Not that it was surprising that Pitt pounded the NAIA team. Even if they were the preseason 12th ranked team in that level. Of course, considering Syracuse and LeMoyne last year, I suppose nothing should be taken for granted.
Both locals focused on two players who will compete for time at the small forward spot. Oddly only one actually played. Lamar Patterson tweaked his ankle in practice, so he was scratched from the game. But he is still expected to be a significant contributor.
Brown and Moore happen to be Patterson’s competition at small forward, but don’t eliminate Patterson from consideration for playing time based on his modest athletic ability. Patterson, a 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman from Lancaster, has the types of skills coach Jamie Dixon covets.
Patterson is versatile, smart and a gifted passer, three things that make him a candidate to crack the rotation.
“He has a great feel for the game,” Dixon said. “He is playing really well.”
That’s a tough time to take the injury. It will make getting minutes for him a little harder. As long as he plays strong defense, though, he will get some opportunities.
J.J. Moore — or Jonathan if he doesn’t want to be mixed up with J.J. Richardson — had a very good debut.
In the first action of his collegiate career, Moore scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half in Pitt’s 104-62 victory over Northwood (Fla.) University in an exhibition game at Petersen Events Center yesterday afternoon.
Moore, known more for his slashing moves and athleticism, shot 5 of 8 from the field and made three 3-pointers. He also scored on a jumper from the top of the key and a driving finger roll.
“In the first half, I was a little shaky and a little nervous,” Moore said. “When I first got in, I shot a quick shot and that just threw me off. I just stayed patient. In the second half, I got my motor going. My teammates told me to just keep my composure and play like I usually play.”
Northwood coach Rollie Massimino, the former longtime Villanova coach, was impressed.
“I watched him in practice and he was really making a lot of dunks,” he said. “I didn’t think he could shoot the ball like that.”
Moore said all the right things, including mentioning that he wants to focus on defense.
Ray Mernagh was at the exhibition and came away highly enthusiastic about Talib Zanna.
Zanna once again played with the intention of proving that the power forward spot should be his. He rebounded well (9) while scoring 13 points on 5-7 shooting in 22 minutes. Zanna runs the floor far better than any Pitt big in years — he’s incredibly fast for 6?9 when he turns it on. Zanna hasn’t really broken out his 12-foot short corner jumper yet but he has it (he missed the only one he took yesterday). NBE has loved Zanna since we saw him go head up with three highly rated prospects during his days at Bishop McNamara HS in Maryland (remember this piece? Zanna Impressive in CRC Event). Zanna is the perfect example of using a redshirt properly. Far from a project last year, Pittsburgh could have used him some, but it was in both the players and programs best interest to let him get acclimated. Now they have a ready-to-play guy for the next however many years. For those “wowed” by Zanna’s “startling” improvement and thinking he’s another under the radar kid in the mold of Aaron Gray or Gary McGhee, you’re wrong. Zanna was a highly rated recruit (HoopScoop had him 49 while Scout had him in the top 70) and a 1st Team all-Met selection his senior season in DC. We’re talking about a kid with athleticism plus skill here. He’s certainly improved in his year at Pitt but no more than anyone tuned into the kids game expected.
Good points.
Rollie Massimino came away very impressed with Pitt and hoped his own team learned from it.
“We’re as big as they are,” the coach said. “But we’re not as tough as they are.”
Massimino said Pitt was in a teaching mode defensively, and he hopes his Seahawks were paying attention.
“(They) collaborate on the ball,” he said. “Whoever is driving the ball, (the other players) help each other and they recover extremely well. I told my kids at halftime that we don’t do that. (Pitt) drove the ball beyond us, we just stood around.”
Just one more exhibition and then the season begins next Monday against an A-10 giant kiler.
