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November 25, 2015

It’s ESPN3.com at 7pm

Students out of town. Night before Thanksgiving. Should be a sparse crowd except for those whose significant other is a saint or just wanted that person out of the way so they could lose their mind in peace preparing for Thursday.

This is part of why there is such an abundance of Thanksgiving-time basketball tournaments. Logically, you would think TV interests would prefer more of the activity to take place a week or two later as college football games really thin out.

But the coaches and schools would rather avoid having to do home games without students and people heavily distracted by family dysfunction. If they are going to play games in front of small crowds, why not do it in some other locale in a tournament that gets media exposure?\

That’s not Pitt’s fate this year.

Home game against Cornell.

The Big Red (3-2) will visit Petersen Events Center tonight to face Pitt (2-0), and although Cornell is not similar to Detroit in style of play, it is skilled offensively and tough to guard because it can shoot well from every spot.

Cornell averages 79.2 points per game and has made 49 of 128 3-point attempts, which is an average of 9.8 3-pointers made per game.

Panthers forward Alonzo Nelson-Ododa said Cornell will be a great test for their man-to-man defense and he believes it will give them a good opportunity to prove they have fixed their defensive issues.

“They are a little bit different than the other three teams we played in that they have a lot more 3-point shooters,” Nelson-Ododa said. “This will prepare us for teams like Davidson, who we play in December that has a lot of 3-point shooters … so this is going to be a challenge for us.”

Guard Chris Jones agreed and said that the thing that makes a team like Cornell so difficult to guard is that it can spread out and stretch the defense because of its ability to hit 3-pointers from every position.

“We watched film of Cornell, they are really good,” Jones said. “They have some really good guards, so we have to make sure we do what it takes to win the game. They are very aggressive, they like to get up and pressure the ball full-court, too.

“We have to do a good job of keeping guys accountable on defense and make sure we are all doing our jobs and helping each other out.”

Per the Sporting News preview, Cornell was picked for 7th in the Ivy League. They have been blown out by Georgia Tech and Canisius. “Really good,” might be an overstatement.

It should allow Pitt to continue to control the minutes for key players.

Young, who leads Pitt in scoring, is on board.

His minutes are down, but his spirits are up. He is averaging 24 minutes after posting 31.7 minutes per game last season. He admitted to tiring down the stretch.

“I love it,” Young said. “Guys like myself, James (Robinson) or Artis don’t have to play 30-some minutes a game. My energy level and intensity are way up from last year.”

Artis averages 22.5 minutes, and Robinson averages 24. Last season, both averaged more than 30 minutes.

Limit the minutes now. They will almost certainly rise for guys like Young, Artis and Robinson in a couple weeks.





Don’t know if any of you guys watched the Thanksgiving memories video that some of the players did. I know L Pitts takes a lot of heat on here sometimes but I thought it was pretty cool how he mentioned that his family prepared Thanksgiving dinner his freshmen year and brought it down for the freshmen football players to eat – for those who couldn’t make it home for the holidays. There seem to be a lot of good young men on the team and I think these types of stories too often get overlooked or past over. Just wanted to mention it for those of you who might not have bumped into it.

Anyhow, Happy Thanksgiving to all! Truthfully, every day should be a day of thanksgiving as I know that I definitely have a lot to be thankful for.

Comment by JJ 11.25.15 @ 3:57 pm

Thankful that Pitt B-Ball might actually be tourney bound and may luck out and make Sweet 16

Thankful that Nard Dog has the program on the rise along with the help of a new AD and Chancellor who have a clear vision for excellence

Thankful for this Blather blog and all the hard work that Chas, Reed and Justin have put in throughout the years

Thankful that I’m part of the Pitt family and Panther Nation

Thankful for many other things.

May the wishbone break right for you this Thanksgiving.

Comment by TX Panther 11.25.15 @ 5:07 pm

Watching the worst basketball game I have seen yet this season–Indiana vs UNLV. Streetball, RAGO, at its very worst! No defense, players completely out of control, absolutely sloppy play. If I had anything better to do I would be doing it!!

Comment by Pitt1972 11.25.15 @ 5:29 pm

JJ great story. I sure hope these kids dont read the Blather!! They should just be kids. On the side, I teach a class at a major University and every year the kids just keep getting younger!! They really ARE kids at the end of the day.

Grateful that while Pitt might not be perennial top 10 in either major sport, that we have a clean program with good kids.

Optimistic for the future of both Fball and Bball at Pitt!

Comment by DD 11.25.15 @ 5:40 pm

CBs are on an island and exposed more than any other position than QB. For the past 2 years or so, L Pitts was almost always one-on-one against the other team’s best. I assume that if there was someone better, he’d be out there

Comment by wbb 11.25.15 @ 5:57 pm

Anyone know what the Pat signal was about last night?

link to twitter.com

Comment by Jackagain 11.25.15 @ 5:58 pm

BTW, Joe Uchebo had 14 pts and 12 reb vs Syracuse today

Comment by wbb 11.25.15 @ 5:59 pm

Pitt is pushing the ball downcourt…fast pace….is this the new Jamieball?

Comment by isnore 11.25.15 @ 7:08 pm

Jeter! #ManThings

Comment by CNorwoodAZ 11.25.15 @ 7:09 pm

wbb,who is Joe playing for?

Comment by alcofan 11.25.15 @ 7:15 pm

Uchebo plays for Charlotte.

Comment by isnore 11.25.15 @ 7:22 pm

Chris Jones is a playa!!

Comment by isnore 11.25.15 @ 7:24 pm

Jone’s is feelin’ it…

Comment by Jackagain 11.25.15 @ 7:31 pm

CJ is FEELIN’ it. Doing his best Lamar Patterson impression.

Comment by CNorwoodAZ 11.25.15 @ 7:31 pm

J$ – you have a link to that video?

TX Panther – well said. We are often a dysfunctional bunch, but I think the world is a better place because we can get it out of our systems on here. I am ever thankful for The Blather!

Comment by Iron Duke 11.25.15 @ 7:43 pm

When do they sing Sweet Caroline? 😉

Comment by Jackagain 11.25.15 @ 7:45 pm

In the other game of the Ivy League/ACC challenge Duke in a dogfight. Yale 36 Duke 38 at the half.

Comment by Steve h 11.25.15 @ 7:50 pm

Amen Iron Duke

Comment by TX Panther 11.25.15 @ 8:08 pm

I love the Zoo but thank God there is no Sweet Caroline. But then again, the students could just roll down the hill to the bars below or go up to the fraternities. How I miss on campus arenas/stadiums.

Comment by TX Panther 11.25.15 @ 8:10 pm

Pitt got it right with the Pete. Every student that showed tonight should have gotten a six pack of Hamms.

Comment by TX Panther 11.25.15 @ 8:11 pm

Robinson has faded into the paint on the empty seats.
The big story tonight against a weak Cornell team is our 3 point shooting!!

Comment by isnore 11.25.15 @ 8:38 pm

On a side note from Artie….

“I’ll be completely honest about this: Coach Chryst never called me, and Coach Chryst did not have a team meeting where he said he was leaving, and Coach Chryst never texted us (as a team),” Rowell said. “Coach Graham texted us.”

link to triblive.com

Comment by Jackagain 11.25.15 @ 8:38 pm

Happy Thanksgiving……CRUSH THE CANES!!

H2P !!

Comment by isnore 11.25.15 @ 8:49 pm

This team looks like it may have something. Purdue will be a good barometer.

Comment by gc 11.25.15 @ 8:51 pm

Last couple of years would have won a game like this by 15-20 points…better shooting and more depth this year…still need to work on D…been awhile since we have had a lockdown defender like jermaine dixon… loving the fast breaks run by Wilson…nice dish to Jeter for the slam..Happy Thanksgiving Blatherites! H2P!!!.

Comment by Jerry S. 11.25.15 @ 8:53 pm

Also…Crush the Canes on Friday!!!!!!

Comment by Jerry S. 11.25.15 @ 8:54 pm

Tonight was really where you could see this team being better on the court w/o JR out there. Yeah, he had a bad shooting game, but games like tonight and you can see lineups that aren’t worse in terms of assist v turnover, and yet can shoot better too. Wilson and Smith splitting time at the point, with JR 3rd in minutes, is looking pretty nice. Kind of like the situation with Voytik, a coach might have to make a hard decision with the PG position by the time conference play arrives.

Comment by DD 11.25.15 @ 8:56 pm

Any Pitt win is a good win. Going to be interesting how Jamie sets his rotation as we get closer to ACC play. Going with 13-14 guys doesn’t seem realistic.

Hope all you fellow Blatherites have a safe and happy Thanksgiving and hopefully you will be at Heinz on Friday. Pretty nervous about crowd. Think it’s going to be pretty bad

Comment by Pap76 11.25.15 @ 8:56 pm

Cornell starters 0 for 9 on 3 point shots. Good D or what?

Comment by TVax 11.25.15 @ 9:00 pm

Crean bites the dust again….

Comment by Jackagain 11.25.15 @ 9:08 pm

Great Pens game…4-3 in OT with Malkin in alone on the 2 on 1 rush.

Comment by Jackagain 11.25.15 @ 9:37 pm

Anybody else get an e-mail about moving down to the student section? I guess with break underway they are looking to move fans to the lower bowl.

Comment by Iron Duke 11.25.15 @ 9:38 pm

Wake just beat UCLA

Comment by Jackagain 11.25.15 @ 9:43 pm

I got the e-mail about moving down to the student section, but I like sitting near the front edge of the upper deck…

I’m afraid we’re in for a poor crowd…which is a shame given the weather forecast in the mid 60s with no rain…

Go Pitt.

Comment by MajorMajors 11.25.15 @ 9:57 pm

That game was a beat down by half time.

CJ looked very confident tonight.

Watched Luther while on the floor. That guy is locked in defensively.

I noticed that Young and Artis like to handle the ball. Both are actually able to push the ball up the floor. They will make this team difficult to press.

This team actually appears to be able to shoot FTs at multiple positions.

Comment by Barvo 11.25.15 @ 11:11 pm

Happy Thanksgiving to the Blatherites!

Comment by htp123 11.25.15 @ 11:36 pm

Happy Thanksgiving to All.

I pulled this next clip from the Trib in honor of Senior Day tomorrow at Pitt Stadium on Heinz Field:

(Artie) Rowell’s first exchange with Narduzzi, shortly after the latter was hired.
“I left a voicemail and said, ‘Hey Coach, Artie Rowell, center, coming back off a knee injury. I just wanted to say welcome, and I’m looking forward to this year.’ He texted back and said, ‘Artie, I appreciate the call. Your fifth year is going to be the best year you’ve had at Pitt.’
“He was right. We’re going for win No. 9″.

Our group is going to cut our pre-game tailgating short (probably start earlier too) so we can be in our seats for the Senior introductions. Many special young men who have made Pitt proud.

Crush the Canes, win #9 and reveal the Pat Signal.

HTP!

Comment by Erie Express 11.26.15 @ 7:29 am

If you are reading the Pitt Blather, you are probably a Pitt fan. We don’t organize “White Outs” and “Black Outs” like the farms school to the east.

But this morning I want to challenge you if you currently aren’t going to the game on Black Friday. If you are within driving distance, tell your spouse you are going Christmas shopping. Drive to Pitt Stadium on Heinz Field and go to the apparel shop, buy her something you think she’ll like (50% off most items tomorrow) and while you are there, yinz mize well watch some of the game.

There is a lot of truth in that shopping trip, plus you get to see the much improved Pitt Panther football team.

Support the Seniors!

HTP!

Comment by Erie Express 11.26.15 @ 7:46 am

Jackagain, what an eye-opener …. who knew? At least, thanks to the media, everyone knew PC was going … but not for him to say goodbye is kind of low.

I’ll be at the game tomorrow .. and in time for pre-game intros.

C’mon fellow Blatherites …. if your relatives, friends and neighbors can make it to Walmart at 6 am tomorrow, we can make to Heinz by 11:45.

Comment by wbb 11.26.15 @ 7:54 am

Just saw the score this morning. Wow, I know Cornell was an expected win but this was a little over the top.

Comment by Dr. Tom 11.26.15 @ 7:56 am

The only thing Big and Red in Cornell this morning are the butts of Cornell’s BB team, after the a$$ whooping the Panthers put on those guys last nite.

Comment by Dr. Tom 11.26.15 @ 7:59 am

Very encouraged by the look of this team so far. Light years different than last year. Artis looks like much more of a complete player. Nelson-Odobo, a huge improvement, looks like a great fit. The three new guards all have skills and can shoot. Young and Jeter are men now. Jones and Luther are improved. Less dependent on Robinson to be the guy, so he can be more of a role player. Cam Johnson can shoot and handle the ball, so much upside.

The big question is “how does he play all these guys?” Not enough minutes to go around.

Comment by gc 11.26.15 @ 10:13 am

Happy Thanksgiving all! Looking forward to a great game and great weather for Miami.

Regarding Pitt/Cornell – the only thing I didn’t like was Cam Johnson’s defense. In one sequence, he gave up an easy layup and then the next possession gave up an offensive rebound. Given that everyone is capable of scoring, that doesn’t bode well for him. Jeter and Smith are borderline impressive, Wilson looks like he’ll get there, Young and Artis can be dominant, and Ododo looks like a big improvement in a role player position. I’m very encouraged.

Comment by KeyboardKev 11.26.15 @ 11:15 am

#10 Gonzaga lost today to Texas A&M

#20 Wichita State lost to USC – 2nd los of the season

Many overrated fakes in the Top 25

Comment by Erie Express 11.26.15 @ 4:52 pm

#17 nd lost to Monmouth yesterday in BB.

#19 Northwestern barely beat Eastern Washington.

#24 George Washington barely beat Houston.

My belief is that Pitt would beat all six teams this season.

HTP!

Comment by Erie Express 11.27.15 @ 6:35 am

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