9pm, ESPN2.
The last time these two teams met, all of five days prior, it didn’t go so well for Pitt. Senior suspensions. Blowout loss. And the look of a team that just wanted to pack it in.
I know, getting hyped for this game, huh?
Let’s see how they feel now that they finally won a game for the first time in over two weeks.
Can’t say I’m expecting too much. Virginia looked like a different team, and Pitt just hasn’t shown anything — even in the win yesterday — that says this game will be anything but a loss.
Add in the fact that with Virginia’s defense, Pitt has to work hard on every possession and they will be on their second game in the ACC Tourney.
The starters last night played 169 of 200 possible minutes. It would have been higher, but for Cam Johnson’s foul trouble kept him to just 26 minutes. The four senior starters each played 34 – 38 minutes.
Kevin Stallings will have to try and manage minutes and grab rest for the starters where possible. Maybe use some timeouts in this game just to get them a minute or two extra between the TV breaks.
Had an excellent day going, I should have skipped this game, like i had the last 10 or so in the season. Stupid me, my bad.
The fact is, no matter how little talent Dixon left in his wake, there was enough to do better than 4-14 in ACC play. There was enough to not lose — by nine — to Duquesne. There was enough to not be humiliated by 55 points in a loss to Louisville, to not get punched in the face by 26 against Miami, to not find a way to do everything but win in a backbreaking loss to Virginia Tech.
Those three losses happened at home, by the way. Remember when Pitt was unbeatable at The Pete? Me neither. The building was largely lifeless this year, even though it was witness to a few shocking wins, namely those against Virginia and Florida State.
I could keep going on with the litany of ignominious events that have defined this season, but why bother piling on? Sometimes, the simplest statement is best: Pitt basketball is in total disarray right now, and there might not be an easy fix on the way.
I’m going out on a limb A real long one and predicting more wins next season.
You are absolutely right and well stated
1) I don’t believe he was near the best candidate Pitt could have hired, yet he was the only one that was interviewed.
2) He is a miserable human being
— I thought that when I had heard interviews while he was HC at Vandy
— this was reinforced when he didn’t release Jeter to Pitt
— this was reinforced by yelling at his player (caught in public) “I’m going to f…ing kill you”. (What happens if a college player yells the same to his coach?)
— this was reinforced when continuously bellyached about his players this season while accepting little or no blame
This guy should have never been hired at Pitt or any other respectable D1 program
So does anybody remember Brian Shorter? I am fairly sure he was listed as 6’6″ and he was a dominant beast in the low post. Jerome Lane was a dominant rebounder at 6’6″. Dokish full of shit as usual.
He is knowledgeable but at the same time goes overboard in accentuating the positive
There is blame to be shared …. but for him, and others, to blame the lack of leadership solely on the players and absolve the coach is unconscionable. In college, the HC is the leader. In the ACC alone, there is no doubt that K, Williams, Boeheim, Pitino, Bray and Bennett are in charge …. when have you heard any of them whine about their players?
Also, I agree with you on how Dixon provided no depth, but also he left this team with a lack of toughness. I look at Artis and think of a taller Ashton Gibbs. Neither wanted to play much defense, and in the late 1st half when shots weren’t falling, Doris Burke even called Artis out on his effort.
My opinion – Dixon didn’t know what to do in the ACC with this team, so a change was welcome. Is Stallings the right answer? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s too early to tell. He obviously couldn’t win over the seniors, but hopefully the team’s – and his – mindset gels.
link to media1.break.com