I’ve written at least once this week, that I don’t think Pitt will look past Maryland. If for no other reason than the amount of friends and family that the players will have at the game. Whether it turns out those players press and try to do too much because of said friends and family are in attendance is something entirely different.
Coach Dixon doesn’t seem to be pushing that warning in public, either. Instead talking about the focus they have shown.
He said one of the things that has impressed him the most about this team is, despite having five new players (four freshman and a transfer) playing large roles, the Panthers have been mature and task-oriented and he doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.
“We have been a very focused group, we have been able to key on the next opponent,” Dixon said.
“I think the guys will be prepared and know what to do, but we have to execute as well. We’re not going to be surprised by things and we should have a better handle on where they are trying to score from and how they are trying to attack us.”
I will be curious about the crowd at College Park. This has been a disappointing season so far, and they aren’t playing one of their old foes one last time before heading to the Big Ten.
How disappointing? When one of the headlines about the team/game tonight is “As their season spirals down, Terps know they need to toughen up.”
“We definitely need to play with more intensity, I think,” sophomore forward Jake Layman said after practice Friday. “We do have to play with a chip on our shoulder, we do have to come into every game like this could be the breaking point in our season.”
Said junior guard Dez Wells: “It’s a cliche, but it’s something you can’t teach. Chip on your shoulder, back against the wall, same thing, but we definitely need to come out. We just need to come out … ready to compete.”
After the loss to N.C. State, junior forward Evan Smotrycz said the Terps were “too talented” to play the way they did, particularly in the second half, when they surrendered an 11-point lead amid a flurry of quick and questionable shots.
Asked Friday whether he agreed with Smotrycz’s assessment, Turgeon said: “I don’t know if we’re too good. I think we’re too impatient, too immature, too selfish. When things go bad, we try to do it on our own. … We’ll see how committed they are to being successful.”
Ouch.
Pitt’s point of emphasis for tonight is better defense on the perimeter.
Reinforcing his message from the first game, Dixon instructed his players this week to concentrate on stopping Maryland’s 3-point shooters in Saturday’s 6 p.m. rematch at Comcast Center.
Maryland forward Evan Smotrycz, in particular, concerns Dixon after the junior forward hit 4 of his 11 3-point attempts at Pitt.
Dixon, however, is confident the No. 20 Panthers (17-2, 5-1) will defend better in their second meeting against Maryland.
The Terrapins (11-8, 3-3) are among four teams Pitt will face twice in its inaugural ACC campaign, along with Syracuse (Feb. 12), N.C. State (March 3) and Clemson (March 8).
“Guarding the 3 is a main priority for us,” Dixon said. “(Maryland’s) dangerous because of the way they shoot the ball. I think I said after the game about them shooting 3s, our guys being surprised by some of their bigger guys. Smotrycz shot a couple of 3s early.
“Our younger guys, we kept drilling them, talking, reinforcing they’re going to shoot it from 3, they’re going to shoot it from deep, guarded, unguarded. Hopefully, we’re a better defensive team now than we were then.”
Seems sound. But Maryland’s inconsistency this season with their outside shot appears to have Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon thinking more about the interior.
One of the few positives in Monday’s loss at North Carolina State came in the first half, when Turgeon went to a more traditional lineup that featured a power forward and center.
Though neither junior forward Jon Graham (Calvert Hall) or freshman center Damonte Dodd are thought of as scorers, both were Monday, combining for 10 points in 27 minutes.
They also each had four rebounds, with the 6-foot-10 Dodd adding a blocked shot. On top of that, sophomore forward Charles Mitchell collected a career-high 18 rebounds.
Given the size Pittsburgh presents with 6-9, 230-pound center Talib Zanna and 6-8, 245-pound Michael Young, look for the Terps to go with a big lineup at times Saturday.
“I did think our bigger lineup was better” against N.C. State, Turgeon said Friday. “I was encouraged with our rebounding and physicality with the big lineup. We can play both ways.”
The Terps held their own in rebounding against Pitt. We will see if the Maryland players on the court can actually go with a gameplan of attacking inside. Or will they fall into their own habits of shooting jumpers.
Further in the article is Turgeon’s frustration with the point guard play he has been getting. Especially defensively.
I think this team has the capacity to play better in any rematch, which will be necessary to beat MD in their place. Let’s Go Pitt!
In addition to all the signs of this being a trap game for Pitt, Maryland is returning home after an embarrassment and should be very focused. With all things being equal, Pitt is certainly a better team but that is why they play the game
That was the best “team effort” that I think that I’ve ever witnessed from the Panthers. Remember that Clemson was no slouch on defending the basket, but Pitt was just too damn efficient in their patience and discipline to be denied. By the game’s end it was obvious that the Tigers simply had no answer for what Pitt was doing to their defensive efforts.
If Pitt continues to play that type of “team” BB, this game is another no contest against the Terrapins. If Pitt just plays the same unselfish BB tonight we’ll be just fine.
Come on Peterson, do something right for a change with the Heinz field venue, will ya???
pitt logo.jpg (file://TOMRICHARDS-PC/Users/Tom%20Richards/Pictures/pitt%20logo.jpg)
Syracuse over Miami (Orangemen should get a road win)
Texas Tech over Oklahoma (TTU may may get a home win over a top 25 team)
Loyola Marymount over St. Mary’s (Not likely)
Howard over Florida A&M (Not likely)
Savannah State over Hampton (Should be close)
Duquesne over St. Bonaventure (Dukes played St. Louis close. Could they pull an upset against the Bonnies?)
Lehigh over Lafayette (Lehigh should get the win)
Youngstown State over Wright State (YSU at home)
Cal Poly over California Riverside (Cal Poly should get a road win)
Fresno State over UNLV (Not likely)
And, of course, Pitt over MD (I expect Pitt to cover)
Now does Conner have a chance to make it as a Running Back in the NFL… that’s a BIG Question. Unless he’s able to play Full Back like Hynoski… which I doubt… Defense is probably a better bet.
But who knows?
Still what you have with Conner going into next year is a PROVEN COMMODITY.
An improved Offensive Line might make it possible for Conner to pick up right where he left off.
First off, the University leases that facility, so Pitt’s administration pretty damn well should demand some say about the field conditions and appearance during the time that the lease is in effect. Secondly, who’s “painting over” anything? If you bothered to read my post, I suggested full scale turf replacement for each game. How difficult could it be to replace a few square yards of sod, times three, to obtain a look at midfield and downfield for the ACC logos that is appropriate for, televised games especially, of a major college football program in the ACC.
For Christ’s sake, the ground crew replaced the entire field with new sod towards the end of the season at Heinz Field last year. So don’t tell me it can’t be accomplished, that’s just BS.
2nd, the Steelers never get too fancy with the logo or endzone until after Pitt’s season is over. This is grass field that can’t be painted over like the artificial ones.
BTW, do you know that Pitt’s lockerroom is larger than Stillers? I’ve been in both and can verify it.
Despite the rampant disagreement on this site, I am sticking to my thesis:
This group of freshmen is VERY talented and is capable of more if given the opportunity. Minutes, shots, opportunity given to them now will pay off big time in March.
Your point is?
You agree that the sod can be replaced, it is done routinely on an annual basis for the whole field. I’m not concerned about touching the endzones at all, so no issues there. And it’s nice that Pitt has a larger locker room than the Steelers, but how does that become relevant in a discussion about sod replacement for Pitt games at Heinz Field?.
Hail to Pitt!!!!!!
I rewound that hit on the UVA safety about five times.
Connor is a beast. Wait till he actually gets into the weight room. I bet he plays both ways next year, at least Defense on passing downs.
Heinz Field was about 270 million dollars.
The Steelers (and I’m a Steeler fan too), paid about 57 million. That’s about 20% give or take a few million.
Through in the 30 million Heinz name license if you want, if that went into it???
That’s a little over 30% of the cost. The other 70% or so?? The taxpayers of the 7 country or so “region”.
University of Pittsburgh, is one of the biggest, if not the biggest employer in the “region”.
You don’t ask, you tell them!!
They put wood down over the whole field when concerts come to town. They can’t change out a bit of field turf.
For cryin’ out loud, they played a hockey game there, they can’t change the turf 6 times a year??
Bullshit.
My apology in advance if that isn’t the case.
If that’s not the case, I welcome any ground crew people, to certainly correct me and tell us why.
It can’t be that difficult. You tube any Miami Dolphins game, and any Miami Hurricanes game.
You will notice, that the “U” had a beautiful, huge “U” on their field, had the “ACC” markings, and the end zones said “Hurricanes” when they played.
And no, they didn’t spray paint green over aqua.
It was one of the nicest college football fields of the year, and it made the whole experience, at a pro stadium, that they share, into almost a total college football experience.
I’ve heard all of the excuses too. It’s the field, it’s the Steelers, it’s the weather, it’s this and it’s that. Just friggin’ do it.
