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March 28, 2009

I’m hurting a bit. I know I’m not alone on this.

I’m crediting Villanova on this. Yes, Jermaine Dixon screwed up royally on the turnover along with the foul. His offense was gone.

We can go through this game with a fine-tooth comb find plenty of things that “if” someone had done better (DeJuan Blair 2-6 on FTs, Ashton Gibbs 0-3 on threes, Wanamaker with one less dumb foul, Levance Fields 2-9 from the field, Biggs and Jermaine Dixon invisible, if anyone other than Pitt’s troika could have done more, if anyone aside from Young could have made a three, Coach Dixon saving one timeout to have set up the defense for the final play, etc.).

The fact is, Villanova won the game. They have some great talent inside with Cunningham and their guards.  They shot 95.7% (22-23) on free throws. Scottie Reynolds (7-7), Corey Fisher (7-7) and Dwayne Anderson (5-5) going 19-19. All three average around 80%. One miss for each, to be around their averages, and it is a likely Pitt win. They did not, and there was nothing that could be done by Pitt about that.

Pitt shot 21-29 on FTs. That’s 72.4%. Most nights, we would take that from a Pitt team. Only 11 turnovers for Pitt. The Panthers shot 47.2% (25-53). ‘Nova only shot 44.6% and 30% on 3s — the “hottest” team in the NCAA Tournament was in check. Except at the FT line.

You want to blame. You want to vent. Fine.

I’m sad. I’m disappointed. Frustrated even. This team, though, took Pitt further than it had been. It accomplished more than any team had ever done at Pitt. It has won more. I love this team. I love the coach we have. I’m sad that the ride — no matter how stressful — is over.

Next year may be step back, but for every step back Pitt basketball has taken this millenium, it has been  two steps forward for the program. The future just keeps looking better.

It’s the right now, that sucks.





It’s all gravy. When I was an undergraduate at Pitt (eons ago) the basketball team won four games all year, then five the next. Bob Timmons was the coach and he’d been an assistant Pitt football coach before getting recruited to take care of the hoops program. Basketball was an after thought and it showed. Then Billy Knight showed up a few years later, things started to turn around, and 35 years later we’re a point or two away from a much deserved Final Four.

Like I said, it’s all gravy.

Now, for some more mashed potatoes, please.

Comment by Middletown 03.29.09 @ 8:00 pm

Hey Middletown – I saw many of those Timmons played games when I was playing street ball with Mickey Martin. Mickey came to Pitt about the time I graduated along with Billy Knight. Before Knight could play he played a half a year of intermural ball and I got to play against him.
As I said earlier, after the most devestating loss I have ever seen 7-6 to Penn State, we won the National Championship. Great point…you have to be good to get this far and often times face these kinds of very tough defeats. It’s a lot different than a 3-0 loss in the Sun Bowl

Comment by Dan 72 03.29.09 @ 11:00 pm

Middletown, I remember that era, but I remember Pitt winning more games than you do: Dick Falenski, John Fridley, and names hopefuuly that you can fill in. These guys may have gotten beat by Red Manning’s Duquesne teams, but I recall that they were competitive.

Another thing about those guys: they graduated with professional degrees. Some were in dental school while they were still playing. (I know, that was a bygone era that we will never see again.)

Comment by BigGuy 03.29.09 @ 11:03 pm

Yes, and I was there cheering on the team at the Field house with my Pitt letter sweater and baggy pants.
TigerPaul

Comment by Tiger Paul 03.29.09 @ 11:58 pm

Originally, I was cursing Jermaine Dixon for screwing up. But that was one play and it was just another example of Pitt crapping itself against the press – which it has done for years. One play did not generate the loss – he had the sense not to touch the ball out of bounds on that hail mary.

What changed the game was Villanova’s free throws. It is just one of those stats where teams never seem to lose when they shoot free throws well.

This was a typical Pitt tournament game in the sense that the team crapped itself and couldnt do anything – except for Sam Young and DeJuan Blair who really stepped up.

Oh, and I still can’t stand Brad Wanamaker.

Comment by Joey D 03.30.09 @ 9:38 am

I’m proud of this team and felt really bad for the seniors, but two things are still bugging me

The two late travelling calls on Pitt vs the blown non-travelling call on Nova. Blair was shoved — at the very least it’s a non-call. Young was mugged on the drive, which was pretty much the case all game. I’m still amazed and in awe that he managed 28. Nova player allowed to elevate and return to the floor when he saw an opening. It was THAT obvious.

Why press the inbounds after the Fields make? Why not just pressure the inbound? They couldn’t drop to half court in case of a miss, but after the make they had no need to pressure. Make Nova earn it with an outside shot rather than allowing the drive to the basket, especially with double bonus and the need not to foul.

The funny thing is that both team squandered late leads. Nova just had the ball last. Sometimes that’s how it works out.

Hail Pitt!

Comment by Ghost of Horn Man 03.30.09 @ 10:52 am

Day 2- Still depressed. Work is empty. Need Spring Game to get me out of lull.

Comment by Jen 03.30.09 @ 12:09 pm

Hey, I know you are all probably going to freak out at me because I am a Nova Fan, but I just wanted to give props to the Pitt team. They are a great team and they deserve to be in the Final Four just as much as Villanova does. That was a great game and Villanova just got lucky that they were on top when the clock ran out. It easily could have gone the other way. Congrats on a great season. I can’t wait till Villanova plays Pittsburgh next year. Hopefully the Big East will give us a Home and Home series

Comment by MainLiner 03.30.09 @ 12:17 pm

@MainLiner

I wouldn’t sell Nova short — you earned that win and you’re well positioned to win it all. Congrats. There are a lot of frustrated Pitt fans and a lot of baggage for our program. This year’s team seemed poised to overcome that.

You raise a good point — the staggered schedule sucks, and it’s even unfair to the teams that win with a lighter schedule because they have no say on in-conference scheduling. Depaul is an easy target, but there are other programs that just don’t belong in the BE, especially ND for not joining in football. Less teams = balanced schedule.

Comment by Ghost of Horn Man 03.30.09 @ 1:50 pm

@MainLiner,

Right back at ya. It hurts to still talk about it, but at least our loss was to another Big East team. At least your guys held up their end of the bargain (unlike Louisville).

And I’m with you and Ghost on the suckitude of the staggered schedule.

Comment by Shawn 03.30.09 @ 4:30 pm

Wow..you summed it all up beautifully and only minutes after the game, too. I was hurting the whole drive back to Pgh yesterday after a sleepless night. This team will always hold a special spot in my heart…Remember that it only hurts because you care…THE PANTHERS ARE MIGHTY !!!

Comment by jaygeekray 03.30.09 @ 5:38 pm

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