Okay, remaining stuff to get out before turning attention to Wednesday’s game — now with less Harangody (for now).
Harangody’s first full day of practice since suffering a bone bruise on Feb. 11 didn’t go as planned. With more persistent pain than expected, Harangody has been ruled out for the immediate future.
Irish coach Mike Brey, speaking on his weekly radio show, said he didn’t know when the All-American would return.
“There was pain there today that we aren’t going to play around with,” Brey told listeners. “I said, ‘Luke, I’m not going to let you play.'”
Of course if he practices with less or no pain on Tuesday, things can change.
Ray Mernagh at NBE Basketball continues to be impressed with Pitt.
At some point soon I’m going to write 800 words on how impressive Nasir Robinson is in what he does for this team as he battles in the paint defensively and fights for rebounds, deflections etc.
A few weeks ago some were wondering if Pittsburgh, after a fast start, was in danger of missing the NCAA’s for the first time in nine years. Now I’m still amazed at the number of new wrinkles getting put in offensively — cuts you haven’t seen before, Dixon and Woodall finding people for layups. Woodall springting to the line and sinking pressure free throws down the stretch.
Post-Gazette beat writer Ray Fittipaldo responds to some grief now given for stating that it had appeared that Woodall was a recruiting error. It’s a tad defensive, but it is fair to point out that most looking in on the program were seeing this as conventional wisdom up until a couple weeks ago.
When Nova loses, they foul even more than usual. The tempo Pitt imposed on Nova seemed to be a jarring thing for the Wildcat faithful.
You want to take something more away from the game than just a win? Covered.
Chris Peak at PantherLair suggests notice has been served.
First there was the 82-72 win at Syracuse on January 2nd. Next came the triple-overtime 98-95 win against West Virginia 10 days ago. And then on Sunday Pitt mounted a toppling of the No. 3-ranked Wildcats.
Consider it an overthrow of the Big East’s trilateral leadership.
Of course, Pitt’s not making any proclamations on the throne – “We’re just one step closer to winning the Big East regular season. We’re just trying to do our part,” was the most senior guard Jermaine Dixon would offer after the Villanova game – but no other team in the conference can claim a set of wins against the Orange, the Wildcats, and the Mountaineers this season.
In fact, outside of Pitt, no team in the conference has won more than one game against that trio of teams; with two weeks left in the season, the other 12 teams have combined for a 4-28 record against Syracuse, Villanova, and West Virginia.
Well, UConn can now claim wins over Nova and WVU — plus a really tough loss to Syracuse. So, take from that what you will.
Kevin Gorman wants everyone to know that it is the players not the place.
It wasn’t so much the intimidation of the Oakland Zoo and a standing-room-only attendance of 12,920 – the largest on-campus crowd in Pitt basketball history – that made it a miserable afternoon for Villanova.
“The toughest thing,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said, “is their team.”
To say Pitt is tough to beat at the Pete is an understatement. The Panthers are 130-11 all-time there. But it’s not because of the Pete. It’s because of Pitt.
Eric Hall seems to have given up trying to figure out the secret to this team. He just wants to enjoy it.
Brandin Knight was still dressed in a dapper black pin-striped suit as he walked through the halls of the Petersen Events Center hours after Pitt’s latest shocker, a 70-65 win over No. 3 Villanova Sunday, his ear-to-ear smile completely his impeccable wardrobe.
The Pitt assistant has seen his share of success in this building. He helped open the place in a season that begat a second straight Sweet 16. His retired number whistles in the rafters every time the fans cheer. His rise from video coordinator to Jamie Dixon’s coaching staff coincided with an Elite Eight season last year.
But he even couldn’t explain this team and its uncanny knack of doing the unexpected.
“I don’t know,” he shrugged.
Enjoy.
This team is not one dimensional. As great as last year was, if Blair was in foul trouble or Sam had an off night, they were beatable. An off night by any one or two players on this team can be overcome.
Jamie knows how to get the best match-ups and to maximize individual strengths and minimize weaknesses.
Hopefully they don’t stumble down the stretch, they just seem to be getting better. The intensity level came through the picture screen on Sunday. They need to maintain that level of effort no matter who they play.
The Dixon system is a winning formula. It works in the regular season, and for the most part, it will win in the tournament. However, I do believe our “glass ceiling in the tourney” for this system/style of play will be predicated on —-our Free Throw shooting percentages! If we shoot <65% as a team, with guards in the pathetic 65-70% range, we will always be subjected to an early exit in the Tourney. Can we overcome? Maybe, but usually a game will be decided on it and with previous teams, that’s a recipe for an early exit.
Some argue that the talent factor has to go up to win six games in the tourney. I don’t know. The Dixon formula– with a GREAT FT% as a team, will bring home a banner. Oh, and a little luck and the karm Gods helping out wouldn’t hurt.
You have to have exceptional FT shooting to steal wins in the tournament. To date, the Howland/Dixon regime have produced less than stellar FT shooting teams. Pathetic, actually. This team is the best of the bunch. And for that reason, I’m bullish on this team in March.
Gibbs and McGhee are remarkable in NOT picking up fouls. They are the two most irreplacable players. If Brad, Nasir, Gil, Jermaine, Dante and Tra pick up fouls, so what? The team is versatile enough to plug in a suitable replacement.
Plus this team likes a slower pace, can make free throws and can finish games.
Bring on the NICKLE DIMERS!!!!
“Lance Stephenson is a shell of himself as well at this point and also saw limited minutes. Seems crazy now that “Born Ready” passed up a chance to play at a school about to make their ninth tournament in a row because his people were concerned their[sic] wouldn’t be enough talent around him to win. Now he’s barely playing in the biggest game of the year for a team that isn’t even going to sniff the tourney.”
Man, I hope recruits read that and Wright’s comment about Gibbs not “playing for TV.” I love what Dixon has done with this program.
Even though it is hard to fathom a 6 loss team as one, I think it is possible.
But a lot of other things would have to happen. Pitt is #9 RPI, so they would have to jump over 5 other teams to be considered for a #1 seed. Right now that would mean going over a bunch of Big East teams. Which they probably could/would do if they win out. West Virginia and Nova play each other and if you’re assuming Pitt wins the BE tourney, then both of them will lose at least one more. Pitt beat Syracuse at the Dome and they would have to lose again and then in the BE, too.
So the tough one’s to jump will be, Duke, Purdue, K-State. Pitt would need some help from them to get a one seed.
Pitt wins out, they get a two seed worst case and maybe a one seed with a bunch of help. And even then, they would have to pass the “eye ball test”. While Pitt has had an impressive run, resume, they still haven’t looked like a one seed to this point. They would need some style points as they win out too.
But, the chances of Pitt winning out are less than 10%, in my estimation.
Realistically, I think Pitt is looking at a 4 seed, plus or minus one. Which is WAY BETTER than any of us thought going into the year.
You’re probably closer with the #4 plus or minus one depending on how the chips fall. Still pretty darn good for a team picked to finish #9 in their own conference.
5-7 is always a scary upset ranking, 8-9 has its drawbacks because you’re playing a 1 in the second game, and 10-16 is statisically unheard of (give or take a George Mason every 50 years)…. to make it much past the S16.
Incidentally, when we won our first BE Tournament championship with Brandin… I believe, correct me if I’m wrong, we tied for the BE regular season championship, won a ton at the end of the season, won the BE tourney…but STILL got a 2 seed! I believe a very lame (and early exiting Wazzou) team was given our #1.
We pull of the aforementioned string of wins this year, we are 1 seed. Our program has elevated enough to demand that #1 seed. That earlier year, we were not quite in the discussion consistently in the court of public opinion; therefore, we lost that #1 seed to a team with lesser credentials. Not this year, we are the bully in the court of public opinion.
True kudos for Jamie for geting our program there in 10 short years…
I think a #2 seed is not out of the realm of possibility, but Pitt would need to at least reach the BE Tourney final, and again, they would need help in front of them (granted, they can provide some of that “help” themselves by playing and beating higher RPI teams in the BE Tourney).
If the NCAA’s were seeded today, Pitt is probably a 3 seed, which is good since they would be “protected”. If they win 3 of their last 4, and win at least 1 in New York, it’s hard to imagine them dropping below a 4 seed.
Barring a total collapse, it’s hard to see them going below a 5 at this point.
Ain’t it great to be talking about seeding in late February???
Lot of ifs and fun to debate, but not out of the scope of possibilities.
Like Snala says, how great is it that we are having this journey in 2009/2010?
We are very blessed.
Cue Chas’ semi-drunk rant post Marquette…
On to ND: This could be the one trap game left. I hope all of the renewed hype doesn’t make the guys a bit overconfident. And if ND is without Harangody, it only adds to the possiblity of a Pitt letdown. Overconfidence had to contribute a bit to the earlier “slump” so hopefully they’ve learned what that gets them.
Don’t think they’ll take the Johnnies lightly given their recent run and having the last two games at home is a big plus. So, ND looks like the one that could disappoint if they lose focus.