Pitt apparently wasn’t messing around last night. They didn’t even let CMU think there was going to be a chance, even in an exhibition game. It was 16-2 Pitt with barely 5 minutes off of the clock. It was such a lopsided affair, that the only thing that seemed worth discussing was who actually started.
Jamie Dixon unveiled a starting five for the first time last night in an exhibition game against Carnegie Mellon. And, while it is far from set in stone, the lineup he started was different from what many had expected.
Dixon started seniors Aaron Gray and Levon Kendall at center and power forward, junior Mike Cook at small forward, senior Antonio Graves at shooting guard and junior Ronald Ramon at point guard in an easy, 103-45 victory against the Tartans at the Petersen Events Center.
Coach Dixon downplayed the whole thing, saying he has no real decisions about the starting lineup for the regular season. He made it very clear that just because a player starts doesn’t mean he will have the most minutes (see, DeGroat, John, 2005-06). Still, the noted that Dixon’s history suggests he favors starting the upperclassmen even if they don’t play too much.
There were plenty of substitutions.
All told, 10 players saw action in the first 10 minutes of the game, and Dixon used seven different lineup combinations in the first 11 minutes. No one played more than 23 minutes. Eight players saw at least 17 minutes of action.
“We spread the minutes out,” Dixon said. “Everybody got to get comfortable out there, which was good. There were a lot of good things out of it, but we’ve got a long way to go.”
Three other players saw at least 10 minutes of action and walk-ons Geoff Rizk (1-1) and Maurice Polen (0-5) each got 5 minutes.
Only thing of any concern was poor 3-point shooting in the 1st half. Still, it was a nice warm-up and no one was injured.
The 3 point shooting does not concern me that much as it should improve with better shot selection.
They did shoot 70% from the foul line but hopefully they can bring that number up because if they can consistently shoot 70%+ during the regular season they will be tough to beat in close games.
I think the players overall have worked their tail off in the off-season. They have seemed to not only make their games better but their conditioning as well. Some have put on muscle and others have lost weight.
I liked how last year when the starters rested the subs came in with hardly any drop-off. With the players making positive strides mentally, skill-wise, and physically they will be tough this year.
Go Pitt!
So, for example, in the scenario below, when Sam Young launches up an ill-advised 3 — which for him, is pretty much any 3 that is not a desperation shot at the end of the half/game — Dixon immediately sits him down for a few minutes.
The players need to know there are consequences for making dumb decisions. If he can enforce some discipline on what is a really freaking talented team, there is no limit to what they can do this year.
that’s all for now…
ps.)is there a way to post pictures in the comments?? i have a fun shot of me and with levon kendall in his pregame warmup sweats!! 🙂
