There’s plenty of good to recap from last night’s 80-48 win over Mount Saint Mary. There’s plenty to admire in Cam Wright having his best game, when he decided to play as a way to honor his father. The father that passed away that day. And I’ll get to that. Unfortunately, all of that had to be marred by petulance from John Johnson.
When friends on Twitter asked about the game he answered their questions.
Friend: “Yo bro, you didn’t play?”
Johnson: nah cuz, smh (shaking my head)
On Wednesday, Johnson sent out some cryptic messages. “Basketball is more political than the election.”
Here’s another: “Hard work doesn’t always pay off.”
And this is why college athletic departments have employees whose jobs are to monitor the Twitter accounts of athletes.
It’s easy to understand Johnson’s frustrations. He is watching a true freshman come in and start ahead of him. And according to Dixon, Johnson made great strides over the summer in his transition to point guard. Dixon praised him last Friday after Pitt’s second exhibition game.
It may not even be the fact that James Robinson is starting. Or Cam Wright playing more minutes than expected. Trey Zeigler seemed to be slipping because of defense, but he got the minutes (and played well).
Still this tantrum is beyond stupid. Johnson has pulled this stuff before. Last season he had some bad moments on Twitter where he complained.
He could get away with it because he was a true freshman and you make mistakes. And practically speaking, Pitt was too thin to deal strictly with a kid just mouthing off.
Now? Now, he is putting himself on very thin ice.
Johnson is expendable. Johnson is a nice piece, but hardly irreplaceable. Especially if Cam Wright is developing as he appeared to in the game last night. There’s still Durand Johnson to play wing or shooting guard.
John Johnson has not lacked confidence. He is a completely streaky shooter. He is a questionable defender. Not nearly as fast as he thinks he is. Yet, he could find a niche on this team. But he is convinced of his own greatness. A cockiness that could be endearing if he didn’t publicly go after the coaches and appears to piss on his own teammates.
I can’t blame him for wanting to play… that is the type of player I want on my team!!!
I think everyone is surprised Robinson is starting at the 2… I had him as backing up Woodall… and the 2 would be Zieglar/J.Johnson. I thought Cam Wright would be odd man out and transfering after this season.
How did we ever do without all the insight of young impressionable minds?
So while he is a good long distance shooter, as Chas said he’s very streaky and got more streakier against better competition.
If he’s gonna cause problems, we could use another open scholarship for someone with more potential. Just sayin.
Mostly with humor.
Maybe we can replace JJ with Sir Tino as the backup 2 guard. Nah..he would want to start.
A & M is having quite the season under their first year HC Kevin Sumlin and their sensational true freshmen QB Johnny Manziel, who has accounted for an amazing 33 TD’s. Good for them getting out from under Texas’s shadow.
As the hoops season progresses we’ll see less of Wright and more of Zeigler — his defense just needs to get up to speed to satisfy Jamie.
Funny moment last night watching hoops game: Adams came to bench late in game, next to him was J.Johnson. Adams was joking around with a teammate on other side of Johnson, then said something to John and got a short, pissy response. So Adams gave him a patronizing back pat, said “sorry” and then leaned back behind Johnson’s back and raised his eyebrows/started giggling. You could tell Johnson was not a happy camper then, regardless of what Jamie said about being sick. Either way, thought it was funny. (Also funny that the cameras stayed on it that long…)
I guess a malcontent on last year’s team and his problems have not been forgotten. I would rather resolve any issues quickly.
Dan’s comment made me LOL too
Pitt football needs a few more players like him with fire in the belly!!!
Too many Pitt players on scholarship just going through the motions for 4 years to get that degree!!
Those of you hating on Cam should get over it. He played quite a bit last year despite his struggles and based on the pre-season and first game he will be playing a lot this year. Dixon sees something in him and is giving him experience. He is NOT a candidate to leave anytime soon. You could see Dixon’s vested interest in him with his remarks about Cam’s family. Dixon has missed quite a bit the last few years on projects (and the 8th grader comment is pretty accurate) so I understand the skepticism … but he is here to stay.
Go Pitt!
Dont forget that after his declaration and prior to arriving John Johnson was the most enthusiastic recruit we had. He very much wanted to come play at Pitt and I remember at the itme thinking “he’s going to either be frustrated because the guard spot was too full for him to get many minutes or he’s enthusiasm will also translate into patience and positive leadership”. Let’s see how this goes.
Complaining after one regular season game is sort foolish, but this isn’t a big deal yet.
Not surprised at all Robinson is starting. He’s much bigger than Johnson which is necessary if your other guard is small like Woodall. Cant have Woodall abd Johnson up top together.
B-ball maybe political (ie we need to show other recruits that Freshman start, and Dixon needs to show he’s always put his best players out there), but its also pragmatic for Johnson to be getting the short minutes.
Not playing a kid in a 32 point blow out is a little puzzling. I hope Jamie isn’t trying to pull that old trick of pissing off players so that they transfer and open up a scholarship. He has been know to do this a time or two in the past. Just saying…. Eventually a coach can gain an unwanted reputation if this is happening.
Want playing time? Earn it with your play, not your damn mouth.
Shake a tree in D1 hoops and somebody whining about playing time falls out.
Pitt (and I attended the game on Sat) is VERY DEEP.
Maybe he can transfer to Duquesne.
Just watched the Duq game. If they would have made a couple of wide open 3s, they would have beaten G’town. They could use him.
They should just ban this stupid way of supposed communication by (student) athletes. I believe other Universities have done it.
And you’re playing two PG’s at once, so that’s perfect to push the ball up the court and get some easy baskets.
And it’s a hell of lot more fun to watch.
*They lost their first game @Texas Tech by 10, 86-76.
*Starters played 25+ minutes each. Four of them played over 30 minutes.
*They have a 6’8″ freshman center, who isn’t much of a scoring threat.
*They start 3 guards (6’2″, 6’3″ and 6’0″), one of whom is also a freshman.
*They only shot 4 of 13 from 3 point territory.
*Their best player is Chris Gaston a 6’7″ senior power forward who played with Travon Woodall @St. Anthony’s. He is a pre-season first team all-A-TEN selection.
*Their 2nd best player is junior Brenden Frazier a 6’3″ combo guard.
*Looks like they like to play up tempo, scored 76 points against texas tech, with only 12 points coming on threes.
While I expect Pitt to cover the 19.5 point spread, it will be interesting to see what happens with Lamar Patterson. He has looked out of synch so far this season, especially on defense. He has looked a step slow. Not sure who on this Fordham team he could guard. Conversly, none of the Fordham guards look to have the size to watch Patterson. Will be interesting to see which way that goes.
Also, will be interested to see how Moore does defending Gaston, a legit power forward. If either Moore or Zanna can get him in foul trouble or even make him work on defense, Fordham could be in big, big trouble.
Lastly, it is hard to complain about much after Friday’s game, but I am slightly concerned about Pitt’s 1-6 three poing shooting. If you’re shooting 70+% from short range, why bother to jack up a three, I get it. BUT Zeigler, Robinson, Patterson and Moore need to at least be a threat to knock one down. Otherwise teams are going slow it down and pack it in.
After a reasonably close first half, look for Pitt to wear them down and finish strong in the second half.
Pitt 89 Fordham 64
Making comments while in the “moment”, is the scariest thing I can imagine and that’s what twitter does.
I have taught and taken part in courses on “email etiquitte” and one common rule is never email in anger or after a glass of wine@
If there had been twitter, I would have revised that statement and only coached orphans!
link to post-gazette.com
and he would be able to play pitt every year.
and may be make us sorry we let him go from his point of things not ours.
players if he wants to go big he trys for jordan washington PF 6 foot 8 225 pounds queens ny
or SG jon severe 6 foot 2 broklyn ny he does not hamdle the ball well but shoots lights out.
