I was starting to work on a recap rant diatribe review of the football game yesterday, but decided I didn’t want to start drinking that early on a Sunday morning when it doesn’t involve a tailgate.
So, instead, let’s get ready for Samford.
The game is at 1pm and is part of the Maui Invitational package. No, really. The game was set up for Pitt by the Maui organizers.
In the Pittsburgh area, it is on ROOT, but since it is a syndicated ACC Network/ESPN game you can watch it on line at ESPN3 and plenty of other outlets including the ESPN FullCourt package, FoxSports West, FoxSports South, Sun Sports and Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.
Is Samford going to be a real challenge for Pitt? Probably not.
The Panthers second opponent, Samford, doesn’t figure to provide much more of a test because the Bulldogs, much like the Purple Eagles, feature eight first-year players and have only two players in the program with more than one year of experience.
The Bulldogs opened their season Friday at Purdue and got throttled, 80-40. Samford shot just 28 percent from the field and scored only 16 points in the first half.
The most interesting feature of the Samford team expected to finish near or at the bottom of the SoCon is the fact that their new head coach is Scott Padgett. A former Kentucky player from Rick Pitino’s 1998 championship team.
Cameron Johnson should continue to see action, and Coach Jamie Dixon acknowledged after the Niagara game that he stands to benefit in terms of playing time from Durand Johnson’s suspension.
Considering Purdue beat Samford & Son by 40 points.
Pitt not creating enough turnovers. Against a scrub team like Samford & Son, they only had 7 turnovers.
Pitt should be using these rent-a-win games to perfect a halfcourt trap defense. Then these games would have some value to them.
Just a pathetic effort all around.
How doesn’t he see the floor against Niagara.
Is he that bad ?
If so why was he even signed ?
Not to worry Emel, I think we are going to be pretty good if Wright is OK when he comes back.
Best five will be Young, Artis, Jeter, Wright, and Robinson, with Newkirk coming off the bench. Plenty of depth everywhere. Uchebo looks like a new man and is moving pretty well. But Young, Artis and Robinson have all slimmed down and can really move.
Haughton was insurance if Uchebo was hurt. He got here really late so I am sure he is totally lost. Young said Jeter is just starting to figure things out and he was here all summer.
Cameron Johnson is the lucky guy who benefits from DJ’s absence. Well along with Artis who will get most of the minutes.
“The Panthers second opponent, Samford, doesn’t figure to provide much more of a test because the Bulldogs, much like the Purple Eagles, feature eight first-year players and have only two players in the program with more than one year of experience.”
And they hung with us at home? Could be a long season…what a bad year to be in the Maui Classic.
1. Two games of four so far were close the whole way thru, to two teams that should be far, far inforior
2. With the bahamas trip and such, shouldnt this team be further along?
I believe its going to take time for Pitt to figure itself out. We will have losses in the non con. But i am optimistic it will pay off for the acc schedule.
But…
Michael Young has the physical tools to be the best post player in the Howland/Dixon era. I know Dejaun Blair was a monster on the boards, but Young has a game that translates much better to the pros. We’re going to see him play a lot at the five and he will be a matchup nightmare for any team that employs a slow footed center.
When this team figures out the proper rotation and the kids get used to playing with each other (let’s not forget they’re mostly sophomores), they’re going to be extremely difficult to defend. This is definitely a team that will improve drastically as the year goes on.
Fear not Pitt fans, Jamie has a good group of players in the program.
Pitt did not do a good job of cleaning the defensive glass in the first half and it allowed Samford to jump out front and then remain in striking distance at half.
Pitt did a poor job of defending the three point line in the second half.
Young shows a lot of promise scoring around the rim. He plays a little like a much more mobile Blair who can finish above the rim.
Artis has some LP game in him. He has looked like their most consistent player thru two games.
Sheldon Jeter has some length to him that makes him an interesting weak side shotblocker.
Pitt seemed to fritter away a number of opportunities to open up double digit leads. Missed open shots, turnovers, missed free throws.
It struck me that Pitt was playing quite a few sophs for major minutes today. Young, Artis, Newkirk, Jones, and Jeter. Bound to have a few issues. It will be frustrating at times but it’s fun to watch their games grow.
Yet, everyone expects Pitt Football to become a WORLD BEATER OVERNIGHT!
The ABSOLUTE definition of MEDIOCRITY.
I would say we will know for sure after 8-11 games.
We’re 2-0 ..what could be wrong with that! Oh wait..football.
63 points against a scrub team like Samford & Son is not good.
Middling Purdue scored 80 and won by 40.
Doesn’t let us down.
hmmmm…we ‘Banned’ him.
Team is missing a starter in Cam and needs to adjust to life without DJ. They will be fine. They always are.
PittofDreams get serious with yourself. Do you know what a 4-8 or 5-7 record would equal in terms of Pitt basketball? It would be like a 10-20 record. But hey being bad in a mediocre football conference is the same as routinely finishing at the top of a top basketball conference.
I’m hoping that DD’s guess is right and that Dixon was saving Uchebo’s legs for the upcoming games. Another explanation could be that Dixon wanted to use this game to teach the team how to rebound when playing small.
I’m hopeful that Luther could eventually be the solution for rebounding when Pitt plays small. Last game he played, he had 5 rebounds in 10 minutes – the same 20 rebounds per game rate as Uchebo.
But can’t argue that this team (and next few years) has potential to be best offensive team Dixon ever had. If these kids start to pick up Dixon’s defensive mind set they’ll do very very well.
Yes. You are correct. The rebounds they were not getting were the long rebounds. In his post-game remarks Dixon blamed the guards for not getting them.
To me Young looks like the most talented guy we have had since Charles Smith. Newkirk is the most athletically gifted guard we have ever had. Robinson is the best ball control guy since the guy on the bench. Artis looks like a new man. Jeter is big and athletic. Johnson is very skilled and poised for a freshman.
Uchebo and Randall will give needed minutes. Uchebo may surprise, different looking guy from last year.
Cam Wright should be the glue guy and best defender, if he is healthy.
This should be another fun season at the Pete.
I think Jeter is going to be pretty good by March. Have to remember he only started practicing with team in the fall. He’d be starting right now if his Vandy coach hadn’t blocked the direct transfer.
They are looking so much more cut, trim, quicker and aggresive (at least on offense).
It’s apples and oranges.
But if you were to compare Pitt Football this year to Basketball, Jamie Dixon’s “Lost Year” a couple or three years ago would seem to match up pretty well.
JROB 3rd year Artis & Young 2nd year, Randall who knows how many. Jones has been around for 3 years. In todays BBall world that is about as veteran team as you get.
disappointing vs Samford, was there & seemed coaching adjustments were slow to happen, and lack of outside threat will seal this teams doom.
You also somehow think a football team that is going to end up 4-8 or 5-7 made major strides this year. Such a joke.
Not in the context of the better programs who routinely play multiple freshmen.
When CW comes back we’ll have a senior and a junior in the backcourt, which is where it helps to have experienced players.
Artis, Young, Newkirk and Jeter all got lots of minutes in their freshmen year.
Jones is in year 3 of the system. Randall year 2.
Uchebo year 2.
We will ONLY have 1 freshmen getting minutes, CJ.
So let’s not use the excuse we’re young, cause the better programs don’t have 4rth & 5th year seniors.
If they’re any good, they’re gone to the NBA long before that.
Muschamp out and Marshall Coach in is my guess.