A few pieces in the national and local media on Pitt players.
A list of most improved players includes Sam Young.
The Washington, D.C., native was an enigmatic reserve for the Panthers in each of the past two seasons, and was hobbled by tendinitis in each of his knees during the 2006-07 season. But after moving into the starting power forward role this season, Young is vying for both most improved and most valuable player in the Big East. He is fourth in the league in scoring with 18.1 points per game and averages 7.0 rebounds. Once known only for his rim-shaking dunks, Young has expanded his game. He is shooting 43.1 percent (25-for-58) on 3-pointers after making only 17 in his first two college seasons combined. Young has kept the Panthers in the Big East race after they lost guard Levance Fields and small forward Mike Cook to injuries.
Young also got a piece the other day focusing on his relationship with his younger brother.
DeJuan Blair was listed in another piece on top freshmen not named Love, Mayo, Beasley, Gordon or Rose.
He’s not the tallest center in Division I, but there are few wider. His massive shoulders and powerful hands make Blair a force in the low post. He is a relentless rebounder and showed he could stand up to 7-footers when he did a number on veteran Georgetown center Roy Hibbert.
Blair and the one of the plays he is involved in coming out on defense was the subject of a question for Ray Fittipaldo.
Q: I’m sure you have discussed this matter before, but I still don’t understand why DeJuan Blair and before him Aaron Gray, come to the top of the circle on defense running after the opposing teams players. It seems to cause all sorts of problems for our big men, i.e. Blair picking up two quick silly fouls to start the second half against Rutgers and Gray having to expend energy that he didn’t always have. What is Dixon’s philosophy in using this sort of defensive strategy? Wouldn’t it make more sense to let our big man play his man as needed or lay back on defense?
FITTIPALDO: It’s called hedging on a ball screen and it’s done to prevent the opposing team’s guards from penetrating the paint area or knocking down a wide open outside shot. The other team’s center will come out to the top and set a screen on one of Pitt’s guards. While Pitt’s guard is fighting his way through the screen, Blair is coming out to force the opposing guard to dribble around the defense instead of penetrating and either scoring or dishing off to an open man. When done properly, hedging can be a very effective tool to limit the effectiveness of a penetrating guard. Blair is not as adept at edging as he needs to be, and this gets him into foul trouble on an occasion. If Blair sits back under the hoop while his man is setting a screen, the opposing guard will come off that screen and have a wide open 3-pointer. It is sound defense when executed well.
Friday afternoon, ESPN Classic showed the 2002 Big East Tournament Championship — the one Pitt lost to UConn in OT. I watched Ontario Lett and Toree Morris running the same hedge. That’s now a staple of Pitt big men in this century.
Keith Benjamin did an ESPN.com chat.
Brian (Philadelphia): What is the best thing about playing for Jamie Dixon?
Keith Benjamin: Coach Dixon is a really great, funny guy. He’s a soft-spoken guy who will let you hear it but won’t chew you out. He really loves the team and this game. He’s one of the best coaching minds in America and doesn’t give up on us, so we won’t give up on him.
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Zak (Pittsburgh): What’s the key to keeping the momentum Pitt has built as a program over the last half-decade or so going?
Keith Benjamin: Just keep on recruiting the same type of guys, and hopefully acquire some McDonald’s All-Americans. Guys that can be coached and that want to win. The guys we have now as freshmen are doing a great job, and they’ll keep winning for many a year.
Finally, Benjamin got some love after the Villanova game, as did Tyrell Biggs.
