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Amazing what happens when Dave isn’t coaching the team and the players are prepared!

I am stuck at a cheerleading competition. Someone just told me Pederson resigned…is this true?

Smug Steve resigning!!!

Ugh. Rumor. Nevermind

A great day in Pitt sports with the basketball and football teams winning.

Stevie’s demise is rumor only!

McGhee has really emerged into a strong force for the Panthers, creating a real inside presence in the process. I’m really enjoying seeing him get better each game.

I know it is hard for some to grasp, and I’m even shocked that I’m saying this, but McGhee will be the hardest Senior to replace next year IMHO. His play is really crucial to this group of players. I think his defense is miles ahead of Blairs, and Dante is going to really struggle staying in games with his propensity to foul the larger, more skilled centers.

God bless Jamie Dixon on this four year project!

Amazing stat … Marquette only had 2 turnovers.

While Dante cannot match McGhee’s strenght, I expect by next year he will do just fine at the 5, in large part due to his athleticism

McGhee will be tough to replace but nowhere near as tough as Wannamaker. For all the crap people give him he is nearly indispensable to this team: the one guy who can reliably get to the basket, guard four different guys on the court. I don’t see anyone in the wings ready to do all that next year (whereas I agree I can see Taylor stepping in for Gary if he continues to improve).

off topic but big news!

On Friday, Schiano announces that with the addition of Cignetti as OC, it should be very benficial for Tom Savage, a drop-back QB who was one of RU’s biggest recuits ever

Today, Savage announced that he was leaving Rutgers

Pitt’s front court dynamic will just be a little different next yr. We’ll be ridiculously big, deep and talented at the 3-4 spots, OK up top (Gibbs, Woodal, Epps who could all play PG,) but thin at center (Taylor, maybe spelled by Gilbert, or a combo of who we have at the 4 position. But at the 4 we’ll have: Nas, Patterson, Zanna, Richardson, Birch, & Bond can/should all be play decent at teh 4. I’m looking too far forward, but jeez yeah it’ll be interesting how we replace McGhee at C (not that I’m worried — we look really good next year). Good win Pitt.

And Gil finally putting together a string of consistent games!!

Was J.J Moore injured this afternoon? I was surprised that he did not recieve any playing time, however, I am happy with how Lamar Patterson played. This team is extremely deep and everyone knows that is beneficial during the brutal Big East schedule.

PatMac, with Jamie it’s all about how you practrice.

McGhee, great transformation over the years. Even with Dixon, I thought he’d be a tough project. Not a superstar, but has turned into a godd, tough, player.

Dan, it seems like Jamie rips a player apart the 1st couple of years and then builds him back up in the end.

Based on the way Patterson played today, and combined with Zanna/Robinson/Birch, I’d have to say he’ll end up moving to the 3, similar to what Gil plays now, and I think that’ll do really well for Pitt. As for the loss of Wanamaker, while it will be significant, I think that players like Patterson, like JJ Moore, and hopefully Cameron Wright, can step in to take the ball to the hoop like Wanamaker does.

Taylor/Richardson
Robinson/Zanna/Birch
Patterson/Moore
Gibbs/Wright
Woodall/Epps

or something like that

starting five next year is taylor, nas, j.j. (maybe patterson), gibbs & travon. j.j. will improve alot between this & next year. lamar seems like an instant offense guy of the bench. don’t get me wrong, j.j. needs alot of work (confidence), but jamie will bring out his superior ability.

I also have to give a big kudos to the hard work that Gary M. has put in throughout his career at PITT. Unbelieveable, from where he started. He just wanted it that much…

I’d have to think Patterson starts over JJ Moore based on assuming they improve about the same amount. I think Moore actually is the “instant offense” guy, while Patterson seems to be destined to start for the same reason Wanamaker does…stuffs the stat sheets. Points, rebounds, assists, and a good basketball IQ will put him in the lineup, at least to start the year.

Birch will start by Big East play next season.

What is in this number?

cool

I too like to look ahead. But let’s enjoy the team we have on the floor now. 15-1. Great depth. Great coaching. Was at the game. Agree with the commenst on McGhee. He is a force underneath on D. Dante is the better athlete but does not disrupt like Gary. Great shooting game all around (60%). Nice win, especially since Higgins at ref gives the other team a distinct advantage. He is horrible. March should be exciting.

Tons of credit to both Dixon and McGhee for McGhee’s development. McGhee bought in to the coaching and has become a player that most of us probably didn’t think he was able to become. It’s refreshing to see such hard work pay off. Gil has a new swag to him. He looks confident and is playing within himself. Although his jump shot has much improved, it all starts with Gil attacking the basket. Nice flow to his game right now. Marq hurts us in transition obviously. They attack the basket and push the pace (Odom constantly going to the hoop off a make with numbers not in his favor, 1 on 3) better than most teams I’ve watched this year. Good win. Tough one coming up Wednesday, esp with G’town needing a win.

Gil definitely looks to be playing within himself these last few games and focusing. Shooting /shot-fake/ driving/ dishing when it makes sense; coming to the ball on passes rather than letting them come to him, better positioning away from the ball & he’s playing solid D. His last 5 games:
pts 28, 15, 6, 19, 4;
Rebs: 5, 5, 2, 5, 7;
assists: 5, 4, 4, 2,4.
At least he’s broken the up/down cycle of last year, and he’s established that while maybe not the best shooter he’s a threat outside that may open up his game a little bit more. He’s also improved in every category each year including this year. These are all good signs. Funny thing from the ESPNU ‘all-access’ where Dixon was exasperated scolding Brown “you’re a SENIOR, its time to stop joking around!”. I still expect big things from Gil this year.

Gary’s become good enough that average or worse front courts he can beat up on. That’s more than half the conference. Plus the difference between him and Taylor allow us to throw different looks at teams and, like with other positions, makes us really dynamic and versatile. We can play against pretty much any style and exploit weakness. Good thing for a tourny run.

I can;t help but think about next year. The roster make-up next year makes me think that if anyone transfers its going to be someone like Cam Wright at the 3 spot because that’s where all the competition is. JJ Richardson and Epps have been thrown around as guys who may transfer but they’re both important as they’re the only ones who can be back-ups at center and PG next year (and esp the year after). So they aren’t going anywhere. Hopefully two of the recruits will do a post-grad year and noone has to leave.

Anyway Hail to Pitt — good day yesterday for both programs.

Next year may be a very interesting year, but certainly JD has a way of exceeding our expectations and filling gaps with his constant cross training with all of his players….and never lowering expectations.

I could see JD moving Nasir to the 3 position (as simply the calming force and glue guy), Gibbs to the 2, with Woodall running point….then rotating in a bevy of people at the 4 & 5; all depending on development over the summer.

The Class of 2010 will certainly provide interesting debate for us next year– who transfers, who moves into a niche role, who pushes the starters. Heck, JD might want to keep Gibbs at the Point (Woodall/Epps as his backup) and have the Class of 2010/2011 battle it out for who wants the 2 spot….

I think JJ is safe for the mere fact there is noone to replace Dante after he gets his first two fouls by the first TV timeout. I wouldn’t be shocked if JD does a cross training project with Birch or Zanna at the 5 — knowing that position is much easier to play while undersized than it is to grasp the 4.

Once again, options galore…and a coach & staff far more intelligent then us fans that will make it all work… nonetheless, fun to speculate.

Anybody have an idea of who won’t be on the team next year? We still have 5 incoming freshmen with signed LOI’s and only 3 scholarships. I think that there might be 1 recruit with academic issues, but you still are over the limit. Who will be next to play with Dwight Miller?

It is shocking (and incontrovertible) that McGhee will be the hardest to replace. He’s grown into a really dependable player who brings it every night and plays within his abilities.

As much as I like Wanamaker, losing McGhee would hurt way more.

I won’t be surprised if one of the freshmen can play backup at the 5 next year, which makes Richardson expendable.

I also won’t be surprised if John Johnson takes some minutes from the upperclassmen in the backcourt.