There is nothing remotely surprising about the outcome of the game. Oh, hell, let’s jump right to Kevin Stallings in the post-game.
Thirty games into his first season at the school, Stallings saw a continuation of what has irked him for much of the past four months, including a lack of execution from a group, he said after the game, which sometimes lacks coachability.
“If the coach says run a play, how about just run the play?” Stallings said. “How about just don’t come down and charge before you give the play a chance to unfold? It’s a lot of things. It’s staying in your stance on defense. It’s staying between your man and the goal. It’s seeing the ball when you’re away from the defense. There are a lot of things that go into it. I get it. I get where they’re at. I get where we’re at in the season. It’s kind of a pride thing at this point. I just had hoped we would play a little better.”
Not that Stallings has been much for taking much responsibility for the way this team plays, other than the usual lip service of “it’s on me as the coach” stuff after blaming the players. But after this game, he didn’t even bother with the pretense.
I mean, I don’t think he’s totally wrong. It is clear that this group didn’t want to listen to him outside of “offensive freedom.” And we all know how thin this team is, making it next to impossible to just bench a guy. But at some point he needed to just yank those players from the game (this one or any of the others where things unfolded all too similarly) rather than lament them (not by name) in the post-game. It’s not like they are listening to him on the court, why would he think they would listen off?
Offense feeds the effort of this team — especially the two primary seniors. When the offense is going, the energy is up. They are at least making an effort on defense. When — as last night — the offense is stuck. In this case because Georgia Tech was very good defensively, you could see the frustration mounting on offense. As that happened, the defensive effort kept slipping as the game got later into the second half.
In the first half, Pitt kept GT outside. They kept the interior — where the Yellow Jackets thrive — clogged. Points happened, but more shots were taken from outside or as jumpers. In the second half, as the offensive frustration mounted, the defense kept getting sloppier. Spreading out further, leaving the paint. Opening up passing lanes, and GT started getting closer, easier shots inside.
Only one more regular season game left, and it sure looks like Pitt will finish sub-.500. There is no way this group will even do the CBI. They just don’t care.
I’ll never say Conner can’t do something, so …
Based on his current conditioning, I’m going to say he runs a 6.95 and 4.54. Just under the gun for both.
Not being a complete homer either. He is currently at the weight he was entering the “lost” season and that summer it was reported he was hand timed sub 4.5.
Late night, early Morn. That’s my excuse. Going with it.
Jeff Borzello
ESPN Staff Writer
Pittsburgh has dismissed freshman point guard Justice Kithcart due to conduct detrimental to the team, per release.
Usually with something this abrupt news of a Police Report follows shortly.
As TT has said, if Pitt is going to pull the trigger on Stallings it should happen after the ACC tourney or wait two seasons and evaluate.
It sure would be nice if Barnes would rectify the coaching problem he has in Corvallis by taking as his “solution” the problem he created at Pitt. It’s the ethical thing to do, which means it definitely won’t happen!
Herman extended Suzie McConnell-Serio through 2021 after making the NCAA tournament after her first season at Pitt. Two sub .500 seasons and 4-12 conference finishes since. Another HUGE accomplishment for Herman during his time at Pitt.
Fournette a MAJOR disappointment in Vertical at 28 inches, less than last year’s AVERAGE for Backs.
Declines Broad Jump.
Comes down to the Forty for Fournette.
Pitt not at BC level yet..need at least 4 years of losing to get that level…did you see how many people were actually at the PittBC game? I doubt there were 500 people in the arena…Pitt attendance is dropping but not that bad….yet…
4.75 Forty.
Goodbye NFL.
Turns out 4.65 was pretty close.
In other news, Stallings is still the worst D1 Coach in the NCAA’s.
Kitchart will go to TCU and average 22 a game.
Rushel Shell Second Forty… 4.81
I wasn’t firm on the 4.65. Let my Heart get in the way.
He’ll get picked… guessing about Round 5.
But my PREDICTION is… he could eventually end up earning his way on Defense as an Outside Backer or D-End in a 5-3.
This should make all those who argued that Conner was NOT fast enough or good enough to play Runningback… happy.
James Conner will make (a) a great special teams player and (b) a tremendous GOAL LINE/RED ZONE player
Agree with many of my Blather Brothers….never ever…..count out JC !!! 🙂
It will become abundantly clear to Scouts that one thing Orndoff can do and do well is RUN.
4.6 easily in reach for the Pitt Tight End who measured in at a legit 6-5.
Unfortunately, his 10 Percent Drop Rate is also going to be abundantly clear.
Without Kithcart and with Stallings, I predict we struggle on both ends and go down in defeat.
Remember how competitive this team was to start the ACC play – losing a close one to nd and beating this uva team. The current team is a shell of that early ACC season group that went into the 3rd ACC game with a chance to propell itself into the top 25.
Oh, the memories. Right now Saragin has them rated at #69. Higher than I would place them. Aren’t there 68 teams that make the NCAA tournament? Does that mean other programs are bad too? Should that give us hope that maybe it will be easier to rise back to being a contender?
Wait, I just tied my shoes to go out for some yard work and was reminded who our current HC is – scratch that last contender thought…
shell 4.59