Everyone is — and with some good reason — focusing on the offense. That Pitt has more guys that can finish. That can shoot. Generally look less raw on offense. That’s all true, but I’m going to start with the defense.
Pitt made Stanford’s night miserable. Stanford came into this game with a very good offense that knows how to push the tempo. Pitt throttled their offense. They were unable to run and penetrate. They found lanes cut off. Their shots were constantly contested. They had to move the ball and pass far more than they were used to to find shots. Stanford was visibly frustrated, especially since Pitt was doing most of it without fouling and being physical.
This year, Pitt is once more a slow tempo team when you look at the numbers. It doesn’t feel like it, because Pitt is scoring plenty and moves so well in transition. But the tempo of Pitt will be slow, simply because the defense is slowing the other team down so much.
Back to the game recap. Hey, offense.
The Pitt Panthers under coach Jamie Dixon have won a lot of game thanks to their hellacious, sometimes relentless, man-to-man defense, but they have usually been a lot more resourceful than actually good on offense.
Through six games this season, a small sample no doubt, that certainly doesn’t appear to be the case. The Panthers still play good defense, but they can score points in a hurry and they shoot the ball extremely well.
Tuesday night, the Panthers’ offensive prowess was on display again as they chopped up the Stanford Cardinal, 88-67, in the championship game of the Progressive Legends Classic at the Barclays Center.
Pitt scored as many points against Stanford as they did in the opener against Savannah State. Stanford struggled badly on defense. They did not like playing against a team that can pass and move the ball.
Coach Dixon has said that the offense is better this year.
Dixon agreed with that assessment of his team but said that it is still way too early to declare them the best offensive team he has had because he has had some really good ones in the past.
“We do shoot it a little better than we have, I think our guards are experienced and the new guys are all very skilled offensively,” Dixon said. “I think we shoot the ball better, shoot free throws a little better and we get transition baskets, though we get them off of turnovers.
“I think having those stretch fours [power forwards who can step out and hit shots] are a little different than what we have had. I think this team may be a little different and score more points but we’ve been number one in the country in offensive efficiency so we haven’t been real easy to guard in years past, either.
“But if you are from Pittsburgh and you win, they’re still going to write about our defense.”
I’m not sure what you are talking about, Coach.
Much has been made about whether Pittsburgh’s gritty defensive style and offensive efficiency would translate well as it begins its inaugural season in the ACC.
Oh, that.
Add to that this improved dimension of scoring from all over the floor, especially from senior forward and former St. Benedict’s Prep star Lamar Patterson, the questions about this season may be more about whether the ACC is ready for Pittsburgh.
In their most difficult matchup of the season, the Panthers played as if they are more than ready for the challenge of the ACC as five different players scored in double figures in running past Stanford, 88-67, to win the Legends Classic championship Tuesday night at Barclays Center.
Well, yeah. But let’s at least admit that the defense has been really good. Right, Stanford Coach Johnny Dawkins?
“You always expect to see a gritty, hard-nosed team, a team that’s going to play tough defensively, going to grind you out,” Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins said. “What’s different from what I had expected from this Pitt team — and I saw it on film, so it wasn’t a surprise going into the game — I think this Pitt team is one of the best scoring Pitt teams I’ve seen in a long time.
“They’re able to score a lot easier. That’s why their numbers are so high. You look at their average per game, and you can see that’s probably a big difference from years past. You have a more potent offensive team that’s still a stingy defensive one.”
The scoring ability is not to be overlooked. The one thing being able to score the way Pitt can. It makes it easier to crush hope.
Johnson had a four-point play only moments after Josh Huestis cut it to 11 with 8:57 left. Johnson sank a 3-pointer from the left wing, drawing a Chasson Randle foul, and sank the free throw for a 70-55 lead.
“That’s a deflating play,” Dawkins said. “The kid hit a big shot and sent the lead back up to 15. That was difficult to overcome.”
Pitt repeatedly did that to Stanford in the second half. Stanford would appear to start finding something. Then Pitt would snuff it on defense and immediately surge on offense.
Lamar Patterson took home the tournament MVP. His offensive numbers were eyepopping.
Patterson is a guy that you’ve probably heard of before. A fifth-year senior, Patterson is one of those guys that feels like he has been in college forever. But he’s always been a role player, a piece in the Panther machine. He’s been a glue guy, a skilled-but-inconsistent wing that has tantalized with his versatility just as much as he’s underwhelmed with his play at times.
But he’s the key to the Panthers this year.
This Pitt team lacks star power. Jamie Dixon has never been a guy that goes after players based on where they rank on top 100 lists, opting to instead pursue guys that are willing to wait for their time to shine while spending two or three, and sometimes four, years to get their chance. And while that’s worked for him, it creates a scenario where it’s tough to peg exactly where the production is going to come from.
Now we know. In two games in Brooklyn this week, Patterson averaged 23.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.0 boards and 3.5 blocks. On the season, he’s now averaging 17.0 points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 boards and 1.5 steals while shooting 46.7% from three and 50.0% from the floor.
And there is a bit of an attitude with Patterson and the team.
Pitt wasn’t thought of as a contender for the ACC title in the preseason, and while they’ve been arguably the most impressive team in the conference through the season’s first three weeks, the Panthers are still playing with a chip on their shoulder. They still consider themselves the underdog, and they won’t be quick to forget all the people that had them in the bottom half of the league prior to the start of the season.
“A lot of people have written us off. We see those things,” Patterson said. “I’d be ignorant if I said we didn’t [pay attention to preseason rankings]. It’s obvious. It’s out there. Coach talks about it in the locker room. It’s extra motivation.”
“We just want to go out there and show people what we can do.”
I feel confident that the coaches made sure the players saw the summer article where half the ESPN.com folk did not pick Pitt to win this tourney, while also calling it a weak field.
Last night’s game was fun to watch. I laughed when there were comments here about Pitt finally having to play a close game. Uhhhhh, that never really happened especially after DJ’s 4 point play.
H2P!!!
Pitt making free throws and several guys making threes while
Retaining unselfishness.
Lots to like about this team.
A thinner Paterson will provide senior leadership. Robinson
is a stud. Durand is my favorite.
link to espn.go.com
The interesting thing to me about last night’s matchup is that Pitt finally played a team with a bigger front line and still won decisively. They even won on the boards.
Pitt shot lights out from the FT line. I can’t believe I wrote that!
Trying to quell enthusiasm, but this team has many positives and few clear negatives.
I think Pitt gets a peak into the top 25 very soon, an early season “must win” is the Cincy game. I see that as this team’s first potential stumbling block.
I am very suprised to keep hearing that Pitt will struggle in the ACC. Let’s be real. The current ACC can’t come close to the level of competition that we faced the last 5 seasons in the BE. Not close. Jamie Dixon teams are made for a long drawn out season. His team are prepared for the journey. Where we tend to fail in in a one and done environment (NCAA).
As I have said before I expect Pitt to finish in one of the top 4 spots in the ACC regular season. I would not be suprised to see Pitt and SU challenge for the title in their first year.
H2P
Georgetown > Miami
Louisville > Duke
Marquette > UNC
Pitt > NC St.
Cuse > UVA
ND > FSU
Nova > MD
UConn > BC
Cincy > Georgia Tech
If anything, the story should be “Is the ACC ready for the Big East teams?”
Unfortunately he didn’t have the stats in the ND game and few have seen the highlight film of his special games.
I hope the real voters do their homework.
Checked out the college FB schedule
for this weekend. Although I glad we
are in the ACC wish we were playing
PSU or WVU to close the season. Miss
those old rivalries Big Time.
Opp avg ppg – 56.5
Avg margin of victory – 24.833
Over 80 ppg and average margin almost 25 ppg.
Did we ever think we would see stats like this for Pitt?
If we never out a one dimensional project on the court again, I will be fine!
I see us no lower than a 4 or 5 seed.
My only wish is that we had a little more defensive stature at the 5. Zanna did ok last night, but someone with a defensive body in height and weight to at least slow a more offensive and larger 5. Nitpicking, I know.
Hail to Pitt!!!
On offense, having two reliabe three-point shooters in Patterson and Johnson is something we’re not used to and Robinson is running the team nicely and everyone is willing to work the ball until they find a good shot.
The only weakness looks to be inside, where Zanna continues to underwhelm against anything except local and D2 competition. And they will eventually face opposition where guys like Artis and Patterson will struggle at the 4.
But the perimeter looks as good as it ever has and Newkirk seems to be finding his sea legs as a backup PG and on-ball defender.
This looks to be a down year in the ACC and it would have been a down year in the old BE as well, so I wouldn’t bother making any meaningless comparisons. (Have you seen G-town, the ‘Cuse and UConn this year yet? Not exactly their best squads…)
At first glance, those ‘Canes look pretty damn tough… and FAST!
And looking again at the MOST CRITICAL STAT when it comes to weighing up Pitt’s chances against an opponent. There’s “THE U” sitting at No. 38 in the Nation in SACKS with “27.” That’s ONE SACK MORE than North Carolina and we know how much trouble they caused.
But, change is in the air. No longer do we need to be so afraid. It’s MR. HOLLINS to the rescue!
After watching Juantez busting “Hurricane Hump” protecting Savage’s backside Friday, we’re all going to be wondering “Why Chryst didn’t just play him from the start?”
But even with the added protection and the time… I don’t think it’s going to be so much Savage to Boyd or Savage to Street that will be the UNSTOPPABLE FORCE blowing the ‘Canes Defense back out to sea on Friday.
Looking again at the stats that is these Miami Hurricanes, we see sitting WAY DOWN there at No. 76 in the Nation no other than the ‘Canes fearsome RUSH DEFENSE.
Come Friday, we’re going to get to see the PITT OFFENSE play a little game Chryst and Co. like to call “Can you stop No. 40?
Don’t get me wrong, his effort isn’t in question. But compare his decisiveness on both offense and defense to Michael Young’s and you’ll see that they’re in a different league.
I can’t tell you why. Confidence? (Zanna often sulks) Innate ability? (He runs like a thoroughbred). Not playing the game when he was kid?
Dunno but…
Hail to Pitt!
Georgetown > Miami
Louisville > Duke
Marquette > UNC
Pitt > NC St.
Cuse > UVA
ND > FSU
Nova > MD
UConn > BC
Cincy > Georgia Tech
If anything, the story should be “Is the ACC ready for the Big East teams?”
Comment by Wardapalooza 11.27.13 @ 11:34 am
Exactly Ward.
All this talk about the ACC is funny as hell. This conf. has been down for quite a few years. Limited NCAA bids and even the 2 marquee teams have been up to snuff. Miami kicked everyone’s ass last year. That’s right Miami.
Almost as much as trying to kill BigEast football, I think the ACC knew they needed an infusion of quality bball programs to bring the bball side back.
As I’ve posted before, don’t see any reason whatsoever that Pitt can’t finish in the Top 4.
and even the 2 marquee teams have NOT been up to snuff.
Think about that for a minute.
Comment by spiritofsection22 11.27.13 @ 1:59 pm
Thank you kind sir. Very nice of you. Just figured they hadn’t played anyone that plays defense like PITT is playing atm.
He will be an asset I many games, and be overmatched in a few.
Comment by PittofDreams 11.27.13 @ 4:08 pm
This is a very interesting question since LT has been a problem since the 1rst half of the UVA game. Think I intially posted a comment calling for a ‘look see’ for Hollins several months ago.
Kid had played relatively well when he played a couple seasons ago and Biz was overmatched and outphysicalled in more than several games.
Just as with DJ, was Biz thrown in there too quick before he was physically able to compete ?
This all raises more questions than answers about Hueber and if this guy is ‘over the hill’.
PITT’s RPI has jumped to #45
We were #32 in the Coaches Poll/USA, with a few losses in the bottom half of the Top 25 we might be able to sneak in.
Quality guy gave no public complaints. Came back after sitting out a year for the undisclosed breaking of a team rule.
If he would have start from the beginning, Bisno could have been the back-up, still got some experience and might be suited up instead of in the whirlpool.
Also DJ could have got the redshirt and spent more time in the weight room.
Never understood how you keep a redshirt senior on the bench, at least one that was a previous starter. I questioned in the middle of the season was he that bad,injured,or in the dog house?
I still think Chryst is the guy, but this is another of his decisions that has me scratching my head.
They play #13 Uconn and #20 Michigan in mid Dec.
The PITT/Cincy game will be a good test, as they know our style and have beaten us a couple times here in recent years. They beat NC State already and that is our first conf. game opponent. So…..
This is where we miss Adams the most. He swatted away a lot of the inside power stuff. His presence in the middle stopped many from even trying.
But Zanna is definitely not underwhelming and weak, he will win his share of the battles.
I always thought Hollins was better than Schlieper, yet Hollins never got off the pines until now. Realize they play different positions, but still.
Somebody mentioned Blair and Young, but there were only 3 scorers on that team. None of them looked as smooth as Patterson and Johnson. Blair got all his points in the paint. Everyone on the team can make the occasional 3 other than Randall.
The foul shooting, always an albatross, has become a strength. That alone may set this team apart. If we shot our normal 50%, this game would have been a lot closer.
The Kool-Aid is tasting spiked with the good stuff.
Still pissed that Wanny never gave him a chance. The kid obvious has brains, heart and won our biggest game in a decade. He bleeds blue and gold.
Unlike the schlub that texted for FSU
Pat’s a good kid, glad it worked out for him.
He will be forever rememebered as our QB for 13-9 and the big road win over the Irish. And playing as a ‘true’ freshmen under adverse circumstances.
Sryacusa gets tested with Baylor tonite. They have not looked real impressive.
He’s OK defensively but not intimidating. Offensively, unless he’s ahead on a break, he always hesitates before shooting.
I appreciate his contribution to the program, but I think he’d be better coming off the bench.
One more thing: Pitt’s soft nonconference schedule is likely to either a) keep the Panthers off the national radar or b) inspire doubt (or both), but it’d be silly to ignore how dominant Jamie Dixon’s team looked in a win over a not-horrible Stanford team in Brooklyn Wednesday night. Pitt, no surprise, is grabbing every offensive rebound in sight, which sounds like a very frightening proposition for huge swaths of the ACC.
PITT is ranked #2 in the Nation.
Mainly the Main Stream Media !!!
Don’t forget Bostic quarterbacked Pitt in the dramatic 4-OT victory by Wannstedt in 2008. I still enjoy watching that one.
link to facebook.com
Did you see that Pitt will be in the Maui classic next year? So hopefully this time next year, we’ll be gloating about another tourney championship, led by the likes of Wright, Young, DJ, and Artis.
The link below is especially for one of our posters that we haven’t heard from for awhile, the Ghost of Pete Gonzales. I hope on Friday evening, that we’re all cheering just like we were back in 97 when that Pitt team put an unlikely hurt on the Hurricanes. It would be a very appropriate tribute to a bunch of Seniors that have gone through a whole bunch more BS during their Pitt tenure that they deserved to have to put up with.
Hail to Pitt! Maul Miami
We got to watch the great Aaron Donald trashing a lot of opponents backfields. Devin Street finish his record setting career. Savage throw some strong passes. A bunch of stellar freshmen including superstar Tyler Boyd and superstud James Conner. The great career of Jason Hendricks, the ferocious tackles of Todd Thomas. And Ray Vinopal go from goat to hero.
Hopefully the birth of a strong offensive line.
Best of all we beat Notre Dame.
A chance to beat Miami and finish strong.
Our basketball team looks like it has a chance to make some noise in it’s inaugural ACC season.
I have great tickets, so I am very thankful.
Hail to Pitt!
Blow away the Hurricanes.
As Hugh Green pointed out above, our long guards are perfect for the zone. We pulled away in the first half when we switched to zone and our guards stole one Stanford pass after another.
The next good team we play will be better prepared for both of our defenses. But our defenses should also be even better. In his post game quotes, Dixon said:
“I like this team and we got better this week in our post defense and we needed to. The three new guys, Jamel (Artis), Mike (Young) and Derrick (Randall) were the guys that stood out for me as far as taking the right step defensively in post defense. We needed it for both these teams we were playing against because they were both big and athletic.”
To read the quotes, go to:
Any semblance of this Pitt Basketball team’s shooting to it’s preceeding teams is a mirage. I don’t know how, who or why but this Pitt team’s shooting form is balanced, similiar in follow thru, and well practiced. I think Jamie took a good look and realized that Pitt could not hold up in the ACC with such slow down play and just awful shooting. You do not go 30-34 at the FT Line by accident! Thank you Slice for whatever you have brought to this team.
I have one brick in my hand to start the monument to Jamie outside the Pete!
Can any of you imagine if Pitt former team’s had made the same changes in form and was able to hit shots with regularity?? For sure we beat Butler in the NCAA’s.
No matter, this team may be a real suprise.
Cannot see us beating Miami with the talent deficit but as Dr T said “that’s why you play the game”. H2P All….Go Steelers…I will be freezing my ass off tonight in Bmore!
Just kidding. 🙂
May each and everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving !
EMel
Hail to the Rovers who easily handled the Stateliners this morning, 16 – 7
