So that’s what it is like to be Kemba’d. Sucks.
UConn Blog has been saying it all season, “We have Kemba and you don’t.”
Yeah, I know. Giving up 20 points on 11 turnovers. McGhee having another horrid game at the Garden. Getting beaten on the boards. The switch-up at the end. Plenty of other things I’m sure have been pointed out.
Fact is, Pitt was beaten on a neutral court, against a top-20 team, on the final shot, by one of the best players in the country, making the tough shots he’s made all season. Statistically speaking, clutch has been disproved time and time again. Then you see something like that and stats go out the window compared to what just was.
Walker was held to 8-22 shooting. Lots of tough shots. He also forced his way to the line with constant attacking. Forcing officials to make calls.
Hate the loss, but there is no shame in losing this game. And beyond the known fact that there are depth issues in the frontcourt without Zanna available, there isn’t a lot to read into this game. UConn has been inconsistent and does not always play smart or as a team. But they are a good team with plenty of talent, and have shown all season that they can beat anyone. (Or lose to just about anyone.)
I shouldn’t have to point out how Kansas had to cling to a 1-point win over not-even-on-the-bubble OK State. Or UNC with Miami. Ohio St. and Northwestern in OT. Conference tournaments have this happen. Pitt ended up on the wrong side of the score.
It really was a hell of a game. Pitt surprised me — and I’m sure many of you — by coming out on fire. They finally got off to a strong start. Hitting their shots. Penetrating, attacking. Freeing Gibbs for open shots. It was like the start of the Syracuse game.
And like the Syracuse game, UConn eventually got going as well. It went back and forth. Both teams surging for spells. Unlike the game at the Pete, Walker had help.
I don’t think this loss should knock Pitt off the #1 seed line. If so, it will have more to do with whether Duke and ND win the ACC and Big East Tournaments.
Otherwise, it was just a tough loss in a great game. Nothing more.
That basically sums up the posts from the open thread…..
Chas I agree with your post. I am really surprised at how some are reacting to this loss. Our main goal is still in front of us. There will be plenty of time to critisize if and when Pitt gets an early exit in the tourney.
The big differences between those teams: OK St. #61 RPI, Northwestern #87 RPI, Miami #68 RPI and UConn #24 RPI before their respective games.
All of the other teams also had chances at the end to win their games just like UConn, but they blew it. However, like the UConn folks said, none have Kemba Walker, a likely 1st team All-American, to take that last second shot.
My problem with the loss:
1) this late in the season, late game TOs are inexcusable and seem to be a function of a lack of confidence
2) Getting beaten on the boards and Dixon’s insistence on keeping McGhee on the bench during a stretch when it was obvious his presence was needed on D.
3) continued problems on D at the top of the key
At this point I can deal with the fact that Gil Brown, with one or two exceptions a game, just won’t be aggressive and go to the goal. And that McGhee will never have *any* touch around the hoop. And that Wanny will always have one or two completely stupid TOs a game.
But points 1-3 above are things that shouldn’t happen at this point in the season. Except for perhaps the first round, do those things in the Big Dance and you’re going home.
0- 2 BET…..lost to the 2004 team by 3 points…eventual National Champs. Lost yesterday in a terrific game by 2.
I also think we still get a #1 seed. Look at ND losses. They were blown out twice.
Thanks Chas for your usual calm,cool, accurate game recap.
One last thing I have figured out about Jamie.
He will never make a game adjustment to something the team has not practiced repititiously or something they have not proven good at. No matter what. Having had some of those adjustments backfire in my face during games, I understand.
I don’t think Pitt will be any more or less prepared next week. The cold reality is that a hot opponent or an off game and that’s it. I’d feel better about our prospects if we were playing better ball. While there’s no shame in losing to UConn, they didn’t blow the doors off the Garden either.
I also gotta think the #1’s have to go to Pitt, ND, Kansas, and Ohio St…
Pitt won the toughest league in the country OUTRIGHT, and went 15-3 in the process… The ONLY games they’ve lost were to teams who are going to the NCAA Tournament… I haven’t looked at all th data, but I just dont believe there is another team in contention for a #1 with that resume…
that being said, whether they are a #1, #2 or #7, they have to lineup and play… the opponent doesn’t matter… with the unpredictable nature of the tournament, you never know who you are going to get anyway, so they would be better off focusing on correcting their own issues, and disregarding their seeding
When Zanna is healthy he will play the minutes that J.J. Richardson plays. At this point, I think Pitt is better off going small rather than playing J.J. Richardson.
That brings me to something I’ve tried to keep in mind all year. This is a team of overachievers. They are not the most talented bunch of players in their conference let alone in the county. We’ve been told that by Dokish, Gottlieb, Bilas and others, including some posters here, for the past two years.
However, they are a group of guys who play excellent team basketball on both ends of the floor, and the starting 5 do it the best which is why they get the most minutes. That has them #1 seed deserving and Final Four capable, which has made for a pretty good ride so far this year. I guess we’ll see where it ends starting next week.
Note that the two alleged tops seeds barely escaped their first confernce games. OSU lost in OT to lowly Northwestern and Kansas won by over OK St.
I do believe ND will surpass Pitt as a 1 seed being the only thing we have over them was the league title, beating them by 1 game. Otherwise, they have a higher RPI, more wins vs Top 25, beat Pitt at Pitt, and has won 12 of the last 13 games. I still think we have a good chance for the 4th No. 1, however.
And, I agree with others that say that who else on Pitt’s team is able to defend that shot.
I will take exception to those that question the talent…that teams shot the ball exceptionally well yesterday. No, Aston Gibbs may not play in the NBA and Kemba Walker certainly will. But Kemba is NEVER going to go 5-6 from three point range. Ashton is shooting 47% for the season from three. That isn’t overachieving. That is talent.
And to all those people in the other thread jumping off the bandwagon….screw you. The NCAA tournament is about luck and match-ups as much as it is about having the best overall team.
Biggest worry for me out of yesterday was the lack of intensity and aggressiveness, especially on the boards. I am queasy watching that replay over and over again of Kemba getting his own offensive board with Taylor standing stationary with his arms up and Gibbs five feet away just watching. Gotta have five guys going hard at the defensive glass, and at least two to the offensive boards. That’s how Pitt wins.
That’s fine, except it ends up screwing the BE. Its clearly the best conference in the country. Yet few BE teams win the NC, because they’re too tired in the NCAAs.
I think Pitt will lose the 1 seed, but so what? I’d rather they have the week of rest.
Kemba has amazing skills, but he didn’t win this one single handedly. Pitt got outworked despite a strong showing hitting shots.
I look to you for your reaction and am encouraged with your cool head.
Without reading the other comments here just yet, I have to say that Kemba was excited to know that Pitt would switch on the high screen and knew the ending to the movie before everyone else at the Garden…but why? I’m a huge Coach Dixon fan, but, geez, c’mon…quit switching defenders on the screens when it includes the 4 & 5 players, especially at the top of the key. It is exactly why ND schooled us at home this season. Switching is fine, but when it involves the big guys, step back and slide through. It is fundamental.
Regardless, thanks for the even keel response. I appreciate your unending efforts to get us through season after season. Looking forward to next week. Hail to Pitt!
In 2009, UNC won their first round game by 43 points! They won all the rest, including the championship game, by double and high-double digits. THAT is the way champions win. Don’t tell me Pitt isn’t built for it; I can excuse physical execution, it’s mental mishaps that are so bothersome, and that’s what happened to Pitt yesterday. A lot of that goes back to coaching.
ND’s recent hot streak has more to do with who they played than anything. Since losing by double figures in Morgantown, ND beat Providence, Seton Hall, Villanova, UConn and Cinci. Hmmm… what’s a the common thread with those teams? Pitt beat every single one. Heck the entire Month of February ND had three tough games in which they beat ‘ville at home, beat UConn on the road and lost tonight. But yeah ND is much better than Pitt. ND used a gimmick offense to beat Pitt and was afraid to play Pitt straight up. In addition, Pitt only had a better overall conference record. Pitt didn’t lose by 22 to Marquette like ND did, or lose by 18 at the Garden to St. Johns, or lose by 12 to the Cuse or by 14 at WVU. And guess what the best team ND played in out of conference was Kentucky and they lost by 14.
If we can stop the stupid turnovers and rebound like we have been, we will win some games. If we don’t make the final four there will be 200 comments on why we are no good. Ereryone is entitled to their own opinion. Mine is that this is a very good, but flawed team. I won’t be surprised if they go far or get knocked out early. That is the nature of this team and the NCAA tournament. Let’s go Pitt.
I will also root for all Big East teams in the tourney. Even ND and WVU.
After that 1rst round, those teams would then get a bye into the quarterfinals playing the 4 teams that come out of round 2. This is the format the coaches voted to use after last season only to overruled by the Athletic Directors. It makes a whole heck of a lot more sense than the present format. At least it does to this Pitt alum.
My point was not only did Pitt have to play a team with a higher RPI than other conference champs did, but they also had to play a team that already had two games – against one cupcake and one hurting team – to get on a roll. That’s why I think the BE coaches who’ve had teams get the double-bye don’t like the format.
Screw Cook, Pitt deserves the only 1 seed in the BE.
Thursday afternoon was infuriating, no doubt. Pitt should never get killed on the boards by a team playing their third game in as many days, but to use it as a referendum about how they can’t finish and then make an apples to apples comparison to Kansas-OSU (in Kansas City), UNC-Miami (in Greensboro) and OSU-NW is unbelievably dumb.
Will Pitt make the final four, probably not. This team lacks a back to the basket scorer and a wing player that can beat guys off the dribble. Does it mean that Jamie is a choke artist and that its never going to happen, hell no. The beauty of Pitt hoops is that there’s never a long wait to contend again.
NO SWEAT, NO WIN. After inspired 2nd half v WV at the Pete Brad, Gibbs, Brown was dripping sweat, they played their butts off. That’s how this team wins, with fundamentals, playing together and working hard. Melvin’s right, that still says it all. The lack of effort and desire from Brown and Bradley v. UConn is a mystery. If Brown and Brad come out flat and stupid at any point after the first round we probably lose. I have read every post, I need the therapy, and Tampa did make comment about UConn being the toughest draw for a 1 seed, but we still should have won. I posted that we can’t keep blowing opportunites, that’s not what champions do. Some of our seniors played like they didn’t cherish the opportunity. That I don’t understand.
2003 #2 lost to Marquette in Sweet 16
2004 #3 lost to OK State in Sweet 16
2005 #9 lost to #8 Pacific 1st round
2006 #5 lost to #13 Bradley 2nd round
2007 #3 lost to #2 UCLA in Sweet 16
2008 #4 lost to #5 Michigan State 2nd round
2009 #1 lost to #3 Villanova in Elite 8
2010 #3 lost to #6 Xavier 2nd round
I’d say we’re due for a 6-0 finish
I said it before; I don’t think it matters where the seed falls at this point. I don’t think we have the athletes/talent to go deep this year. Say what you want about hustle/grit/fortitude/character/charisma/chutzpah/will/toughness/whatever. Those things are great, and they help you get through the grind of the regular season. Come tournament time, you need another gear and Pitt hasn’t found it yet. It’s not a Dixon thing; he’s a great coach and I keep hoping that maybe he’ll shake things up and find that extra gear. I’m just not sure that its there to find.
Also, clearly conference tournaments matter. Especially when the field of teams is like it is this year. I’m guessing the committee will look at everything, and maybe even put additional emphasis on late season performance – at least near the top of the brackets. Other things matter as well, including things that shouldn’t. Duke brings a massive cult following and a lot of history to the dance, and that counts for something in the minds of the voters, not matter what they say. At the end of the day, at least to me, Pitt just didn’t LOOK like a #1 seed. I hope I’m wrong… I really do.
Should be fun in a couple of hours regardless 🙂
Seriously though, you’re exactly right. Sky’s not falling, kids.