7pm
RSN (Root, NESN, YES, various FoxSports) or ACC Network Extra/ESPN3
Broke losing streak to Virginia. Broke winning streak versus Syracuse. Have an 8-game losing streak to Louisville. Let’s see if things continue.
Since there is a lull in scandals at Louisville, the focus for this game is really on handling the press. Specifically, how will Pitt handle it with Jamel Artis as point-forward?
Coach Kevin Stallings is trying to downplay concerns of turnovers off the press.
In the middle of a standout senior season, Artis will be faced with one of his tallest obstacles of the season tonight against the Cardinals, one that will test many of the key skills of a position with which he’s still relatively inexperienced. Against an opponent the Panthers have struggled mightily with the past five years, his play might well be a defining factor. Kevin Stallings, the one who made the decision to put Artis at point guard, believes in what his 6-foot-7 senior can do.
“I think Jamel will be fine,” Pitt’s first-year coach said. “Jamel’s a good ballhandler. He knows how to use his body to protect the ball. He’s not a guy that gets sped up easily.”
Not that Artis is fantastic as the point forward. He is averaging 3.3 assists per game to 2.7 turnovers a game. For Stallings, the turnovers come from a more problematic place.
On the season, Artis is averaging a team-worst 2.7 turnovers per game, but much of that has to do with how many minutes he plays and how often the ball is in his hands. His turnover rate, for instance, is the third-best among Pitt’s top six players. Though they came at a different position, Artis has had 13 turnovers in four career games against Louisville, nine last season.
Though he has been impressed with Artis’ poise and overall skill set at the point — things that should serve him well against the Cardinals — there are some inherent woes that still give Stallings pause.
“Jamel’s problems come from being too casual,” he said. “His problems don’t come from being overwhelmed athletically or being bothered by a tough defender on the other team. Jamel’s problems usually just come from when he loses concentration and focus. I have confidence Jamel will take care of the ball just fine and get us into offense and be the good player that he is.”
On the other side, you have the usual Rick Pitino stuff. Saying how is team is in a weak place and downplaying how much the defense will impact Pitt.
Louisville (13-3, 1-2) averages 75.1 points per game, six fewer than Pitt, and coach Rick Pitino said Tuesday that injuries have taken a toll on his team.
“We used walk-ons to practice,” he said.
Three Louisville players have suffered concussions this season, the latest being sophomore Deng Adel, who couldn’t practice Monday but is recovering and is expected to play against Pitt, Pitino said.
The problem for Pitt will be breaking Louisville’s press that quickly can convert turnovers into points.
Pitino said the makeup of Pitt’s lineup — with five starters who can handle the ball — may lessen the effect of his press.
“They’ll have five guys help against the press,” he said. “I don’t think the press will be a major factor in this game, but I hope it is a factor.”
Adel, probably won’t start, but he will be in the rotation. With lots of size inside, that will present issues for Pitt inside.
“We are back to wearing helmets again in practice, but the good news is (reserve center) Matz (Stockman) and Deng Adel will be available for the Pitt game, but he won’t start.”
The Cardinals should have a height advantage in the low block. Louisville moved 6-10 sophomore forward Ray Spalding and 7-0 junior center Anas Mahmoud into the lineup four games ago and things seems to be improving on the offensive end for Louisville in the post.
“I think Ray right now is playing great basketball,” Pitino said. “He is becoming a great interior passer. He and Anas have a great chemistry working together. Ray passes well and Anas has good hands and can catch passes.”
Simply put, Pitt has to be really crisp with the passing, to find open looks on the outside for this game. And then, to actually knock down the shots.
There has been nothing shown to this point, that Pitt handles size inside well. The nature of this team is to take shots away from the basket. Louisville is one of the best defensive teams in the country and always has active hands and a willingness to jump out on shooters.
It makes it worth repeating. Pitt has to move the ball well on offense to find good looks. They also have to hit those shots. Otherwise, it won’t matter what kind of offensive performance Louisville has. Pitt’s defense just isn’t good enough to keep them from getting second chances and to the free throw line to make the difference.
night for Pitt. I give Pitt little credit for the comeback because they showed they were a beaten team by their usual poor defense and no focus at the FT line. Gonna be a looooong season.
Some nites I couldn’t miss
That and missed FT’s.
No excuse for that.
H2P!!!
Artis might have set a Pitt single scoring record.
Tonight, a little Young… Artis 1.5
Not enough.
Man are we going to stink next year, unless this recruiting class gets further beefed up.
Numbers 3 and 11… Wilson and Manigault.
Destined to see more time.
Pretty obvious since he moved to Point.
It’s clear to me that we go as far as jamel takes us, and young better follow!
As far as the rest of the team……trash
Questionable whether Johnson belongs playing at this level.
And as for LUTHER… seems to have hit the ceiling. No sign of improvement from a year ago. Maybe a step in the other direction.
When you struggle to win at home, in conf. Usually you get routed on the Road.
2) MY was terrible. TO machine, can’t make FTs. Just ugly, ugly.
3) Cam is on the floor for one reason: to make 3s and stretch the D. Second game in a row he was terrible. Really hurts when the other guards, except for Artis, can’t shoot.
4) Feel like every game Jeter gets 2 garbage fouls called on him. Generally, he’s been playing better.
5) Just amazing that we don’t have one serviceable big. Really hurt in a game like last night.
I still think that we’ll win some big games, but with so few offensive contributors, it’s just too much to overcome in this conference.
So the end result for what should always be your number 1 constituency-the students? A school bus ride and a free coke to a stadium with more capacity and less ambiance or a seat in the Zoo in a half empty arena watching a day late and a dollar short journeyman try to slay the Goliaths with little or no chance of success.
What AD applicant would want to take on this mess?
Something definitely appeared wrong with MY last night…
Also hard to understand is how Johnson runs so hot and cold. Jeter’s foul troubles are also a problem.
Not having a true big man and true point guard is hard to overcome.
Both seem to bring a little more Athleticism which this Team is in dire need of.
Increased Playing Time for both over the next few Games might enable Pitt to match up BETTER against more Teams.
Cam just can’t be THAT cold in big games. Everybody has an off shooting night, but he’s been terrible 2 games in a row. Jeter is finally looking better offensively, although he still settles for too many jumpers, so he could be a big difference maker going forward, if he can stay on the floor.
Biggest upset: Pitt topples Clemson
Ladies and gentlemen, your 2016 transitive-property national champs: The Pitt Panthers. Yes, the only team over the past two years to beat Clemson in the regular season was Pitt, which used two brutal second-half interceptions by Watson to fuel an unlikely upset as a three-touchdown underdog. It was indicative of Pitt’s season, which included two victories over eventual top-10 teams and four frustrating losses by a combined 18 points.
H2P!!!
H2P!!!
We do have OPEN roster spots and transferred NO one in to help out.
Kevin is getting exactly what he asked for going into this year with this roster and not getting any help where it was needed.
This team is very frustrating, but as Stallings said post game, we can’t be too devastated – very few will go in there and win. I’m just concerned about us dealing with athletic guards and bigs. We have no match for either.
A few other miscellaneous notes: I like Cam but his default setting is passivity ..this was clear in the very good double team at halfcourt in which the ‘Ville player eventually found an open man for an easy dunk. Cam wasn’t nearly aggressive enough. He semi-turtles around superior athletes as well.
Chris Jones has been the same player for 3 years. If anything, his shot has regressed. He seems like a good young guy and I think he plays hard, but improvement has been non-existent.
Fnally, quit taking Artis and Young out AT THE SAME TIME. There is no offense when they’re out. Stalling has done it a couple games in a row. I know he’s trying to steal rest before a TV timeout, but it’s really hurting.
H2P
The problem with Johnson is that he has the body of a 6-8 12-year-old (never mind that he actually looks 12).
Seriously… he really gives you so little 75 percent of the time. That other 25 percent when he actually makes a few threes just fools everyone into thinking he actually has something.
Convinced more every year, every Game… that he really doesn’t belong playing at this level.
The question is “Why do other Teams have SO MANY Players who are able to bring so much more?”
Well everyone knows the answer to that one. At least they should.
Artis 1.5 on his own is not enough to beat you.
A couple of points…
Stallings is obviously learning what Players he can count on and which ones he can’t. When you’re a Coach you might think a Player who’s been practicing well just needs some time on the Court to find themselves. Sometimes Coaches learn that practicing well doesn’t always translate well to Games. This is especially true with young Players.
I think Kithcart could be a PRIME example of this.
Now to be critical of Stallings… any criticism of his Defense aside… the last couple of Games I think he is failing to find ways of getting Young OPEN. And this is WHY Pitt is STRUGGLING right now.
But I still think there might be something going on with Young. Against Syracuse, he was just being knocked off his Game due to Boeheim’s collapsing ZONE Defense.
Against Louisville, Young really looked like he was a bit “out of it.”
It might be a LACK of confidence. Maybe something else.
But one thing for sure, this Pitt Team is not going to have meaningful WINS without both Young and Artis doing their thing.
It’s about Players like Jeter continuing to do Yeoman’s Work at both ends of the Court from start to finish.
And pretty much ABANDONING what you thought was going to work going in… and just letting Artis take the Game OVER!
The Miami team I am watching right now will tear Pitt apart inside. Hope we are hitting our threes. Artis is Superman right now!
