Let’s see, last week Pitt made it into the ESPN.com Power 16 at #11.
Don’t discount Pitt’s win last night at Duquesne. The Dukes are more than competitive for the first time in years and the Panthers were pushed to the limit. I’m looking forward to seeing Pitt against the real “Duke” on Dec. 20 in NYC.
In the individual rankings, Pitt was ranked as high as #8 and unranked in a couple other ballots.
Sam Young got a puff piece from Jeff Goodman at FoxSports.com.
“The kid just works so hard,” Panthers coach Jamie Dixon said. “He’s earned everything he’s gotten.
“I have never seen a guy be so determined to be good a player,” added Pittsburgh assistant and former Panthers player Orlando Antigua. “We had to tell him to stop working out and let his body rest this past year. We are now seeing the results of his sweat equity.”
Pitt is still feeling pretty good about winning in Washington.
When officials finally waved off Justin Dentmon’s basket at the buzzer and their 75-74 victory at Washington became official Saturday, the Panthers knew this much:
It was one to celebrate.
“You would have thought we won a championship or something,” Pitt junior point guard Levance Fields said. “It was important because it’s a big win for us just because it’s early in the season, it’s a road win against a great opponent and a great conference this year. Everybody was excited.
“It was a great experience for us.”
Not only did Pitt (9-0) snap Washington’s 31-game winning streak against non-conference opponents at Bank of America Arena, but the Panthers showed signs of maturity in overcoming a halftime deficit by adjusting their play.
Apparently Coach Dixon was rather blunt to the team in halftime, in addition to the adjustments.
After watching his team play its worst half of basketball this season, Pitt coach Jamie Dixon wanted to let his team know that their performance was not acceptable.
The half was uncharacteristic of a Pitt team. The Panthers gave up 37 points and allowed Washington’s top 3-point shooter, Ryan Appleby, to get free for four 3-pointers. The Huskies made six as a team. In addition, the normally efficient offense was stagnant as the Panthers missed seven of their first 25 shots from the field.
“He came in with all the fire he had,” freshman center DeJuan Blair said.
Rarely does a coach raising his voice solve a team’s problems, but the tongue-lashing, coupled with some keen second-half adjustments, led to a fantastic final 20 minutes in which the Panthers not only stormed back for a 75-74 victory, but firmly put in place an important building block in the development of the team.
I read that and thought a little of Bull Durham where Crash Davis reminds the manager that they are children, and they need to be scared.
Pitt would have been in a bigger hole, that they might not have gotten out of, if Levance Fields hadn’t been hot in the first half. He kept Pitt in it until things got going for the team in the second half.
Jon Baldwin will announce his decision in a press conference this afternoon, according to the Trib. Down to Pitt, Miami and Florida with Pitt being the rumored frontrunner.
Buying season tickets today!
Thats great for Pitt.
Baldwin has the talent to be unbelievable.. He is absolutely Nasty good… Williams looks like he may be real nice. he seems to have great hands.. Porter has alot of talent..
Im not sold on kinder.. He may have been a product of Tyler Palko throwing alot. He isnt bad though.
This offense will be nasty. We just need to get AJ Alexander in there!
ps. throw in cam saddler as a slot reciever and you add great speed and quickness..
Marcus sales will commit too!
Now if stoudt leaves for Ohio State it really wont matter.. I mean ya its a loss, but as you guys that are regulars might have figured out I really think sunseri is the real deal!
Ironhead.. This class is his best as far as talented players, or will be… it doesnt have the numbers some of his classes have had though. i mean we are getting to the point where we are turning down three star guys that at one time we would have been dying to have..
Idk where wanny is getting all his scholarships though.. some guys are going to have to leave
My picks are looking pretty good now boys! (not sure how hard it is to predict shanahan, tino, baldwin, and cross committing though)
Smith could be history at that position, maybe they’ll convert him or release him from his scholarship to free one up. Does Stull still have 2 years left?
Your statement “WOW!!! I can’t remember a week with sooo many top recruits picking Pitt!!! ” pretty much sums it up. Remember back when we would get one great player for the whole class and would flip head over heals (i.e. Palko). We always talk of the past. I would like to know when we had three stellar recruiting classes in a row.
It appears we may have two more from Central following Tino Sunseri.
Adam, what is the count on scholarships again?
You don’t need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin’
So just go buy your tickets, and just thank the Wanny…
Rivals seems to think we should get about 5 more guys and put us at 18.
it seems Houser, Hale, and holley are locks… Alexander should get one.. Sales should get one too…
Maggitt, Vaughn, Tags, and some other guys are sort of on the outside looking in…
Pitt will try to free up a spot incase someone wants to switch schools too.
Expect some greyshirts to be given out.. Maggitt may get a greyshirt offer.. Manny could get a greyshirt too, because of his injury. Stoudt may decommit if a big ten team offers him. Ohio State may offer if pryor doesnt commit, and it doesnt look like he will… Michigan State is a team that could offer Stoudt too.
it is going to be a pretty big chore to try to free up the space, but expect 18 and 19 at tops…
if pryor for some reason brings Pitt back on his list he is a guy that will get one for sure..
Frank,
I understand. i dont expect alot of guys to agree with me on this one. he was a pre season all american. You may be right on kinder, but my gut… (what a bad way to decide how good a player is) is a little nervous.. Especially with a season ending injury..
Now Mustakas.. i definitely like Mustakas!
All I’m finding is this..
2008
Sept. 13 Central Florida
Sept. 20 Iowa
Oct. 18 at Navy
Nov. 1 at Notre Dame
Big East
Home: Louisville, Rutgers, West Virginia
Away: Cincinnati, Connecticut, South Florida, Syracuse
but pitt’s website doesnt say anything yet.
link to pittsburghpanthers.cstv.com
i am sooo excited for next season, btw, did anyone see the letter to the trib review?
link to pittsburghlive.com
makes me think someone at penn state has some pull at the trib…. maybe local guys dont want to play for a coach that is closer to death than evel knievel…. too soon?
All of this recruiting gets me so excited for next year. BALWIN IF FREAKIN 6’6″. Saddler started the avalanche. Hopefully Pryor will finish it.
Hail to Pitt boys! 2008 was always supposed to be the year!
My money is on Cross to be the QB. The guy can run like a deer, move around during a blitz, and throw for 50+ yards with the flick of a wrist. The JC experience is huge – just check out his highlights on rivals. We didn’t send half the coaches to Kansas for a backup. Cross and Stull are the favorites to start. Bostick could redshirt but probably won’t. The two QB recruits will definately redshirt (Stoudt may go somewhere else).
Did I mention our punt and kickoff return game will create fireworks with Saddler out there next year?
I heard that Joe Pa was so shocked by our recruiting news that he shit his pants again.
We’ll love you forever!
