masthead.jpg

switchconcepts.com, U3dpdGNo-a25, DIRECT rubiconproject.com, 14766, RESELLER pubmatic.com, 30666, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace appnexus.com, 1117, RESELLER thetradedesk.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER taboola.com, switchconceptopenrtb, RESELLER bidswitch.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER contextweb.com, 560031, RESELLER amazon-adsystem.com, 3160, RESELLER crimtan.com, switch, RESELLER quantcast.com, switchconcepts , RESELLER rhythmone.com, 1934627955, RESELLER ssphwy.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER emxdgt.com, 59, RESELLER appnexus.com, 1356, RESELLER sovrn.com, 96786, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b indexexchange.com, 180008, RESELLER nativeads.com, 52853, RESELLER theagency.com, 1058, RESELLER google.com, pub-3515913239267445, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
November 27, 2014

A Good Win Brightens Thanksgiving

Filed under: Basketball — Chas @ 4:20 pm

A day after getting royally thumped by San Diego State, Pitt returned the favor on Kansas State. I saw it suggested on twitter this morning — by someone who only saw the final score — that K-State was having a “hangover” game after playing so tough against Arizona.

That ignores the fact that it was the Wildcats that jumped out early on Pitt. The Panthers didn’t take their first lead in the game until there was 7:30 left in the first half. At the half, Pitt only held a three point lead.

Pitt took control and  slowly pulled away from K-State in the second half, but even then the Wildcats got it to under 10 points with under 8 minutes left. Pitt responded with a 21-6 run to make the game appear to be a laugher.

For the first time this season, Pitt played with defensive intensity. Both as a team and individually. Jamel Artis and Chris Jones who have been subject to much early criticism by me for their lack of defense performed in a way I honestly didn’t know they were capable of doing.

Chris Jones was assigned to cover Marcus Foster, K-State’s 3-point shooter who was hitting over 50% of his 3s in the first 5 games and 16 points/game (against Arizona, Foster had 23 points). Jones stayed all over Foster who hit one early three, but was a non-factor the rest of the game finishing with only 7 points. Jones sacrificed his offense in the game to be a defender.

As for Artis, he logged 34 minutes and really upped his effort to play as hard on defense as he does on offense. Going hard for rebounds, being a lot smarter about guarding players.

I saw a defense where the players were not looking for shortcuts or looking longingly the other way for a chance to play offense. There was execuation on the defense that led to more opportunities on offense. They were the ones frustrating K-State and taking advantage of it.

Pitt was playing their fourth game in six days. Both teams were on their third straight game, but it was Pitt that didn’t wilt. Wearing the Wildcats down over the course of the game.

“We got to that point in the second half where we had a lot of guys hit walls,” [Kansas State head coach Bruce] Weber said. “We couldn’t make baskets. I’m just a little bit disappointed in that competitive spirit, not being able to fight and keep it at that point where (the deficit) is at eight or 10. That’s where the game should have been, but we didn’t do that.”

The poise K-State showed fighting back against Arizona on Tuesday was lacking. On this day, the Wildcats appeared to panic, turning the ball over as Weber aggressively substituted in hopes of finding fresh legs.

Pittsburgh, also playing its third game in three days, didn’t look tired at all.

“I felt like we put everything we had into the first two games,” Gipson said. “That’s not an excuse. We needed to come out and play, and they out-toughed us. We just all have to overcome that fatigue and play harder.”

Pitt responded to what happened against San Diego State the way you would hope a team would.

Young, who scored 11 points after halftime, said the Panthers couldn’t remember being any lower than they were after the San Diego State loss.

“Being embarrassed on national TV — that’ll do it,” said Young. “We had to come out and play really, really hard on defense and pay attention to detail.”

Displaying more vigor and better execution at both ends, Pitt shook off a slow start — trailing by as much as 10-3 — and led 30-27 at intermission.

Some of that started before the San Diego State game even ended.

Jamie Dixon called a timeout with two minutes left in the San Diego State game Tuesday. He lit into his team, talked to them about pride, talked to them about what it meant to be a Pitt player and a part of this program. And then he challenged them by saying they shouldn’t come back to the gym for this game against K-State unless they were ready to play and defend like the Panthers. They closed that game on a 7-0 run had a long discussion at dinner about the thumping they took. That laid the groundwork for the Panthers effort against the Wildcats.

One game doesn’t change everything. Only after the season is over will we really know. Will it be the first step for a young team that improves over the course of the year? Or will it be merely an aberration? Or part of  a season that will have peaks and valleys?

At the very least the players got a taste of what they can do and the feeling that comes from a win like that.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.





Right on, Chas. A young team with a good upside.

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

Comment by steve1 11.27.14 @ 5:09 pm

Nice article Chas and my hope for a solid hoops season was restored by JD and the great effort.

Cam’s return will be a boost and I am just hoping for a big progression toward average from Randall and Uchebo………….hoping.

Comment by TVax 11.27.14 @ 6:46 pm

^great team effort^

Comment by TVax 11.27.14 @ 6:46 pm

That was a big victory early in the season. Well done gentlemen. Will need to get the wins into the mid 20’s (23-25) for a berth this year in my estimation. Interesting quote from the opposition I took was that we played tougher. No need for soft going forward.

Shady just ran for a nice touchdown and unfortunately, may make headlines for what he said afterwards. Uggggh, I hope!

Comment by dhuffdaddy 11.27.14 @ 7:04 pm

One more thing fellas, happy Thanksgiving to each of you. I would like to be the first to give thanks for upitt for always presenting the contrarian point of view. It keeps balance with the Koolaiders.

Seriously to Chas and Reed, thank you for allowing us a place to come where we can fix the problems with our athletic teams and departments even though they don’t listen! Thanks for giving us the outlet.

Comment by dhuffdaddy 11.27.14 @ 7:19 pm

Koolaiders, Contrarians…neither know what’s going on.

Chas cites Paul Zeise who actually does.

Comment by steve1 11.27.14 @ 8:53 pm

Did anyone hear Zeise mention Dixon is unhappy with Durand’s full season suspension and may have taken the kid to Hawaii as a sign of his displeasure?

Anyone smell a Cornhole? ?

Comment by TonyinHouston 11.27.14 @ 9:35 pm

Overall, this was a decent trip except for the loss to Hawaii. The K-State win could show up as a nice OOC resume builder later. Two interesting notes – – Mike Young made the all-tournament team and Josh Ko made a 3-pointer to end the KSU game. Nice that he got to play in front of a “home town” crowd in Hawaii.

Comment by CalvinHobbes 11.27.14 @ 9:54 pm

Like a bad date you know won’t end in good sex…

Ah Pitt-Miami…the game will no doubt confirm the best thing to happen over this Thanksgiving occurred in Maui last night.

Pitt-Miami…the ACC’s attempt to create a rivalry game when Pitt should be playing the Hoopies this weekend.

Anyone else watch the last time Pitt beat Miami at Miami in 1963? I watched the game. Our whole family did. It was on television in Pittsburgh…a satsfying 31-20 victory giving us an 8-1 record with the Orange Bowl still a possibility.

The game was in black and white, no color.

Comment by TonyinHouston 11.27.14 @ 10:04 pm

This one is going to be Black and Blue, no hope.

Maybe my Koolaid supply will be replenished with a couple presents under my tree come Christmas? How best to wrap a fired AD?

Comment by Dr. Tom 11.27.14 @ 10:21 pm

Nice win. Much better than the struggle with Chaminade and the SDSU beating.

However current reality remains, Per Sagarin’s computer after the KState game–Pitt is #53 (8th in the ACC) and KState #93 and near bottom of Big 12.

Comment by pitt1972 11.27.14 @ 10:32 pm

pitt1972 – Sagarin doesn’t have the KState game calculated in yet, but will not raise us very much due to the Hawaii loss.

Comment by TVax 11.27.14 @ 10:48 pm

Great win! Fire Stevie!

Comment by shawn 11.28.14 @ 1:37 am

The starters as I see it (hope) for us shortly to be the best team Pitt can be in March – Young-5; Luther-4; Johnson-3; Wright-2; Robinson-1. Artis & Newkirk have played average or below so far but it is still early. Very disappointed with the play so far of Jeter & Jones. Never expected anything from Uchebo & Randall. Now let’s beat Indiana & Duquesne. Go PITT

Comment by rayhpgh 11.28.14 @ 8:33 am

@@@@@

Win over KSU proves once again that Jamie is a top notch
coach; also his philosophy defense and rebounding win games. Team is shaping up to be a typical Pitt team. Major
concern is the lack of a center. If Randle can play 15 minutes
a game and hurt the team…that is get rebounds, play D, and
hopefully a get a few put backs the team will be fine.

Mike Young the next in a long line of stars!

Why we love college hoops….bench going wild when
Lesak and Ko made 3 pointers at the end of the game.

Comment by JR 11.28.14 @ 8:43 am

Against a decent opponent, I cannot imagine Randle or Uchebo contributing any more than a few minutes of defense at a time to give Young a brief rest. Would love to know if there are any hopes of Haughton contributing this year? Why did we recruit him? Did we over-value?

Comment by 1618mt 11.28.14 @ 8:51 am

Many Pitt-PSU games played the day after Thanksgiving, good times.

Comment by gc 11.28.14 @ 11:34 am

Thing I remember about the 63 Pitt- Miami, was George Mira. He was the best QB in college football.

Comment by alcofan 11.28.14 @ 12:17 pm

JR

calm your jets….a win over kstate??

not sure kstate is a signature win, yeah I didn’t think we’d win and am glad we did, but it doesn’t put JD in a “top notch” coach category

When he starts recruiting better and advancing further in tournament, then we’ll talk about top notch.

solid win though

Comment by Keith 11.28.14 @ 12:58 pm

listen

I understand that we’re lucky to be relevant in college hoops and have a chance to be in the tourney year in and year out.

And JD is a nice guy and a great face for the university, and maybe I’m to hard on him??, but I just want more for the program and believe that we missed that opportunity to do so and not sure that we can get back there

Comment by Keith 11.28.14 @ 1:03 pm

Miami u is 120th in penalty yardage

Comment by alcofan 11.28.14 @ 1:51 pm

No, I’m wrong, the KState game is in the Sagarin ratings…Chaminade doesn’t count as one of our wins for that so the record for Pitt of 3-2 IS up to date.

Why didn’t anyone straighten me out on this? Idiot=me

Comment by TVax 11.28.14 @ 2:19 pm

We have one big problem with our next game at Indiana: Tom Crean OWNS Jamie. I fear it will be hard to get the “W”.

Comment by pittman4ever 11.28.14 @ 2:48 pm

1963 was the year I fell in love with Pitt Football as being a Boy Scout allowed us to usher and see all the games for free.
I too remember watching the Miami game on B and W TV with my family. I had gone to at least 2 games a year for the previous 3 years. Loved Johnny Mike, Rick Leeson, Paul Matha, Al Grig./ And Marty Schott.

Little did we know then that these would be the best of times for 13 years.. When are our next ” best of times?”

What a journey it has been for all us old farts!

Comment by Dan 72 11.28.14 @ 3:00 pm

Senior night sat for 19 canes,what did we have 12?

Comment by alcofan 11.28.14 @ 4:03 pm

Final, Western Kentucky 67 Marshall 66 in OT.

Comment by alcofan 11.28.14 @ 4:08 pm

@alcofan:

Watched a good bit of that game. WKU coach showed some stones going for 2 pt conversion in OT on road.

I wish I had even a little hope for tomorrow’s game. Pitt has not won in Miami since days after Kennedy assassination, and I don’t see this defense getting it done.

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving, and here’s hoping pittofdreams 5 star upset lock comes thru…

Comment by Pap76 11.28.14 @ 4:16 pm

Pittmanforever–

Totally agree…unfortunately

Comment by DD 11.28.14 @ 5:24 pm

Toooo bad Toad Graham, maybe next yr.

Comment by alcofan 11.28.14 @ 6:54 pm

Former Pitt coach loses to my favorite former WVU coach, the one we stopped from a Title Game which they probably would have won. He gave us the best Pitt victory since Marino to Brown.

How do you feel now Michigan?

Comment by gc 11.28.14 @ 7:22 pm

Iowa completes two miracle bombs to beat us, misses wide open guys today to let Nebraska come back. That was the game that started our slide to oblivion.

Need to play with “Reckless Abandon” tomorrow. Nick Skorich, Cleveland Browns circa 1970.

Take no prisoners!

Comment by gc 11.28.14 @ 7:28 pm

3 touchdowns for Jordan Whitehead in the first half. Central Valley 35, Conneaut 14 .

Comment by alcofan 11.28.14 @ 7:54 pm

Beamer ball, blocked punt for a TD. When will Chryst wake up and realize you have to win all three phases if you want to play great football.

Comment by gc 11.28.14 @ 9:14 pm

Interesting, Miami nearly beats FSU, gets beat by BC, one of our two best wins. We beat VT, our other best win, who is beating VA, who beat us and killed Miami.

Anything is possible in the ACC Central.

Any news on recruiting front seven D players? Especially now that it looks like we lost our best one.

Comment by gc 11.28.14 @ 9:18 pm

Don’t know about the front 7 but Mr Whitehead whoe’s in the back 4 had a couple touchdowns in the first half and sat the second in a state playoff game.

Comment by alcofan 11.28.14 @ 9:27 pm

No doubt we got a great one in Whitehead, still need pass rushers and tacklers.

I hope Chryst is watching the VA Tech-VA game. Beamer just threw a fit over a call and almost immediately got a make up call, now that is coaching.

Comment by gc 11.28.14 @ 9:32 pm

VA gets a defensive touchdown. How many did we get this year?

Comment by gc 11.28.14 @ 9:38 pm

Rhetorical question, the answer is 0.

Comment by gc 11.28.14 @ 9:40 pm

Va has a bad ass D line, just ask TJ Clemmings.

Comment by alcofan 11.28.14 @ 10:20 pm

Great rivalry game, missing our traditions this weekend. How about we start a new one by beating Miami.

Comment by gc 11.28.14 @ 11:59 pm

GC: Great tackling is coached. Anyone can learn to tackle well. All it takes is a willingness to commit to someone without hesitation. Then lower the shoulder and wrap up.

Excited to watch the ACC SEC football challenge tomorrow. 4 games, 8 teams. Great opportunity to see how we stack up.

Then for the night cap, Pitt vs Miami. Hoping Pitt let’s it all out there and plays all 4 quarters. Go PITT!

Comment by PittFan28 11.29.14 @ 12:14 am

@ gc – watching all the rivalry games on Friday brought back memories of Pedo St. and WVCC. I’m with you gc, let’s start our own rivalry tonight with a Miami victory.

Pitt wins 31 – 28 if Conner doesn’t play. With “the beast” we win 38 – 28 with Conner breaking the great Dorsett’s TD record.

The Butter D has enough stiffness to hold Miami to four TD’s.

Anyone hear even a sliver of a rumor about Conner’s playing status?

Comment by Erie Express 11.29.14 @ 6:44 am

ANYBODY who predicts a Pitt win tonight isn’t thinking with his head, but rather hoping with his heart. Now that being said, we have not won the elusive game that we have no business winning. I previously considered VT as that game after how they handled the Buckeyes in Columbus but now, that one, we should have won. We should have won against Iowa, the Akron game should have been penciled in preseason, the Virginia game should have been a Pitt win and both Duke and UNC, we let them out of the bag!

So Miami is the game. Just consider how this squad would be feeling about things if we were 9-2 right now? We can beat these guys but it needs to be a perfect Pitt performance while Miami shits the bed.

Comment by Dr. Tom 11.29.14 @ 8:34 am

How is the line on this game even? I dont think it should be even if it were in the burgh, let alone in fla.

Comment by DD 11.29.14 @ 8:40 am

In the PG this morning Jordan Whiteheads coach said his team was “neat”. See PC is wearing off on these local HS coaches.

Comment by JP 11.29.14 @ 8:55 am

@Ketih, agreed. Great win, pleasantly suprised, enjoyed watching a beat down of K-State.

However, this team will have ups and downs, so let’s not go over board.

I find it funny, sometimes on here, if you question or criticize a few things, you’re lambasted like you’re not a Pitt fan or something.

Dixon’s a good coach, I’ve stated that before. Sure, we’re lucky to have him, good guy and all, but it’s human nature.

We’ve been to the tourney ad nauseum.

Yes, many teams would like to be us. No doubt about that.

However, we are no longer those programs if you follow me.

We are now a program that gets to the tourney every year.

With that, expectations rise.

At least for me they do. I’m not even calling for a National Championship or Final Four.

I’d like to get back to going to many Sweet 16’s and an Elite Eight again.

The Kansas State game does nothing to my statements of the other day.

3 years running of not being ranked at the end of the year, no tourney and a couple first weekend exits of the tourney.

Those are facts.

Hopefully, we can break out of this trend and get back to where we were. I would love nothing more.

I will enjoy the year, cheer for the Panthers, and wish Coach Dixon and the players all the best.

Not being ranked in the final Top 25 and getting bounced early by Ball State or Bradley ain’t cuttin’ it for me though.

We’ll see. Long year.

H2P!!

Comment by Dan 11.29.14 @ 8:59 am

Dr. Tom you are right. It has to be perfect with a lot of bad luck for the Canes. They have to turn the ball over at least twice and we have to run the ball and control the clock to even keep it close.

Can we do that – I don’t know.

More likely is that Miami runs Akron’s defensive scheme (how sad is that) and loads up the box and dares us to throw. This may be the only defensive backfield that won’t be afraid of Tyler. I’m actually hoping that overconfidence leads to sloppy play on their part and our stars bail us out.

We also cannot have any turnovers or missed field goals.

Even with the perfect game plan and coaching (first time for everything I guess) we just don’t have the athletes on defense to keep up with any of their players and our defensive line will likely be dominated and pushed all over the field.

I do think Tyler may run a kickoff back tonight due to over pursuit by Miami’s kickoff team.

Comment by htp123 11.29.14 @ 9:02 am

Does anyone have any info on Rowan.

I know he de-committed and opened up his recruiting, and moved.

Does he have any interest at all in still coming to Pitt, or has he worked himself up into a position of blue blood recruit???

Comment by Dan 11.29.14 @ 9:04 am

PittFan28, What I should have said is we need front seven guys that are big, fast, strong and skilled enough to shed blockers and make bone crunching tackles behind and at the line of scrimmage. Like in the VA Tech-VA game last night or like we will see in the Alabama-Auburn Game today. The QB’s in that game last night are in the ice baths and whirlpools today, if not in the hospital.

Our offense is good enough to play with anyone (except Akron) we need to be able to say the same thing about our D, and special teams.

The thing you miss when you don’t have a rivalry game is the intensity. Should be some great ones today. For Pitt that is the biggest tragedy of realignment. Pitt-PSU was huge and the Backyard Brawl was pretty good too. It will be years if ever we develop the same hatred for an ACC team, or them for us.

Comment by gc 11.29.14 @ 9:12 am

It looks like Rowan is considering Florida or Louisville, we don’t appear on his list anymore.

Comment by gc 11.29.14 @ 9:22 am

Dr Tom, any kind of decent defense this year and we win 8,9 or 10 games. The sad thing is, how do we not expect the same thing next year? Especially if no changes are made in coaching.

Comment by gc 11.29.14 @ 9:28 am

Powered by WordPress © PittBlather.com

Site Meter