Nice assist Nas

Looks like a hugh mismatch

VMI 0-7, whereas Ron Carter?

Trap game, Panthers look bored.

Love Johnson’s confidence. Does not play like a typical Pitt frosh.

JJ 8 pts

Johnson has the smoothest loking stroke. Bodes well for the future. Where did this 3pt shooting as a team come from??

JJ Moore 3 3’s: 9pts. h

Pitt shooting 50% VMI 28%

Back door cut burns J Johnson

Who scheduled these guys?

57 points at half? Globetrotters vs. Nationals?

oops, Washington Generals

Half time of the “City-County” game Duquesne 32 Rober Morris 28

Looking ahead to Oak State, they don’t look too strong this yr.

Really like seeing the ball go inside a bit, both on screen and rolls and dump-ins.

Listening to the VMI broadcast. Does the name Ron Carter jog your memory?

What’s the score?

59 -39 17.28 left

Brow by JJ,move your feet

Thanks Steve, It sounds like they’re playing fairly well.

Now 61 – 44 10.17 left

Since then, we seem to have fallen asleep

Don’t drive the lane Ashton

They have a player named weenie

Why do I think Jamie’s got a thing against JJ?

Ashton 5-12 from 3

81 – 60 7.52 left

13 to’s for Pitt Keydets 7

100 anyone???

somnolence

Robert Morris 64 Stage Magicians 60.

I had to work late tonight, so I didn’t see the game, but looking at the box score…geez. Ashton Gibbs chucked up 15 3’s in this game? How’s about letting the other children have a turn, Ashton? Didn’t your parents teach you anything about sharing?

TG wants to hire secondary coach Van Malone from Tulsa.

Anyone going to MSG saturday? Where is a pitt meet-up place? I heard rosie o’gradys…

Is this old news, or has it been confirmed by anyone around Pitt?

link to brett-mcmurphy.blogs.cbssports.com

Lou a little old but not mutch i poated it on our outher site 2 hours ago ment posted

Hate to be negative but Wright and Epps 1-7 from the floor, and 3 assists. Not too encouraging against that team.

Pitt played well for about 7 minutes in the first half. It wasn’t the starters. They sleepwalked through the rest of the game. Ashton Gibbs is playing like dogshit.

Dante Taylor played well today.

Wright should not be playing. Still hasn’t shown any offensive ability and he is nowhere near a lock-down defender.

Thought all bigs played well. Showed skill with the ball, ability to finish, ok on defense (about the norm).
Agree about Wright. I’d much rather see Johnson develop into that first guard off bench (once Tray comes back). Like his offensive skill and defensive potential, even if it’s certainly not there yet. I’m not seeing any substantial defensive upgrade with Wright, at least enough to offset his offensive liabilities.

Jamie needs Wright and Epps to play as much as possible during the non-con, so their first game experience is in conference play. They need to get the feel for D-1 ball; it’s all part of developing players. Anyone remember Wanamaker as a hopeless turnover machine as a freshman and soph or Woodall as the out of control freshman or the hapless freshman/sophomore Gary McGhee? Playing time made them better. I can’t say it’ll make Wright or Epps better, but Dixon is right to play them as much as he reasonably can in these games.

And Johnson is a player, and seems tough as nails. Let’s hope he continues to develop.

I’m in agreement vel. Johnson is the real deal and once we get into the BE games he will be in the mix more. We’ll need Epps and Wright to be ready to come in and not be a liability. Experience in these non-conference games is going to help out. I think coach has seen enough of Johnson and Birch to realize they are going to be big pieces to the puzzle.

Agree with you velvil. Woodall being out enables Dixon to get Wright/Epps experience. John Johnson is seeing playing time because he got game and can score. Dixon knows what he is doing and sees things in practice that we don’t see.

Dixon knows what he is doing. It makes sense bringing Johnson off the bench because the kid is a true freshman and also his ability to come in and score. He is a departure from most Pitt players who have come off the bench in that he can flat out score. Johnson coming off the bench is best for him and the team seeing that he is a true frosh.

Pitt seems to lack muscle in the inside that we have become accustom to, Blair, McGee. Birch is a excellent athelete but not a detterent in the hole and Taylor never has developed that skill.

This year the team should develop as the younger players get playing time. Next year Birach should be more physically mature and stronger with the addition of Adams who appears to be the rare H.S. big man that has both height and physical maturity (240lbs.) Pitt should dominate inside again.
Birch at strong forward (remember Dixon played SF with Blair)and Adams at center and the development of the youth this year next year should be very exciting.

I didn’t go to the game. Did Johnson play much point?

I think he can be a more than adequate fill in for Woodall short term. Gibbs is better off the ball at the two.

Wright’s advantage is his size and POTENTIAL to play good defense. So far he hasn’t proven to be good enough defensively to keep Johnson off the floor.

Giving Epps too many minutes now is a waste. Pitt would have to be in BIG TROUBLE to need him. Right now he is just an upgrade over Nick Rivers as a practice player.

So if Pitt goes to an eight/nine man rotation come tournament time, the best case scenario for minutes would be:

Gibbs 32
Woodall 29
Johnson 19 – back up both spots
Wright – spot duty at the two and the three
Epps – nothing, needs to pick it up or think about moving on with his life’s work.

Went to the game last night. My thoughts…

1) Crowd = pathetic. So many no shows. I hope to God that our fans are not so blessed that they give up on the “journey” and simply focus on the “destination”.

2) Epps = chubby, slow, careless and not going to be an option anytime soon.

3) Taylor is, simply put, a pussy. lots of athletic ability but lacks the “cock and balls” gene needed to play in the Big East. He is the anti-Nasir.

4) Johnson is small but fearless, almost LeVanc like. Looking forward to him playing more.

5) Cameron is playing solid defense, but he is easy discouraged. He’s Jamie’s project. Expect good things from him a year or so.

6) JJ Moore can be special if he can get a slashing mentality. Would love to see him beat people off the drible. His game isn’t there yet.

7) If Ashton gets hot, ride on it…that’s what I think for March…what the heck?

boubacar I agree with you on Wright, Johnson is a better player already and deserves more minutes, he will benefit much more from those minutes than will Wright and should get the majority of them. Wright isn’t going to develop an offensive game by playing more minutes in games this year. He also is not a good enough defender at this point to merrit PT based on his defensive prowess. Pitt’s former lock down defender’s at least brought some offensive skill to the floor (J.Dixon could get to the hole, J.Paige shot well at times and could get to the hole, J Brown cleaned up offensive boards and could put it on the floor some) Wright brings none of those things right now and it is like playing 4 on 5 offensively with him. He may in the future, I just don’t think he should be chewing up minutes this year that could be used on guys who can help the team this year.

PaulyP:

i HATE gibbs game right now. selfish, arrogant, entitled, and lazy are not going to get it done in march. his defense is the worst on the team. i can’t watch it any more. it makes me angry. i don’t understand why he gets a free pass. he gives up his offense on defense.

Hey guys, I just started my own Pitt basketball blog. I write game recaps, give player grades and make bad photoshops.
Check it out @
http://www.iampittbasketball.blogspot.com
(the name is an inside joke, don’t worry about it)

Omar, I generally agree with many of your assessments of assessments. But I’m not sure I would label Gibbs arrogant, entitled, or lazy. Yes he may be selfish on the offensive end right now, and his D might be poor. But I don’t think he’s arrogant, entitled or lazy. One of the reasons he is a below average defender is the same reason he can’t take the ball to the hole, he is not particularly athletic and does not have quick feet. You kind of have to live with it because of what he brings to the table on O. You have to put him on the worst guard and play help D. His offensive skills are needed on this team, and he needs to play a lot of minutes, those minutes should not be spent with him pounding the ball into the floor (I think Jamie stated the ball is in his hands too much a game or two ago and that he needs to be coming of screens, cutting etc.)

I agree with Gibbs being a horrible defender. Last night while at the game, I watched him pose for a made three and then fail to get back on D on a few occassions. He is also selfish when he drives. He rarely looks to pass and half the time he puts up a poor shot. Gibbs should be looking to come off screens like Reggie Miller or J.J. Reddick and let others deal with the ball handling and driving. The guards as a group play some pretty bad D. Everyone just needs to get used to Pitt having to outscore people this year. Lastly, Dante Taylor played pretty well. He’s going to end up surprising people by the end of the year.

I hear ya, Omar…but count me one of those guys that used to scream when our ealry 2000 teams would defend the heck out of a team but would struggle mind knumbingly to MAKE A EFFIN JUMP SHOT or an EFFIN FREE THROW.

Sorry, give me Gibbs over the likes of Jermaine Dixon, Antonio Graves, Julius Page any day of the week.

You cant teach 20 points a game.

Say what you want.

Wait til he finds his stroke.

Buidling off of OLGP & Omar, I think what I realized last night was this year is the TRANSITION team. The transition from perrenial overacheiving, lunch pail, defensive teams to talented, offensive minded, scorer teams that bring youth and enthusiasm (and potentially “underachieving”) to the table.

I hear what a lot of you are saying, but Ashton Gibbs is an amazing shooter and his ability to hit the 3 when they need it most is worth a lot. When he gets hot he can quickly open up a close game. I realize that he’s not Julius Page on defence, but he does so many things well. I don’t see many players who are great at everything. Players have different abilities and strenths and being able to put together a team where the all things you need are adequately addressed isn’t the easiest thing in the world. All the great teams I’ve seen have had important role players. You need the outstanding defender, the scorer, rebounder. If you think for a moment that you’re going get players who are good at everything, you’re dreaming.

Gibbs is playing point guard. He can’t just be coming off screens. He’s supposed to drive to the basket and look to dish or draw a foul. He’s a 90% career FT shooter.

This isn’t a transition team. Pitt hasn’t played solid defense for a while and the results show. You can beat a crappy team in the first round of the NCAA’s playing no defense, but you can’t win the second round game. Pitt has lost in the second round game 3 of the past 4 years and it has been on the defense.

Gibbs is playing like crap. His body language stinks. He shoots a million shots a game and turns it over trying to do things that are out of his circle of competence. I like him when he plays within himself. I think all of the positive press has gone to his head. It’s unfortunate because he can be an effective player when he isn’t asked to do too much. Right now he is hurting the team with his selfish play.

Gibbs’ leadership consists of scowling and pointing his younger teamates in directions so he can “take” a player one-on-one. It is horrible to watch. His effectiveness has deteriorated drastically without Brad Wannamaker.

Nasir Robinson is playing very efficient basketball and truly leads out there. He pulls teamates aside and tries to explain where they need to be. He doesn’t scowl or yell at them during the play. The foul at the end of last year’s Butler game has had a positive effect on Nasir. I love the way he competes.

I agree with him needing to play within himself, that is why I made the comment of him needing to have the ball out of his hands.

I disagree with your universal statement Omar re: defense and Pitt’s postseason exits or you utter disdain for the Pre-season BE POY. I think the reandomness of March is, in fact, too random to make any universal comments or claims.

This is a transition team to a new skill set of players at Pitt. Scoring first…grow into serviceable defense.

Winning the Wisconsin way will be a think of the past IMHO.

Jamie can coach these guys to serviceable defense to get far in a tournament. They need to learn how to minimize turnovers, rebound, close out games….and strike lightning in a bottle offensivey in March.

In the meantime, we are going to have a good (not great) regular season until the full compliment of talent in on the court.

Omar is right. We need more than serviceable defense. We need to improve defensively- especially on the parameter. We get knocked out of the tournament every year because of this. We are NOT a score first team. We have a high offensive efficiency rating against a bunch of shit teams. This is not an indication of being a high scoring, offensive team. It just speaks to our execution. The defense has looked better the last few games, so hopefully the trend will continue.

For the record, I don’t hate any of the players. I just don’t like the way Gibbs has been playing. He has a very specific skillset. He has been trying to expand it to the detriment of the team. I also do not like his body language and lack of concern on defense.

This whole team needs to start playing with maximum effort on the defensive end. No more layups and wide open threes. Make teams work for a shot.

The schedule is not impressive and Pitt’s defense has been terrible. What do you think is going to happen when Pitt has to play some marquee teams? Is it going to magically improve? That’s not how it works.

Omar your points are well taken, however I believe the defence will improve by the time they get into the Big East season. I think the biggest concern is holding on to the ball. If you look back to the LaSalle and Duquesne games, the number of turnovers was alarming. They have to do a much better job in that regard. Can the Panthers achieve it without Travon Woodall in the line-up? I don’t know. It will be a work in progress, but I think they will improve. Jamie Dixon’s teams always do.

Losing Gibbs would cripple this team. No doubt about it. ON the other hand, this team can beat better teams if Gibbs gets hot and our defense is serviceable.

I will state for the record that REBOUNDING AND TURNOVERS must always be a high priority and executed at the highest level. Defense, well…I am of the belief that it needs to be serviceable (read: contested shots, facing up, and blocking passing lanes). The lock down style of teams past is great for regular season, but I don’t see us going far with it.

Our furthest advancing team (Fields, Blair, Young) was probably our worst defensive team of the modern era.

How great of a defensive team was UCONN last year? How good of a defensive team was VCU?

All I’m saying is that we have to rebound, we have to be judicious with the ball, we need to show servivecable defense, and we MUST SCORE. #point shots, FT% and “make your own” off the dribble shots…with the “garbage tip-ins” from Rebounds.

That’s the formula in my mind.

I wouldn’t read too much into body language. I like a guy that plays a little pissy…as long as he channels that into beating the pther team. Gibbs will have a chance to cement his legacy as one of the greatest guards in Pitt history with his postseason play this year. I think we should enjoy the journey.

Gibbs has a long way to go to be Pitt’s greatest guard. I don’t care how many points he scores. He has never won a game in the Big East tournament. He has lost in the second round of the NCAA’s as Pitt’s leading scorer 2 years in a row.

He made it past the second round playing very little on the Young, Blair, and Fields team. In fact, he missed a couple wide-open threes against Villanova that year in the few minutes he played. This was also Pitt’s best offensive year at 1.22 PPP and they barely made it to the Elite 8 because of the suspect defense. Remember it took a hail mary by Levance to get us there. If Pitt plays top-25 defense in 2008-2009, then they cut down the nets. The best pros from that year’s elite 8 went to Pitt. Nova had no business even being in the game with Pitt. Mediocre defense let them hang around. Young and Blair are performing as well or better than all of UNC’s pros from the championship team. Offense and defense both matter. Pitt has sacrificed too much of one for the other.

I hope I eat crow on this. Unless Gibbs alters his game during the course of the season, I don’t think I will. Everybody on this site knows that I am as optimistic as they come with Pitt basketball, therefore I do not want to be labeled as a “hater”. I’m simply stating my somewhat informed opinion.

Pitt went 3-0 without Gibbs last season with 2 of the games on the road at Nova and WVU. Pitt lost 3 of the final 5 with Gibbs with a shitty loss to St. Johns when he scored 26 or something. I’m not sure I agree with the “cripple” comment. It might be crippling to have both Gibbs and Woodall out.

As I stated, Gibbs can cement his legacy this Spring. If they exit early, he will join the ranks as a very good scorer on another one of our respectable, but non-championship teams.