(At least I hope so.)
Like most people, every now and then I dream of work. And it is miserable and soul-sapping for the next day. Last night I managed to combine the work dream with that replays of that game. I’ve locked up all the knives in the house.
The number that reflects the ugliness is the way that killed the adjusted tempo. Coming into the game, per KenPom.com, Pitt’s AdjT was at 66.3 while Cinci was at 66.7. Nationally that was 271st and 255th respectively. That one game of misery dropped both teams’ averages by 1.7 to 64.6 and 65.0. One game (admittedly over only 11 games) did that.
There’s no way to pretend it didn’t happen. I want to, but too many are going to treat this like some indictment of Pitt’s schedule. Or as evidence Pitt is not that good. That may all be true, but that game is not the proof. That game was a complete outlier. A freak game. They happen. They happen to really good teams at strange times.
One of the great examples involves the #6 ranked team at the time in 2008. Michigan State was 14-1 in the second week of January. They had played their usual challenging non-con. Wins over ranked teams like BYU (#20), Texas (#4), NC St. (#24). Battle-tested. Ready for the B1G. They head to Iowa City to face a 7-9 Iowa team that was already 0-3 in the Big 10.
They don’t just lose. They lose the game 43-36. They didn’t have a slew of injuries. They weren’t resting players. Until that game, their lowest offensive output was 63 points. It was just something that happened.
Iowa would finish with a 13-19 record. MSU was a #5 seed in the NCAA Tournament and beating Pitt in the second round (dammit) before losing to Memphis in the Sweet 16.
Lots went wrong in that game. Lots needs to be improved. Try to stay calm. But if you can’t, remember to cut with the vein, not across it.
But I do think they lost because of missing so many opportunities, like not scoring on the breakouts, etc. etc. I sure do hope this was a one-off.
With a couple years as exceptions, they are traditionally a team that struggles offensively, and lacks natural scorers; a go-to guy, a player who can create and WANTS the ball in his hands when it counts. I thought finally this year Patterson would be that guy, but again last night I saw hesitation and lack of confidence, always looking to pass first.
Last night’s game reminded me of the ND games the last few years that were just excrutiating to watch. It also reminded me of how Pitt’s offense has disappeared for long stretches in tournament games over years, most recently last year vs. the Shockers. At least Wich St. was a good team.
The other reason Pitt lost was that they were out-rebounded. Cincy had 16 offensive rebounds, and scored almost all of their points in the paint. There was some debate on the previous thread about whether the front court or the back court is Pitt’s greatest weakness – I vote front court. Zanna is no 5 and the 4 is Young (literally). I think Pitt will struggle on the boards in conference play. I had hoped that this was a better scoring team, and that might off-set the rebounding issue. After last night…hmmm.
1. Free throw shooting has been excellent for 10 games, poor in 1.
2. Rebounding has been not the greatest of Dixon teams but still, a Dixon team: good, up until last night
3. mid-range shooting has been excellent, at least by Pitt standards, up until last night
So either one of those happen last night, and we win.
Still I think the flaws are there:
1. Slow, non-penetrating back court (though by all the foul shooting we have seen this year, it is clear despite all the knocks against our guards on this forum that they are at least willing to drive).
2. Non-physical frontcourt
3. Sub-par 3 point shooting (sure we had, what, two good games but I suspect the average for the year is not good).
One last thing that has not been mentioned about last night: up until the point of the rebound, the defense was really, really good. Maybe too aggressive at denial, and thus not in position for the rebound?
I’ll never forget when Carl Krauser made it the length of the court in under 4 seconds against Miami in 2003-04 for the game winning bucket. The last shot was a terrible look. Out of a time out none the less.
Can work on some stuff against them!!!
Until Pitt gets guards that can create shots or can drive and creae opportunities for others, games like this will continue.
Either those types of kids aren’t attracted to Pitt, or Pitt (i.e. JD) doesn’t want them. Pitt wants “system” kids, conformists. And so when the system isn’t working, there’s no way out.
DeJuan may have been the latest one who came close. A passionate, let’s-DO-this badass, at least somewhat.
That’s why we fail in the Dance too. I know this opinion is nothing groundbreaking, it’s been put forward plenty, but I think it holds water.
On the other hand, as Todd Gack noted above I think he’s trying to assert himself a bit too much in the offense right now — too many 18-foot jumpers, and the ball just too often stalls in his hands on the perimeter. Hopefully an effective balance is established where he can maintain his transition/off ball work while being only the 4th or 5th option in the half court.
Pederson strikes again.
However, this was far from a normal loss.
Was it a matter of Jamie being out coached? Or the team being unprepared to play?
Well, even with some new personnel… apparently some of the SAME PROBLEMS of a year ago have again raised their ugly head.
From the Post Gazette…
********
The biggest indication that the Panthers were out-toughed came from the rebounding statistics as Cincinnati out rebounded Pitt, 35-27,including 16-8 on the offensive glass.
“It is hard to believe we were out rebounded like that,” Dixon said.
********
Yes, it was only one point and Pitt’s shooters went cold.
But, the lack of rebounding against a comparable but still inferior team… is somewhat telling.
Yes you’re right, Pederson has really screwed up Pitt’s basketball program.
Passive offense and running the clock down is not going to work with this team. You can’t let the opposition dictate pace. Where was the aggressive style we saw earlier this season? I understood we would have problems with active big people, but the defense in the paint was horrible. The only way this team is going to rebound is by committee.
When we beat Stanford it was too late for the edition and never mentioned again.
I guess the painful sells more papers. They did a nice job on Donald’s awards but an even better one when they gushed about how great PSU is handling the sanctions.
This is reality, not a video game…you don’t win every game all the time…
Relax and Hail To Pitt!!!
*can’t shoot straight
*can’t grab a key rebound
*shoot a middling 65% from the Charity Stripe
*basically only play 6 players
*are indecisive on offense
*have long scoreless stretches
*have a PG who can neither penetrate nor defend nor score many points
By the way besides ND playing this style in the ACC, so does Tony Bennett’s Virginia squad.
I know you’re frustrated with the never-ending circus that is Pitt sports, but I’d recommend either getting used to it, or jump on someone else’s bandwagen. In response to your scenario, what happens if you let Dixon go, and then Miller won’t come…what do you do then? Blame Pederson I guess.
pitt players and the coach should all wear paper bags on there head after that game shame they sure dont need to be rated in the top 25 .
i thought i was watching a game from 1940.
the day following the night of Aaron Donald winning BOTH the Outland Trophy and the Bednarik.
There wasn’t a peep, an article, a pic, a line or ANYTHING on the Home Page of that worthless POS, concerning Aaron’s incredible winning of BOTH the Outland & the Bednarik the night before which brought his National Trophy haul to an unheard of 4 NATIONAL awards.
Whereas the Pgh. Tribune had a nice featured story right in the center of their Home Page, with a pic.
I hope none of my fellow Panthers are subscribing to that clearly bias anti-PITT POS known as the PG
Yes I’m ok…that is….until the events of last nite at the Mecca of College Basketball.
We’d played as if we had NEVER had played in The Garden before. Like we were totally overwhelmed by the experience.
Concur with other posters who suggested we came out ‘tight’. Said this last year, JD needs to sit his fannie on the bench and pick his spots for screaming at the team. Besides helping his health, blood pressure, etc., perhaps the team will play a little looser on a Big Stage.
Organizations tend to mimic their leader (coach).
let the players play as you say sit on the bench more he some times becomes a control freak and hurts more then he helps.
The team picks up his sphincter-puckering vibe and that’s all she wrote. And it gets worse every year it happens to the point it really is a huge psychological problem now.
or that a UFO had got you
or you went to rainbow bridge .
but glad you are back.
I know, I know, Stanford, Texas Tech and PSU are so-so at best.
But, they compare to this years Cincy team.
Against those three, as well as the patsies, Pitt looked much different, played differently, held themselves up differently.
Last night was some kind of time warp, I hope.
Would he now? Probably not now that he is a coach of a bigtime program. As far as Dixon being the best coach ever in NCAA is that even serious? He would have to perform in the NCAA, not bomb badly in March. Have a ranked team and actually progress the program not regress.
I like Sean Miller a lot. However I’m still struggling to see what exactly that he has done that places him head and shoulders above Dixon in your mind.
Looks like Stanford, who Pitt crushed on a neutral court, just beat the #10 team in the country on the road and helped Pitt’s RPI.
