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February 15, 2015

That Was Oddly Dominating

Filed under: Basketball — Chas @ 2:52 pm

If I told you Jamel Artis would be held to 11 points on 3-6 shooting. That Pitt would only go 7-13 from the free throw line. That Derrick Randall played 18 minutes, while Josh Newkirk only played 6 and was 0-2 shooting. That the Tar Heels would shoot a single basket under 50% (29-59). That UNC would hold the edge in rebounding for the game and turned the ball over less than Pitt. You wouldn’t have to look, to know…

…Well we all know what really happened.

Pitt shot the hell out of the ball.

In basketball, advanced stats key on 4 primary factors. Turnover percentage, offensive rebounding, shooting free throws (FTs as a percentage of scoring), and effective field goal percentage (eFG%).

UNC won those first three factors, but Pitt was so insane with the shooting that eFG% was an absurd 71.9% and effectively negated the other 3 factors.

To some degree, there really wasn’t a damn bit that UNC could do to counter that.

They shot 61.3 percent in the first half while they built that 48-34 halftime lead. That shooting performance was the best by any UNC opponent in a half this season.

That was, at least, until the second half, when the Panthers made 69.2 percent of their shots. Overall they made 64.9 percent of their attempts from the field – a percentage that UNC hadn’t allowed since N.C. State shot 65.4 percent in a Wolfpack victory in February 1985.

“They were on fire,” said Brice Johnson, who led UNC with 19 points. “Some shots, their coach is yelling that was a bad shot. But they were still making them. So it’s really difficult to beat somebody that’s just knocking down everything they shoot.”

Asked what could be done against a team that couldn’t miss – or rarely did, at least – Williams provided a simple answer: “You can guard them better,” he said.

After watching Louisville, Clemson, Indiana, and a seeming host of other teams treat Pitt like the slump-buster for their shooting woes, it was exhilarating  to watch Pitt do it to someone else. That it happened against a top-15 team makes it even better.

Yes, UNC’s defense seemed oddly sieve-esque. They have size and athleticism, but they just did not handle the ball movement. Still, Pitt kept knocking down the shots when given the opportunities. Starting with Sheldon Jeter who has really come on in the last couple of weeks.

Leading the attack was sophomore Sheldon Jeter, who got his second consecutive start and scored 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting.

But Jeter had plenty of help from his teammates, as well, as Cameron Wright had his first career double-double (15 points, 10 assists) and Michael Young made 6 of 7 shots to finish with 13 points.

“[The basket] looked like an ocean to Sheldon Jeter the way he shot it,” Wright joked.

Then Jeter chimed in and said “a lot of times, it was they were just finding me in good spots.”

This is where I feel compelled to point out once more, how much Vanderbilt and Kevin Stallings tried to screw Jeter. By denying his transfer to Pitt, Jeter went down to a junior college for a year. He couldn’t even play with the team, only practice with them and train on his own. He had to spend the summer trying to learn Pitt’s system, get himself to playing shape,  learn his new teammates, and earn the trust of the coaches. It isn’t that Jamie Dixon was burying on the bench without reason. He wasn’t practicing well, and when he did get in games early in the season he looked lost.

The change as the season got later and he has gotten more comfortable — and Dixon with him — has made him a much better fit on the team.

Something else worth noting as Pitt’s offensive production has taken such a dramatic uptick. The tempo has remained oddly constant. Pitt finished UNC with 62 possessions. Their season average in tempo is 61.3. They forced UNC to be slower — yes, the Tar Heels kept scoring at what would normally be a good clip — but UNC runs a lot more with a tempo of 70.

On the defensive side, Pitt has been better in the last few weeks on defending the three. That was especially true yesterday as Cam Wright was all over Marcus Paige. One of the top 3-point shooters in the conference was shut down. He could only muster 1-7 on 3s, and 3-11 overall. No one disputes that Pitt has serious issues with the interior defense, but the perimeter defense was excellent yesterday.

“As the game went on, we continued to talk about stopping Paige,” Dixon said. “Getting (3-pointers) was key. We played zone, but it was like know where he is at all times.”

Cam Wright came back with a vengeance after missing the last game with a sprained ankle. Not just the defensive effort, but he was keyed in from the opening tip. When he snatched the ball from the surprised Nate Britt to take it in for the lay-up. 7-11 for 15 points and 10 assists. All shots from mid-range or attacking the basket. He and Jeter tortured the Tar Heels with drives and pull-ups.

The defense for Pitt, is cliche, but “it is what it is.” It doesn’t do well inside. No matter what is happening. All that the coaches can do is to make sure they are working and not giving up easily.

Jeter said the Pitt players had to “look in the mirror” after the Louisville loss. It’s amazing they had time to do it. They arrived home at 3 a.m. after the game and Dixon had them on the court at noon Thursday for one of his grueling practices, the kind Lett, Troutman and the others will tell you are as rugged as any team’s in the country. “I never have practice the next day when we get home that late, but I felt it was necessary this time,” Dixon said. The practice Friday, though short, was even more physical. No fouls were called.

“Everyone was just hacking away,” reserve Derrick Randall said. “The coaches weren’t calling anything. We had to fight through everything.”

No one complained about Pitt’s toughness after the players somehow survived the two practices. Certainly, no one complained Saturday. Even Dixon was pleased with the team’s effort. “We came right at ’em.”

No, the interior defense wasn’t good, but it came with consequences. The played hard. They didn’t wave at the opposing players. They got bodies on them. They fouled.

Miscellaneous. The Oakland Zoo represented once more. Loud, fun and exciting. Not to mention, classy.

They held a moment of silence for Dean Smith before North Carolina’s game at Pittsburgh on Saturday, and some students held up a banner with a memorable Smith quote written on it: “You should never be proud of doing the right thing. You should just do it.”

Afterward, the students presented Williams with that banner – and with a card – in honor of Smith, the former UNC coach who died last Saturday at 83. After the Tar Heels’ 89-76 loss, Williams spoke with emotion about the gesture.

“Everybody gets to beat up college athletics a little bit about money and all this kind of stuff,” he said. “But that was a pretty neat thing what those kids did out there. They gave me a card that was signed by a bunch of kids showing their condolences over the loss of coach Smith.

“You know, college athletics are not all bad. There’s some darn good things that go on in it. And I told those kids that I would keep those. They will never be tossed. I will always have those.”

So many bars and things gone from when I was at Pitt, that I miss. The Oakland Zoo, though, is one of the things I wish was in existence when I was there.

Third straight Saturday home game with a fantastic crowd, a win, and a chance to help football recruiting. There were more than 20 recruits at that game and they got an idea of what could be if the football team is doing well.

Big Monday game at Virginia tomorrow.





Don’t like the line at all. As someone who has
been known to wager a chocolate chip cookie or
two over the years (and have taken my lumps as well as some wins)

this looks to be a sucker bet. And not in
our favor.

Joe Average is going to see Pitt +12 or +13
and would jump on it. Va. to start with doesn’t score a lot. Pitt has been playing some of the best ball in the country lately.

It all adds up to “take Pitt and 12, that’s a
sure thing!!”

It looks like the bookies know something.

Would have felt better if Pitt was +6 or +7.

I don’t really ever bet on any Pittsburgh teams, and if I have in the past, it is for
the team to win also.

I wouldn’t touch this bet with your money.

Something stinks.

I myself think Pitt has a good shot to win, but their must be something in the match up the books see. Just played?? Just playing after a
big win?? Somethings there.

Hope to hope I’m wrong!!

Hail to Pitt!!! Keep on rollin’!!!

Comment by Dan 02.16.15 @ 2:28 pm

Tossing Thabeets,
I have to agree with your buddy!! If you grew up in Erie, PA you can make this trip on 4 bald tires. None the less, be careful big guy and bring home a winner!!!

Comment by pittman4ever 02.16.15 @ 2:45 pm

Pitt getting 11.5 pts tonite.

As long as the game is still on.
University of Maryland closes today at 3 pm due to storm.

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 2:59 pm

@ Tossing Thabeets, I hope that you’re taking a four wheel drive vehicle and have all the fixins for a wild ride home. Of course you would be crazy if you proceeded down there under dressed and ill prepared, so be sure that you’ve got your traction mats, snow shovel, window scrapers, flashlights, blankets, etc, all loaded in the truck, just in case.

But if you’re loaded for bear, as long as you stay on the main roads, like Interstate 66, then Route 29 you should be OK. The heavy stuff isn’t supposed to be in Virginia until after midnight anyhow.

Good Luck, bring home a winner!

Comment by Dr. Tom 02.16.15 @ 3:01 pm

The O/U is only 120.5. But then again UVA has the #1 scoring defense, allowing only 50.4 ppg.

Will Jamie allow a slogball game to develop ?

We could press in an attempt to speed up the game, maybe create some turnovers for transition baskets.

Hoever L-Ville must have tried that in their game against Wahoo’s and only scored 47 points in losing , 47-52.

So……

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 3:06 pm

If they handled L-Ville’s press, and it appeared they did, since they only had 2 turnovers, our press is not nearly as good as Ville’s, so it would probably be ineffective.

Did anyone see the Ville/UVA game last Sat (the 7th)?

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 3:11 pm

“Their defense is awesome. I won’t take anything away from them, but our offense was ridiculous,” Pitino said.

I’ll say….. it was 24-13 UVA at halftime. L-Ville went 12 minutes without scoring.

UNC only scored 64 points in losing by 11 in Chapel Hill.

Could be rough scoring tonite guys.

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 3:16 pm

But then you read this and maybe a glimmer of hope !

link to espn.go.com

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 3:24 pm

Upitt, you are right about Heinz Field. The reason it’s horrible is because the Rooney’s are beyond cheap.

Emel, Dixon certainly doesn’t want Pitt to get in a low scoring game. But that’s what UVA does. UVA is 349 in the nation in possessions per 40 minutes They’ve only let up 60 or more points 6 times all season. I’m guessing it’s going to be ugly tonight.

I like Pitt’s chances tonight. UVA isn’t close to playing their best basketball. They haven’t covered the spread in 5 of their last 6 and they are playing without their best player.

Comment by Wardapalooza 02.16.15 @ 3:30 pm

Lunardi has NCST as ACC 6th team. No Pitt.

Comment by Frank MD 02.16.15 @ 3:40 pm

Not even on bubble.

Comment by Frank MD 02.16.15 @ 3:45 pm

This is our last game in the regular season against a ranked opponent.

Other than winning the ACC tournament, we have to win tonite to have a shot at getting in The Dance.

Still would have to win at least 3 of the remaining 5 games and at least 1 in the ACC tourney, maybe 2.

Ward, UVA plays similar to Pitt in the last couple years of the Howland era. Grinding, grinding, not any big stars, and lots of easy layups. Lots of ‘how did that guy get behind the defense’ to score an almost uncontested layup. Magic.

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 3:50 pm

Plus we have no signature road wins or many road wins at all.

BC in overtime. K-State on a Neutral Court. That’s it.

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 3:53 pm

ACC might lobby for NCST over us for NCAA but maybe ESPN likes us for TV audience.

Comment by Frank MD 02.16.15 @ 3:53 pm

Comment by Frank MD 02.16.15 @ 3:55 pm

The win over the Holes and some other events like K-State beating #17 Oklahoma has moved us up to #46 in RPI (first time all year in Top 50) but still lag at #86 in BPI.

Not a good year for Kenpom either since our defensive metrics suck, lagging at #77.

Good thing committee uses RPI !

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 3:58 pm

That doesn’t look to good Frank MD.

There’s 16 teams ahead of us, so to say, on the bubble.

Seems like we have to win tonite, just to be on the ‘bubble’.

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 4:03 pm

My prediction: Pitt already won one game of their tough three, I don’t see them beating VA. However, if they finish strong, they will be vying with NCS for a bubble spot.

Comment by MariettaMike 02.16.15 @ 4:10 pm

Yeah I know Emel, UVA grinds a ton. That’s why they will never win it all. No one grinds it to a title.

I think Lunardi is off when it comes to Pitt. Purdue is one of his last 4 teams in but their RPI is 64 and their best win is a win home vs number 29 RPI. Pitt’s RPI is 47 with wins against 10 and 26 RPI.

Besides, bracketology is just what would the field look right now. Lots of basketball to be played.

What I don’t get is why the heck the Big East is still treated like a major basketball conference and gets 6 teams in. Half of the conference stinks. It must be nice to be Providence and get to play all these bad teams in conference.

Comment by Wardapalooza 02.16.15 @ 4:14 pm

Yeah but Lunardi also has Harvard going to the dance and everyone knows Yale is going to win the Ivy League title this year.

Comment by Pitt Dad 02.16.15 @ 4:17 pm

Short of beating NC St in ACC tournament Pitt can’t make it to the dance ahead of them. We beat number 12 NC while NC St beat number 8 Louisville plus Wolfpack beat us head to head to open ACC play.

Comment by Spindler's Spirit 02.16.15 @ 4:51 pm

Don’t know all the ins and outs…but aren’t road wins a pretty important element of RPI.

Of course that never seemed to matter much with not excluding Syracuse. Who rarely played anywhere but the Carrier Dump until January.

Let’s face it, we’re not one of the ‘golden child’ programs. If they can leave us out, they will.

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 4:54 pm

opitt, really interesting site, thanks for posting it. Pitt’s average really took a hit with Gentry Ivery. Ouch! DiNucci is ranked twice as high.

link to rankbyoffers.com

Comment by 2$Chuck 02.16.15 @ 4:58 pm

Tossing…be safe my friend. Latest forecast 12-20 inches in Charlottesville starting around 11pm. We are getting 8 inches + in B more. Great motels up and down rt 29 and just outside of Charlottesville. Find one with a Cracker Barrell close and you’re good for days.

Bring us a victory.

There are days when Vegas is just wrong….not many mind you…hope this is one of them.

Comment by Dan 72 02.16.15 @ 5:12 pm

Vegas was wrong on Saturday, let’s make it two in a row.

Comment by gc 02.16.15 @ 5:23 pm

Again, this is our last chance to go Dancing. Must win

Comment by gc 02.16.15 @ 5:24 pm

“Which team has the potential to be the biggest surprise — good or bad — between now and Selection Sunday?”

Dana O’Neil: Pittsburgh. The Panthers did not look anything like an NCAA tournament team as recently as a month ago. But with four wins in their past five games, including that thumping of North Carolina, Pitt looks like it’s finding its way. Better yet, the Panthers have winnable games down the stretch — save for maybe the next, at Virginia — which could bump up the Panthers’ seed.

link to espn.go.com

Comment by Jackagain 02.16.15 @ 5:25 pm

Maybe our ACC brother Cavaliers take the night off to get us in the dance.

Comment by gc 02.16.15 @ 5:26 pm

Looking over the RPI data.

Those two losses to teams(Hawaii & VT) with an RPI over 150 is something that NCSU doesn’t have, and is most likely why Lunardi has them as the #6 team from ACC and not us.

Hawaii is #176
VT is #203

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 5:26 pm

This is as close to a “must win” game as you can have on February 16th.

Pitt desperately needs a good road win. This is really their last chance to get one of those (unless you count Syracuse at the Dome).

Plus, as mentioned earlier, this isn’t a bad match up for Pitt. UVA is shooting the ball terribly since Anderson has been out. They’re pretty unlikely to score over 65 points, they’ve been averaging 60 or so. So if Pitt plays well, they should be in it at the end.

My concern, they haven’t played well at all on the road. That needs to change NOW. Or NIT, Baby.

A loss tonight and Pitt will need to win out and win a game in the acc to get in the tourney. A loss tonight and one more regular season loss might get them on the bubble, but they’ll need a two or three game run in the ACC to actually get in.

HTP. Go panthers.

Comment by Boubacar Aw 02.16.15 @ 5:45 pm

Wow, of our remaining schedule after UVA.

Only Miami & Cuse are 50-100 RPI.

So even beating them aren’t going to do much for RPI and the rest (BC, Wake & FSU) are 100-150. Any losses to those 3 will be killers.

We almost need to win out to get in.

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 5:47 pm

I think we must win tonite Boub. The RPI numbers just are not there without a win over a ranked team on the road. And then we can’t lose to any of the 100-150 teams.

link to espn.go.com

Comment by Emel 02.16.15 @ 5:51 pm

Some think that a bid to the NIT might actually be better for this young team to get to further learn and gel together for next season. Pitt has never beaten a higher seeded team in the NCAA’s so as it might look good on the Dixon record to get to another one, one & done won’t help this team at all.

Comment by Jackagain 02.16.15 @ 6:08 pm

Just as long as we don’t end up again in that silly made-for-tv tourney

Comment by steve1 02.16.15 @ 6:13 pm

@Jackagain, that very well may be. Definitely might help this team.

However, as a fan, I want in the big dance. Office pools, office banter, family banter, the
NIT is irrelevant when it comes to that stuff.

Your point is well taken though.

Comment by Dan 02.16.15 @ 6:36 pm

I wonder, does Lunardi give his brackets for
where they are right now???

Or does he project for himself, where he thinks
the team will end up??

Comment by Dan 02.16.15 @ 6:38 pm

Learning to drive in Erie winters = success. No issues. No one on the road made it easier. Cool place to see a game. Good student section. UVA is just a bad matchup. That’s not a final 4 team.

Comment by Tossing Thabeets 02.17.15 @ 12:15 am

Ran into a story that made me sick. Apparently Chryst did not even offer a scholarship to Cosention. Obviously he did not know his history Marino did not throw that many passes at Central they were a running team when he was there too. But scouting showed he was a top level recruit.
FSU commitment comes from place where QBs are built
Tradition speaks to FSU quarterback recruit J.J. Cosentino
Quarterback J.J. Cosentino, who committed to Florida State’s 2014 recruiting class in March, comes from tradition-rich Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, which is right in the heart of Steel Town.Quarterback J.J. Cosentino, who committed to Florida State’s… (CHRIS HAYS/ORLANDO SENTINEL )April 20, 2013|By Chris Hays, Staff writer
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — To the unwitting passersby hurrying down Pittsburgh’s Fifth Avenue, the building in the downtown community of Oakland sits unnoticed, blending in with the scenery.

Tucked in between the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, the dual cathedral-like towers of Pittsburgh’s Central Catholic Boys High School looks like any other part of the college landscape.

Inside, however, there is far more taking place than lectures and logarithms. At Central Catholic, football players are built; in particular, quarterbacks. You know of Dan Marino? Perhaps Marc Bulger?

Joseph James “J.J.” Cosentino is hoping you will know his name, too, one day. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior committed to Florida State’s 2014 recruiting class in March.

He might not look like the prototypical Seminoles’ quarterback. He’s not, by his own admission, the dual-threat type who can beat you with his arm, as well as his legs.

“People look at my stats and they think, ‘Well, how good is he really?’ ” Cosentino said. “Our team, we don’t pass the ball that much. We’re more like tighten it up, strap it on and try to ram it down your throat.”

He certainly looks like he could go up against any linebacker. Though he’s not a Pittsburgh native — he drives 40 miles round-trip to school every day from his home in New Kensington — he exudes that blue-collar, Steel Town mentality.

“I can make plays with my feet. If the pocket breaks down I can run a few yards or if they want to run me up the middle, I can do that. I’m a strong kid,” he said. “I’m pretty well rounded as quarterback. I have a really strong arm, that’s my main thing … but we only throw the ball 12-15 times [a game], if that.”

Cosentino threw for 552 yards and three touchdowns last season, after winning the starting job in Week 3. He was coming off ACL surgery from a freshman injury and missed his sophomore season.

What he likes about FSU, which he picked over offers from (Akron and USF), is his relationship with the coaches and FSU’s tradition.

He knows something about tradition at PCC.

“It’s awesome here. … Our main slogan is ‘Tradition Never Graduates.’ You’re not expected to be great but it’s just in you and that’s how it is around here,” he said.

FSU assistant coach Sal Sunseri attended Central Catholic prior to walking on at Pitt and becoming an all-American linebacker (1978-81). Cosentino has built a good relationship with Sunseri, as well as with the coach’s youngest son, Tino Sunseri, who just wrapped up his career as a quarterback at Pitt.

“There is a big tradition with them here. Coach Sal went here and Tino won a state championship here in 2007. I’ve been talking to coach Sal pretty much every day,” said Cosentino , who also said he talks frequently with recruiting coordinator/tight ends coach Tim Brewster and quarterbacks coach Randy Sanders, as well as head coach Jimbo Fisher.

“I have a good relationship with all of those guys. That was really important thing for me. Those are the guys who you are going to be with the whole time,” Cosentino said. “I really like coach [Jimbo] Fisher and everything he’s done with quarterbacks in the past. … It’s just a great fit for me.”

He doesn’t seem concerned about being able to keep his FSU commitment.

“I’m really solid right now. … As long as they keep their word and do everything that we talked about then I’ll definitely be with [FSU],” Cosentino said. “It’s a long time to signing day and anything can happen, but I love Florida State and I like where I’m at right now. We’re on stable ground and I’m firmly committed.”

Cosentino will get to see his future team live on Labor Day, when Florida State visits for a national TV showdown with Pitt at Heinz Field.

“My family has had Pitt season tickets since before I was born, and we go to every game,” Cosentino said. “So this year I can’t wait to wear my FSU gear to the game and see the Seminoles for the first time in my hometown.”

Our QB problem did not need to exist; shot yourself in the foot. 6-4,215 pounds best QB in the city takes a powder without an offer.

Comment by lost in the south 02.22.15 @ 7:35 pm

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