Well this is as close to a home game Pitt has had in almost three weeks. Down at the Con for a 7pm start on ESPN3.com. Not even a FullCourt TV option.
When Cam Wright was hurt before the season, this was believed to be the return game. It now looks like extra caution is being used — and I don’t have a problem with that — and his return will probably be next Saturday. As much as he is needed to help on perimeter defense — especially against a Dukes team that shoots a lot of 3s — it is best to have him all the way recovered and not mostly recovered for the purposes of the entire season.
Pitt link:
Pitt shooting horribly except for JR who has 20. Danger time forPitt
Randall started and got a quick foul and Dixon took him out, putting Uchebo in, who played quite well.
Good bounce back game for Robinson. Uchebo, Jones, Newkirk, and Artis all played well.
Young a little off again.
Good D in the first half.
Almost 15,000 for the game, pretty good.
Duquesne has some shooters.
Uchebo with some offensive moves today. Much better touch than Randall.
Hopefully the latter as Pitt really needs in inside presence.
If you would have told me pre-game that Pitt would only get 1 point from MY, I’d prolly would have said we would lose.
Huge game for JR, is this the same factor as with Uchebo. The Newkirk played well again.
And finally where was Sheldon Jeter ? Mia
Skinny cam getting some minutes, playing time for is about to get tight….randall and jeter are on the out looking at n.
Absolutely loved uchebo tonight. Got the ball and went for the score every time . Super agressive yet in control.
If only young would play like that.
Hey were are the robinson haters tonight?
Dixon said on Thursday night’s radio show that Uchebo’s knees had been acting up. That could explain why he hardly played in Maui or Indiana.
On post game show, Dixon said that Wright’s foot was fine, but he was rusty because he had only had one day of practice. He’ll probably start against St. Bonaventure.
Being in the Carolina’s I usually miss all those radio shows. Maybe the long plane rides to Hawaii and back to the Burgh killed Big Joe’s knees. Unless you’re in first class, those airline seats will kill you if you have long legs.
Nice offensive game from Uchebo. Randall played only 4 minutes. Makes for a lot of questions about the 5. If the Dukes had any front court at all, Pitt loses tonite.
This is NOT a typical Pitt team. Lots of questions, lots of issues. Luther played a ton tonite. Wright with a token appearance. Much like in football, Pitt will have to outscore teams if it hopes to win.
Jamie said during post game on radio Randall “took a step back tonight” thus the low minutes coming off 12 reb performance vs IU? Jamie’s quick hook on his big men confuses and concerns me.
Wright looked very tentative on the 2 shots he took. First shot it appeared they ran a set play for him (he was in isolation the whole time) but when he drove to the basket went very gingerly. Hopefully this was just a dry run and he looks better vs St. Bonnie next Sat
Robinson was hot from the outside, but imagine how many more points he would have had if he could finish at the iron??? Maddening.
If Pitt had made half of their missed FT and layups would have been a blow out in 1st half. Only reason they stayed close in 2nd b/c of this as well. Give Duquesne credit in 2nd half for making it a game for a while. However tonight Pitt’s talent beat Duquesne’s heart. If Duquesne had a few more decent players and McConnell might have got the upset tonight.
Refs definately gave Duquesen some calls tonight. Late in game #5/Powell took 4 steps on way to basket and Pitt got called for foul. Lot of other touch calls on Pitt but Duquesne given more levity tonight.
Hopefully a week off gives Pitt the rest they need. Jamie also said during post game on radio they “were tired”.
Rest of December is all at home vs. ok but beatable teams. Good time to rest up, get better and get comfortable in their roles and the offense/defense.
Since moving to Consol teams rotate who is home team in the City Game. Pitt was the home team this year. I was at the game, Consol seats a little over 19,000 for a basketball, I would say 12,000 more realistic than 15k. We know how accurate Pitt attendance figures are…
What can you really take from this game? Dukes are a perennial bottom feeder in A 10. Uchebo looked good, and also played with some fire. He scored 12 tonight, had 7 pts in 7 games before tonight, so tonight had to feel good.
Robinson and Newkirk played together a lot and combined for 39. I don’t think Sheldon Jeter got on the court. Artis was ok, still thought he would have taken more of a leap this year. Michael Young was a non factor tonight and was in early foul trouble for 2nd game in a row.
Next 5 are big. Figure some things out. Shore up the D. If we are not 10-3 when we open ACC play in Raleigh against Wolfpack God help us…
You can listen to the radio show online and on demand this year. Here’s the link:
“Joe hasn’t been the same guy that was playing in the preseason for the last three weeks or so because of the knees. We just have to see how it is going to go with him. It is a unique situation, and he practiced well the last two days and that was encouragement there.”
I believe the absence of Slice or a coach like him is part of the reason we have not seen Haughton yet and could explain Jamie’s comment last night that Randall took a step back. Could it be? No other explanation being offered…
What is Barton’s role by the way?
Too many questions – sorry…
He did a great job from the key destroying Duquesne’s zone. He also handled the ball well and made his foul shots calmly at crunch time.
Zeiss speculated a few days ago that he, not Jones, would keep his starting spot when Wright returns. I agree.
S Jeter played 1 minute vs Indiana the other night, and was beaten on a drive and gave up a 3-pt play. He was immediately replaced and hasn’t been seen from since.
From what I had seen briefly at Vandy and what I read and heard about him this summer, he definitely has skills … and will probably be needed in ACC play, so I would hope that he shapes up. I would expect him to get more PT in the next few pre-season games.
The next few weeks he can relax (a little) and experiment. Hopefully, Jeter and Haughton will see more playing time and show effective results that will help us in ACC play.
There is talent on this BB team – right now it is a puzzle that Jamie is trying to figure out how to put the right pieces together. Hoping the picture looks more like the Mona Lisa in March than a second graders drawing of their family –
If uchebo can give us what he gave us last night, and Wright comes back strong, we will have come a long way in solving our defensive problems. This could (stress, could!) become a far better team than it has been.
Thanks so much !
Artis only took 4 shots. Guard oriented game as JR, the Newkirk and Jones took the majority of shots
Big Joe only was on the floor for 14 minutes, but made haste with 12 points and 9 rebounds. That’s a pretty effective 14 minutes.
We have to find him a better orthopod.
Big Joe start taking some Glucosamine/Shark Cartilage…..does wonders for the joints.
So 2,000 more than what can get into The Pete.
Pitt should be selling out the Consol anytime they play there. Need to offer a more exciting product.
If we are going to rely on Robinson to be one of the top scorers, we won’t win many games. Even on a good night Robinson and Jones shooting percentage is very low. In close games this won’t be good enough.
Two bad games in a row for Young, primarily due to foul trouble. Not what you want to see from your star.
Why play Wright at all if only for a minute? Just does not smell right to me. Got a month to get him healthy.
If Uchebo’s knees are day to day, another big problem of which there appear to be many.
Jamie going to earn his paycheck this year.
One good note, Newkirk had his best game 6-9 shooting, now that’s a percentage that works.
Wright had to have practiced in the days leading up to last nite’s game….right.
So maybe he tweeked something, cause as you say, why did he play for only for 1 minute.
St. Bonnie is going to be a tougher game, they have equal scoring among their 5 starters and have some height, with the 7’0, 250 lb’r from Senegal who is averaging a double/double.
I am wondering about Young…foul trouble…or something else?
My point being: You look at what Uchebo did out there last night…when he got the ball in the paint, his goal was to SCORE.
I really have not seen Young have that kind of mindset yet this year. Which is sad becuase, I think he could, and do well. Yeah he is playing against taller players…so did Blair, cry me a river. Young, you can do it! Jamie needs to light an offensive fire under him. And do it now so he can get some confidence against the non-con.
Imagine the vitriol if WE had lost one like wbb mentions above.
68-55.
Yep this stuff happens a lot.
At one time though not long ago, no stiffs came into the Pete and beat Pitt.
1) This team need a reliable 3 point gunslinger — and they need it bad. JD needs to get on whomever (JR, Artis, Luther…) and give them the green light. We’re not going to win with the “first to 60” mentality of the past.
2) This team needs to run more. I usually cringe when Pitt teams of the past used to run because they were not skilled to get down the court fast enough. This team seems to always do go things when they run. Might not support JD’s plodding o efficiency mindset, but come on…take the restrictor plates off!
3) The lack of a quality 5 (be it a young prospect or a project that has been developed) is really catching up to us this year. Adams and Overachieving by Zanna last year has really masked a relatively horrible recruiting path for JD at the 5 position.
Kinda feel like we could be a bubble team by the end if we knock off a couple top teams. Probably more like NIT. Then again, JD has proved me wrong time and time again…so we will see.
FSU, TCU, Baylor, Alabama, Ohio State, and Oregon all have legitimate claims.
Perhaps someone will do a post on this before the selection process and we can all make our choices and support them with why we believe they are in. 🙂
BYU and Cincy have been lobbying Texas to get in.
Tech’s coach, Paul Johnson is one of the best minds in college football. Next year will be Tech’s year… and Pitt’s as well.
Go Jackets & Hail To Pitt!
How does tOSU pass anyone in that they lost to VA Tech? How is TCU ahead of Baylor when they lost to them?
Well in any case two teams are going to lose out. Which two will they be?
I kind of think Emel is right, but I hope not. A blow out of Wisconsin should not impress anyone.
The kid is a local for me along with Clements; both are Teaneck, NJ athletes. I want them to do well.
Come on Wright, get in shape fast. Jeter should be playing alot more. What is going on there?
Boy are we weak at center. Nobody to throw it in to. Randall is not a true center. Uchebo needs at least two more years to get there. Unfortunately he as only one more year.
Dixon should have this team in the NCAA.
Trouble is that we do not have a good defender at either guard position. JR plays hard but gets beat constantly by a quick PG .. he looked really bad vs IU (on both ends.)
FSU will be third or fourth. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ohio State ahead of them.
1 Alabama
2 TCU
3 Oregon
4 Mississippi (not Mississippi St–they are #6)
Pitt likely in Detroit but not yet confirmed.
Jeff Long babbled on about tOSU, too bad Jeff is from Centerville Ohio and I hope his limo driver isn’t a Baylor or a TCU fan it could be an interesting ride to the airport.
Report is our AD lobbied for Pitt instead of Army
