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July 11, 2009

Coach Dixon’s USA U-19 team will play for the Gold late tonight/early this morning.  USA knocked off Croatia, 81-77 (PDF Box Score).

According to the story, the US team jumped all over Croatia in the second quarter to go up 46-33 by the half. In the third quarter the Croats came back big with a 26-11 scoring edge to take a two point lead. The USA team, though, did not wilt, retook the lead and made their free throws in the end.

American Gordon Hayward, who top scored with 15 points, went to the free-throw line twice in the last minute for four crucial points while Ashton Gibbs made two from two to seal the four-point advantage.

“They just stormed back on us and got in front but coach Dixon was great,” Hayward said. “He helped keep us calm and focused and didn’t let us get too unsettled by what they were doing.

“We knew it was loser go home and so we toughed it out. Now it’s Greece and the gold medal. We beat them earlier in the tournament but we realize we have to be better than that to win tomorrow.”

The game was won for the US at the free throw line. The Croatian team sent USA to the line 23 times, and the USA team made 18. Including those late clutch free throws.

Ashton Gibbs finished with 11 points (a perfect 4-4 on FTs, 1-3 on 3FGs and 2-4 from inside the line). He had 2 assists, a rebound and 0 turnovers. His 11 points was second most on the team.

Now the USA team gets a rematch with Greece. The Greeks stunned previously unbeaten Australia, 84-69.

The USA team had previously beaten Greece 85-69 at the start of the second round.

UPDATE: Here’s a link to the video highlights of the USA-Croatia game including a Gibbs 3 and him making the final free throw to keep the game a two possession game in the final 15 seconds.

You can watch the game live and online if you are up at 2:30 am (EST) and want to spring for the $8 (or maybe $5).





I see the Aussies came up a meter or two short

Good to see Ashton deliver in a big game .. and also confirmation of what I had long thought, that Dixon is a very calming influence in stressful situations

Comment by w bill 07.11.09 @ 10:49 am

Yeah, but he is cleary a better SG than a PG. Come on Travon, it’s time to show up!!

Comment by Mark 07.11.09 @ 11:21 am

Oh, those poor Aussie’s. Ah…hahahahaha!

Don’t count your chickens before you eggs hatch, or something like that.

Comment by dugdog 07.11.09 @ 1:36 pm

Those Croats looked pretty good in that video. I wonder if Jamie was able to get in some stealth recruiting after the game 🙂

Comment by Chuck Morris 07.11.09 @ 1:57 pm

Gibbs isn’t tall enough or athletic enough to be a top-tier 2 guard. He would really struggle defensively. A backcourt of him and travon would be an issue, just like it was with fields and Ramon playing together. He is a combo guard and that is how he should be used.

Comment by Omar 07.11.09 @ 2:44 pm

I’ve never heard of Dixon referred to as a calming influence, but I hope that comments like these mean his comfort level during tight games is improving. His history is one of being more nervous than his players; there are plenty of stories, direct from players, of his pre-game jitters, but maybe those days are behind him.

Omar — I agree that Woodall and Gibbs makes for a pretty small backcourt, and Gibbs certainly isn’t that athletic, but what do you mean by combo guard? How do you think he should be used?

Comment by hugh green 07.11.09 @ 4:10 pm

I think most people think it’s best to have Woodall as the starting PG, Dixon as the starting SG, and Gibbs as the backup who gets just as many minutes.

Comment by Mark 07.11.09 @ 4:28 pm

If we stay true to the Jamie Dixon formula, we should win against Greece. Thumbs up to the Croatians though, those guys can shoot.

Comment by Panthoor 07.11.09 @ 4:29 pm

I think this backcourt rotation is going to be a real challenge for Dixon and there probably isn’t a perfect answer.

Woodall and Dixon playing together gives you absolutely no perimeter scoring threat. Neither of those guys can shoot a decent percentage from 3 and everybody will pack it in against that backcourt. It might work if any of Pitt’s 3-men were perimeter threats, but only Wanamaker has shown any improvement from outside and he’s still only an average shooter.

I think Gibbs is going to play major minutes and probably have to spend way too much time at the point, unfortunately.

Comment by hugh green 07.11.09 @ 6:20 pm

I don’t know what’s going on with ESPNU but they’re showing a bunch of Pitt games all day Sunday.
2009 Pitt Georgetown @12:00
2009 Uconn Pitt BBall @1:30
2008 Pitt Uconn fball @ 3:00
2008 WVU Pitt fball @ 6:00
2008 Iowa Pitt fball @ 9:00

Comment by ChrisA 07.12.09 @ 3:43 am

Gold for U19’s and Dixon. 88-80 over Greece. Gibbs #2 scoreer with 13.

Comment by pitt1972 07.12.09 @ 7:32 am

Comment by steve 07.12.09 @ 8:00 am

Gibbs should be used to backup both the point guard and shooting guard positions. More importantly, regardless of his position he should be looking to score when he is in the game.

Comment by Omar 07.12.09 @ 11:39 am

I don’t think the guard situation will be as much of an issue if we are getting good offensive, perimeter play from the 3 position. If Gil Brown or others can hit consistently from the outside, we will be fine. I kinda like the idea of having a couple combo guards like Gibbs and Dixon run point, until the Epps kid gets here. I’m not sold a 3 star PG redshirt running the point…not drinking the Kool Aid yet…

Comment by Pauly P 07.12.09 @ 12:32 pm

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