I’m not saying the Sports Illustrated writer is picking Pitt to win it all — or even the Big East. Just a pleasant surprise to see that he ranked Pitt’s frontcourt (#15) and backcourt (#10) in his top-16 squads. These days, Pitt get’s ranked but the players tend to be overlooked. Nice for the kids to get a little respect.
Big East Basketball Media Day in a week. Just a memo to the Occupy Wall Street folk, it is Coach Jamie Dixon, not JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dixon. Let him be.
In related news, I will be attending Big East Media Day, in NYC. More details coming, but suffice to say that I cannot wait.
In recruiting over all PITT has the fifth best class for 2012 number 5 in top 20 very good coach.
Travon appears to be starter at PG but Gibbs will probably be moved over during the game, but didn’t go into details about the backups.
Not sure if this was his speculation or he got it 1st hand from coaches.
I grew up in Western PA so I obviously have a lot of old friends that are Penn State alumni or fans.
Fine.
But in the past decade they’ve all begun cheering for Pitt hoops, and claim that Penn State is their team in football and Pitt is their team in basketball. This actually seems to be a common sentiment amongst western PA college sports fans these days.
Unforgivable!
Listen! We don’t give a shit about your stupid football program, so leave our basketball team alone nitters and cheer for your own below average hoops program!!
Will he do what other PITT players in the past have done. Make that huge leap from little contribution as a sophomore, to significant contribution as a junior.
One thing I don’t like is now we’re going to have 2 guys who really are Power Forwards, playing Center.
Those being Taylor & Birch. I was hoping this 6’11” guy could come in and play Center and we could use Taylor to spell him and play some PF along with Birch at PF. It would make us a lot bigger up front and I really don’t think Taylor of Birch are really centers.
Hoping he takes a big step forward in his junior year like predecessors, Gray and McGhee. Don’t expect McGhee’s toughness but can provide a low post presence that we haven’t seen since Gray.
This is the type of guy you want playing center if we’re going to continue with half court sets on offense. I can’t see Taylor, chasing someone outside on those high pick screens. In fact I wish Dixon would come up with a different way to defend those, than have a Center, 40 feet away from the hoop.
Nas is entrenched as the starter. Been there for three years and it’s Jamie’s MO to reward the guys who’ve put in the most time with the starting job even if they get more limited minutes. Zanna has a huge upside with his athleticism. He just needs experience and practice on the fundamentals.
Taylor has been groomed to take over the 5 from day one. McGhee’s hard work and surprising development on D just kept him from taking it sooner. I don’t see that changing and expect big things from him. Grooming Birch there puts another athletic up-tempo guy on the court with Nas or Talib which could be pretty awesome at times. It also helps makes Birch stronger and able to play with his back to the basket. Imagine him as a 4 in 2013 and hopefully 2014 who can play effectively outside and inside. Wow!
Finally, it gives Gilbert time to develop more slowly. From what I’ve read, he’s raw and a work in progress. Add Adams to that mix and Pitt should be pretty awesome inside for the next several years.
Solidifying things at the guard positions is a bigger concern for me. But it looks like we have some potentially good ones waiting in the wings.
I want to emphasize that Fittipaldi wrote this in a column or blog, and not sure if that is his thoughts or what .. but he usualy has inside info.
Would like to see Gilbert get playing time at the 5 and spell Dante. Gilbert and Birch are true shot blockers—something we haven’t had for a while. JJ is improved and should start at the 3, ahead of Lamar. Zanna and Nas and Birch at the 4 should be a strength.
Thank you Jamie D. for bringing us a top 10 hoops program. And helping relieve the stress from the Tino Diaries.
For me, the key to this season lies in the SECOND offensive threat from the perimeter. If Ashton is hurt or sidelined or keyed on my bigger/taller guards…. WHO is going to be the outside/slashing threat?
At first blush, I would say that Woodall is that guy. I think he is maturing as a scorer (especially from the field, making some big shots last year), and is quick enough to make plays in transition.
After Woodall, I’m struggling to pencil in a scorer from the backcourt? Epps (Mr. 1 and Done)? Nasir and his new love for jump shooting (easy tiger…)? JJ (Gotta hope he can hit the rim this year)? Cameron Wright?
If Epps or Woodall can provide enough offense to keep people from sagging down on our bigs or doubling on AShton…I see us having another wonderful year.
Among the newcomers .. from what i read, Durand Johnson may be the best pure shooter on the team (including Gibbs) and I believed Jim Johnson showed good one-on-one skills this summer.
Birch is a freak athlete, but he’s skinny as a bird. I think he can be useful to play some 4 and block some shots and run the floor, but I think Dixon will have the luxury to work him in gradually and my guess is most of his minutes will come at the expense of Zanna.
And, where’s Boubacar AW in these conversations? He’s usually the other Greentree insider.
Hail to Pitt! Hail to Washington!?!??