Grabbing a taco and a beer in the back of a Mexican bodega now. Looking forward to 4pm.

I thought McGhee was going to be a tad quicker this year. His so-so play leaves it open for Sleepy.

Notre Dame + NBC = My Ball Sack.

JJ Moore’s dunk was a thing of beauty!

This is very important–it should be the biggest problem we have all season! — is it JJ or is it Johathan? Which does he prefer to be called? Go PITT BB!

I made a typo! It’s ‘Jonathan’, and he’s terrific!

Granted, the competition wasn’t the stiffest and N. Florida had to be tired with that insane travel schedule, but I was very impressed with the Freshmen – Zanna, Patterson and Moore.

Also, Taylor looks like he’s starting to have fun and playing naturally instead of worrying about his assignments. That’s a good thing. The future looks bright already.

As good as the team looked today, Gil Brown does not look improved in the least from last year. What was he doing all summer, if not shooting? If he did work his ass off all summer to improve his shot, I feel terrible for him, ’cause it didn’t help. He’s going to lose minutes to Moore this year.

We should get a better read on how good we are against Maryland, but so far… WOW. This team appears to be 11 or 12 deep and some of the back-ups look to have way more upside than the starters. One thing we can assume is that Jamie will get maximum productivity from his guys, unlike someone else we have been blathering about.

I am interested to see how much half court offense he will use vs. the all out blitzkrieg. It is great to see the fast break and alley-oop back in the repetoire.

Isn’t it refreshing to watch a well-coached, disciplined team go out on almost a nightly basis and take care of business? Execution, effort, game planning….it’s all there. Funny how teams really do take on the persona of their head coaches. If you’re Jamie Dixon you are always prepared and your players are as well, and now the program is overflowing with confidence and an expect-to-win mentality. And then there’s Wanny…..The Master Of Panic — teams always underachieving, special teams gaffes, penalties, antiquated offensive/defensive philosophies, inexplicable losses to inferior teams, looking like a confused boob on the sidelines. It’s just another reminder why a national title is achievable for Pitt in basketball, and why it’s such a pipe dream for the football program.

Was at the game yesterday…I’m most excited to see Moore getting more minutes. I know a lot of his points came late in the game, but he was working hard to get to the offensive glass. He is Gil Brown, but with more upside and a better shot.

Four new recruits equal the departure of three seniors and a player to be named later. Guesses anyone? From this angle, it looks like that Isaiah Epps is out. He is relatively old right now for a freshman. Does anyone know if he transfers to a D-1 school, will he be eligible to play next year or will he have to sit out a year?

Wow that may be a new record, a guy has been on campus a few months and people are shipping him off already. Pretty incredible since I think a lot of people think hes the PG of the future.

Gary better play better or he gets Torry Morrised.

BigGuy–
What about JJ Richardson? He’s been decent in some minutes but next year we’d have Taylor, Zanna, Robinson up front and might not need another big guy with Malcolm Gilbert incoming, plus Birch/Adams the following year. Richardson was solid but it doesn’t seem to me like he has anywhere near the athletic ability nor the upside of some of these other guys.

Dixon really seems to like the way Richardson plays even though he may not have athleticism/upside of the other front court guys. But you’re right that there is almost no room for him. If a player redshirts, does that count against the amount of scholarships you can have?
If not, any one of the incoming guys may get redshirted, esp Gilbert and then maybe Adams the following year.

Jamie is the anti Wanny…yes, it is refreshing WOMP! Don’t forget player development too. Only Jamie could cultivate underdeveloped talent like Wannamaker and Gibbs turn them into All American and all BE. Wanny inherits a Palko (an above average player with preseason Heisman credentials) and ruins him…

@alcofan…I know Gary is not giving us the offensive horsepower right now, but keep in mind, his defense in the low post will be strongly needed and is one of the underrated parts of his game. I feel like Gary can handle the bigs on the defense end (sans the elite 1%), which should be fine with this guard/forward heavy team of scorers. 10points a game would be nice, but I’ll settle for 6ppg, 10rpg, 3blocks…

@crackbaldo…I’m with you, Gil needs to ask for a refund from his shot coach. I have been a huge fan of Gil over the years, but my patience is wearing thin. Seeing his obvious athletic ability stay stagnant over five years…while guys like Gary, Wanny, and Woodall make exponential improvement is frustrating.

@PantherP…I don’t think there are many people who DON’T like the way Richardson plays, but as we talked about years ago, this program has reached a point where you need to have serious upside to be worth a scholarship. I’m sure JJ Richardson is a great member of the team and no, he hasn’t done anything wrong, but the quality of the players coming into the program has gotten to the point where if a player would be in the 3rd year of the program and still struggling to get minutes, it’s best for both sides if he would allow a younger, higher-ceiling player to take his place. As for the redshirt, that is still money going to the player and yes, it does count as a scholarship. I’m pretty sure Gilbert is headed for a redshirt, as probably are 3/4 of that class at least. None of the guys coming in are 4-or-5-star recruits, and while I’m sure they’ll end up being good Big East players, I would be surprised if more than one of them plays any minutes.

rivers is a senior, is he not?
4 in 4 out.

Rivers isn’t on scholarship.

Ah, Red. My understanding is that Rivers is not on scholarship. One scholarship guy for one non-scholarship guy. I want you to negotiate my contracts.

I don’t Rivers is on scholarship. It looks like Richardson would be the odd man out. But the back court’s not any less crowded — maybe Cam Wright’s at risk but he’s been pretty strong from what I’ve heard/seen (which isn’t a whole lot, and lots can change over the next 8 mnths). I think Epps isn’t leaving just because 2 yrs from now, once Gibb’s leaves, we’d have only Woodall at PG.

A couple things – a player only has to leave if all 4 incoming recruits are eligible/qualify. I have no inside information, but it is very possible that the coaches do not expect all four to qualify, in which case nobody will leave.

In the event that someone does have to leave, I have a hard time believing it will be Epps, unless he becomes an academic casualty. Although his stock dropped since he verballed to Pitt two years ago, he was still viewed by most recruiters as having pretty high upside (more so than Woodall). His lack of playing time this year almost certainly has more to do with his late arrival on campus (yes, due to academic issues). This guy is a pretty talented basketball player, so I doubt the coaches are planning his departure already.

I believe you posters are correct that Epps will get an opportunity as will Cam Wright. I think that JJ Richardson is a true sophomore. Gary McGhee taught me not to judge a sophomore too quickly. I don’t envy Jamie having to tell one the current players, “Look, son. I know that you have been trying really hard, but, see, it’s like this…”

A coach is expected to (must) do it at the pro level, but at the college level where a kid had multiple offers to play elsewhere????

Pardon me for injecting another subject, BUT, the Gene Collier report on the Buckeyes DEMOLISHING the Nits is a gem. I was beginning to wonder about the talent of the PG sports journalists, but no more. It is indeed refreshing to read a column about the Columbus sports machine, piloted by Mr. Pryor from a source OTHER than the local(Columbus paper) media. Collier can write and his account of the fray last nite in front of 105,000 redclad FANATICS is a thing of beauty. Now if only Pitt could earn such plaudits. Rev. George FROM Columbus

It seems that Gilbert Brown is pressing because he hears Moore’s foot steps. As Gibbs put it the other day, practices are more intense than the games themselves.

The least “ready to play” of the freshmen is Cameron Wright. The thought of sending Epps packing is ludicrous…but I think we will see both Epps and Wright back next year.

I’m with Pantherman13. Epps will surely redshirt more as an adjustment to college life and academics than as a need to further develop his on-court play, although that will be improved in the process.

Jamie has to hedge his bets in case Epps doesn’t adjust or one of the recruits doesn’t qualify. If everything falls in line perfectly, then a hard decision will need to be made on someone. But, it’s way to early to start guessing who that someone will be.

Backyard Brawl set for noon. Kegs and eggs await.

Marylands Jordan Williams named ACC player of the week. See you Thur. Mr Williams.

Biggest concern for me so far this year must still be with the play of the centers. Maybe just some bad internet feeds, but McGhee actually looks a little heavier, and slower, than last year. Taylor is clearly not comfortable as a center, and only seems to thrive against the North Floridas of the world. Richardson is a keeper, but small. And Zanna is just too good at power forward to move him. Center play will be the key to the season.

Gary Williams is still one of the best coaches in the country, and they will be solid defensively and offensively. I think this may be a top 10 team by season’s end, but not now. Maryland and Texas will be serious tests.

Jamie’s gonna have to do a whole lot of soul-searching come lineup time. I hope his message to the team is the best 5 play.

1) Zanna vs. Robinson?
2) Brown vs. Moore (which headband trumps)?
3) Sleepy vs. McGhee? Sleepy looks so much more athletic and his head was in it Saturday.
4) Backcourt threesome seems set, but what about Epps?
And consider Richardson, Patterson and that new 3 point shooting whiz, Rivers, and Jamie’s in a real stew, but a damn tasty one!

There’s no soul searching required. Easy answers:
1) Robinson if he’s healthy and ready. He’s a better basketball player, but Zanna has a lot of potential and is a better athlete.
2) Brown. He’s in there for his defense, rebounding, and experience more than his scoring. We don’t need a guy to help us win by 40 points. We need a guy who can help hold the other team to 40 points. Moore will be important for dry stretches when Wanamaker and/or Gibbs are out or in foul trouble.
3) McGhee will start all season if he’s healthy. Taylor may end up with more minutes by the end but he won’t start.
4) Epps sits. Woodall is the first guard off the bench.

Patterson plays super-sub for the 2-4 positions.

Richardson plays sparingly when Robinson returns- mostly when others get in foul trouble.

You’re speculating about replacing juniors and seniors with freshman and sophomores based on what you’ve seen this season? Did you just fall off the back of the pierogi truck or something? Through all their ups and downs, this team won 25 games in a stronger field last year. The young guys add more depth and make the team more dynamic. Let’s see how things go at the end of the week vs. the big boys before we go with the youth movement. Coach Dix is very particular about guys who play D/rebound as well as guys who have paid their dues.

A couple of observations from making it to 2 of 3 at the Pete:

1. McGhee is not heavier than last year; in fact, I think he is in even better shape. That being said, he is still a pretty limited player. I love his effort, and when he is at his best he can defend the post and rebound well. His offensive game is still pretty limited, and his hands are better but not good. I wouldn’t judge him too much on the first three games as they forced him into a style that he is not particularly adept at (i.e., having to step out to the perimeter).

2. Taylor definitely looks bigger through the shoulders and smaller through the waistline. He also has been more aggressive, which is generally good. To me, he looks more comfortable on the defensive end and in the open court. His offensive moves, well, that is still a work in progress.

3. I don’t think Gil Brown is all that worried about losing minutes to JJ Moore at this point. Brown is just a very inconsistent shooter, and at this point, that probably is not going to change. His form is usually not very good and the ball seems to come out of his hands differently on every shot. He can be a very good defensive player, and he also looks stronger than in past years, which should help him around the basket. He will play an important role on this team, I just don’t think it will be as a 3-point shooter.

First, SilverP, I would never fall off a pierogi truck. I’d stay with it to the sour (cream) end.

Second, don’t be so hasty with the “easy” answers. For example, do you actually think Jamie would keep a player like Moore from starting if he’s a one-and-doner? (Not saying he is…yet)

Like you, I’m willing to wait and see.

While chatting we’ve missed it. The season’s over and we went undefeated:

link to kenpom.com

Where is the pre-game party at Thursday?

@Silver

I’ll probably be @Foley’s on 33rd across from the empire state building before Thursday’s game.

ah