2 pm on ESPN2. Dave O’Brien and Doris Burke on the call.
Even if Pitt wasn’t struggling and a bit beat up, I’d be worried about this game. Losing five straight to a team will do that to you.
It just seems that much in the same way Pitt matches up well and knows what to do against Syracuse, Notre Dame does the same to Pitt.
“Whenever we play against Pittsburgh, it’s one of our biggest games of the season,” said Atkins, who leads Notre Dame in assists and steals. “I don’t think it’s going to be any different, another tough game on Saturday.”
Asked about Notre Dame’s success against the Panthers — Pitt hasn’t beaten Notre Dame since January 2009 and hasn’t won in South Bend since March 2005 — Atkins credits coach Mike Brey’s game plan.
Last season, Notre Dame limited the Panthers to 34 percent shooting and won the rebounding battle, 40-25. No Pitt player scored more than 11 points.
“We do a good job of scouting them and trying to take away their easy looks for their better players,” said Atkins, who contributed 10 points and seven assists in last year’s victory. “Also, limiting them on the backboards because they usually beat up teams offensive rebounding.”
Their defense has been solid, but the problem has been dealing with their offense. The Irish aren’t too far from Pitt’s adjusted tempo, but when they play Pitt they take it to the next level down.
That means long possessions, running sets and grinding the game to a snail’s pace.
Dixon said the Irish could use that burn strategy again and if they do, the Panthers can’t get frustrated by it and instead need to play it possession by possession with great team defense.
“When I use the word patience, I mean defensive patience, as well,” Dixon said. “Offensively, we are looking to attack and get transition baskets, but at the same time if they are back and they are playing solid defense, and against good teams that is what is going to happen, you have to have the ability to wear people down and grind them out and that is what we need to get back to.
“It seems like they are running motion and similar stuff and we have to keep [Eric] Atkins in front of us. I think our defense has improved down this stretch of games and if you look at the numbers, it would bear that out.”
I would like to believe Pitt has learned and will be able to handle it. Then I look at the fact that Pitt has three freshmen who play key minutes and have never been through it.
Even without Jerian Grant, they have decent perimeter shooters that can hurt Pitt. Eric Atkins, Pat Connaughton and Demetrius Jackson all shoot better than 36% from outside the arc.
Really, offense hasn’t been a problem for ND this year. It’s been their defense. They don’t like to play it too often.
Part of why their slow grind offensive pace has worked so well is not simply that it wears on Pitt and players get impatient and mistake prone on defense. It’s that they get so thrown out of their rhythm that the Pitt offense suffers even more. And a team that knows to be patient on offense, suddenly is rushing shots and trying to speed up the game. In the 5-game losing streak, Pitt has struggled to get to 40% shooting.
Brace yourself accordingly.
Pressure has a way of getting to Jamie. In fact, it’s written all over his face.
Jamie’s tendency to suffer periodic “NEURON MELT-DOWN” has paralyzed his effectiveness as a Crunch-Time Coach time and time again through the years… little OVERSIGHTS that can mean the difference between eeking out a Win or a Loss.
Against Notre Dame it was obvious that Jamie clearly had it in his mind that he was going to call the TIMEOUT NO MATTER WHAT in the event that the original play, as drawn up… did not immediately fall into place.
Unfortunately, having Option A and Option B locked in… left the Coach totally oblivious to the fact that his PLAYMAKER was in position for an easy basket.
But thank goodness the Over-Time, as unnecessary as it was… gave Jamie a Second Chance. And thanks to his Players for rallying to salvage a Win that just might have saved the Season, but most certainly saved Jamie from the avalanche of criticism that would have certainly come.
There would have been no defending Jamie on this one.
But, despite the very anxious moments, they pulled it out. The freshmen are stepping up. Great work in the paint. The tap ins saved us.
So, next up is the Wolfpack. Are they going to be able to make it to the Burgh for the game?
H2P
Keep the faith. Dr Tom and I know that you are becoming a “glass half full” guy—but it is a tough road. I know you can do it.
Can’t wait for the party at your place.
H2P
No one is calling for his firing although he has won only one championship with an amazing performance by a one and done.
I always feel I need to be honest with myself if I want to get better, so let’s be honest about this Pitt team. They have no true center. Three freshmen get significant playing time and a fourth has been counted on at various times this season (NC game). They have a point guard that would rather stab his grandmother than take an open shot. Since they’re most dynamic player was injured for the year, they have questionable depth at the three spot.
Despite all of these issues, Jamie Dixon has found a way to get this team into the tournament. He makes a mistake and the know-it-all wolves on this site jump down his throat. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I make mistakes everyday at my job. But successful people learn from their mistakes and I’m sure Dixon will do so.
283–93 (.753). He’s the best coach we’ve ever. Eat it.
With just two available QBs… you can bet this will not be the only precaution taken to minimize the chance of Voytik and Anderson suffering the effects of ARM FATIGUE or, worse… being lost to INJURY.
Usually pretty supportive of Chryst, I cannot defend him on this one.
As I’ve pointed out in prior posts, among other things Chryst is a GAMBLER. But with just one more QB coming in for Fall, Pitt’s QUARTERBACK PROBLEM amounts to an UNMITIGATED RISK that should have and could have been avoided.
Hopefully the cancellation of the Spring Game is the only loss that is suffered.
For us on to beat NCS.
However, after years of being a staunch JD supporter, I see a guy who …
– year after year plays people out of position because of his recruiting and lack of depth at certain positions
– plays not to lose (as opposed as to win) and as a result loses many critical close games
– despites promise to the contrary, always reverts to his old habit of bleeding down the clock
– has teams that seems to peak in December and early January but often seems to regress in Feb and March.
If he is going to recruit 4-stars and more athletic types, then he is going to have to give these guys a freer rein and lengthen his leash.
But seriously, do you honestly think he will ever consider sitting Robinson the next couple of years even if the offense is bogged down?
I am one that prefers to live with his deficiencies because of his overall record and that he has consistently put together very competitive teams.
You did leave out Syracuse’ loss at home to BC and the fact that when the regular season championship was on the line, they got blown out.
Your question regarding Robinson is rhetoric, but he is showing a lot of confidence in Newkirk.
Hindsight is 20/20 but Birch and Adams really hurt this team. Was that Jamie’s fault?
12.6 8.3 0.5
12.6 8.3 0.5
11.6 9.7 0.9
Zanna 22
Birch 108
Jamie loses Adams and DJ, ranked 5th in the ACC, three close losses to the two leaders, but Jamie stinks and must go.
Everything I’ve seen, read and experienced first hand with this kid is telling me he is the real deal. By that I mean the kind of person who is a game changer. Not necessarily by just demonstrating his physical prowess as being superior, but by all of those other aspects of one’s personality and mental make up that inspires others to follow such a leader. And I feel that Voytik is going to be just the kind of key player that Pitt has long been without at the QB position.
Savage was a step up in that leadership department over our previous QB, but it is next to impossible to come in as a transfer and endear yourself to the team under such circumstances. Tom did a hell of a job for us but he was really just a quick fix for a larger problem of not having a groomed seasoned QB ready to step into the system 100% ready to assume the responsibilities surrounding that key position.
Now, Chad is ready! I’m hoping he becomes the QB that he has shown is his potential to be in the limited action that he has already seen for the Panthers. No doubt about it, I’ll take three seasons of performances just like those that he demonstrated in the second half of the Pizza Bowl. Coming in under duress to have that kind of come from behind game changing winning performance was beautiful!
Hail to Pitt!
Need to keep him healthy, but like you, hoping to watch him for three years.
I quickly spotted a baseball stadium with what looked like dirt in the infield, pitcher’s mound & warning track.
So unless Upitt’s challenge was a trick question (considers clay as not being dirt, or that specially Trees is now either the soccer field or been converted to a paved parking lot), I believe TMG is owed a case of beer.
Exactly. I remember those days when Chad was doing his best to keep “his” recruiting class together. That has to get him respect from his teammates—and all of us.
Let’s kick butt to finish the season in hoops, make some noise at the ACC and then be the surprise team in the big tourney.
H2P
Also, just a few quick thoughts about Dixon calling a timeout. The reason it has so many in an uproar because it seems to be tangible evidence of just how much over-coaching and micro-managing many have suspected he’s long been guilty of. It was an awful, awful, awful decision, and there’s no way around that. I, for one, don’t care if he admits to the media and fans that it was a mistake, but he’s a fool if he didn’t own up to it with the players in the locker room after the game. The players bailed him out, and after a tough season laced with horrific losses they needed to hear that.
I do believe if they would have lost the game in OT then this season would have officially imploded. Quite a scare. Pitt and its fans are lucky to have survived it.