You know why this beatdown has to really hurt Colorado? Pitt announced what they were going to do on defense a couple days before the game happened. They were going to double-team the Buffs. Especially in the paint. Make Colorado pass out of it and see if turnovers could be created. That was exactly what Pitt did from the opening possession. And Colorado had no answer.
“We knew they were going to double the post,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “We didn’t handle the doubles out of the post. It wasn’t just Josh, it was all of our guys.”
Scott finished with 14 points and six rebounds, but had just five points at halftime, as Pitt made him a non-factor when it mattered most.
“It’s something I’ve had to work on all year, and they were a good defensive team and they rotated out of it,” Scott said. “They covered a lot of space. So credit to them.”
In the early minutes of the game, CU tried to go inside, but couldn’t get anything going in the paint. The Buffs had four turnovers in the first few minutes and it took 6 minutes, 19 seconds for them to get their first shot attempt inside the 3-point arc.
“We really wanted to guard the ball screens, we really wanted to take away their post offense and we did that early, and I think that was evident,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said.
Just a little.
Pitt forced turnover after turnover. Being able to get out on the break. Score easy transition baskets and bury the Buffs before the first media timeout.
This has been said all season. It isn’t that Pitt doesn’t want to run. It is a simple matter of being able to do so. Pitt is not a team that can just run up and down the court at will. The players may want to — and players always want to do so — but they have to have the numbers to do so. They did today. The forced turnovers and errant passes allowed Pitt to get run outs and transition baskets all game long.
I did not see that coming. Granted, I don’t expect much beyond tight, tough games from Pitt. Still, a blowout was not what was expected.
For Colorado, it is a disappointing showing. They have the key injury as an excuse, but they also went out early last year. That means there may be some oddly familiar stupid questions arising.
This national recap from SI.com had an amusing opening.
Florida assistant coach Matt McCall sat on press row at halftime of the game between Pittsburgh and Colorado. He looked far more relaxed than most assistant coaches do while scouting a potential NCAA tournament opponent. Someone asked which team he had. “I’ve got Colorado,” McCall said. In other words, he didn’t have much to do for the next hour.
Further down, the piece notes that Pitt has the potential to really bother Florida along the lines of how Tennessee has been a hard out for Florida this year. Similar point made in this piece as well. Of course, the Vols still couldn’t beat the Gators so that is cold comfort.
Pack choked – f’d up my bracket. Harvard kind of redeemed me – I actually picked them. I always assume some Ivy league school is going to shock someone every year – this year it was Cincy. didn’t call NSDU though – so I guess it’s a net loss for me overall.
As far as our boys go, no matter how Saturday turns out, I applaud Jamie righting what me, and many others, thought was a sinking ship.
I just don’t see Florida just having their way with us. another quick start and a couple breaks go our way, i can see this team advancing…
Hail to Pitt!!
“The University of Pittsburgh is never intimidated by anyone. Not in academics. Not in basketball. Not in football. Not in anything …
“We have a lot of pride in our university. We have a lot of faith in our guys.”
from post-gazette, although the p g should seriously reconsider their slant on Pitt…We lookin’ up son…Always Be! H2P
Pitt baby Pitt
H2P beat the Gators!
I love how DJ is giving halftime speechs. Talk about a guy not letting his injury get him down. Supposedly DJ is well ahead of schedule in his recovery which is great news.
With how physical Florida appears to be, I think Pitt would benefit from a closely called game especially since Pitt is the better FT shooting team.
Line opened up as Pitt 5 point underdog and now it’s at 5.5. Looks like early money is on Florida.
This team has already exceeded my expectations for the most part. It wasn’t more than a couple of weeks ago that people were thinking “NIT” as a real possibility. I assumed that even if Pitt got in, they would lose the first game, so I can’t really complain too much if things blow up tomorrow.
That being said…. it would be nice to be ‘that team’ for once instead of getting burned by ‘that team’.
GO PITT!!!!!!!
I’m feelin’ it. This team has turned a corner and believes. They are saying the right things, doing the right things and trusting each other. Florida will punch back, but we will match their intensity and punch back even harder.
With any amount of good luck tomorrow, Florida will be the first #1 to go down this year.
Pitt’s Elite 8 year, they almost lost to Middle Tennessee State.
Florida rebounds tomorrow and covers the spread comfortably
Congratulations early on the NC.
We created 17 turnovers by double teaming some of their players when they got the ball. That’s got to be the most turnovers we’ve created all season, even against the rent-a-wins.
Hopefully we play this aggressively from now on.
You can force tempo by playing aggressive double teaming, trapping defense. And the kids don’t mind putting the effort into a defense like that, because it leads to a lot of breakouts, breakaways, layups, dunks, easier baskets.
And for the fans, it’s a hell of a lot more fun to watch than the passive non-doubling, non-trapping defense, that leads to slogball.
You play the former and better players will want to come to Pitt as well. A win win.
But I doubt very much your a Panther, based on all of your comments. Maybe a hockey Florida Panther, but certainly not a Pitt one !
Pitt shocks the basketball world tomorrow and sends the Gators home crying !
Your gator buds struggled with Albany yesterday, a team that lost 15 games this year and finished 4rth in their conf. (American East). At least ETSU won their conference that year.
Proud Pitt grad 1981. Lived in a dump on South Oakland Ave with my best friends to this day…..
Favorite bar back in the day was the Luna….Enjoyed the Pres Rhet classes with Dr Windt.
I am a Panther good Sir….I also know a mismatch when I see it.
hail to Pitt…..
