Other than the fact that this is a young, talented team with plenty of potential it is hard to read too much into the season so far. Being 7-0 after taking apart Penn State, is not too surprising. Even going into the season that wasn’t unexpected. It has been the way Pitt has absolutely crushed, dominated and decimated Auburn and Penn State that has been eye-opening. Yes, neither team is particularly good — in fact they are very bad — but they are still schools from major conferences.
When the non-con was announced, I noted that the RPI of the teams Pitt would play was up from the previous year based on the end of last year’s RPI. It wasn’t the most difficult schedule but it was some progress. I especially didn’t mind this year, because if there was a season where a less strenuous, trying non-con was needed for Pitt, this would be the year. With all the new players and new starters to learn what the team could do. But since Pitt is undefeated and has had a history of a weak non-con since gaining national prominence in the last 5 years, most comments about the team’s start have focused on the weak schedule (Insider Subs.).
Pitt coach Jamie Dixon isn’t apologizing for the schedule. He anticipated when he signed up to play Auburn and Penn State that both programs would be at a higher level. Still, the Panthers smoked both “high-major” teams and haven’t really been tested yet. The Panthers play Vermont and Coppin State at home before likely finding out just how good they are when they play at South Carolina on Dec. 28 — their first road game of the season — and then against Wisconsin on Dec. 31. The Panthers are undefeated, unranked, and way off the national radar.
Well not “way off.” They are receiving votes in the polls (translating to #29 in the Coaches and AP. That feels about right given the overall teams played and being unranked going into the season. Assuming Pitt wins its next 2 games (Vermont and Coppin St.) the team will likely be just outside of the top-25. They will then face South Carolina and Wisconsin. That will determine whether they crack the rankings or not.
As Joe Starkey points out, this Pitt team is “intriguing” because of the potential. It is also hard to argue with these observations.
Young, a 6-foot-6 freshman forward, will be starting by the middle of the Big East season, if not sooner.
Pitt won’t be an easy team to scout, as Dixon can use multiple lineups. His biggest challenge will be to find some rhythm using so many players – as many as nine or 10 could see double-digit minutes — and to avoid a swell of discontentment among those who feel they’re not playing enough.
Krauser has shot more 3-pointers (48) than 2-pointers (40) and is making them at a 42-percent clip. Not having to endure a beating bringing the ball upcourt should improve his accuracy.
Seven-foot center Aaron Gray, who had his fifth double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) will equal or surpass Chris Taft’s averages of 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season.
Pitt’s greatest vulnerability is its interior defense. Gray and Levon Kendall will be targeted once the Big East season begins. How they — and reserve Tyrell Biggs — respond will go a long way toward determining whether Krauser’s predictions come true.
Carl Krauser wants the team and the fans to have high expectations.
After Saturday’s game before a room full of reporters, guard Carl Krauser invoked the words “Big East championship” and “Sweet 16.” And he wasn’t referring to the 2003-04 team. Krauser has those aspirations for this team.
Afterward, outside the Pitt locker room, Krauser explained the method to his madness. He believes 100 percent in what he said, but he also wants the younger players around him this season to understand the standards Pitt teams of the recent past have set.
“Sometimes you really have to put it out there,” Krauser said. “This is my last year. I’m going to compete as hard as I can every game. That’s my goal. We all have the same goals. We’re just going to go out there and do everything I said.”
Right now, the inexperienced Panthers are playing follow the leader. Krauser, embracing his role as elder statesman , played perhaps his best game of the season against Penn State, with 20 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. He is averaging 17.1 points per game and is shooting 41.7 percent from 3-point range. He has taken in stride the move from point guard to shooting guard.
“He’s an unselfish guy,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. “He’s a team guy. I can say it over and over again. We’ve had [12] 20-win seasons in the last 75 years. He’s been here for four of them. Ever since he’s gotten here, we’ve won. All he wants to do is win.”
I still think this team will end up on the bubble for the NCAA this season. This is just a very young team that is still figuring things out.
