This really was more the game you could expect from these teams. Neither team truly getting too far ahead of the other. Runs by one team answered quickly. Hard battles for the ball. Tough play, clutch shots. Dare I say, a classic. Well, maybe not quite, but a damn good game.
Whichever team that won this game was going to feel much better about what they can do in the tournament, while the loser would have a sinking feeling in their gut.
Pitt, having won the game, has to feel really, really good. Not only did they hold McNamara and Warrick, relatively in check — 28 points (9-31 shooting), 10 assists and only 5 rebounds between them — but they came away with the win when Syracuse had others stepping up this game.
Syracuse has to be frustrated. They got a career game from McCroskey off the bench, 18 points and 7 rebounds. He was the only Syracuse player shooting well. He kept Syracuse in the game in the first half. They got a solid effort from Forth who crashed the boards well, to get offensive rebounds and put backs. He finished with 10 rebounds and 7 points mostly in the second half. Even Roberts managed to contribute 9 points primarily from just standing by the basket after a turnover was forced, receiving the pass and slamming it home. Still, that was 9 points and high percentage shooting is never wrong.
Syracuse, though, just doesn’t scare anyone with their outside shooting aside from McNamara. Edelin, Nichols and Watkins had nothing. McNamara didn’t have a good shooting night. Yes, he’s gutty and tough to play on a sprained ankle. And while he did his best to make up for it on defense and assists, Syracuse can’t win with him going only 5-21. They definitely couldn’t win with Warrick not having a good game. Warrick went only 4-10 shooting. He drew the contact, getting the fouls, but not in the act of shooting, and Pitt’s defense kept him as a non-factor at the end of the game when any foul would send him to the line.
For Pitt, this game was won by their starters. Specifically Troutman, Taft and Krauser.
Taft ended up with 14 points (6-8 shooting and 2 FTs) and 10 rebounds. He was remarkably steady in the game. 6 points (3-4) and 4 rebounds in the first half, and 8 points (3-4) and 6 rebounds in the second half. So, his performance could be overlooked.
Troutman’s stat line also looks even from the first half to the second. 9 points (1-1 and 7-10 FT) and 6 rebounds in the first half, 11 points (1-1 and 9-10 FT) and 4 rebounds in the second. Two things stand out for Troutman in the second half, 0 turnovers after 3 in the first half and making 4 straight free throws in the final 19 seconds to help put the game away for Pitt. Troutman was just amazing at the line. 80% shooting, and always trying to get the shot as he was being hit.
Krauser, once more may end up with more attention from the highlight machine, because Krauser did everything in the clutch. At the 6:58 mark, Pitt was down 58-50. Krauser at that point had 6 points, shooting 2-10, 4 assists and 4 turnovers. Krauser in the final stretch went 3-3 on 3 point shots, 2 coming deep at the top of the key, had an assist and 2 steals. Krauser accounted for half of Pitt’s points as Pitt blew past Syracuse at the end outscoring them 18-6.
Graves played a good game. He was decent on defense (taking a charge from McNamara) and seemed to find his shot, scoring 9 points on 3-6 shooting. Kendall played well with 5 points and 4 rebounds. He didn’t force his shot except for maybe one 3-point attempt. Played solid perimeter to inside defense.
The bench wasn’t much of a factor for Pitt. Ramon didn’t have the shooting touch, going only 1-7. His defense and passing, however, were solid. He finished with 5 assists and only 1 turnover. Gray didn’t have a good game. He couldn’t finish shots, 0-4 shooting, and never found the flow of the game. Benjamin and DeGroat were barely in the game. McCarroll was just abused during his time.
The style of Pitt’s play changed from the 1st to 2nd half. Pitt was much more aggressive in the first half. This led to a lot more rebounds 26-14 rebounding edge, but also had Pitt being sloppy with the basketball — 13 turnovers.
In the second half, Pitt was much better about taking care of the ball, only 5 more turnovers. Pitt also shifted to the 2-3 zone more, limiting rebound opportunities (not to mention out of position to box out) and had only 15 boards while Syracuse grabbed 18. Pitt shot much better in the second half, and throughout the game were very patient about passing the ball looking and probing for an opening or the open man.
Odd thing, just before Pitt came back in the last 7 minutes, they showed the group of girls Pat nicknamed as “Chevy’s Bevy” in attendance at the game as ESPN came out of the timeout. They even had road tank-shirts (Blue rather than white). Great timing to find the girls. Pat even called me after the game because he had noticed that as well.
