game and a consistent 10-18 foot jumper for the NBA. Yes he can go in the first round this year with his rebounding prowess but it is a down year for talent. He will not be able to bull most inside players in the NBA. Taking care of Stickbeet is one thing moving NBA bigs is another. He develops that face-up/outside shot can you say Sir Blair?

Agree that Richardson should be RS next season. Miller, Taylor and Zanna will play. It will be interesting to see if Patterson gets much playing time, I suspect he just may.

Also agree with the point guard issue. We can only pray that Woodall has been tutored by Fields in practice. I don’t know if Gibbs playing point guard this year equates to him becoming a good point guard in the future. He just does not seem to be a point guard.

“Dixon basically calms them down and says Young is a consistently good player. Then Dixon manages to turn the conversation to how spectacular Fields has been. ”

Josh, I’ve noticed that too. I get the impression that Sam is a loner and that there is still a residual tension between Sam and Dixon from when Sam considered transferring after his sophomore year.

Doesn’t the NBA draft largely based on upside/potential? If that is the case then they have 2 years of tape showing Blair’s improvement. If he doesn’t go this year then they will pick apart every little part of his game like they have done before with other upperclassmen. He could develop the jumper but then you would hear how he isn’t as comfortable inside (or some other crap). Sadly, it comes down to $$$ and I think he has to go sooner rather than later. Just curious who will Blair turn to for advice outside of his family? Sam Clancy? Santonio Holmes?

Piit Blather posters……LOL

“Piit Blather posters……LOL”

Kenny, what is a “Piit”?

Guys named Kenny who can’t spell……………LOL (and an FU just for kicks).

Big it is Pitt misspelled Piit. Carmen thanks for the kicks…I think! LOL

Kenny, I don’t know your “LOL” intent although I can guess. I enjoy this board because it gives me the perception of guys and gals sitting in a bar (but unfortunately without the beer) chiming in with their opinions about Pitt athletic teams. Have you ever done that? Have you ever been invited to do that?

Well I may have at one time but being 700 miles from Da Burgh leaves me out of the equation unless I am back for vacation. The LOL was for Carmen’s kick of FU.

After graduating one of its’ best players in school history, a team could certainly do worse than having a 3-star recruit, from one of the most competitive and best coached high school programs in the country, step in as a red shirt freshman to compete for the point guard position next year. It’s a gaping hole because of what Fields has become more than a kink in the program. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Wannamaker (again) or Dixon sees some time at the point- which would certainly put the other team’s guards in lock down if they played 1 and 2 in line up together. Gibbs will probably move to the 2 I’m guessing, but it’s been interesting, sometimes admittingly nervewracking, watching him play point. But I don’t think he’s done that bad considering the level of competition we’re at. The thing he needs to work on is seeing the court while he’s handling the ball. Wanamaker too. They both seem like decent dribblers, but unlike Fields who is on constant alert and can dribble, assess, and pass at the same time, the other two seem to only be capable of one at a time effectively. And then of course……wait, have I killed enough time? Shit, it’s only Wednesday still…Bring me my Pitt hoops!….And my uh,…my beer….

There is on tension between Dixon and Young. And to suggest that he is taking pub from young to spite him is ridiculous. He always says how he thinks its a joke nobody talked about Young after the UCONN game. Jamie is more than proud of Young and why do you think Young didn’t transfer? Because Dixon convinced him to stay, because Dixon likes the kid.