9pm
ACCNetwork Extra/WatchESPN or Regional Sports Networks (ROOT, NESN, YES, Sportstime Ohio, etc.)
This is sort of what it must have felt like for fans of other Big East teams when Pitt was at its defensive apex in the early 2000s. A team that grinds everything to a stop. That forces opposing teams to play a different way. Low scoring affairs that piss you off because it seems the defense got away with muggings while the announcers just heaped praise upon the fundamentally sound defense. A brutally efficient team that sucks the life out of the game.
“They try to grind you into their game,” Pitt coach Kevin Stallings said. “A lot of times, when you play them — and I say this because we’ve scrimmaged them, we’ve played them when he was at Washington State — if they get you in their grinder, you’ve got problems. You have to work to keep playing your game the way you play it and not succumb to the style they want.”
I’m not feeling terribly optimistic about this one.
But we will see if they can stretch the defense and find some gaps. Or at least get some offensive rebounds and easy buckets in transition.
“They don’t have any defensive lapses, really ever,” Johnson said. “They really control the tempo of the game. They really like to enforce their style of play and make you uncomfortable.”
Johnson said video study scheduled for later in the day Tuesday would help.
“We’ll find things we think we can exploit,” he said.
Pitt’s edge might be its free-flowing offensive style and shot-making ability that have been the most apparent traits of Stallings’ team in his first season.
The defense of Virginia is a given. It’s the offense that will break the spirit. They are slow and maddeningly efficient. They shoot over 50% inside the arc, in no small part to very good ball movement. Conversely, Pitt is very bad at interior defense — as you may have noticed against Notre Dame, where the Irish were 22-42 on 2-point shots.
It will be one thing for Pitt to find ways to score against Virginia’s offense. The question in every game for Pitt is whether the defense can do enough. (Just like the football team.)
In 2015 Dixon played these guys we lost 61-49. Then he went on to lose in the NIT to GW 60-54.
Tonight we made Virginia play our game. Think about that….
Syracuse never had much of a bench when they made deep runs in the Tourney, other teams too.
did someone not use fabric softner for your panties.
Not to say this team isn’t exciting. Next year may be a bump in the road though. We need to make the Tournament.
Talk about not being able to judge college QB’s.
Just stfu
Not complicated.
You guys praising Oreck Otis do realize he has jamie’s top 2 scorers leading the ACC. Dick Groat could beat a weak UVA team with those two.
That’s your typical move… go WAY over the top in an effort to discredit any opposing argument no matter how accurate.
I simply said deserved a chance versus Voytik… your ALL-TIME Favorite Pitt QB… next to Cavanaugh and Marino.
Btw Voyitk remains the last Pitt QB to actually win a Bowl Game. So suck on that.
TRUTH
western pysch and get a room with Darkie. How Pitt employs those guys?????? Hillgrove shouldnt do a high school game.
It’s a shame the shit roster Dixon left him after this year. Especially with a new AD coming in. May never get a fair shake.
Notre Dame loss even more frustrating now!!
Let’s make nice.
I guess your welcome, and we’ll take the win!!!
H2P
Lots of ups and downs but something to celebrate for a change.
Young was his old self underneath, we actually made offensive rebounding a priority. Guys hit big shots when they counted. The Zoo was awesome and took Guy totally out of his game.
Yeah a little too loose with the ball at times, and free throws almost cost us the game, again.
But what a block by Luther, can’t wait to see it on replay. Jeter and Johnson really came through with scoring and rebounding.
Gallagher was really into it and happy. A real confidence builder.
Just like the football team this team must win with offense because the defense completely disappears at times, but they made some nice stops in overtime along with the superb 3 3’s in a row.
Definitely a new era.
Stallings showed his metal tonight – the players responded to a tough loss on Sat…the coach out schemed a top 10 team … naysayers be damned for one night at least.
H2P
Love Cam Johnson and Luther.
Dixon left Stallings a shit roster but those those same players shot over 54% from the field and 62% from three and Pitt beat the currently #11 ranked team. They also crushed UVA on the glass. Not bad for such a poor roster. However that dominance does make me ponder how it even went to OT.
Pap, most of the games you cite were closely contested and against more defensively competent UVA teams (lazy closeouts and poor help) than Pitt played last night. It’s not like Pitt got their ass kicked in past years. I believe last year was the only game I felt Pitt wasn’t really in.
That Luther block was something. The game saver was Artis 3 to knot it after UVA took the 3 pt. lead near the 6 minute mark of the 2nd half. Had that not gone it seemed as if things might unravel.
I will say that Stallings is much looser with regard to letting them play than Dixon was. Not sure whether that is good or bad but it worked last night.
