Big feature piece on James Robinson from the Pitt News. Good read.
No formal ACC Network by July from ESPN? That will be an extra $3 million per year per school. The article suggests something that evolves will be a “multi-platform product” that gets branded as the ACC Network. I’m having trouble distinguishing that from what presently exists from the “ACC Network” at present that has some syndication and is shown streaming via ESPN3.
Buzz Williams, the VT head coach, is the more likely target by either TCU or Oklahoma State for the head coaching vacancies. No one is quite sure what Buzz Williams will do if offered. VT is in the NIT. Oklahoma State hasn’t formally fired Travis Ford. Oh, and Williams’ buyout with VT drops from $3 million to $1.5 million on March 24.
Wisconsin returned to the “swing” offense under Greg Gard. If you are looking to find out more about how it works, this is a good place to go.
The Swing offense is a 4-out patterned offense that has continuity. All five players are interchangeable, and spacing, screening, cutting and good passing are paramount. All five players learn to post up inside.
The offense is deliberate, often with multiple passes and places value on each possession with high percentage inside shots, or free-throws. Unlike some of the recent, newer offenses that utilize the dribble-drive as it’s main attack weapon, the Swing offense is truly a “team-offense” that places a premium on good passing, screening and cutting.
The Swing offense is used against man-to-man defenses and combines elements of the UCLA offense, the flex offense, and the triangle offense. There can be a number of entries into the offense, and there are counters for every kind of pressure defense. Numerous variations can be used. Set plays can be called as well.
Diagrams and everything if you are interested. There’s also some YouTube clip from Bo Ryan’s instructional DVD on the Swing Offense. Here’s another place to go.
Nonetheless, it’s good that Pitt is above the curve … however, will they be after this season due to declining attendance?
Anyone eyeing any sleeper teams? I like Fresno State. Zags too, but they would play each other in the 2nd round.
FB recruit DT Bryce Hargrove made Honorable Mention All-State Ohio in Div II basketball.
And last night, FB recruit Kaezon Pugh led Aliquippa to the state final game this Friday or Saturday .. he made 2 key free throws and a key assist in the last 18 seconds. Also had double figure rebounds and points
FF to the 20:20 mark
So Pitt really mainly cares if we just make the Dance and win one game at least. It’s good for about a quarter a million a year for the ACC for 6 straight years for each win. They in turn pay Pitt a portion that covers all expenses and the rest is divided among the schools.
So if Dixon just gets them there most of the time, he’s not going anywhere. Only the fans care about Final Fours. Of course they too would like to win a NC, but it the $ folks…
Ya think Pitt will take a chance on a new coach getting us to the NCAA’s like Dixon has?
The only way they get rid of Dixon is if he starts missing the Dance every year and the attendance falls off at the Pete.
Just my opinion.
If I were a betting man Friday, I would take Pott with confidence even if Jamie has a bad day at the office!
Pitt 72 – Wisconsin 60
H2P
“Bo Schneider ?@bo_schneider
Thank you to my coaches, teammates and Knight Nation for my time at UCF. I am transferring to Pittsburgh this summer to play football. #H2P”
Wisconsins 4 out swing offense.
Looking ahead to Friday, they probably couldn’t have done any better than Wisconsin.
The two VARIABLES…
Players need to shoot “lights out” or something very close… and their Coach needs to keep his COOL and avoid any semblance of a late Game MELTDOWN.
Those two in combination should prove enough to arrange a second date to the Dance on Sunday.
Schneider must be decent since he started a few and played a few more at UCF which is decent program. MacVittie may not be ready and the other two are questionable.
“The style of Pitt’s offense fits me better”, said Schneider. “Pitt runs a Pro Style offense and with Coach Frost, Central Florida is moving to a spread offense. ”
The freshman quarterback told me that once he realized he wasn’t a fit with Central Florida, he contacted Pitt and offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
“I knew Coach Canada because he recruited me while he was at NC State. Coach Canada is a great guy and a smart guy. I like him because he tells it how it is. I like that from a coach”, said Schneider.
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BTW, he has never been to Pittsburgh
For me, the game comes down to two things Artis and Dixon’s coaching decisions:
Need Artis to get off to a good start, stay engaged, and not settle for jumpers. He is effective slicing to the rim.
Dixon has to make good decisions on personnel and in-game adjustments, particularly if the game is tight in the second half, which I expect it will be. Time for Dixon to prove his in-game coaching skills are worthy of his salary.
Here are his HS stats and some videos – 11 tds to 1 INT and a 61% completion rate isn’t shabby. He left school because of the change in offensive systems and Canada had recruited him so he isn’t someone who just stumbled into the Southside practice facility.
Look at the Top 20 QBs in Passing Efficiency for 2015 – note the size of the schools for the majority of them.
I think this is the type of QB, at 6’4″/233 who may just blow up in college.
Of course those 7 INTs vs 2 TDs at UCF isn’t that great…
BTW – opened my mail the other day – thanks.
As we all should know by now … that while Cam is improving in all phases, he really shouldn’t be getting a lot of PT when he is not shooting well which sadly happens more often than not. But having said that .. the fact that Wisc defense sags and welcomes outside shooting, this may be a game where Cam can really contribute.
is if they want him……then great.
Maybe he plays, maybe he helps push someone else, maybe he’s a back up,
but if they want him, sounds good to me.
That is probably Bertke although he is still on the roster. I’ll take that swap anyday.
link to businessinsider.com