For all the things Ryan Luther was bringing to each game — the only senior, scoring, fouls, etc. The one thing he did that no one else on the team has been doing is rebounding. And it isn’t even close.
Among Panthers averaging more than six minutes per game, he had the best defensive rebounding percentage. On a team that struggles to rebound on offense and and prevent opposing teams from doing the same, he had the highest offensive rebounding percentage, collecting 14.2 percent of Pitt’s misses while he was on the court, the 50th-best mark among Division I players. The Panthers’ next-closest qualifying player in that category — freshman Terrell Brown — is at 9.2 percent.
Luther was also collecting about 20% of the defensive rebounds. Pitt has been an abysmal team with rebounding. Now with Luther out for at least two weeks, the rebounding issue is going to be significant.
In the last game against a small, overmatched McNeese State, Pitt did rather well at group rebounding on the defensive end. It’s hard to judge the offensive side, because after a very slow start Pitt shot nearly lights out in the second half. That minimized the offensive rebound opportunities.
The scoring isn’t as much of a concern. Pitt has young players that will be eager and willing to fill that gap. The rebounding and defense inside, though…
Look, Luther isn’t the best defender by a long shot. But he might be the best Pitt has in the interior. Certainly, he is probably the most willing to challenge shots and knows where he is supposed to be.
Pitt and Coach Kevin Stallings have no choice but to rely on freshmen and freshmen who should be redshirting to play a lot more in his place. Terrell Brown, Kene Chukwuka and Peace Ilegomah are going to get the minutes and are going to have learn fast about getting in position and not being outmuscled for rebounds.
Pitt essentially has this last warm-up game tonight against Deleware State. After that, it is a rather good mid-major in Towson State (coached by Pat Skerry). Then it’s the ACC schedule.
Your note unfortunately is just depressing…because, it just ain’t gonna happen!
Totally agree it should though.
But we just gave up 11 in the previous 10 minutes to blow a 22 point lead to an 0-11 team.
Dreading ACC games
Hanging on by a thread
Even with a young team, they should not have let Del. St. back into it.
Prior to this game, I figured Towson would win on Fri. Now, I think Pitt will be run out of their own building.
I also figured about 3 ACC wins. Now, especially playing only 20 minutes per game, I don’t see how they can beat any team from a major conference.
In contrast, let me take you back to the wvcc game. Pitt was down 7 with about 2 minutes to play and KS let the game play out, sloppily, with no time outs nor player fouling to stop the clock. Pitt never scored in that final 2 minutes.
Many have said KS is just on the sidelines collecting a pay check (big one, mind you) and not “really” coaching. Appears to be the case, right?
Last night, I was screaming for a time out in the 2nd half to refocus the players on rebounding – Lyke positioning yourself under the basket when your teammate shots so you can initiate the technique of blocking out. Reminding them of the fundamentals? Seems Lyke a basic coaching move when your team is blowing a 22 point lead, quickly and without much resistance.
Instead, the team KS is “coaching” was almost beaten last night by the 351st ranked team, out of 351.
I had predicted .500 non-con and a 2-3 win con. Still seems about right.