When Woodall’s minutes were falling, and he was struggling I mentioned that he seemed to be having his “early Keith Benjamin phase.” The post-WVU game confirmed that Woodall had been pressing when getting into the game. So if he he can carry this forward, his minutes will go back up and Pitt will have some much needed depth to give the guards more rest.
“He played very well,” Dixon said. “He made solid decisions. He made the simple pass and the simple play. If he sees the results I hope that is where the development will occur.
“It wasn’t anything flashy. He didn’t make any spectacular plays. He didn’t force anything. He just let things come to him. It’s really that. That’s the most important thing.”
If Woodall can continue to play well it will allow Dixon to reward him with more minutes. That means Dixon could afford to rest Gibbs and Jermaine Dixon more as well as giving Gibbs more of an opportunity to play shooting guard, where he said he is more comfortable.
Still, it is just one game. It has to carry forward for it to be his turning point moment. Otherwise it is just a blip on what some have felt was a mistake. Regardless, you should be rooting for Woodall to succeed.
Still waiting to find out what Gilbert Brown will do from game to game? Join the club.
Heck for the entire team, it is about consistency and maturing beyond their years.
“This team, more than any other we’ve had, can get better,” Dixon said.
Difficult to imagine, though, that this team of mostly unheralded and underappreciated players hasn’t already hit its peak. The Panthers — 19-6, 8-4 and tied for third in the Big East and up to No. 19 in the AP poll — have upset two Top 5 teams (Syracuse and West Virginia). They are nearly locked into a spot in the NCAA Tournament. They produced two amazing, last-minute comebacks.
But that’s what the consensus was two weeks ago, that the Panthers had peaked after four losses in five games nearly wiped out a 5-0 run to start the Big East schedule. They rose to No. 9 in the rankings and even higher in the RPI, only to fall back with losses to Georgetown, Seton Hall, South Florida and West Virginia.
Ten days and three consecutive wins later, the Panthers are again selling hope.
Finally, an interview with Ashton Gibbs, who concedes that the Backyard Brawl wiped him out.
“I was exhausted,” Gibbs said. “I mainly just hung out on the couch and watched games. I saw a little of Kentucky-Tennessee and some of the stuff from NBA All-Star weekend. There was plenty to watch.”
…
Q: How did you and your teammates celebrate Friday’s victory?
A: It was so late when I got home. I was so tired that I just went to sleep. We didn’t celebrate too much. It’s all about moving on to the next day and the next game. We’re just thinking about our next game against Marquette.
Q: How tired were you, though?
A: I was really tired. I just needed to get some rest. It was a long game. I played 50 minutes. Just the intensity of it made me tired. Emotionally, it was wild. It was definitely exciting. The atmosphere was crazy.
It will be nearly as crazy in Milwaukee on Thursday. The Golden Eagle fans see this game as a game they will win and they also know that they have to have this game for their just as surprising chances at making the NCAA Tournament.
