Yes, it had to be done.
Amusing and disturbing at the same time are the number of people who have taken the time to re-set the lyrics to various anime. Haunting.
Anyways, back to the main point. Pitt put out a press release on the basketball’s summer trip to Ireland.
Pitt will play six games on the tour including two contests in Cork at Neptune Stadium (July 31 and Aug. 1), two in Dublin at the Dublin City University (Aug. 3 and Aug. 4) and two in Belfast, Northern Ireland at the Odyssey Arena (Aug. 6 and Aug. 7). Pitt will face Australia’s oldest and most respected basketball club, the Melbourne Tigers, on August 6 in Belfast. The Tigers, which feature former Syracuse guard Eric Devendorf and former Utah center Luke Nevill, have claimed four Australian NBL championships including two recent titles in both 2006 and 2008. The Panthers will take on the English National Team the following day on August 7 in Belfast and the Irish National Team two times (July 31 and Aug. 3) in Dublin. Pitt will also face the Dart Kilester Basketball Club team in Dublin on August 4. Dart Kilester won the Irish national title in 2007.
In addition, Pitt has been invited to join Pittsburgh Steelers owner and United States Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney for a reception on Monday, Aug. 2. Rooney was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Ireland by President Barack Obama on March 17, 2009.
“As a lifelong Pittsburgher, it will be very special for me personally to host the Pitt Basketball team here in Dublin during its tour to Ireland,” Rooney said in a statement. “Coach Dixon, his staff and players will also visit the UPMC Children’s Hospital here in Dublin as well as spend time with the Peace Players, who have used the game of basketball as a vehicle toward achieving peace and understanding in Belfast and universally. It is an honor to represent President Obama and the American people here in Ireland. It will be such a pleasure having these fine young men from Pittsburgh and all of their traveling party be a part of all things ‘Irish.'”
The NCAA allows a team to take an out-of-the-country summer trip once every 4 years. In addition to the perk for the players, it allows the team to get some 10 team practices under the direct supervision of all the coaches. Something that otherwise is not permitted in the offseason.
And don’t think Coach Dixon isn’t looking forward to that part.
“From a basketball perspective, this is an outstanding opportunity for our team to get an early start on the season,” Dixon said. “It is also a chance for the players, coaches, support staff, administration and families to experience Ireland.”
Everyone except for Isiah Epps should make the trip.
Dante Taylor has been looking good in summer games, and wants to perform far better than he did in his first year.
The baby fat is gone, replaced by a new and improved muscular frame. His confidence is sky high, and he has learned to live with the expectations that come with being a McDonald’s All-American.
Taylor has been one of the most impressive players in the early going of the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Pro-Am. He had 19 points and 13 rebounds in his team’s summer league opener Monday night and followed that up with 21 points and seven rebounds Wednesday.
What does it all mean? That won’t be determined until the season starts in November, but Taylor at the very least has put himself in better position to succeed as a sophomore.
“You see Dante getting it,” senior guard Brad Wanamaker said. “He’s a hard worker. Coming in as a freshman you could see him sometimes get a little nervous. Maybe he worried too much. This summer something has been going on. Dante has been improving. He’s finishing around the basket better. He’s been in the weight room working hard.
“He’s a very different player. After that freshman year a lot of people change. You’re more mature. You know what’s going on. You know the system better. His confidence is on another level right now. He’s taking people off the dribble, rebounding. But he’s not doing too much. He’s doing what he’s capable of doing and he’s doing it well. I feel like Dante can have a great year for us.”
Starting center Gary McGhee agrees. When McGhee and Taylor went against each other in practice last season, McGhee bullied Taylor and pushed him all over the court. That has not been the case this summer.
With better conditioning, more confidence, and knowing Pitt’s system better Taylor should also get to see some time at the power forward spot. Perhaps fulfilling many fans’ hopes of being paired with McGhee at times.
That becomes a higher probability if Zanna is developing as hoped and J.J. Richardson can be counted on as a quality sub.
The exciting thing right now is the possibilities of how many looks Pitt can throw at teams in the upcoming year. Obviously Pitt will be able to go big with McGhee and Taylor.
They can also consider a small and fast team using Nasir Robinson as the primary guy inside, but surrounding him a combination of small forwards and guards from Brown, Patterson, Moore, Gibbs, Woodall, Wright and Epps. May not happen, but I do like thinking about it.
