The value of summer league games always comes up for debate. To some it is little more than a bunch of glorified pick-up games. To others it is deep insights into the players and team.
Will it be as important to the team as the trip to Ireland and the 10 practices as a team under the watchful eyes of the coaches this summer? Not a chance.
From the perspective of continuing to generate fan interest and build team chemistry, I think the summer league is a fantastic thing. Extra bonus this year is the fact that former players like Levance Fields and Aaron Gray are showing up.
More than any other time in Pitt’s basketball history, there is sustained excellence, continuity and a connection between the past players and the present just not seen before.
I do find it amusing/odd/annoying that there is more easily available (i.e., free) and consumable material on the summer league via the Pitt News, Pitt Script and Pantherlair.com than there was over football spring practice — even with beat writers supposedly covering that.
So, here are the Wednesday reports from Bryan at Pitt Script and Pantherlair.
Things I am taking from the reports to this point.
Zanna appears to be making real progress and may well turn out to have the value recruiting sites put on him despite being a project.
Ashton Gibbs appears to be even more confident in himself. Not in an egotistical way, but knowing he can make shots and score.
There will be inconsistent play, but the best thing to see is which players are consistent with their performance and effort each night.
I can say last year that I watched Gary McGhee in the Pro Am and thought he looked great. He was chiseled, confident, going strong, and making free throws. He carried that right into the season.
Likewise with Wanamaker. He looked confident and was very active in the pick up games, including as a leader. He too carried that into the season.
Further, Taylor looked awful in the summer league. Likewise in the early part of the season. I think it is a good indicator, albeit imperfect.
More importantly the BE hoops matchups have been announced. We get USF, WVU and Nova as our home and homes this year.
Unless you are an “Internet nut” like me, it’s free, so you cannot complain about the price. (I believe in the league, so I contribute a bit. I also know that Jamie Dixon values these games.)
As for WVU, I think the issue is that for them the Greentree league involves a serious commitment to driving several hours each way a couple of nights each week.
Can you, with a little bit of basketball knowledge and some imagination, make some projections about what you are likely to see next year? ABSOLUTELY.
Besides, it gives us hoops junkies something to talk about in June and July. Certainly beats talking about the Pirates.
Being competitors most if not all of these guys likely want to be league champs, so they focus on the things that will get them there – teamwork, defense, passing, etc. You wouldn’t get that in unorganized pick-up games. You’d get ballhog, dunkfest, no-defense play instead. That has to make a difference when they’re playing together again for real.
