Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows for sure what will happen with the Big 12/Big East/West Virginia court cases. But this could very well be the final basketball game down at the concrete toadstool for Pitt for a couple years.
Now, I know I just wrote that Volvo post on how much I love doing the liveblogs, and here I go doing an open thread for this game. Timing is everything, and unfortunately I have the poor timing with some work that keeps me late.
Not sure how Nasir Robinson — or anyone on Pitt — is going to shut down Kevin Jones. He’s developed into an outstanding player on the ‘eers. Hoopies have lost a couple in a row including getting hosed by the refs on a goaltending call in the final ten seconds at Syracuse that would have given it a good chance at going to OT.
There should be no talk of Pitt making the NCAA Tournament at this point. As great as those last two wins — and particularly G-town — have been, Pitt is still without a Big East road win, and still just 2-7 in the Big East. The final 9 games of the season have five on the road and four at home. This game always matters because of the opponent. But it has extra importance, simply because every game is huge the rest of the way.
Big Monday game on ESPN at 7pm. Beat the Hoopies.
That said I don’t think we’re gonna live and die by how we play this guy. Think the game is gonna be won or lost by guard play. A scary prospect 2 or 3 weeks ago. But much ess so now that (i) the back court is finding a rhythm on both ends (if still weak on D) and (ii) they’re a just as if not even younger team than Pitt and (iii) they’re not particularly good at holding on to the ball.
If we can get momentum early, withstand the inevitable early push they’ll have from playing at home and being furious about their last game, we’ve got a chance. Jones will get his. Kilici will get his (cuz our C’s defense is weak against wiley Turks). But we’ve got a chance.
Would love to walk out of that place with a win and not look back.
The only downside, once again Coach Dixon has got a marginally talented group of players to start to perform as a much better team. But if they exit early from NCAA, BE or NIT many will say he “choked” again. I would prefer to say he got his team to overachieve in the regular season. Of course, there’s a lot more ball to be played and we’re not even assured a winning record yet.
Point and post are the two most important positions in hoops. The rest of the team could be players taented enough to be NBA all stars and you wouldn’t have much success without a point and would only have average success without a post.
Is it possible that with a solid run in the last 8 games and a strong showing in the BE tourney that we may just claw ourselves back into tournment consideration.
I guess stranger things have happened but I never thought I’d be raising that question about the NCAA’s Tournament this season!! Hail to Pitt.
Is Inoke okey doaky for this coaching spot?
