If you think I’m going to bitch about Pitt managing to get a 1 point win on a trip to the Pacific Northwest against a team with potential and just doesn’t lose at home — especially in non-con games — then you are crazy. Washington may not be a great team, or even a ranked team. They are, however, a good team and got back their sharp-shooting 3-point threat in Ryan Appleby who helps stretch any defense to free up Brockman and their front court.
There was a bit of deja vu in watching Washington when they would play their game. Especially watching Brockman kick it out on a double team to an open shooter on the perimeter. Thankfully Pitt was able to take them out of that game in the second half by getting them to play too fast.
The first half was painful. It simply looked like Blair, Young and Biggs were just tossing the ball up around the basket. Not actually taking shots. Way too many wild shots, by getting trapped too far under the hoop and looking for calls to bail them out. I’m not complaining about the officials. I think they had it right not to call those. Slightly more personal fouls may have been called on Pitt (16-13), but Pitt still got to the line more (20 to 10 on attempts).
Late in the first and through most of the second half, Pitt played and shot a lot better. Their selection improved and they really worked the ball better to the open man — even as they increased the tempo. The pace/tempo by Pitt to this point has been great to watch. Not because they speed it up, but because so far they have shown an ability to play at any pace — when they can’t impose their own on the opposition.
As bad as Fields played in the Duquesne game, he was excellent in this one. He shot well and made a lot of good decisions. Ramon is definitely missing the old style and having Aaron Gray to free him up for spot-up threes. He’s still struggling with that change.
Size inside is going to be a problem. Now, not many teams can put in as many big guys as Washington did, but when they did, Pitt was getting outrebounded badly.
OT – how in the hell has seton hall fallen so far as to lose to PSU?
The last few weeks have been good for Pitt – we haven’t lost a game in either sport since November 24th (USF), got a major upset in football, picked up a 4 and a 3 star recruit, and won a couple of games (including a tough OOC game) in bball to stay undefeated until next week…i haven’t been this happy with Pitt in quite a while. Now lets beat OSU and Duke, and get some of those recruits here this weekend to commit, keep this thing rolling.
Hail to Pitt.
“I can’t understand how people seem to forget Dave Wannstedt’s coaching — his team beats a totally overrated West Virginia team, in a totally overated conference, in a game that Pitt had nothing to lose.
Remember, in 2005, Wannstedt punting on essentially third down, with a 5-yard penalty against West Virginia, at midfield and declining the penalty, not affording his team an opportunity to make a play, make a first down or even score? That game meant something. If Pitt would have won that game, they would have went to a bowl game; last weekend’s game was a nothing-to-lose game.
I do not believe Pitt would have went for it on fourth down once — let alone three times — if they had something to lose. It is easier to coach when no one expects you to win, and you have absolutely nothing to lose.
Now, the “Joe Isuzu” of college football coaches has his spin machine revved up even better than Hillary Clinton’s propaganda machine. I just don’t get it. Five-star wide receiver recruit Dorin Dickerson is playing linebacker, while they have no receivers to throw to.
It appears the young recruits in Western Pennsylvania can’t see the truth — three seasons with very weak non-conference schedules, and losing to the likes of Connecticut two years in a row and the smaller Navy. Pitt has yet to win seven games in a year or be invited to play in a bowl game — not even the International Bowl in sunny Toronto.
Just like the line in the musical “Man Of La Mancha,” I say to all local recruits, expecially five-star recruit Lucus Nix, “look in the mirror of reality and behold things as they truly are.” Think before you leap. I bet Dickerson is regretting his decision, but I guess the Panthers got his tongue. I wonder if LeSean McCoy believed he would be home for the holidays this year?
John B. Bloom
Elrama”
I guess some hoopie is still pissed off over 13-9. Let me be the first to say go fuck yourself asshole.
To quote gundy, the whole paper is garbage, and the editor that let that shit come out is garbage too. Why waste the ink unless you’re trying to lose what few readers you have left.
BS from State Penn U
When he takes that link down, feel free to find it cached at: link to 64.233.169.104
This could be one of the most memorable weekends of the year for the City of Pittsburgh. GO Steelers! BEAT The Cheaters! GO PITT! BEAT The Haters!
It didn’t help that Kinder was knocked out for the year with an ACL tear, and that Pitt (aside from Scott Mckillop,) was VERY thin at LB beginning of the season.
This PSU grad John Bloom needs to look in the mirror when talking about 5 star recruits not making a large impact.
Derrick Williams anyone?
Atleast Wannstedt coaches, unlike Joe “Best Mascot in Football” Paterno, stalking the sidelines .
[EDITED OUT. No. No. No. No. No. That\’s unacceptable on this site.]
He has a PO Box because he lives in a cave with the rest of the PSU \”roaches\”.
Even outside the football team/crime family, PSU’s got a lot to be proud of:
1. They want to play for a program that is obviously on the rise.
2. They want to play for a coach that still has control over his bowels, and one you don’t have to stick a mirror under his nose during each game to make sure he is still breathing. BRAINS!!!!! ARRRRGGGGHHHH
Wanny seems to always make a good impression on the recruits’ families. Can you imagine how uncomfortable a meeting with JoePa must be? Plus, if you have clean carpets, he is probably not the first guy you want visiting your home.
Don’t underestimate #2.
One week away from football and the Penn State contingent has already started another fight, trolled the Trib and had their idiotic halloween costume pics published all over the news.
I’m grateful that I have nothing to do with Penn State Univ. and beyond that I feel sorry for the lot of ’em. In all honesty, I truly feel sorry for them.
You must be young. Reversed Directories have been around for at least 30 years in paper form.
Ht: 6-foot-2
Wt: 204 lbs
Forty: 4.55 secs
Bench max: 250 pounds
Squat max: 385 pounds
Class: 2008 (Junior College – Dec Grad)
Do you think DW and Cav would travel to Kansas to find a back-up QB? No way! Check out the link!
If you look at the highlights of this guy, this is what you’ll see:
1. He’s got experience – and he can hit his 2nd or 3rd option WR.
2. He runs with power – through people as well as can juke people and change direction quickly.
3. He’s got huge arm strength – check out the throw from the back of the end zone as he’s being tackled – the ball goes 50+ yards to an open receiver.
4. When he throws to a WR down the sideline, he puts the ball on their outside shoulder (something Bostick struggled with all season).
5. These highlights will help bring in some of the WRs considering Pitt!
Rivals mentions that Cross talked to Pantherlair today – I’m not a member so I didn’t get to see that – if someone has the info, please let me know what he said.
Hail to Pitt! Penn State Sucks! Joe Pa Shits himself – what an old bastard!
WE BEAT YOU LAST.
If we get Houser and Baldwin to commit soon then our offense will look very attractive considering we have Nix/Jacobson and Pinkston(wish him a speedy recovery) on the OL, as well as Matha. The defense is going to get better. If you put Romeus and Hale on D it would make me happy. Caragein and Sheard will do good next season as well.
Let’s hope Fields gets his act straight so he can play with Berry/Sticky Ricky and Chappel and DeCicco on the secondary. I’m sure I missed others but I can’t think of any right now…sleepy.
Just one fan’s opinion. Take it for what its worth.
