Any chance of that? Please?
Pitt has come to call Madison Square Garden its home away from home. It’s not something St. John’s probably likes to hear, but the Panthers have enjoyed a lot of success on the home court of the Red Storm over the years.
“We like to think that way,” Dixon said. “It’s St. John’s home court. It is different. I don’t know if you call it a home court, but it is different. We have a lot of people come to the games because of the tradition, the history and what we’ve done. We look forward to it.”
Pitt junior J.J. Moore is one of three players on the roster from the New York area. He is from Long Island. Dante Taylor and Tray Woodall also grew up in the metro area.
“It’s New York,” Moore said. “We all love playing there.”
I don’t suppose reality might point out that Pitt hasn’t “owned” the Garden in recent years?
No. 20 Pitt (20-7, 8-6) returns next month for its final appearance in the Big East Tournament.“We’re excited about playing in New York,” said Dixon, who has a 21-13 record at MSG, including victories against Duke, Louisville, Memphis and Georgetown. “We’ll have friends there. We’ll have family there. We’ll have fans.
“Obviously, St. John’s, it’s their home court, but it’s a place we have already played in (this season). It’s not normal that you play in a place you already played in earlier in the year.”
Pitt lost to Michigan and defeated Delaware in November in the NIT Season Tip-Off.
From the 2008-09 season to the present, however, Pitt is 6-7 in the Garden.
I’m not disputing the value of playing at MSG. I think it is great everytime Pitt plays there. It’s just that the whole thing of owning the Garden was built on the runs to the Big East Tournament Championship games in the aughts and the thrilling win over Duke. In the past few years, though, there really isn’t much of a claim on that “ownership.”
Especially when the opponent is St. John’s and I may never forget the home-cooking they got in 2011.
I guess, I’d just rather focus on how Pitt needs to break a losing streak and just has to avoid more losses.
“Every game is important,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. “The first 27 were important and the next four are important, too. … We have to focus on the next one. No matter how many you win, no game becomes less important.”
That would mean reversing a recent trend. The Panthers have dropped consecutive games for the first time since losing the first two games of the conference schedule to Cincinnati and Rutgers. They lost at Marquette by 10 and by 9 at home to Notre Dame after having a 16-point lead in the first half.
St. John’s halted a two-game losing streak Wednesday with a 69-54 home victory against last-place South Florida. Whereas Pitt played the most difficult portion of its schedule in recent weeks, St. John’s still has games at Providence and Marquette and a home game against Marquette.
“Pittsburgh presents a great challenge,” Lavin said. “They’re a very physical basketball team. … Our young team understands we’ll have to play our best basketball to win.”
Pitt hasn’t been very physical in its two-game slide. Notre Dame and Marquette beat up the Panthers on the boards, winning the rebounding margin by 15 and 9. The Irish and Golden Eagles also outhustled the Panthers for loose balls. The Panthers also must defend better. St. John’s sophomore D’Angelo Harrison, the third-leading scorer in the Big East, is averaging 18.3 points per game.
Pitt has been inconsistent this season. Which, really, makes them like 90% of the teams in 1-A. That’s something we aren’t used to seeing. Pitt has been very good and very consistent for the last decade. Even last year’s disappointing season, there was a consistency to the losing. This year there are wild fluctuations. Variances. It isn’t what we’ve seen for quite some time.
In a way, it is more disconcerting than the team just not being very good. Because we don’t know what to expect.
We’ll find out what kind of Pitt team and effort shows up today at Noon on Big East Network syndication. Today’s stations are Root, MSG, MASN, Brighthouse and Altitude.
I have a church obligationa and will miss the first half. Will be counting on all of you for your comments and opinions.
Let’s play with poise and tenacity today!!
Hail to Pitt!!
STJ gets its coach back and Pitt takes a 3rd straight L. I hope I’m wrong, but I ain’t.
While I believe Pitt to be the better team, fact is St John’s needs this game more than us.
Nonetheless, I think the good guys are on a mission today after one of the most horrific efforts ever by a Dixon team.
Patterson with four turnovers. Nice.
Without Tray, we have 14 points and are shooting around 30%
Woodall carrying them today…
Pitt is not it this year.
It is an absolute must for Jamie to recruit shooters. I am stating the obvious, however, no excuses, St John’s is a mediocre team and we are having problems asserting ouselves. Poor ball movement, wierd shot selection, etc. etc it seems as if Pitt is slowing down as we approach the BE Tourney and the NCAA’s.
The one thing that makes me crazy is to look at how the Hoya’s have come together as a powerhouse while we stumble and lurch along.
Hmmm, didn’t we wipe GTown off the board on their home court early in our season….would you like to play them in the BE Touney…NO WAY!!
Winning by double digits on the road in the Big East against a bubble team that really needed a win isn’t a 9 seed win. It’s a good win by a good team.
HTP!!!
Great game by Woodall, solid play from Adams and Taylor.
2. Sleepy made a handful of key plays down the stretch
3. Is Zanna for us or against us?
4. foul shooting still pathetic
Invoked the reverse mojo.
Nice game boys.
Now forget about and pretend ND was the last game you played.
Lavin was smart and played his center at he foul line or higher taking Adams away from the hoop. He knows that Adams is the only rebounder we have, and that we are terrible boxing out. Also with Adams away from the hoop they can use the tactic evryone uses to beat Pitt unless Adams is there as protection, beating our guards of the dribble.
Dixon never adjusts. Either tell Adams to let their center out there and our guards fight through the picks or play Taylor at the 4 to provide rebounding support.
What does Zanna provide on either end of the court?
The 10 man rotation is bull-shit. Adams needs to be on the court for at least 30 minutes, unless foul trouble. Taylor gets his minutes at the 4.
Was disappointed to see Zanna playing the 4 so much again. Other that an occasional rebound he brings nothing to Pitt. Add to that when he gets the ball in the paint, he either puts it on the floor, pump fakes when he shouldn’t, or hesitates…each a cardinal sin allowing the defense to react.
Best game ever by Woodall.
The refs were horrible, so what else is new?
Zanna’s head is someplace else….Sleepy needs to play extended minutes at the 4.
If we can win our regular season games and the 1st two in the BE Tourney we will probably get a 5/6 seed…I was too negative earlier with my prediction of a 9 seed, however, I just can’t see how this team can make it to the Sweet 16.
The NCAA is going to send Pitt far away from our stomping grounds….I still remember Pitt being shuffled off to Spokane, Washington about three or four years ago.
Either way, typical Woodall today too. Great shooting, but maddening plays like that one. He made the wrong pass to Patterson and STILL won’t feed Adams.
Great win on the road, I think they win out now.
Hail To Pitt!
My take: Our 10 plumb tuckered out their 7. See SJU 2nd half fg%, same shot selection as 1st half.
Sleepy can only play the four when he and Adams are not in foul trouble. Zanna’s malaise seems to be getting worse and Moore refuses to drive to the hoop, which should be his strongest asset.
Patterson had another off day, hope he gets over it by tournament time. Johnson has his moments, going to be a strong player for the next 2 or 3 years.
Adams looked real good today, nice bounceback after the last two games.
Robinson is steady, keeping his pass to turnover ratio by not taking many risks. Going to need to shoot more and better next year.
Good all around d by us, bad shooting by them. Great formula for victory.
Not going to get many calls by Big East officials, might as well get used to it for next year.
Jamie deserves credit for turning this year’s team around. Regardless of seeding Pitt will go to the Big Dance.
H2P
The only rational thing I can consier is that Adams because of his limited playing time at this level may not have developed the stamina yet.
I prefer to believe this rather than the making sure the 10 man rotation is sustained a ridiculous concept id Adams can go 30 plus.
Lastly, all 3 need to learn how to use their left hand to shoot expecially when they are the left side of the hoop … probably too late for taylor
Unlesss you get an offensive rebound at its height or if you drive the lane it is better to give a head fake get the defender up in the air then go up uncontested. Adams did it perfectly today. In the past he would take it straight up and get stripped. Also make sure when you go back up the ball is in front of you not behind your head to be strepped from behind.
Glad to see Adams take the 20 ft jumper the guy can shot. Just missed on the 25 ft. jumper.
If Mike Young is as tough down low, he has the body already, as advertised next year I’d consider playing him at 5 on offense and Adams on 4.
I agree that all the big men including Moore need to go more aggressively to the hoop. Dunk as early and often as possible.
Considering this after a off-season conditioning program hopefully an opportunity to go to a camp like the one Olajawon runs for big menMosses Malone tutored Olajuwan his red-shirt freshman year) Adams would be scary next year.
He would not have too worry whose coming out or not.
As they say the game is slowing down for him.
Also, who were the announcers today? Did anyone hear them talking about Costco and BJs?
But for God sake when will Woodall learn he cannot dribble trough 2 defenders. Of course he was hoping for the fouls to at he end dribbling around rather than passing the ball to avoid turnovers. With the game he had I will not be too critical except that it is a component of his game I wish he unlearn.
They’re behind others but give ‘em time.
Pitt has quietly had a very nice season. One thing that I will never fully comprehend is Jamie Dixon playing Taylor and Moore as his frontcourt. I can see having Taylor and Moore at the 5 & 4, but not at the same time. It’s a defensive nightmare. He is obviously infinitely smarter than I am regarding basketball, therefore I will defer to him. However, I must say it is mind boggling to this fan.
Looks like Pitt will end up as a 5 seed in the Big East Tourney and about the same in the NCAA. The team has the talent to play with anyone. We will see what the team is made of in the next few weeks.
One turnover from entire Pitt bench was huge today. Zanna’s confidence is totally shot and he has been terrible for 6 weeks now; he is killing Pitt right now. Dixon has to start exploring other options/lineup combinations. James Robinson needs to start penetrating to the middle of the paint more; when he does good things happen. Lastly, Adams wasn’t sporting a wrap on his hand today so that’s a great sign. Plus, his foul trouble seems to be a thing of the past. Time for Dixon to put as much on this young man’s shoulders as he can handle. Specifically more minutes and more quality touches.
Adams being a good mate, consented.
Great win for PITT. Did anyone expect a 16 point victory. lol I know I didn’t.
Chas is right, you have no idea how this team is going to play from game to game.
Reading over the comments during the game is kind of funny. As they suggest most of us have little or zero confidence in this team. Or only the skeptical ones post.
I didn’t see Kiwi Steve mentioned at all in the comments till after the game was over. Again he’s not being used properly. Why not play him at the 4 on offense and back to the 5 on defense.
Put Sleepy in at the 5 on offense where he’s played for 4 years and is somewhat comfortable and it frees Adams to play more face up on the 15feet area outside the paint.
Playing Sleepy at the 5 and Kiwi Steve at the 4 would cause incredible matchup problems for the other team. And you could more easily isolate Adams against his defender.
I know it won’t happen but it would awful fun if it did.
Panthers on the Prowl !
Hail to Pitt !
Veritas et Virtus
Couldn’t have come at a better time, since someone, needs to take the most shots, the big shots for this team. And it really should be a Senior and we’ve seen Woodie go off before with big games.
Reminded me of the two wins last year after Woodie came back from his injury when both he and Ashton lit it up in back to back games.
We really do need a 20 point scorer on this team, the “Go To” guy.
Coach finally took the leash off and let someone get comfortable out there and just play.
Since Woodie handled the ball most of the game, I don’t understand why JR was out there for 33 minutes..for a measly 2 points and 4 assists.
Although I’m glad he got the message on Wright & Zanna and limited their minutes to 5 minutes & 15 minutes When you’re not getting much production from the 1 and the 5, you can’t afford to have Zanna out there or Wright as they don’t add much if anything somebody else couldn’t and even less offense.
Coach did a good job tinkering with the minutes this game, as mentioned reducing Zanna to 15 and Wright to 5. Now tinker some more and reduce JR’s and since the 4 is a problem, put Adams over there and Sleepy at the 5. Adams agility and athleticism is being lost at the 5. After all Dirk Nowitzski is 7 feet tall as well, but he plays the 4…….not the 5.
And Dirk would not be Dirk playing the 5 now…..would he.
They are Power Forwards:
Tim Duncan 6-11, tallest on the Spurs doesn’t play Center.
Amare Stoudemire 6-10 doesn’t play Center. His incredible athleticism would be lost at center.
Lamar Odom at 6-10, never played Center for the Lakers, nor did he play Center at little Rhode Island U.
Charlie Villanueva at 6-11 never played Center in the NBA or at UConn.
Tyler Hansbrough at 6-10 never played Center in the NBA or at UNC.
Hakim Warrick at 6-10 never played Center in the NBA. Played more outside at Syracuse, not in the Paint.
Nene at 6-11 never played Center for the Nuggets nor for his current team, the Wizards.
Kevin Durant at 6-10 never played Center, a PF in college and a SF in the NBA.
Andrea Bargnani at 7-0 never played Center for the Raptors of the NBA, he’s a PF.
Blake Griffin at 6-10 never played Center at Oklahoma nor in the NBA
LaMarcus Aldridge at 6-11 is a PF in the NBA.
I can name about 20 others at 6-10, 6-11 or 7-0.
The point is, just because you’re the tallest player on the team, doesn’t mean you HAVE to play Center. Nor do I think Kiwi Steve will play Center in the NBA.
Putting any of the above names at the 5 would extremely limit their games and they would have never become the players they are, if they were forced to play Center.
Kiwi Steve’s game is more sorted to PF, cause he can dribble, he can move for a 7 footer as we saw on the 3/4 length of the floor drive to the basket and the resulting finger roll like a guard, which was the ONLY redeeming aspect of the ND game and from what I’ve heard he has incredible range on his shot, maybe like Nowitzki.
None of the attributes that makes him so special will be realized if he’s bottled up inside and forced to be something he’s not.
Like you said not gonna happen, but probably should.
Looking at the box score this morning, Patterson didn’t play as poorly as I thought except for free throws 3-7. Agree about Robinson, 4 assists and 2 points in 31 minutes is not enough.
Moving Adams to the 4 solves the biggest problem, the lack of production from Zanna and Moore. A combined 9 points and 5 rebounds in 38 minutes.
Maybe Zeigler should play the 4 ala Nasir, he is a good rebounder and is not afraid to drive the lane ( just joking)
The real problem with Adams and Taylor on the floor at the same time is foul trouble. Jamie’s management of the current lineup has been good at preventing anyone from fouling out.
They need to get Zanna and Moore to a sports psychologist real quick, maybe a hypnotist to convince them they are power forwards. We sure need one.
Like you said not gonna happen, but probably should.
Looking at the box score this morning, Patterson didn’t play as poorly as I thought except for free throws 3-7. Agree about Robinson, 4 assists and 2 points in 31 minutes is not enough.
Moving Adams to the 4 solves the biggest problem, the lack of production from Zanna and Moore. A combined 9 points and 5 rebounds in 38 minutes.
Maybe Zeigler should play the 4 ala Nasir, he is a good rebounder and is not afraid to drive the lane ( just joking)
The real problem with Adams and Taylor on the floor at the same time is foul trouble. Jamie’s management of the current lineup has been good at preventing anyone from fouling out.
They need to get Zanna and Moore to a sports psychologist real quick, maybe a hypnotist to convince them they are power forwards. We sure need one.
You can see that Jamie is starting to really think about playing Taylor and Adams for some stretches during games, cause this was the second straight game he had them both out there. Fouls are always going to limit that lineup.
JJ needs to start hitting his jumpers against those 4s guarding him. Right now no one respects his shot. That’s what’s killing his game.
Zanna, I don’t like his game at all right now. He seems to be playing selfish. And he consistently drives really weak and hopes to get bailed out by calls. Zanna will probably benefit the most from the switch to the ACC.
The other issue is that since the BE schedule began, Woodall has been the most consistent player we had and sometimes is guilty of not shooting enough. You have to really give him credit because he came here without any reputation for being a scorer, and is now our most reliable shooter … not only his 3 pointers but that pull-up 15 footer he has developed just recently. His assist-to-turnover ration continues to be exemplary
But as they say, “it is what it is”!
As someone posted weeks ago. He has “no” game.
They may have gotten the misconception that they could be a running team as they were against the smaller less physical non-conference teams.
Now Adams is having to fight 2 oppents for every rebound and when he is not in Pitt is reduced to the small overwhelmed inside team they were last year.
In either case Pitt does not have the atheletes to run with the top rated teams (our guards are not that caliber). They need to win by keeping Adams in the game as long as possible (I think we are making excuses for Dixon’s 10 man rotation (Taylor ought to be getting his minutes from Zanna), Adams has not been in foul trouble in the last 10 games.
Play tough defense which demands Adams in the middle. Johson and wright from now on should see limited minutes. Increase Zeigler’s minutes he is playing like he is waiting to get yanked (problem of 10 man rotation-its is player speak that they players are in agreement and are happy with their minutes/I hope they aren’t).
Zanna and Taylor rotate at 4 and as few minutes as necessary at the 5.
Hope you didn’t put your house on it!!!
He looked like he would break through at the end of last year and now, he just makes the occasional 3. He should be playing above the rim.
game.http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/pitt_of_despair_KER2h5M5nrqcMHZiMGiosN
For all the positives Taylor gives on the offensive end, he gives back just as much when he goes on defense.
It is sure a head scratcher as to where the points are going to come from when we have certain combinations on the court.
Patterson came up big in the closing minutes with timely rebounds and that along with guards rebounding could make the rest of the season enjoyable to watch.
And I want to see some MFing dunks! Dixon should give them a dunk mandate: 7 dunks in the next game, of which Adams and Moore should have at least 2. Perhaps he is challenging them in this way. If so, it’s not working, and he needs to try something else. Make them watch 1 hour a day of Blake Griffin highlights or something, with “send it in Jerome!” spliced in every 10 minutes.
“The Panthers regrouped after disappointing losses to Marquette and Notre Dame, beating St. John’s by not just playing good defense but also actually scoring some points. Tray Woodall is the obvious secret to the Panthers’ success.”
Coaches ARV (#26)
RPI #39
Pitt really cannot help its position over the next 3 games. They are all games that they should win.
But any hiccup, and their hopes of a good seed (without long travel) in the NCAA Tourney are lost.
With some help, Pitt can still secure a double-bye @ MSG.
As for seed, I’m not sure I want a high seed. This team plays to the level of its competition. I’d rather them enter the tournament without high expectations and overachieve. I’m much more interested in where they play (ie. not out west) than how high they are seeded.
“The Panthers haven’t lost to a team not in the Top 25 (and one) since they lost at Rutgers on Jan. 5.”
Fair point for why we should still be ranked. Not sure what the coaches are looking at and not sure I care.
I agree that they seem to play better with 3-4 days off, not 7.
I believe that Pitt is going to be punished for the weak OOC schedule (and the Rutgers loss) and be sent West. The only way to avoid this will be to win out and have a great showing in MSG.
ND is not that good. The team was out-of-sync all nite. It was a struggle to stay until the end.
Pitt’s performance in that game is why the dropped out of the Coaches Poll.
The “home court advantage” was lost in these games.
Although when Patterson hit the shot to send the MU game into OT, and the crowd erupted, we were too quiet the other 43 minutes of the game.
After Brey got the technical, the whole mood in the Pete changed and we were too quiet while watching our team fall apart.
During the 2nd half run, and eventual victory by Cin, the mood was similar to that of the ND game.
We in the arena need to make noise and support the team when they are down. And noise throughout the game also disrupts the opposition.
The Oakland game should be the template. The team fought back, forced OT and won, with the support of a loud Pete.
Yes, according to one I talked to at the game.
Marquette over Syracuse.
Bethune-Cookman over Savannah St.
Howard over MDES.
These games hurt Pitt:
Hampton over Del St.
And in a game that was decided by the refs, SH over Villanova.
Question – does Buzz Williams place a picture of Curly Howard next to his mirror in the morning? He must have an old glossy of Curly, and say to himself, every day, “Man, that is one good looking dude.”
But seriously, I think it is pathetic that the Duquesne University of Milwaukee can recruit better, stronger and bigger athletes than the soon to be pride of the ACC, the Pittsburgh Panthers. So much so that even a Buzz Williams can coach the team to the top of the conference. And don’t give me the academics/graduation crap. I cringe when most of our “student athletes” do an interview. I am sure Marquette is no worse.
Pitt recruits a power forward that never wanted to be here, a 7 footer that will be gone after this year, a potential replacement for him that is then run off the team, and a host of unathletic 6-4 small forwards that cannot rebound or consistently make jump shots. I am sure that Gilbert was run off the team so we could make room for another 6-4 small forward.
And a second question – ESPN, noted as the network that was at least an accessory to the rise of Dick Vitale, now has to try to top that by having Dan Dakich, Bill Walton, and the inimitable and apparently indestructible Brent Muffburger in the broadcast booth? Myron Cope, where are you?
“There’s no place like home”.