7pm ESPN2.
Okay, this is possibly the worst Duke team defensively under Mike Krzyzewski. It is also, quite possibly the best offensive team he’s ever had. Frankly, Duke has just overwhelmed opponents on offense.
Pitt, for all the love other coaches give Kevin Stallings for his skills regarding offenses, is not a good offense. In no small part to the problem of turnovers at a ridiculous rate. Something that destroys any offensive rhythm and efficiency.
When Krzyzewski was asked if Pitt (8-8, 0-3 ACC) is improving in Stallings’ second season, he countered with this assessment:
“They are a building team. You’re talking about building a program. That’s what (Stallings) is doing. Kevin is an outstanding coach. He knows how to build programs.”
Of the 12 Pitt players who have scored points, seven are freshmen.
“These guys are getting playing time,” Krzyzewski said. “They play well together. I see them as a building program and a good one. They can shoot the ball, and they seem to have real good chemistry.”
Hard to shoot the ball when you keep losing your grip on it, and you are a team that doesn’t get many second-chance scoring opportunities.
Pitt isn’t great on defense, but they aren’t absolutely terrible. That’s the problem. Duke and Pitt are relatively close on defense. Duke even has so many injuries to their front court that Pitt could consider the front court match-ups and rebounding relatively close.
But Duke’s offense is just vastly superior. The talent is obvious.
Pitt can beat Duke at the Pete. But the team needs to have one of its cleanest games and their shots have to be going early and often.
This team seems to give up at least one open shot on every possession by the opposition down the floor.
And tonight they (Pitt) are stone cold, shooting 1-9 from the three point line.
And before anyone gets in a tizzy over that “critical take” comment, Reed says as much. It’s his opinion and I try to respect it … It’s his POV after all. A critical take will, by it’s very nature, draw a more critical crowd, however.
Stallings will be gone soon enough for those waiting … it’s not going to happen in season, however … and it wasn’t going to happen in the first couple weeks of when Heather was hired (late March) … which, btw, would have already been late in the finding a coach game. So, please stop with that absurdity.
KenPom has Pitt winning one game in the ACC. Most of us, before the season started, realized there was a chance at a winless conference schedule. At this point it is what it is. Let’s not act surprised when a Duke team that will most likely end up in the Final 4 beats a team starting 5 unheralded freshmen pretty soundly.
If you like Pitt basketball … watch and support the kids. If not, don’t watch. Stallings isn’t going anywhere for at least the next 60 days. Wait until Stallings is fired, or leaves on his own accord, and then come back and bitch about the next coach we hire … until we get annoyed and ask you to stop 🙂
The men’s basketball team lost it’s 4th ACC game last night to post an 0-4 record. Each loss was by 14 or more points, with last night a whopping 35 and the blue devils could have beat us by 50 if they wanted to.
Those are facts I’m pointing out, not trying to be negative or talk trash. It is hard to get excited and get positive when you know how the KS hiring went down. Nothing about his hiring is inspiring nor brings light to positive impressions of the school I cherish and am proud to be a graduate of.
I wish I had the answer and influence to make my ideas fly at Pitt.
But I don’t – so why bother explaining them to you.
As former AD Barnes said to Pitt fans – “it’s just a game – live above the noise”. (Noise equals Pitt fans)
I’ll be quiet now…
She’s hired very good coaches in soccer, and wrestling..our volleyball program is trending up, we all love coach duzz
Her first big coaching move will be how she handles this basketball team, and I don’t blame her at all for waiting and wanting to get it right…
I’d love to here some suggestions on who you guys want for a head coach…we are now t getting either of the miller boys, Brandon Knight still hasn’t proved himself as a coach or a recruiter, so I’d like to hear who you guys think we could get
Hey go as often as I can, the tickets are way overpriced right now, they need to be more affordadable for the fickle pitt fans
Your standards are sick low. You work at Penn Dot or some Government agency?
If they don’t matter, they don’t matter…period. Quit bringing them up.
In ACC and SEC Southern Schools Baseball Matters b/c it makes money.
But I digress.
If I ranked Football 1-10 I give it a 5.5
Basketball a 1
3 turnovers