Late, but this is what happens when you don’t watch the game until 3 am and then have to try and function the rest of the day as if you still got a normal day of sleep. You just try to get through and try not to think too much.
There’s a lot that could be argued was a positive from the game. The team fought back hard on the road. They were so close to breaking Louisville’s spirit in the final couple minutes. Pitt got a better handle on the press. Adams and Taylor were strong offensively on rebounds and finishing.
But, no one really cares about that. The thing that makes this loss so tough is the volume of “ifs.” From the overarching theme to the individual moments. This game was loaded with the “what if” and “if only” scenarios where Pitt ends up on the winning end.
From the vague, “if only” Pitt had shot even 50% on free throws, to Tray Woodall missing that front-end of the one-and-one with 44 seconds left and Pitt down 3. Or if 54% FT shooter Chane Behanan doesn’t go 2-for-2 on his free throws 20 seconds later.
“If only” Talib Zanna wasn’t so completely unable to get anything to go these days. A 2-9 shooting night that follows 3-9 shooting in each of the prior games. “If only” Trey Zeigler and J.J. Moore could have finished their drives to the basket with — well — actually putting the ball in the basket.
To the questionable officiating that led to fouls limiting James Robinson in the first half — and helping Louisville open up a bigger lead — to taking a surprisingly effective Dante Taylor out of the game in the second half.
The front court, constantly overplaying in front of the basket or simply failing to rotate on defense. Leaving their man for easy slamdunks when the ball was passed to said abandoned man going to the basket.
The backcourt struggling to make a pass and holding the ball too long. Or Lamar Patterson spending too long looking for his own shot, but never taking it.
Then there are the “whys.” Why did that have to be the night Russ Smith has a good night? Or Gorgui Dieng turns into a monster?
Which is why this game sucked in the end. So many ways Pitt could have come away with a win. Not just one play, one bad call, one shot. Just a multitude of ways that they could have come away with a win.
And because of that I see more of the same against Syracuse..I think we’ll keep it close but I think Syracuse is too strong this year to hope for a Pitt upset.
The hesitation to shoot by Lamar seems to be a trait by quite a few Pitt players through the years where they are just not confident with their shots (Tray, Durand and JJ being the exceptions.)
Here’s a “what if” for you. What if Zeigler, Zanna, Adams et al. changed their free throw shooting form where they were balanced with = wt distribution to both feet and tucked their shooting elbow in? What if someone made them change their form? What if the ball went in?
All you do when you practice bad form (just like a golf swing) is reenforce the bad form.
The guards bring the ball over half court, then pass the ball around and dribble around on the outside, really no one even guarding them.
Basically just kill 20 seconds off the clock. Not only is that killing precious seconds off of the game, it’s letting the defense sit back and just play 15 seconds of real, exerted defense.
I’m not the best x’s and o’s guy in hoops, certainly doesn’t look like they are setting anything up??? Rarely do I see anyone drive the middle and kick out???
Seems like we waste a lot of time on offense, doing nothing.
Maybe I’m missing the bigger picture.
Despite everything the Panthers did poorly the other night in Louisville, shooting 25% from the foul line, turning the ball over 18 times, and giving up too many back door dunks, they still ALMOST WON THE GAME! So if they can improve in a few small things, it can make a BIG difference.
not a great Pitt team. They are getting better
Nine BE games left. Beating the cuse
at home would be huge.
What’s up w/the Defense Coordinator.
Someone must have info??
The playing time aspect is why I’ve kept on thinking that Foster might end up back at Pitt. Bama has a ton of really good athletes and a bunch of young WRs. He is going to really have to fight for playing time at Alabama vs. playing a lot right away at Pitt.
I read a tweet or something that Chryst talked to a former NC State coach about the DC.
http://triblive.com/sports/hssports/football/3388678-74/boyd-pitt-clairton#axzz2JP60Cp91
At this point I’d say it’s 50-50 that he ends up at Pitt
Once Louisville had a lead they stayed aggressive and Pitt struggled to get back in the game by conceding opportunities at the stripe. 9 FT misses vs 3 final point difference. The math is pretty simple. Even if Pitt went %50 it’s a different game.
Once back home, someone offerd some insight to his confusion when they overheard him state that, “before visiting WVU I thought the only use for sheep was for their wool???
If he wants to play in a pro style offense, learn the nuances of playing receiver from a former bilitnikof winner, and be a lot more pro-ready when payday comes. Oh and still catch a fair amount of balls, and have a degree that people actually respect, he should go to Pitt.
So basically Mr Boyd… do you want to party or do you want to prepare yourself for the future, football or otherwise?
Ps forgot to add the part about playing games in Ames, Iowa and oklahoma vs Miami, Boston, Chapel Hill and Atlanta
Now here’s the thing I’m not understanding regarding both Boyd and Foster. I understand that the “quality” of their educational experiences are of the utmost importance to each one of them. Excuse me??? Did I miss the memo that either West Virginia or Alabama, out of nowhere, have suddenly established their institutions as highly valued venues due to their academic reputations?
Hopefully Boyd’s Mom and his Clairton “bros” that are also verbal commitments to Pitt will “unconfuse” him by LOI signing day. I think that Boyd will be regretting his decision down the road IF he decides to decommit Pitt. Why? Because he would be in a position to make a truly meaningful impact with his contributions to the Pitt football program and probably early on in his career.
For that matter Foster’s situation would have been the same, even more so IMO. Foster especially, could have had the opportunity to be a star in his own backyard at the college level at Pitt. It will be interesting to see how his career develops at Alabama.
Now there is rumor of him doubting if he’ll get early playing time? Are you frekin kidding me? What were the Bama recruiters shoveling out to Foster in the first place? One more stellar recruit for Bama is not going to make much of a difference in that program’s situation as it pertains to Foster seeing the field early.
NEWS ALERT FOR MR. ROBERT FOSTER,,,,, please take a number and we’ll call you when it is time for you to buckle up your helmet and actually play. Don’t hold your breath there my boy. There is a ton of talent ahead of you. Expect a redshirt and hopefully you’ll get some playing time in 2014.
Hey, no worries, they still give you a National Championship ring even when you’re only riding the pine.
@Dr. Tom, completely right. I’m sure the Bama recruiters were telling Foster how he’s so good he will be starting next year for the national champions. But now it’s coming down to decision time and he looks and he sees Bama is loaded everywhere. Maybe he is finally realizing that he won’t play right away. Foster will be lucky to get PT in 2014, let alone playing at all in 2013.
Just like the pretty freshman sweetie at her first fraternaty party, gotta keep your senses about you and don’t believe all the smooth talk you hear from the handsome upperclassmen. Last thing you want is to wake up in the morning trying to find your panties in a strange bedroom, attempting to piece together what the hell happened.
Nice metaphor.
Signing day is around the corner and all the BS shoveled by Bama and the Snakes is being realized as just that….BS!
Any player with pro aspirations who doesn’t want be in a pro-style offence is doing himself a diservice.
“What ifs” truly do suck; sometimes a beatdown is preferred.
A few years back when T Pryor immediately ruled out Pitt because he would not be playing in front of packed stadiums said plenty. These 4 and 5 stars are being recruited by the most attarctive programs out there, and it has to be hard for them not to be swayed by the bright lights.
But I agree, if you want to play in front of 100,000 lunatic fans you go to the Big Ten or the ACC and we can’t compete with that.
If the WPIAL kids are going out of town we’ll just have to go get some out of town kids ala Hugh Green, Ricky Jackson, Mark May, LaSean McCoy, Ray Graham.
That game was their’s for the taking. They need to always play like they did against DePaul, although an inferior opponent, this team needs to learn how take advantage of their opportunities when they get them as well as playing without mercy when they smell their opponent’s blood on the court.
So far this is a team that is still trying to find it’s identity and leadership.
we will end up with jackson who has all most no experence.
1) Boyd is out and now Foster is in.
2) Pitt BB looks dumb now with the missed FT’s and all those ridiculous ball screens and hedges on D.
3) If Pitt loses Saturday we are still without a real quality win.
4) Pitt’s DC could wind up being a nobody after all….
5) The Pens stink on ice……(OK, I mentioned that)
Pitt bball just can’t seem to win a close game against a quality team. Some of it is youth, some is coaching, but the biggest reason is lack of execution from the veteran players (Woodall & Patterson).
Pitt has a very solid team. Hopefully we can get a win on Saturday.
Of course, all he will be remembered for will be those tattoos even though he was just one of several Buckeye players who took part.
Anyone remember Andrew Johnson? Parents wanted him to go to Pitt. He chose Miami because of the party atmosphere and because they were always highly ranked at that time. The coaches fed him the bs about how important he was to their future success and how he would see the field early. Fast forward a couple of years and he was competing against 4 and 5 stars to see the field. He couldn’t beat them out, didn’t have enough game tape for pro scouts and didn’t finish his career there. Disappearing into obscurity. To hear jim tell it today, he made the right choice and got caught in the numbers game and then had an injury during his junior year and never finished.
Really? Believe what you want. The parent should have made the final call. That is why they are the parent. Not a posse of other commits partying with you and trying to make you feel at home or a coach promising the world to each of them. Complete exploitation of kids emotions.
Robert Foster from the north will never fit in with the south. Unless you have lived in the south after being a life long northener, you just don’t get it until you live it. They don’t like us! Never have, never will, despite their bs. Use you for what you can give them…absolutely. Tyler Boyd, was recruited this past weekend by a posse of player’s and coaches that are desperate. Holgorsen didn’t recruit Geno, Steadman or Austin. They are perilously close to losing relevance because they are in a conference with their closest league competitor 900 miles away. They must promise the world to get kids. Step back from the emotions and parents, step into and help shape their careers because they are your children and that is what you signed on for when you had them. Put simply, parents don’t get paid to direct their children. Coaches get paid handsomely to promise the world and get kids in for the most part.
That is why Paul Chryst will be successful. The parents of kids get him and trust him. And, he doesn’t bs them. Holgorsen, Fraud Graham and Saban are professional bs’ers.
@Upittbaseball: Parts of Texas and NC and definitely Atlanta may be northernized but I can guarantee you that Alabama, Mississippi and the state of Georgia 30 miles outside of Atlanta are most definitely not.
Bottom Line: Chryst’s honesty and candor, his “style” if you will is going to attract the right kind of recruits over time. If we miss out on a couple or few high star recruits who couldn’t see through the BS its not the end of the world and maybe they weren’t right for the program anyway. But if they in the end are able to see through it all and make the right choice, then it’s a good thing for everybody.
Go to Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi and Florida. They still fly the confederate flag. Texas wants to secede and North Carolina is…well, not completely southern, but I’ll give you that.
You reference more northeners in your current dealings. We are not looking at your neighbors upitt. To be fair, look at his projected teammates and come back to me with your argument.Look at the recruiting class at Alabama and see how many come from the north! It is a simple exercise, just do it. Do it with LSU and the other southern redneck states.
Perhaps all of your stars aligned right at 18 and you made all the right choices without parental guidance. Maybe your parents had Pitt 4th on their list because they saw something better for you going elsewhere. Perhaps playing time, education, etc. I don’t know your particular circumstance. I am sure you would not have changed a thing in your decision-making process as an 18 year old.
You made my point on both of your arguments. Typically I enjoy your negative posts about recruiting and Paul Chryst because they are laughable. Pitt finished in the rankings of regular season play, around 65th. Yet, their current recruiting class is somewhere between 19th and 30th. That to me is remarkable!
I do agree that Steve Pederson is not the right person as an AD. Again, I look at facts. Pull the AD profiles of the top 20 football program AD’s and compare resume’s. Are guy is not even on the map.
Quietly spoken if possible. Chryst has told these recruits. If they still want to go elsewhere, God Bless em.
I am close to being astonished at the success Chryst has had at recruiting with little to build on preceeding him. We will all know “the truth” come Feb 6th.
is not as important as who the DC will be
if it is some one who is lurning on the job
who has never been a DC before god help us.
if it is some one who knows what he is doeing i think we could be a real good team next year.
and if not then we are rolling the dice and
i just hope it doesent come up craps
Well next year is a crap shoot anyway.
We have no clue if the QB will work out.
We have no gamebreaker/big play guy as Ray Ray is
gone gone. As he made the offense go (see the dreadful offense of the Bowl Game)
And we’re going into next season with more than likely at least 3 new offensive linemen.
Lots of question marks. Both in player personnel and coaching personnel.
We need some signature wins, as we sit presently at #49 in RPI, which when you factor in the over 20 guaranteed bids of the mid major conf’s., put us squarely ……..
…….. on the Bubble.
Need to get a Signature Win this Saturday !!!
the o line will be as good or better becuse savage wont hold the ball all day.
but i just like the odds better if we have a DC who knows what he is doeing insted of one lurning on the job.
Comment by dhuffdaddy 01.30.13 @ 9:13 pm
lol only South Carolina still flys the Confederate Flag at their State House.
On the other hand they voted in a female Indian-American Governor. First in the nation in that regard.
While I hope he works out, it’s a crap shoot. And we have no one with any college experience other than Trey, who got to throw a whopping 2 passes the entire year.
So Savage better work out for PC’s sake.
Agree we don’t need another…on the job trainee,
for DC. 
Chryst not a good recruiter? Everything I read that everyone here is finding shows consistently ALL the kids saying the like and get along with the coaching staff, they are getting the respect of the HS coaches, parents,… and now we read how they are getting really well positioned with the kids for 2014!
Dan and Justinian are right on about sales and honesty in terms of top sales.
Chryst needs a good recruiter??? What like “slick Willy” who can lie with the best of the scum? Don’t think so.
I bet you PC is honest when he says he tells these kids to go check out other places, etc. He does not want buyer’s remorse or weak minded people who will go for all the BS and hype anyway. (and I am not knocking 18yr olds… it must be tough dealing with all this stuff).
He is being smart because he is getting players that are committed to his vision for his program.
I would be shocked if Boyd switches because he has good people around him including his community and school mates. He is just working through things and better he does it now than wondering ‘what if’ after he signs.
Holgorsen and WVU… I was worried about them a year ago and now you just have to wonder… good comments above… you sense emotional instability, all the coaching changes… and really… look at that travel schedule… 900 miles closest school… in the middle of no where… (seems like the basketball team is enjoying it!!!). brutal… what kid from the northeast wants to live that life?
Foster made an informed decision and you can’t knock the kid… although folks are right about the whole playing time thing… 2015 it seems really… but when the best wants you that is hard to say no to. WVU or Tennessee ain’t ‘bama now…
did you not think tino should have been on the bench.
did you not say in so many words tino sucked.
at least savage can see over the line and throw the deep ball no more 8 in the box.
chryst all ways make his QB better then they are savage will be fine.
http://triblive.com/sports/nfl/3379117-74/chryst-geep-paul#axzz2JWMIrEc3
Comment by scott 01.30.13 @ 6:22 pm
lol There are very few places with 100K stadiums.
Seems to be a misconception that the media feeds about some of these conf’s.
Big 10 has 2, Michigan & Pedo State
Big 12 has one, Texas
SEC has 2, Alabama & Tennessee.
Pitt plays in a bigger stadium than Ole Miss, Miss State, Vanderbilt(40K) and Kentucky in the SEC. The ones with bigger stadiums are mostly far larger student bodies than Pitt(especially those living on campus) and (key*) are in College Towns
Pitt plays in a bigger stadium than K-State(50K), Kansas(50K), TCU(50K), Texas Tech(61K), Iowa State (55K), Baylor (50k), Wvcc (60K) and Ok. State (60K). So therefore we play in a far nicer stadium with a larger capacity than 80% of the Big 12.
And as far as the Big Joke er I mean 10, Pitt has a bigger stadium than Illinois (60K), Indiana (53k), Maryland (54K), Minnesota (51K), Northwestern (47K), Purdue (62K), Rutgers (52K) and only a few thousand seats less than Iowa (70K)
So therefore over half of that joke conf. Again these are very large student body colleges with 5-10 times more kids living on campus than Pitt.
So as you can see playing in front of 100K might happen once or twice for a school in these conf’s.
Big Deal !
Where in reality they’re all dwarfs, small rinky dink stadiums(mostly in the middle of nowhere), not much football tradition, history and success on the field. Dwarfs. If you can’t fill up a little stadium in the middle of nowhere, that is truly pathetic.
Same thing with the Little 10 er Big 10.
It use to be just Ohio Fake & Michigan, the others never had a chance of getting to the Rose Bowl. Still mostly programs with little or no football history of tradition. Not compared to PITT.
F*ck em ALL !!
@ Emel, didn’t you get the memo on our new QB, he will be head a shoulders over our recently departed 5th yr Senior, his name,,,,,,
Anybody B. Tino. ABT for short!
I cannot tell you how pleasant it will be to see whoever under center this year, other than you know who.
ACC(Improved Schedule) X Winning=A Full Stadium
Conclusion, just win baby, WIN.
To your point, honesty proves out in the long run … any false claims will certainly dampen the reputation of the seller not only to the buyer but often in the industry itself.
Then of course, there is Todd Graham who preys on desparate ADs who put themselves in a hole by not planning a valid job search. The very first time I heard Fraud in his hiring presser at Pitt, I was put off by his fast talking and ability to skirt a few of the questions put to him by focusing everything on himself … he does it a lot better than Ray Lewis, by the way.
He reminds me quite of bit of your man, Wannamaker, in that when a play is not working, you can rely on him to create something. Yes, Lamar is way behind Wannamaker but he is only a junior, and you may remember that Wannamker has his share of turnovers until his senior season. But overall I agree, Lamar has been disappointing for the most part this year.
Can’t always blame the coordinator and one year does not make or break a coach. He has the experience.
Onto basketball, I’ve been thinking that Woodall has seemed a bit slow and shakey with the ball this year. Not sure why, maybe it’s just cause James Robinson is good with the ball that he makes Woodall look worse.
When it comes to Lamar, I don’t get his reluctance to shoot wide open jumpers. He’s a good shooter and his reluctance usually just leads to something bad happening like a 3 seconds call or a rushed last second shot. Agressive Lamar is good, passive Lamar is bad. Wanamaker was much more well rounded. Wannamaker had more turnovers but he also had to handle the ball more and had more assits. Also Wannamaker somehow averaged almost 2 rebounds more a game as a junior than Lamar currently is, which shouldn’t be the case. Although, maybe it’s just cause Wannamaker was the man.
By that I mean that it is like assembling the right employee mix for your company so that you can be successful longtem into the future with your staff. So the employer/recruiter still is going to benefit in the longrun by being forthright and honest regarding the job description, employee benefit package, work environment and future for promotion potential, etc.
If you hoodwink the applicant at the front end of that relationship you will find yourself saddled with a disgruntaled employee done the road. Not a good situation if you want to get the best performance out of your team. So at least the thin veil of honesty should be the foundation of any recruiter’s process or else the organization is going to become disfunctional down the line.
I totally disagree with your concept that football recruiters are selling an “idea” and not a product. IMO, Alabama is currently selling a PRODUCT, and a very successful product at that. But I will give you the fact that guys like Paul Chryst ARE selling an “idea” or a “vision” as I like to define it. Kind of like the real estate agent that has the knack to embelish the potential home buyer’s own imagination by describing how beautiful their house is going to look when built on the empty house lot when they first visit it.
Does ANYBODY know what Pitt’s football program is going to look like in 3 to four years, I sure don’t, but I still like what Coach Chryst is selling right now because he has the vision and his soft sell kind of fits what he is offering to recruits. Considering the last couple of years that Pitt has been through, based on the CURRENT PRODUCT that Pitt actually has to sell, I’m surprised that we have the quality of recruits in this class that we do!
LOI signing day will be interesting. If we do hold onto Boyd and maybe pick up a surprise recruit on Wednesday along with the class that he has already assembled, my final assessment of Paul Chryst’s first full recruiting class of his own making will be,,,, pretty NEAT!
Yes, yes it is!! You are correct!!!
Good example. Ole Miss hoops. Allthough they did just lose to Kentucky, they are something like 17-3, ranked in the top 15.
They didn’t even know what a basketball was there a few years ago. Now, they had to get an extra 500 SRO’s for the last couple games. Their shoebox is a wild, loud and rabid place to place hoops.
What changed the past few years?? Buildings’s the same, colors the same, nickname is the same.
Only thing that changed???
Instead of being 7-21 and at the bottom of the SEC, they are now a top ranked team, fighting with Florida for the top spot. (which by the way they play at Gainesville Sat.)
Will winning guarantee 65K overflowing at Heinz. No, of course not. We all know how it goes. Sell outs for PSU, ND and WVU.
But, winning, and a big game against Va. Tech, FSU, Clemson or N.Carolina, will now become sell outs and must see games.
Winning, will also get you a good steady crowd of 45-55K for all of the other games.
Not what they count, but actual warm bodies in the seats.
Just win baby?? Ya, actually, just win baby!!!
Could you imagine….2nd week in November….
A 15th ranked, 9-0 or 8-1 Pitt team, having a 4th ranked, 9-0 Clemson team coming in to Heinz Field on cold, cloudy, snow flurry day, with ESPN Gameday in attendance????
The place would be over flowing and going absolutely bonkers like the Cincy game a few years ago.
Ya, not so easy, we have to be 8-1 or 9-0 and ranked in the top 20. I get that, we all get that.
Win and become a top 20 program again, and we will have many games like that and less and less of the gold seats out numbering the actual fans at the games.
Just Win Baby!!! I’m pumped up allready!!!
It is embarrassing just how ignorant a ‘hero’ like Ray Lewis is.
2. Ray Lewis has a tattoo of Ray Lewis … ’nuff said
My point was only that, if you win, they will come!!
Which can then be used to further the point, if Ole Miss goes on an 8 game losing streak, the gym will only be half full at the end of the year.
Win Coach Chryst Win!!!
By the way, when is signing day. I thought it was next week, then someone on here said Saturday??? Usually during the week, don’t remember one on the weekend.
Pitt was averaging close to 54k during the last couple years of Wannstedt’s reign, and that was with a BE schedule. I agree if they start winning 9 or more games a year especially with more big names, we may reach close to 60k
The comments by PC’s brother were pretty insightful (link above from Trib) in a lot of ways and confirms what folks were saying throughout the day… what is most striking is his view that this is a MATCH of man and institution and city!
