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March 9, 2016

Noon on ESPN.

Think I manipulated my work schedule just so. Should get home in time or right after the opening tip. Hopslam in the fridge. Knob Creek Rye on the dining room table if it comes to that.

I’ve hit on Jamel Artis and his shooting being a big deal. We know he’s had big success against Cuse to lead the team to wins against them. Here’s the final thing courtesy of Chris Peak from PantherLair. When Artis shoots 40% or better, Pitt is 18-2. Sub-40%, 2-8. He and Mike Young are Pitt’s best players. If they don’t have — at a minimum — decent games, Pitt doesn’t win too often.

It really is that simple for most games. If your best players aren’t performing you are going to struggle. Maybe you have just that much talent to get by. Or the other team is really bad. But Pitt isn’t the former, and Syracuse isn’t the latter.





With Luther it’s 5 on 5 offensively. With Maia, 4 on 5.

No one on the team trusts Maia to score.

Comment by steve1 03.10.16 @ 7:44 am

Off topic for sure, but this is for all the Sweet Caroline haters:

link to youtube.com

Comment by dinosaur 71 03.10.16 @ 7:50 am

I’m guessing Carolina is not into this game and is mentally preparing themselves for the NCAA Tournament where they will be a #1 or #2 seed. Pitt can win this game if they play smart basketball and make their FT’s. Of course, Jamie needs to just think!

Comment by MariettaMike 03.10.16 @ 7:55 am

Sometimes it takes Players being ON-THE-FLOOR to both get into the rhythm of the game and find their own.

That usually works best by getting them in early and sticking with them.

Of course this doesn’t take into account the need to shuffle players based upon mismatches.

Comment by PittofDreams 03.10.16 @ 7:58 am

Oh, and Joe Lunardi sips through a straw because he still has Pitt on the bubble and possibly not making the NCAA Tourney.

Comment by MariettaMike 03.10.16 @ 7:59 am

But we all know Jamie will get Maia his token three minutes to start the Game.

Comment by PittofDreams 03.10.16 @ 8:02 am

wbb – neither Luther nor Cam has gotten enough minutes to even evaluate them until the last few weeks of the year, so I wouldn’t count how many “hot” games Cam has had, its irrelevant at this point. Also, the younger players never get the same opportunity to succeed/fail as the veterans do (which I somewhat get), so once again evaluations are borderline useless at this point. Both Luther and Cam have proven they belong and have earned longer leashes, anc coach seems to be giving it to them. That said, I hope Artis gets hot again, that’s when Pitt is at its best.

Comment by 1618mt 03.10.16 @ 8:02 am

I see us listed as a likely 8 or 9 seed. I may be in the minority, but I’d love to be an 8 or a 9, because that means we’d be one win from getting to play a #1 seed.

Comment by 1618mt 03.10.16 @ 8:31 am

Maia and muscle used in same sentence?

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.10.16 @ 8:31 am

As inconsistent as this team has been, why would JD have an agenda for not playing the guys who help the team win? You can see how relieved he is after each win.

Luther has warranted more playing time but remember .. Cam scored 20 vs Boston College in late January and then totaled 41 points in the following 12 games … and he played > 10 minutes in 8 of the 12 games.

I hope he stays hot but ….

Comment by wbb 03.10.16 @ 8:33 am

Marietta Mike, Lunardi probably hasn’t updated his bracket. He was saying on ESPN last night that Pitt would be the NCAA Tournament. He thought that Syracuse probably would not be in. He then went on to say that in his opinion a losing conference record would be the line for him.

Comment by Justinian 03.10.16 @ 8:33 am

Not have Cam Johnson for the two road games at Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech hurt more than I realized. Having anyone who could hit an open 3 pointer would have made a big difference. In the 1st half of the Va Tech game, Pitt had a lot of open shots that they just couldn’t knock down. Watching Cam yesterday, he adds a lot to the Pitt offense. He’s mobile and at 6’9″ he has a deadly outside range. He and Luther make things happen and they have to get more minutes on the floor.

Comment by Justinian 03.10.16 @ 8:47 am

Jamie doesn’t have an “Agenda” (this isn’t msnbc), he has a style and system that favors (defers to) veterans, and like I said, I somewhat understand that. But a young guy play 2 minutes at a pop, for a total of 8 or 10 minutes in a game, does not have an opportunity to contribute meaningfully, unless he’s hot immediately. I think this is pretty obvious. The ‘stats’ above (41 in 12?) are meaningless.

Personally, I don’t care who gets hot next, I actually hope its Artis.

Comment by 1618mt 03.10.16 @ 8:55 am

Lunardi has them as a 10 at this moment.
I’d be happy in the 7 to 10 range. Beat UNC gets us to 7.

Would be very happy with a Colorado 1st round and Nova’ or Oregon second. Current 7 seeds are ND, Providence, Seton Hall and DAYTON!!! Colorado, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech, Butler, South Carolina, Cinn., Wich. St, VCU are the 8 and 9 seeds – none to fear or hope for here. 10 seeds are Oregon St, St Joe’s, USC and St. Mary’s – would not refer the last 2.

Comment by TVax 03.10.16 @ 8:55 am

I know, everything will change in a few hours.

Comment by TVax 03.10.16 @ 8:56 am

Justinian, Cam did play vs VT and in fact scored 9 pts in 23 minutes

Comment by wbb 03.10.16 @ 8:59 am

… JD will play him when him if he is doing well

Comment by wbb 03.10.16 @ 9:00 am

Lunardi had us a 10 before the win too; he’s reportedly excellent at getting the field, but poor with bracket placement. Pitt’s a 9 seed with CBS, so we’ll see. would be nice to see a win today or close game to keep us at a 9 or better.

Comment by 1618mt 03.10.16 @ 9:30 am

Embarrassing. JR, Johnson, Dixon. Gross.

Game over.

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.10.16 @ 12:50 pm

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