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January 12, 2017

Plenty of Artis, Not Much Else

Filed under: Basketball — Chas @ 8:54 pm

[Editor note: drafted this in the morning after. Thought I might still be a bit too annoyed and maybe unfair on the read through. Sat on it for the day and evening to see if I mellowed a bit. Nope.]

This performance after what happened in Syracuse was not dispiriting. It was the kind that pisses me off.

After spending the first 15 games establishing a pattern of racing out to big leads and then holding on in the second half, Pitt has changed its approach the last two games. They get buried and then spend the second half trying to dig out of that hole. Hasn’t worked yet, but I’m sure they will get there eventually.

No one has epitomized that more then Mike Young. All through the non-con and first couple games of conference play, Young was a first half force. Scoring big in the first half to pace the team and open things up for everyone else. He would drop off in the second half, as Pitt’s leads diminished. But, that could be chalked up to doing so much in the first half, and being a bit worn down.

The last two games have seen Mike Young be incredibly frustrated in the first half. Bigger interior defenses completely pushing him away from the basket and keeping him from getting good looks. Only late in the game, when it is seemingly too late, does he start to find some room to work.

Then there was Jamel Artis who put Pitt on his back, and almost dragged them all the way back in the second half. Not even an exaggeration. Artis scored 30 points in the second half. Louisville as a team scored 38.

Artis went for 43 points out of Pitt’s 80. He scored 13 points in the first half — which was half the amoutn of points scored by Pitt. Then scored 30 of the 54 second half points. Yet, he tried to take it in stride.

No other Pitt players scored in double figures, but Artis carried the team by going 15 for 22 from the floor, including 7 of 13 from 3-point range.

Five of his threes came after halftime as he scored the most points in any ACC game since Boston College’s Tyrese Rice had 46 against North Carolina in 2008.

“I feel like this every night,” Artis said. “I just knew we were down a good little margin, and my guys were counting on me so I hit a couple shots and I knew I could have hit more. If we come out there doing that in the first half, we’re unstoppable to beat.”

After Artis was suspended for the Duquesne game for a team rules violation he was asked what he learned. His bluntly honest answer — and completely accurate — was that he is “pretty valuable to the team.”

He showed it last night, when no one. Not one goddamn other starter on this Pitt squad. Stepped up to play with any consistency and/or urgency.

“I’m not happy right now,” Artis said. “We’re 1-3 in the ACC. This is a team we could have beat tonight. … It’s awesome to have (the second-highest scoring game at Pitt). That’s a lot of points to have and go out there and score, but it results in a loss. For me to go to the bus and take this ride home, it’s not a good feeling.”

Louisville led 52-26 about three minutes into the second half, but led by Artis’ shot-making that included seven 3-pointers, Pitt chipped away, using a 1-3-1 zone to slow the Cardinals’ offense.

The Panthers drew within 81-76 on Michael Young’s 3-pointer with 44 seconds to play.

“I knew we were going to have our chance to come back, that we would have our run,” Artis said. “And we had our run. I think we missed too many free throws that cost us. And the little plays, they had some loose balls at the end and some good shots they made. We’ve got to come out from the jump (in the) first half. We can’t be down 20 going into halftime. It’s hard to come back.”

Should I hit on FTs first? Okay.

16-29. As a team, Pitt came in hitting around 70%. Mike Young was over 80% (and that is even after a 3-7 night against Virginia), and was 4-11. He hits around his average, that’s 4 more points. Someone else just hits one more, and Pitt is shooting 70% for the game and well…

The little plays were killer. Louisville shot nearly 50% for the game and still grabbed 14 offensive rebounds. Pitt (thanks, mainly to Artis) got their FG% up to almost 45% but only got 9 boards. This, despite having more opportunities.

Rebounding margin is a useless stat for anything other then a general comparison of effort. When Pitt shot 33% in the first half to Louisville’s 50%, the Ville had 7 offensive rebounds to Pitt’s 5. In the second half, Louisville was still outworking them on the boards.

Yes, Louisville had a clear size advantage, but the lack of energy going after loose balls from anyone other than Sheldon Jeter and Ryan Luther was apparent. A team that feeds on offense, once more showed little pride to give a greater effort on defense when they were being frustrated on offense.

No one, did that reflect worse on than Cam Johnson. He’s had a rough couple games. 2-10 against Syracuse. 1-10 against Louisville. 1-10 overall from 3-point range.

His only basket last night came on a wide open slam. Why? Because he got stuffed trying to go the basket, and stayed on the ground as everyone else raced up the court. Louisville, though turned it over, and Johnson was able to be rewarded for not getting back up the court.

His offensive frustration showed in a lack of effort on defense. Only 1 rebound in 31 minutes for a 6-8 guard/forward. He actually frustrated Stallings with his effort enough that he was briefly pulled from the floor after not even moving after a 3 was hoisted in his face. No box out, and the Louisville player just followed his miss to get the board. At that point, I was hoping he would stay on the bench for the rest of the game.

I’m not even taking the silver lining that Artis and Pitt terrified the daylights out of Louisville alumnifans and their coach.

 





Great article Chas. Not sure what the answer is. This is the year we have/had a chance to do good things with Artis and Young. Next year seems like the Dixon years a bit with a very young team and just hoping they stick around and slowly get better and better. I don’t think that will work as much with Stallings’ approach though.

H2P

Comment by panther94 01.12.17 @ 10:19 pm

We’re still in bracketology….but fading fast…

link to espn.com

Comment by Jackagain 01.12.17 @ 10:41 pm

OSU is 10-7 & 0-4 in the BigJoke. I wonder what their coach makes?

Comment by Jackagain 01.12.17 @ 10:42 pm

Chas…. at some point you either had to play or coach to erite that detailed and perspective driven article. Thank you. Great job!

I turned the Cuse game off before the half and missed the first half last night …. thank God! I cannot stand bad fundamentals in basketball which drove me nuts with Jamie’s teams and caused me to wince and look away the last 2 Pitt games.
I give no credit at all for either comeback because their is NO excuse ever for getting down 31 and 26 points in the first half of a game. I don’t care who you’re playing!

I have been more than kind to Coach Stallings and staff to this point but a blowout by Miami is entirely possible, and there my kindness ends.

I studied Free Throw shooting under Buzzy Braeman (the Shot Doctor) and have taught it while coaching and at clinics forb18 years. I have done this and would have kept Pitt on the floor post game shooting FTs until their arms fell off last night!
It’s all technique… anyone can make a FT with fresh legs and no pressure but it takes technique to make them when your legs are soft and rubbery from playing (and being pressed the entire game). Coach Stallings….please fix the FT shooting!

Comment by Dan 72 01.12.17 @ 10:57 pm

I couldn’t agree more with the article. When you have TV announcers politely questioning the effort put forth by players – you’ve got BIG problems.

Comment by Virgil 01.13.17 @ 6:22 am

This team….

No guts
Little Heart
Limited Ability
….all about “me”

🙁

Comment by The Truth 01.13.17 @ 6:59 am

Don’t see lack of effort being the problem.

As I have been posting, except for the obvious exceptions of Artis and Young… and maybe to some degree Jeter… this is a Team nearly totally ABSENT of Athletic Ability.

Johnson is proving each Game how he probably doesn’t even belong playing at this Level.

Unfortunately, the same might go for Kitchcart who is both SMALL and limited in ability.

Talk about leaving the Cupboard BARE. The cabinets are hanging off the wall in this Kitchen.

You gotta give Jamie this much. He sure knew when the gettin’ was good.

Comment by PittofDreams 01.13.17 @ 7:53 am

Despite what he’s working with… of course Stallings doesn’t go without responsibility.

He seems to be slowing working his way through Players trying to determine who he can count on and who he can’t. It could be argued that this is something he should have figured out a lot earlier.

And you would certainly think an Offensive “genius” like Stallings would be able to find a way to get Young open.

Keep in mind that all of this went SOUTH just so many days ago when Boeheim and ‘Cuse showed that to BEAT Pitt… all you have to do is take Young out of his Game.

Stallings has got to find a way to turn it around… QUICKLY!

Unless of course, there’s something MORE going on with Young more than the Defenses now giving him fits.

Comment by PittofDreams 01.13.17 @ 8:04 am

I don’t care if they have to use their time outs early. Your have to right the ship before it’s too late. They cannot allow the other team to go on the first half runs that Syracuse and Louisville had in the last two games. Adjustments have to be made in the flow of the game. Yes, Pitt came back and played better after halftime, but that’s of little consolation if you fall too far behind. I also think we need to develop Kithart.

Comment by Justinian 01.13.17 @ 9:52 am

The guy that supposedly left the cupboard bare beat Texas in Austin with a cupboard that was non existent. It’s called coaching them up, maybe Stallings should give it a try.

Comment by Nick 01.13.17 @ 11:44 am

I’m not an x’s and o’s guy, just a Pitt guy from the 70’s and an avid sports fan who remains a staunch Pitt supporter. I have refrained from impulsively criticizing Stallings after every loss. I was an avid Barnes critic and was thrilled to see him go, but I did not blame Stallings for simply taking a job that any one of us would have accepted under similar circumstances. Frankly, it would be great if he exceeds all expectations and takes Pitt to new heights.

Having said that, from a basketball layman’s perspective, I don’t see much to be excited about at the halfway mark of the season. I don’t recall ever witnessing two games that were over at the half, back to back. They call that “runs” in basketball and calling time outs to derail momentum is boilerplate coaching is it not? I find it a giant leap to somehow blame Jamie when Stallings keeps his hands in his pocket and Pitt gets beat, yet credit Stallings as a hands off genius when Pitt outscores an opponent. As I taught in sales school, you can’t sell what you ain’t got. Stallings has to coach what he has. So far, all I see is a hall monitor who volunteers at the YMCA whose job is to let ’em play but not get into fisticuffs. I guess what I am saying is I agree with Nick. IF. And that is a big IF, the Pete ever becomes a destination again, it appears to be a long way off in the future. Thanks Scott.

Comment by wally 01.13.17 @ 12:07 pm

I learned my lesson with this team last year. On paper, it’s a good team. Middle of the pack in the ACC but that’s okay with the depth of the conference. On the court, however, this team lacks chemistry. I’ve said it before. I’ve never seen a team that’s been together so long have such a lack of chemistry. I mean, Artis and Young even played for a year together in HS at one time. If we hadn’t seen it (the same) under Dixon, you could blame this on the players still adapting to Stallings. That’s not the case though. Based on the team’s academic ranking, it’s bright team. On the other hand, their collective basketball IQ leaves much to be desired. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s a collection of projects vs. sure things that peaked early in their careers leaving no upside or what? I can confidently say it’s not a coaching issue though as we have the same frustrations we’ve had in the past. I just think this is the team that we have. It’s going to be Jekyll and Hyde based on if the jump shot is going down. I can’t say I’ve ever seen a complete 40 minutes out of this group under Dixon or Stallings. Like clockwork there is a several minute scoring drought every single game. Regardless of the opponent. Maddeningly frustrating. This team is, if nothing else, at least entertaining. I take comfort in at least having fun watching them … even if I’ve ripped all my hair out by the end of the game.

Comment by Tossing Thabeets 01.13.17 @ 12:31 pm

I would love to see stats of Mike Young non-con and con. I feel like it is Groundhog day…his FG% dropping like a stone when the con came. Now, that has happened to others too..Zanna, etc. BUT…usually by their senior year, it goes away. Does not seem to be the case with Young.

I have a different take on Jamie leaving us bare. I think the talent of the next 2-3 years is equal to the talent of the past 5 years. Which is not great. But yes, Jamie could coach people up…his strict approach was an equalizer in many respects. Take that out of the equation and you get what we have now. If anything Jamie left because quite frankly, and I know some here might butcher me for saying this but sorry it is true, if Artis and Young bought into Jamie 110%, we would be a top 20 team. The fact is, these guys either don’t care or don’t have the acumen to learn and play great defense. Jamie saw it. He could not get these players to buy in and change. Love or hate Dixon (I think he deserved both), Pitt teams were great when he recruited modestly above average non-NBA players who would do anything to win, and the bargain was, do what I say, and you will win. He lost his mojo when he went to recruit players above that level, players who would not make that bargain.

Hope for the future? This whole Stallings is a Bball genius is BS. He is a highly konwledgable coach…but most top 50 coaches are so I don’t see the difference. If Stallings was able to recruit future NBA players at Vandy, then our only hope is he does so here. It will be his recruiting, not his coaching, that makes the difference…a weakness of Dixon is hoefulyl a strength of Stallings. We have to hope for that becuase otherwise we all all just waiting for his firing.

Comment by DD 01.13.17 @ 12:31 pm

Do you think a lot of MY’s issues have to do with him playing out of position? Is Nix that bad that his presence at the 5, freeing up MY to play a more natural position, would be offset by bad center play. I don’t know enough about him to say either way.

Comment by panther94 01.13.17 @ 12:42 pm

@Nick – I see your point but Texas is not the example you are looking for.

Texas (while a “NAME” school) is 7-9, 1-3 in conference. Bad program this year, Need to win out just to make the NIT (UPITT hyperbole).

Shaka Smart is having problems in recruiting his type of players or the H.S. kids from Texas just want to play offense.

Comment by PITT-cocks Fan 01.13.17 @ 1:18 pm

Good writing Chas. This team shows no chemistry and no leadership. Last year this same team made the tourny with everyone back except the much maligned point guard (who only set an NCAA assist ratio record and is getting paid to play in Europe). This team is not exciting to watch – it is extremely frustrating to watch low basketball IQ and me first attitude. Defense is all about desire and effort. We don’t have any.

Comment by AnotherClancyrebound 01.13.17 @ 1:34 pm

My Pitt-ness/Charlie Brown thinking he will really get to kick the football still says, this team could be top, well, 30. Jeter needs to just get back to where he was last year. Cam needs to shoot 40%. They need to hit free throws.

That would be enough.

Comment by DD 01.13.17 @ 2:13 pm

Other than Robinson and Wright (who was injured much of the season), this team is basically the same team that sleep-walked through the 2015 season. They ended the season on a 5 game losing streak. The only wins of consequence were Syracuse (2X), UNC(home) and ND(home). And some really bad losses (including a home NIT loss to GW).

Last season, they backed into the Tourney. Again, other than Syracuse (3X), ND (away) and Duke(home), there were no good wins. Although there were some bad performances (NCSt, UNC, VT, Wisky, WF, etc), there were no really “bad” losses.

17 games into this season, not much has changed. So, it seems, that is who these guys are.

I will continue to watch the rest of the season, with tempered optimism that they will improve.

It is now up to Coach Stallings to recruit his players for the future.

Comment by xfmrman 01.13.17 @ 2:45 pm

TCU beat UT in Austin for the first time since 1987. Nearly all of UT’s losses are to decent (Michigan) to good (Kansas State) teams. Texas’ RPI is 148 which puts them a a little lower than Syracuse.

TCU hung with Kansas at home for an entire game and lost by 6.

TCU hung with WVU in Morgantown for an entire game and lost by 12. Formerly undefeated and #1 ranked Baylor just lost in Morgantown by 21.

TCU lost to SMU by 15 at SMU. Pitt lost to SMU by 9 on a neutral court.

TCU has won 0, 5 and 3 conference games in the past 3 seasons since 2013-2014. They’ve won 2 so far this season.

Just providing some factual context.

Granted, Syracuse shot the ball very well last weekend. However I found Pitt’s attack of the zone a little odd given what had worked before. They primarily seemed to use Young at foul line rather than Artis. Once they fell behind there were times nobody was in the middle of the zone and I think the analyst (Gmminski) pointed this out a few times.

I know people have wanted to see Jeter start, but he’s always seemed to be a streaky shooter to me. Cam Johnson now also seems to be a streaky shooter. I can’t say Luther is exactly streaky. He seems to be too passive to me with his offense. He only had 1 FG attempt against Louisville even though he played 27 minutes. He only had 1 attempt against Syracuse in 16 minutes.

Pitt is really going to have a rough season if they come out like this on the road every game.

They’re 1-3 even with Artis shooting 60% from 3 over that stretch.

Comment by Barvo 01.13.17 @ 3:33 pm

I see Pitt is favored by 2.5 tomorrow. Unless there are 4-5 new players in those units, I don’t see Pitt winning this one. Miami is very tough, especially inside.

Comment by Dan 72 01.13.17 @ 9:18 pm

Heard tonight that Mike Youngs hurt and won’t play tomorrow. Hope I’m wrong.

Comment by alcofan 01.13.17 @ 9:28 pm

If Pitt wins tomorrow, they will be 2-3 and tied with either Duke or Louisville in the ACC standings – with games against both coming up soon.

Not bad company…

Need big games from both Jeter and Luther.

Comment by Erie Express 01.13.17 @ 9:47 pm

Barvo Great Post

We possibly have the worst coach in D1.

Comment by Upittbaseball 01.13.17 @ 9:57 pm

The game tomorrow is critical to both teams. Miami fought back against ND only to turn the ball over their final two possessions in OT. Their season is going the wrong direction as well.
I think the loser will fade away into an NIT team and the winner just might salvage their season. Having seen most of both teams games, I get the feeling the U players seem to be giving a better effort than Pitt. They at least play some defense. The Pitt defense is as bad as the db’s on the football team were, and ultimately will be the downfall.

Comment by Jimbo 01.13.17 @ 10:46 pm

Opposite of Barnes and Pitt Admin Going Cheap.

link to cbssports.com

Comment by Upittbaseball 01.14.17 @ 7:24 am

UPitt – good article you posted. Shows that Jamie does have coaching talent (which we knew) if he is supported with the right resources.

By the way, I was a fan of Jamie and still am. It was time for a change at Pitt, but Barney botched the process and thus he is gone as well. I’m trying to give Stallings a chance, but I’m not excited about what I’m seeing (yet).

Comment by Erie Express 01.14.17 @ 8:42 am

Thanks for the link UPitt, interesting how others perceive Pitt and their treatment of Jamie.

Amen Erie.

Comment by wally 01.14.17 @ 9:00 am

Erie and Wally – I agree. The time was right for Jamie only if you gave him everything to succeed. The time was right only if you have a credible coach on board or recruited who you knew was better. Pitt didn’t do the first and Herman is a cheap big head entitled asshole. Should of gave Jamie the 550k they paid to move Hermans fat ass and the recruiter
Fee and moving his 11 wives BYU Sweatshirts across the US and Closing Costs they paid for 15 months of work.

Comment by Upittbaseball 01.14.17 @ 9:08 am

Agreed also Erie. Time for a change for Dixon and for Pitt and I’ve always liked Dixon. UPitt – I think that article is a shared opinion across the country and on the mark. Back to football for a minute, Wondering though why there was no comment on the mustard stained sweartshirt worn by Clemson’s coach. Maybe clothes don’t matter so much if you can coach??? Anyone know where we are with OC?

Comment by AnotherClancyrebound 01.14.17 @ 10:21 am

AnotherClancyrebound – like the name by the way – the OC hire seems to be delayed for numerous reasons, one is that we have no AD either. The appointed stand in AD (retired Pitt administrator Randy Juhl) does not assume the position of “acting AD” until Friday, January 20th.

So, there are reports that Sir Patrick G does not want to hire nor negotiate with a potential OC and Duzz does not have authority to spend Pitt’s money on the OC he would prefer.

So we Pitt fans wait and we wait and we wait…with no real news on the subject while other schools hire and promote daily.

Comment by Erie Express 01.14.17 @ 11:19 am

Jamie is 13-3 because he still schedules the way he did at Pitt…to accumulate wins. Look at his schedule:

link to espn.com

From shunkhead to genius merely by changing schools. Interesting…

Comment by Jackagain 01.14.17 @ 11:58 am

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