The loss on Saturday to UNC was not anything unexpected. Just because Pitt played them well in Chapel Hill a few weeks prior didn’t mean Pitt was going to pull an upset. UNC has been playing a lot better and Pitt has been… as they have been.
No one seems to have wanted to admit this around the team, but defense and rebounding make a difference. At least until it was absurdly beaten into them.
And led to a post game quote from Jamel Artis that kind of sums up this team:
“Obviously we would have liked to come out with a win and it’s very disappointing. We thought we had a good chance to win, but we didn’t go out and play as hard as we could have. I think we learned how important the defensive side and rebounding are to winning a game.”
Way to figure that out 29 games into the season. I’m sure you will take that lesson to heart with all the games still to play.
UNC has been stronger all season on offensive rebounding, but against Pitt it was taken to a new level. UNC grabbed 24 offensive rebounds in the game and 48 overall. Pitt had just 9 offensive rebounds — which depressingly enough is actually an improvement over the Wake Forest game where they only had 9 — and only 28 total. That UNC was close to having as many offensive boards as Pitt had total rebounds is absurd.
Not that it would have made a difference, but once more Pitt’s 3-point shooting disappeared in the second half. After going 5-12 in the first half, Pitt shot 2-12 in the second. And if you dip back to when UNC made their 10-0 run to put Pitt down by 12 at the half, Pitt had been 5-10 on 3s before that 3-minute bludgeoning by UNC. Pitt missed two 3s in that stretch.
Finishes the regular season on the road. Tomorrow at Georgia Tech and then on Saturday at Virginia. If Pitt doesn’t win one of those games, they will finish the regular season with a losing record. Their first since 1999-2000.
Conner “Lean ‘n Mean” for the Combine.
Put me down for a 4.49 – he appears to be in the BEST shape of his Pitt career.
For us working stiffs, if anyone captures the video of Conner’s combine efforts, please share them with us all.
Predict that R. Shell will clock a 4.6
Prediction – both get selected by Seattle – seems to be the perfect fit for both. IMO
Remember that time when John Wooden said “We lost tonight because these guys won’t listen to me!”? No? I don’t either.
They need two top 50 players between the 2018 and 2019 classes to make this team a legit contender down the road. It’s very much a foundation class and won’t win much on it’s own. Next year will be rough. Very rough.
I’ve seen Aaron Thompson in person 3 times now this season. He is very good. I get to see a lot of great HS ball in my neck of the woods and a lot D1 talent and D1 talent that goes to Duke, UNC, Georgetown etc. He stacks up.
Paul VI is down the road from me. I saw Manigault (same HS) last year as well and, even last year, you could tell Aaron Thompson was the better player. I was thrilled when Pitt offered. Manigault was always going to be a kid who needed to develop. Thompson will be better out of the gate. Probably shouldn’t be starting, even though he will be, but Pitt fans are going to love him. Ice cold competitor. High basketball IQ.
Who would have thought joining the ACC would mean the demise of Pitt Basketball?
At least Football seems to be heading in the right direction. This year will tell us a lot since it is the transition year from Chryst’s to Narduzzi’s recruits.
He had 2 NBA Draft Picks on the same team and couldn’t win a game in the tourney.
“To be able to be talking about the NCAA Tournament — that we’re even mentioned — and talking about being .500 in the greatest year (in ACC history) is a modern miracle and the eighth wonder of the world,” he said. “If you told me that in the summer, you’d have to be checked out.” Stallings said competing in the ACC, which has seven ranked teams in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, has been difficult for Pitt (15-14, 4-12).
Pitt won’t fire KS unless they hire a great AD with a big name…which won’t happen.
A quick builder of programs he is not.
Caretaker/undertaker more likely.
Some autographed and certified, to the first 5000 fans, get kids in the seats early.
Get creative.
3 Stooges running this ?
Pitt basketball should not be watched tonight on TV. But many will because its an abusive relationship.
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“We certainly have some weaknesses. We have some challenges on our roster relative to things that a lot of people have that we don’t…”
Kevin Stallings
Trib Review