Who really cares what the local mediots think? Please remember that one of them voted for Jason White for Heisman over Larry Fitzgerald. They are good at eating the free food they get at the games, so I cannot fault them there.

After the way things looke last night, it’s going to be difficult to turn things around. It wasn’t the defense, they just couldn’t score. Things have snowballed since the Wagner game. Ball handling and distribution of the ball have been big issues, but after 5 consecutive losses, it appears that their confidence is shot. Even Ashton Gibbs isn’t shooting well.

I have my doubts if this team will win another game this year, I know it sounds crazy but last night there was just no effort and when they are down 20 they are running the same slow 1/2 court sets that just drain the clock.

I know they didn’t hit their shots but did Dixon and company make any coaching adjustments as the game went along?

A horrid and terrible performance but they have looked this way for most of the season and as the season goes along they seem to get worse.

The scary thing about it is the total lack of effort and energy. Almost every 50-50 ball went to RU and they pummeled us on the boards.

This time the local media idiots are right.

Sometimes a team has to hit bottom to bounce back. They are playing So Tight. I would give them a few days off .

I was also at the game and stayed until the end. Perhaps I need an evaluation.
There are so many problems that I feel strange about picking out only one, but…I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a team with two guys rotating at center that have such a lack of feel for the game. Taylor and Zanna are continually out of position on offense and late in getting to where they are supposed to be. On top of that, neither seems to have the hands necessary to play at this level – whether it be fumbling away entry passes or letting guys take rebounds from them. Lastly, neither has any real physical presence at all. At this point, I have to agree with the calls for Gilbert. At least he is a physical presence on defense. I don’t think he could do any worse on offense.

Chas correctly points out that defenses are overloading the outside shooters. One of the reasons they can do this is that they have no fear of either Taylor or Zanna consistently making a play on the inside. Teams are actually doubling Gibbs when he starts to penetrate.

Aside from changing personnel (I also think Moore needs to play more, even though he makes mistakes, because he is one of the few that is actually aggressive on offense), I’m not sure what the coaches can do at this point. What are the in-game adjustments that would have solved last night?

Someone in the local media needs to start asking the tough questions…
Why is Gibbs still running the point?
Why no improvement from Dante from year 1?
Why did we not see the Zone D used effectively?
Are you practicing said Zone D? If not Why?
Why the lack of a backup PG? And don’t give me Epps isn’t ready yet. Why isn’t he ready?
When will Zanna make a bunny?
How has B Knight not killed someone on this team yet? (ok skip that one)

Last night, I felt as if the offense was better when Gibbs was on the bench. He really needs to be taken off the point. Gibbs at the point causes a lot of problems. First, a lot of times guys are open but Gibbs lack of PG ability means the pass gets to the guy late and by that time the other teams D is set. Second, if Gibbs has the ball in his hands he can’t run off screens and do what he is meant to do, shoot. Third, Gibbs is slow at bringing the ball up so the offense doesn’t get started till after about 10 seconds have gone off the shot clock.

Epps looked functional enough last night to be able to play minutes. I’m not sure why you wouldn’t even try to play Epps and Gibbs at the same time.

The recuuring theme during this losing streak appears to be a lack of effort. We are getting outhustled to ebounds and loose balls. We are standing around/being passive on offense. I do not understand why Jamie is allowing this lack of energy and enthusiasm. IMHO the players need to be sent a message-max effort or pine time.

Meyran, the reason some of these kids are not ready or have not developed does not fall squarely on the coaches shoulders. Maybe some of these kids just don’t put the time in they should. Dixon’s track record for getting more than what he should out of players is phenomenial. I am sure he has tried everything.

As far as the makeup of this team there is just no passion in any aspect of the game. They get out hustled to every loose ball. They get the ball ripped away from them time and time again. They pass to the other team or out of bounds. They bicker at each other all game when a mistake is made. No one hones up to a mistake. The didn’t even jump for rebounds last night. Most went right by them. Remember when Blair flipped Thabeet? We are Thabeet.
This is embarrassing and for not one senior to step up and show the younger players what Pitt basketball is is a shame. The idea that no one will outwork Pitt is nowhere in sight. How come if Rutgers knew our plays we didn’t know theirs?

I hope the 2 incoming freshman can play right away b/c there isn’t much hope outside that going foward. It is time to play Epps with Gibbs b/c it isn’t working without a true PG out there

Well at least we wont have our usual March collapse this year to worry about because we wont be playing. So instead of waiting until April to drink heavily, we can all begin now.

Pitt sports are cursed…lets all accept it and move one.

They made this list too:

“Biggest disappointment: Pittsburgh.

Unfortunately, there were also a lot of strong candidates for this category, including Memphis, Florida State, Texas A&M, Washington, UCLA and Villanova. The fact that I’m giving Pitt the nod is kind of a backhanded compliment (or maybe it’s a complimentary backhand). Out of all those programs, Pitt has enjoyed the most consistent excellence the last decade under Jamie Dixon and Ben Howland before him. To see this team lose at home to Long Beach State and Wagner as well as DePaul on the road is truly shocking.”

Read more: link to sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Chas was talking about favorite Pitt traditions. Not my favorite tradition, but one I’ve had to live with much of my life: Knocking down a JD after a game and moaning, “Same Old Pitt”.

JJ Moore actually looked like the most decisive player on offense. Keep him in as much as possible. You’ve nothing to lose, obviousely, but a potentially much to gain.

Taylor looked weak, but guys, why hate on him more than anyone else on this team right now. He’s not close to the weakest link on the floor right now.

Johnson is not the player with the most potential. I just do not understand why there is this pro-Johnson contingent out there. He’s a poor man’s Ronald Ramon (slightly quicker, but worse shooter, defender). Hes freshman, sure, but his ceiling is not that high and he doesn’t know how to run the pooint. Epps is a better PG than Johnson right now.

so much wrong, but confidence and drive are the center of it. When your senior “leader” and “best player” plays and acts like Ashton Gibbs has, the whole team is gonna drag. Sorry Ashton, you’ve worked your ass off for 3yrs and have earned a lot of slack, but your trying to do too much and not trusting the other players. its detrimental on a team that needs to be fed confidence (and fed the ball).

After I had switched over to the ‘Cuse/’Nova game, I heard Fran Fraschilla say it very well about Pitt: They think just putting on that jersey means they’re tough, but they’re not living up to the tradition. No guts, no toughness.
Mix that in with a lack of talent and it’s a bad mix.

Here’s a possible explanation: Fear of injury brought on by Woodall’s chronic one

Who knows?

After last night, they should be reporting on Pitt BB in the Obituary section, DOA!!!!!!!!

Well, there is this from earlier today:

“@kenpomeroy (Ken Pomeroy):

I can confidently say this is impossible. RT @BW628: what are the chances Pitt gets to the BET 0-16?”

Of course, that’s only saying Pitt likely will win 1.

To me the most frustrating thing is that they cannot get a shot off is less than 25- 30 seconds even against mediocre teams. I remember when teams playing Pitt had a hard time to get a shot off (not this team except all these teams seem to be able to run the clock when they have the lead)Even when they rebound they cannot push the ball up the court for a quick shot when trailing by 10 -15 – 20. The only semblance of a point guard is Epps. He looks like he can push the ball but he does not play good defense and his shot is not there. Give him a shot with Gibbs a the 2.There is nothing to lose this season is over.

They tried that last night and that didn’t work either. Gibbs played off Epps and Johnson at points. Nope. No good.

Most telling to me was the quote from I believe Moore when he said once things go south they turn on each other. No chemistry at all, and it is hard to gut it out and play hard without chemistry.

I wish Dixon would go to a 3 guard offense and get Taylor and/or Zanna out of the post. Neither of them was or will be a post player.

Perhaps this could open up the floor more by taking the opposing center out of the lane allowing more penetration for players like Wright. It may also improve the perimeter defense.

Was Birch correct in leaving ?

DRW == Does PITT have 3 guards that could create shots == jj,patterson,woodall? == They are getting killed on the boards == IMO PITT needs to get bigger == no threat inside ==

They tried playing with a smaller lineup last night with Zanna, Patterson, Moore, Johnson, and Gibbs at the same time. Didn’t work. Putting Gilbert in and going bigger won’t either. Nor will playing zone. Dixon pretty much went through every combination last night. There’s really no point in nickel and diming the line up and substitution patterns. That’s not the issue. They all just need to man up and get some heart and play harder. The best hope right now is that Woodall’s return offers both performance improvement, but more importantly, attitude adjustments.

And they got killed on rebounds last night, but are usually winning that battle- sometimes by a large margin. The ball handling and turnovers are a huge problem. John Johnson is not an answer at point guard. Epps hasn’t developed and Gibbs labors through it as a task.

Silver Panther == I agree Woodall needs to be @ PG & PITT needs to play w/more heart. However; this team has no interior presence or options inside.

I just checked the Rutgers roster. Yikes!! The team that devastated the locals last evening was comprised of a bunch of novices. Rice played six frosh and one soph. The largest of the group was 6’8. There is “Something rotten in Denmark”. Rev. George from Columbus

Pray for Pitt Rev George….we need it.

Dixon needs to be a man and bench some of his older players. Gibbs in particular. He stinks right now, his attitude sucks, and his leadership sucks. Stories from people at the game said he shoved Nas away when Nas put his arm on his shoulder going into the locker room at the half. Nas also reportedly did the same to an assistant or team manager. Absolutely terrible senior leadership. Sit them on the bench and play young guys.
Slice is out of a job lets bring him back to recruit some tough kids (Yes i understand the most talented leave NYC now) to Pitt. This team is so soft, absolutely no toughness, teammwork, or anything.

It’s a disgrace what this team is like when you think back to Brandon Knight, Julius Page, Jaron Brown, Chevy Troutman, Ontario Lett, Sam Young, Fields, Ronald Ramon etc…Those guys made Pitt basketball a name by working their butts off at practice and games and fighting, no matter their talent…It’s like this new group thinks were Pitt, so we’ll beat people.

Team is an embarrassment to all the great hard working tough kids that played at Pitt in the past decade. Dixon needs to go to ‘tough love’ with these guys and if he is afraid to then let knight run practice and Jamie can go for a coffee. It is PATHETIC to see what this team has become.

Obviously the move of Gibbs to PG has been a disaster, particularly for Gibb’s shooting %.

One huge mistake was not playing Johnson immediately at PG after Woodall got hurt. You still had several cupcakes on the non-con schedule, where Johnson could have gained a lot of experience playing the point. Surely they could have still won those cupcake non-con games with Johnson at PG.

Another perplexing thing, Woody hasn’t played since the Nov. 30th Duquesne game. With Gibbs at PG since then, Pitt then beat Tennessee and only had 6 turnovers. While Tenn isn’t great, they did just beat #13 Florida 67-56. Then PITT scored 97 points against VMI and then beat Okla. State at MSG shooting 53% with 10 turnovers. Then the two cupcakes, SC State & St. Francis.

Then came the collapse with Wagner at home, shooting only 40% with 18 turnovers. Horrid shooting continued since then and the turnover problem with 17,15 & 15 in the last 3 games.

Can Johnson at the Point be that worse?
At least that gets Gibbs back to SG.

Make the move Coach !

(posted this on the older blog)

John Johnson

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Burlington, New Jersey
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Ht:6’1″
Wt:168 lbs
Class:2011 (High School)

John Johnson led Girard College to the Class A Boy’s Basketball championship game where they defeated Kennedy Catholic. During the state playoffs, Johnson dominated, scoring 30 points in the finals and 37 points in the semifinals. In a game back in January, Johnson scored 51 points against a completely over-matched Plumstead Christian team.

Taylor looked weak, but guys, why hate on him more than anyone else on this team right now. He’s not close to the weakest link on the floor right now.

Johnson is not the player with the most potential. I just do not understand why there is this pro-Johnson contingent out there. He’s a poor man’s Ronald Ramon (slightly quicker, but worse shooter, defender). Hes freshman, sure, but his ceiling is not that high and he doesn’t know how to run the pooint. Epps is a better PG than Johnson right now.
Comment by PantherP 01.12.12 @ 1:54 pm

Don’t know what you’re watching PP,
Sleepy is a total non-factor in most games, which IS WHY Zanna is getting more minutes than him.
Last night Sleepy had 0 points and 3 rebounds and he was the tallest player on the court when he was in there.

And again Johnson can shoot the rock(47% from 3), and with this team ANYONE that can shoot is an anomaly. Epps has been a major miss, he’ll be lucky to keep his scholarship.

Hate to single you out, but…….inane.

Pitt has excellent facilities, an outstanding record of success in a top conference, a highly regarded coach, yet we have been recruiting “projects”, players who have to be coached up. Our talent level is way below what I would consider to be our status. Is Jamie a lousy recruiter or are we in dire need of an assistant coach or two who can help carry the load?

isnore, because the elite kids have handlers who have their hands out. Dixon brings in kids who atre just kids. Birch was the exception, Birch got nervous when Skerry, the guy who he thought would hook him up left before he arrived. but Dixon calmed him down, Birch thought the special treatment was forthcoming; it wasn’t. Read between the lines of Birch’s few post split comments, “he promised me more than I received” is the essence. When Gibbs learned of Birch’s expectations his attitude changed, “how come this punk freshman has been promised special considerations when I’ve busted my balls and sacrificed for this program and no one has promised me anything?” Dixon saw he had a bad situation developing and the easiest fix was letting Birch walk but that didn’t fix Gibbs’ attitude. I saw that angry look in Gibbs’ eyes in Knoxville, pure shit attitude. That flagrant elbow he threw was rooted in attitude and almost cost them the game.

Gibbs is emotionally off center and its affecting every aspect of his game and as PG and the team leader and ball distributor it’s affecting the entire team in the locker room and in the games. The Birch affair has cascaded and because he’s bitter Gibbs might be beyond just an attitude djustment. Dixon’s hands are tied, he can’t sit him or it would be interpreted by the team that Gibbs sacrificed, came back for his senior year and then gets benched. Tough spot.

What are you talking about? Gibbs emotionally off center? Dixon’s hands are tied? That’s garbage. Clearly, Gibbs is not leadership material. But the guy’s a competitor and pissed off they are losing. I’m not going to knock him for that or for what his freakin’ body language looks like. Gibbs hasn’t done anything deserving of getting benched. Some of us need to stop trying to play Freud from our computer chairs.

What Gibbs has done that deserves benching is play like crap. I agree, let’s stay out of the pseudo-psychology BS here. I feel like I’m watching Oprah.

But he does deserve benching — because he’s singlehandedly destroying Pitt’s offensive flow. Even if there are times when he’s supposed to be playing the 2, the other players naturally defer to him, get him the ball and then we all know he can’t create. He doesn’t make anybody else better. He can’t get in the lane and get shots for Taylor/Zanna/Robinson. He’s just a completely one-dimensional offensive player.

Not to mention his complete lack of interest in playing defense. Zero interest…… and even if he was motivated to cover people, he just doesn’t have the quickness or strength to do it.

It is a really tough spot for Dixon. He really can’t bench him because it sends the wrong message about a kid who has worked hard to get better and has been a good representative for the program. But maybe he can reduce some minutes and try to help the kid understand that he needs to focus on his strengths for this team and let some other guys handle and distribute the ball.

Emotional maturity will sink Gibbs. Birch’s situation should not have any bearing whatsoever on the lousy way Gibbs is playing.

Yes, Gibbs is playing out of position…HE NOT A POINT GUARD!! But, to bring a poor attitude into the locker room and out on the floor is simply not acceptable. Dixon would be well served by sitting Gibbs for the first 5-10 minutes of the Marquette game and then moving him to shooting guard. Who will play the point? ???? I don’t know and neither does Dixon because he has a bench of secondary and tertiary talent.

Benching Gibbs is a completely crazy thought and guaranteed has not crossed Jamie Dixon’s mind. His one dimension is like 17 points a game the last two years. He’s playing with a bunch of even more less-dimensional players and he’s frustrated. Not defending his poutiness at all. And definitely wish he’d man up and face the press after games. But there have been plenty of opportunities for other guys to step up and prove themselves. Plenty. And they can’t or don’t do it. He’s one of the best shooters in the country and they need to work to get him open. Yes, because he can’t do it all himself. I agree, get him to the bench for rest and a chance for others to run the point, but “benching” him for disciplinary reasons? No way.

Ok, so maybe I missed an article or something- where are the reports of problems with Gibbs in the locker room and attitude with the team, etc.? I read Fittapaldo talking about Gibbs declining to speak and read on here Gibbs shaking off someone’s back pat. Where is this locker room stuff coming from?

Anyone take a look at the form(or lack thereof) on the jump shots Epps takes…what was dixon looking at when he recruited him….there is a VOID of talent on this roster,plain and simple…

Emel,
Johnson looks good on paper. But all he brings to the table is 3pt shooting in small doses. He’s not much better than Patterson at shooting 3s, and Woodall accomplished in his 7 games more than Johnson has in the entire season to date. He also hasn’t figured out how to pass other than throwing it at guys feet.

His hight and length mean you can’t have him and Gibbs or Woodall on the floor at the same time (even though we pretty much always do this to terrible effect).

My only point was the support he’s gotten has been disproportionately generous. Don’t bring out the stats he racked up against weak AAU teams. And the 3 star ranking is not impressive. This is Pitt, not Robert Morris.

Again, only saying i’m not impressed. Honestly don’t know why I single him out. Its fair to scratch your head.

Anyway, yes Taylor looks useless and is most disappointing, but the whole team looks awful. I get the Taylor hatred, but its a bit overblown in light of how bad EVERYONE else is.

OK, i’m looking at that and realizing I’m just rationalizing something strange I typed out of rage after the game. Johnson may/should turn out to be a very good role player.

Johnson is really what they like to call a combo guard, which is a nice way of saying he’s a short guy that likes to shoot a lot. He’s shown some poise and a bit of a high school style heaving three point style, but he hasn’t really shown point guard skills yet. He brought the ball up once against Rutgers and the defensive player just stepped in and took it from him. I’m looking forward to what he can develop into. I’m pretty sure he’ll turn out to be a better driver than shooter in the end, as many city players do. So I’m not sure the Ramon comparisons will play out.

I think Johnson’s best case is that he turns into sort of an assassin shooter that can keep defenses honest and spread. He’s pretty quick, and a pretty accurate shooter (at least in the short bursts so far this season). Offense probalby will never run through him to any degree, but he can be a great option to come of screens and get us some sudden 3 pointers.

Thats not him yet, and in the meantime Dixon is usin him like he has more aspects to his game than I think he actually does.

Worst case is, he goes the path SilverPanther warns agains and he becomes Jermaine Dixon without the defensive skills.

By the way, everyone is saying there is simply no talent on this team. I beg to differ.

This team has more talent than many other teams that are so far much more successful this season. Its something other than the talent we have.

In basketball, chemistry is a prerequisite for success. Your team has to be a fine tuned machine. Everyone understanding and playing into their roles, complimenting each others play. The biggest problem this year seems to be that this team is in complete disarray. This is more important of a factor than any thing, in my humble opinion.

Its the product of a few things, some of which were a coupole years in the making. Ex.
– never allowing Dante to develop as a PF and conversely Dante being uncommitted to the C.
– Gibbs’ past success convincing us (and Dixon) that he could be “The Guy” and even having more of the offense run through him than before. Conversely, this going to Ashton’s head to the extent he thought he could go pro, then being bummed about and snobby aboyut being back at Pitt (its just rumors i guess, but I think where ther’s smoke there’s fire).
– having two highly recruited guys who are at least built like PFs (Taylor Birch), each with emotional immaturity, vying for the same playing time at the wrong position.
– Dixon being convinced that the way to treat JJ Moore was to punish him the second he took an ill-advised shot. Conversely Moore not taking the initiative and putting in the work (like a Sam Young/Gil Brown) to become a difference maker.
– Epps being something of a bust (though its hard to say since we almost never see him play) and therefore having only one true point guard on the team, who is now sitting out. (the importance of a PG can’t be understated i don’t think)
– one thing after the other.

It seems like a series of things that have completely thrown these guys outta whack and they just aren’t as mentally mature as past Pitt teams to deal and overcome…..YET.

Again, the talent IS on this team. No, its not ‘Cuse or Uconn or UK or elite level talent. But its as good as freaking DePaul and Rutgers and ND. The talent is htere, the team is not.

The season ain’t over and I bet you we see a win against a ranked team or two before its over. But my gosh its frustrating watch them flounder.

I agree there is talent on this team and the role of chemistry with regards to success. Everything else, your bullet points, are pretty wild conjecture or I think incorrect.

First, get over the position thing- center vs. power forward. Both positions rotate out and screen in Pitt’s system and both positions move around in the box rebounding. The primary difference is the power forward will pop to the high post. But anyway, there are a lot of 6’9″ centers in college basketball. That’s just the way it is. Players play on this team where we need them and what they are skilled at. Dante Taylor hasn’t shown the skill to play power forward and we need him at center. He lacks the killer instinct and that’s not a matter of what position he is playing anyway. In the end, if you get the ball, put it in the basket. Don’t fucking worry about what position you are in the books.

On Gibbs, that’s just psycho-analysis conjecture and internet rumor. Karl Krauser, Aaron Gray, Sam Young. They all tested the NBA waters before their senior year. Gibbs is primarily pissed off because they are losing. It’s pretty obvious. He’s one of the best shooters in the country. Of course he’s going to be seen as “the guy”.…As far as we know, Taylor has been a model citizen who adapted to being started over by Birch and adapted to being started over by Zanna. And if we’re going to be a big time program, we are going to bring in good players for the same position and make them compete. That’s not a systematic problem….On JJ Moore. Oh, jeez, please. You at happy hour now or something?…Epps. He’s getting his minutes now. He played his most minutes of his career vs. Rutgers and we suffered our worst home loss in a decade. Verdict is still out on him. He had a nice high school career. Wanamaker and McGhee both looked equally lousy early in their careers.

Woodall’s injury, Birch flaking out, and players like not developing into effective starter material. For an already young team that was supposed to be in a bit of a developmental year, these have been devastating issues. Not to mention the inability to rise above some of this stuff, which for sure is a matter of maturity, coaching, and character.

Silver,
I’m not saying he had any right or reason to be unhappy with the 4, but he did WANT to play the 4. He’s said so. Its not conjecture. When you don’t get what you want, you sulk…or Taylor did. Its not a stretch to think this has impacted his drive.

Its not empty psychoanalysis to look at the way Gibbs play and see its a kid who has or had the NBA on his mind. Its fact, not conjecture, that he did not work on his game this off season the way he did in the pasat, and its obvious he’s added nothing to his arsenal since last season to carry the added load he was assigned even prior to Woodall’s injury. Who thought teams were not going to smother Gibbs all year? He cant deal with it. But how could he and Dixon not seen it coming?

No doubt Epps isn’t ready. My point is when Dixon was assembling this years team (which is something he has to at least blue print 3yrs in advance) he thought he’d have to ready for prime time PGs. Right now, he has none.

And on JJ Moore. No. Sorry. He’s 4-star recruit playing like a 2.5 star kid. I’m not the first to suggest that Dixon hasn’t adjusted to the type of kids he can now recruit. Moore has more responsibility than anyone to be a better player and learn the game. But he’s on the bench behind less physically gifted kids. Again, it doesn’t take Freud to presume thats demotivating. I’ve not given up on the kid btw. Like you say, he’s at about the same level Wannamaker was at the same point. But he does have the talent to be an impact player now. He’s not developed into that yet and part of it is that you develope slower with less minutes agaisnt real competition and even slower if you’re scared that every time you make a mistake your gonna get yanked.

Anyway, my point was and is that there its not a void of talent thats caused this spiral. Its a series of issues that have completely destroyed the chemistry and heart of the team. I’m obviously trying to guess what those issues were. So its conjecture, yes, but jeez, i don’t think my guesses were THAT wild.

btw, i’m writing during periodic 5 minute hiatuses during work so my writing is not very clear. Should have begun that list a few posts up by saying “here are things that MAY have lead to the lack of chemistry”. i didn’t to insinuate that i had any real idea what the issues are. making guessing for sake of discussion.

Key point being, again, its less lack of talent more lack of chemistry and drive and the players not being in ideal roles due to a series of things.

Dude, you’re trying to back up your conjecture with more conjecture. If you need to say “It’s not a stretch to think…”. It’s conjecture. They’ve all said they worked hard in the off season. Stop trying to play Dr. Phil on the internet.