Everytime I look over the box score from the game this evening. I am just stunned by something different. First it was the fact that the St. John’s team would not have been able to hit water if it fell out of a boat in the first half. 6-29 shooting. Then I see that Pitt could only muster 16 shots in the same half and 39 for the game. Outshot by St. John’s 54-39 for the game. Granted 22 turnovers and being sent to the free throw line 21 times is a contributing factor, but under 40 shot attempts with a shot clock? Wow. The thing was working on their end, right? Pitt may have out rebounded St. John’s 37-31 for the game, but St. John’s got more offensive (18) than defensive rebounds (13), and Pitt only had 12 offensive rebounds.

The bench came up small for the second straight game. Admittedly, it didn’t get a lot of minutes, with Ramon the only player getting double digit minutes (16). Still, in 37 minutes, the bench provided only 2 points (1-5 shooting, 0-2 FT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 turnovers, 1 steal and 1 block.

It was group effort on the turnovers. Yes, Krauser led the way with 7, but Graves had 5, Troutman had 3 and Taft had 2.

Limiting scoring opportunities helps explain what otherwise should be inconceivable. Taft and Troutman only had a combined 19 shots, while making 13. Of course, when only 39 shots are attempted, that is actually a pretty good percentage. Still, when Troutman went 3-4 in the first half and didn’t get a shot off until the 10:27 mark of the second half (admittedly he had 2 turnovers before that to cost him at least one attempt), there was something wrong with the offense and/or the coaching directions.

This team, once more, has a lot of work ahead of itself before the game on Saturday.