Not sure what to write regarding an easy blowout over UIC that I didn’t watch and don’t really have the spare time to watch replayed on ESPN3.com. Plus the football game tonight is the bigger deal Let’s hit the links a little for some things on the table, the early signing period for b-ball started yesterday and then I can move to the football stuff.
This was the first of a couple cupcakes for Pitt. The next will be on Saturday at 4pm vs. North Florida. The game will be on Fox Sports Pittsburgh so I may do a liveblog.
Brad Wanamaker continued his hot start to the season scoring and sharing. Notching 17 points and 9 assists in 25 minutes. Ashton Gibbs found his stroke from outside after struggling in the last exhibition and the URI game. He had 24 points in 30 minutes. Not to mention 7 assists. Guard play has been exceptionally strong for Pitt in the season’s beginnings.
I saw it in the open thread comments and it was repeated in this story, Pitt’s inside defense struggled when McGhee was out — at least in the first half. Obviously inexperience is a factor with Nasir Robinson still unavailable at the power forward. Also factoring in was Lamar Patterson subbed in at power forward most of thegame instead of the small forward spot. That was because Coach Dixon released J.J., sorry, Jonathan Moore made his debut and played small forward. I know that the need is for Dante Taylor to play center because of the depth issues, but maybe Coach Dixon should at least put the carrot of power forward in front of Taylor — even for a couple minutes — just to let the rest of us see. By all accounts, though, the interior defense improved in the second half. Presumably a mixture of adjustments and Coach Dixon getting on the players at the half.
McGhee appeared to get more touches this game, and definitely was getting his hands on the ball with 9 points and 8 boards in 20 minutes. Part of why he was so quiet vs. Rhode Island was that with all the jumpers the Rams were taking, not as many rebounds available around the basket. A lot more longer rebounds for guards and forwards further out. Taylor also finished with 9 points and 8 boards at the center spot. Good game for both.
Regarding the early signing period getting under way, two have signed — Durand Johnson and Malcolm Gilbert — and two expected to sign in the next day or so in John Johnson and Jaylen Bond.
Durand Johnson, a Maryland native, is spending the year at Brewster (NH) Prep. He is looking forward to next season.
“I was big on schools that I thought really wanted me and needed me, and Pitt showed that the most. They showed me a lot of love and a lot of support, and I felt it was the right decision for me. It’s a great place, and I can’t wait to get there. It’s like one big family. Once you’re a Panther, you’re family forever,” Johnson said.
The Pitt program under coach Jamie Dixon is known for its toughness and blue-collar, team-first approach, which appears to be an ideal fit for Johnson.
“In addition to being able to shoot the basketball, Durand has a mental edge where he’s got a chip on his shoulder that drives him. That toughness is part of his skill set,” said ESPN.com senior basketball recruiting analyst Dave Telep. “The thing with Jamie and Pittsburgh, it’s not just an evaluation of talent, an evaluation of size. It’s an evaluation of what a guy is going to do when his back is against the wall. And Durand Johnson, when his back is against the wall, he’ll come out throwing haymakers on the basketball court. That’s why they like him.”
Durand has an older brother Derrell who is a freshman DE at ECU, so there is some toughness in the family to go with the athleticism.\
The other three players coming to Pitt are all Philly area kids. This is part of the trend of the Big East dominating the area in recruiting — to the weeping sadness of the other Philly schools not named Villanova. Nice picture.
While I don’t do women’s hoops, I’d be remiss in not congratulating the Lady Panthers on landing a top-20 recruiting class of their own.
