Just looking at the experience of the individual players, it should be obvious that the backcourt will be expected to do a lot more than simply work the ball inside for the post players. Gibbs, Wanamaker, Dixon (when he returns), Brown (when he returns) and the new guy Adams are all guys that work more on the perimeter. (Yes, I know that Gilbert Brown plays small forward as well, but he definitely likes to post and slash to the basket — not play inside).

By contrast, the front court has only two players with any experience — McGhee and Robinson. After that it is heavy on the youth and raw potential with Taylor, Patterson (who may be a lot more like Brown insofar as he’s a guard/forward type), Zanna, Miller and Richardson.

Coach Jamie Dixon seemed to indicate that the backcourt will be very much the driving force — and will show a lot of different looks and combinations.

Coach Jamie Dixon is looking forward to playing with his guard combinations once senior Jermaine Dixon, the only returning starter from last season, returns to the lineup from a foot injury. Among Adams, Dixon, Gibbs and redshirt freshman Travon Woodall, Jamie Dixon believes he can develop a nice rotation where everyone is making a contribution.

“When we get Jermaine back, those four guys will be interchangeable,” the coach said.

“That’s going to be a strength of ours — our versatility. They can play off the ball and on the ball, and I think they’re all going to be good defenders. That’s encouraging. I think we’re going to have a good shooting group out of those four.”

The guards certainly carried the play last night. Brad Wanamaker, who will play guard and small forward because of the absence of the suspended Gilbert Brown, finished with 19 points. Gibbs had 17 and Woodall 11.

The combinations may seem almost random at times early in the season. If for no other reason, than experimentation and figuring out which players mesh best together on the court.

The comments from those at the scrimmage are most interesting to me.

They jibe strongly with the reports on how Chase Adams looks. He seemed to fit right into the Pitt team.

The much heralded Dante Taylor struggled in the scrimmage.

…Taylor finished with three points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 22 minutes. The 6-foot-9 Taylor, who played eight minutes on the Blue squad and 14 on the Gold for the short-handed Panthers, shot 1 for 7 from the field. “Dante is trying to figure out our offense and trying to find the times when to post,” coach Jamie Dixon said. “He doesn’t quite have that down yet.

It also had to make things difficult since Coach Dixon said that Taylor will likely be playing center rather than power forward for the team.

It’s all going to be a work in progress this season.