It’s been a while since I had a hangover. It isn’t the pray for death type. Just the hurting head, moving a few steps slower and not in a mood to think type. I didn’t set out for this to happen. It rarely does. Late game time, meant drinking late. Not getting enough water back in the system and not nearly enough sleep. And oddly enough, absolutely no sympathy from the wife. I will say, that the Southern Tier Gemini was delicious.

So let’s move through things.

The box score produced some amazing numbers. One of the best 3-point shooting teams out there was shut down in the second half to only 1-10 after going 4-9 in the first half. Pitt held Marquette to only 35% shooting in the game. Pitt played some of its best perimeter defense in the second half. Aided in no small part by Marquette’s lack of size inside to really feed the ball.

While Pitt was troubled with turnovers (15), the team shot  almost 55% for the game. That kind of shooting meant Pitt could only generated 4 offensive rebounds and pointed out the silliness of rebounding margins for this game. Pitt ended up winning the rebounding total 33-30. Of course Marquette had 13 offensive rebounds — which happens when you miss that many shots.

Ashton Gibbs only scored 2 points — both at the free throw line — and missed 6 shots from the field.  This was okay since he didn’t take a high volume of shots and there was some tremendous balance and moving the ball. 23 baskets and 19 assists. Yet no one on the team had more than 5 assists. That is great ball movement and unselfishness in the offense. Gilbert Brown — Gilbert Brown led the team with 5 assists. Nasir Robinson and Brad Wanamaker were second with 4 apiece.

Then there was Gary McGhee going 5-5  and getting 6 blocks. He was having fun against the undersized Golden Eagles. Dante Taylor got some sort of message in the second half. He is not there on defense, but he got fed on three straight possessions and slammed them all home.

They are not taking it well in Milwaukee.

The Eagles’ no-margin-for-error game has been all about making three-pointers, protecting the basketball, winning most of the hustle arguments and letting Lazar Hayward roam. But against Pitt, they couldn’t make three-pointers. Ten turnovers isn’t a bad total, but against Pitt, they were uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball when it mattered most.

And Lazar Hayward really struggled. He really, really struggled. But credit the Panthers. They had a whole lot to do with the way they frustrated Marquette’s best player by making him take tough shots.

Pitt made Marquette look like a different team.

“I would say we took ourselves out,” said Lazar Hayward, who moved into fifth place on MU’s all-time scoring list with an 11-point night. “We weren’t playing together, playing for each other, playing team defense. When we’re not playing team defense, we don’t play well. When we don’t create for each other, we’re not a good team.

“It would have been a good one to get. We know exactly why we lost. We’re going to go back to work. We know we weren’t us today. When we’re not together, collectively a 12-man team, we’re not very good.”

Coach Dixon was happy with how things were on offense –mostly.

“Other than the turnovers in the second half, our offense was about as good as you can be efficiently,” coach Dixon said.

Added McGhee, “Our motion offense was one of the best days we’ve had. We moved the ball around. We shared the ball. We got it inside. We got it outside. Everything we needed to do for our offense.”

Honestly, the turnovers really didn’t surprise me. Pitt averages about 13 TOs per game. Marquette is one of the top teams in the Big East at forcing turnovers. Add in just how much ball movement and passing Pitt was doing to get those shots and it isn’t too outrageous. 11 in one half is not usually the recipe for success, but when you shoot 60% in that same half, it kind of compensates.

One of those shots was a three by Robinson. The only three Pitt made in the second half, and the Marquette beat writer considered a dagger. Something the scribes needed to know more about.

“I had confidence,” Robinson said. “I caught the ball and was ready to shoot.”

Dixon said he did not have a problem with the shot because it was in the latter part of the shot clock and Robinson’s teammates were having a hard time getting open. Robinson was wide open at the top of the key with his man cheating off and daring him to shoot.

Dixon said Robinson has the green light to shoot a 3-pointer in that situation.

“In that situation, yes he does,” Dixon said. “We have had discussions about that. It wasn’t the first pass. The ball was reversed and he was wide open.”

In most other times, it is big, big red light.