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January 6, 2018

12 pm

ACC Network Affiliates, ACCDN/WatchESPN.

Says something about the match-up when this game is listed as the ACC Network game for 12pm, and the affiliate stations are a lot sparser then usual. It really says something when the local ACC affiliate in Cleveland (WUAB) isn’t carrying the game. Why? Because the station in question is owned directly by Raycom, and the ACC Network syndication is produced and distributed by Raycom.

Ryan Luther continues to be unable to play. Nothing quite like the x-ray suggesting the bone “was just getting ready to break.”

Who would have thought that an injury to Ryan Luther would be the catalyst for the wheels coming off the team for two straight seasons?

If you follow me on twitter during the games, you will know that I have recently been charting Jared Wilson-Frame’s 3-point futility. It has become glaring.

Over the past four games, little has come easy for Jared Wilson-Frame. While his scoring average of 10.5 points per game in that span isn’t any cause for alarm, he has been anything but efficient in reaching that total. Since scoring 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting in a Dec. 16 victory against McNeese State, the junior guard/forward has made just 11 of his past 51 shots (21.6 percent) and four of his past 31 3s (12.9 percent).

For a player who has some tendencies of a gunner — and whose greatest contribution, along with experience, was supposed to be shooting — it’s a distressing change of direction, something that has caused his season averages to plummet (his field goal percentage to .366 and 3-point percentage to .296).

Part of those struggles come from the state of flux that has overtaken Pitt in Luther’s five-game absence. Without the 6-foot-9 senior, Wilson-Frame has regularly had to play out of position. The 6-foot-5 Wilson-Frame was featured as a power forward in 11 of the 33 new lineups Pitt used to wrap up non-conference play without Luther after being in that spot in only four of the team’s first 93 unique lineups. In two ACC games, he has been the second-tallest player in 11 of Pitt’s 30 lineups.

A couple things. If Wilson-Frame is playing more at power forward, then as long as the opponent is not playing too much zone, he should have something of an advantage in dragging his man outside on perimeter shots. Creating some better shooting looks from outside. Conversely the size inside he would be facing should make it harder to score closer to the basket.

The McNeese State game was the exception for a purely dismal December. At least from outside the arc. And boy, has that carried into the ACC action.

In the first 7 games, Wilson-Frame was 18-44 on 3s. A 41% clip. Inside the arc he was 16-35 (46%).

In the 8 games since, his 2-point shooting has remained consistent at 46% (19-39). The 3-point shooting, though, has fallen off a cliff to 20% (11-54). He’s 0-12 on 3s in the first two ACC games. Bringing Wilson-Frame off the bench against Louisville made no difference with his shot

The whole Stallings yelling at a fan thing has carried over for a couple more days as Rick Pitino inserted himself into things by calling Stallings a, “jackass.” Seems like a good time to remember that Rick Pitino had to be restrained at halftime from going after a fan in Chapel Hill last year. When he still had a job.

Coach Kevin Stallings could care less.

Stallings had little comment on a report that former Louisville coach Rick Pitino called him a “jacka**” for Stallings’ remark Tuesday night, saying one of his brothers died over the holidays and the funeral was Wednesday. “I’ve had a few more important things to worry about than [Pitino],” Stallings said. “I haven’t really given that much thought, to be honest with you.”

Probably thought about for, oh, 15 seconds.

 





Game not being shown in Pittsburgh, a new low.

Comment by gc 01.06.18 @ 12:11 pm

Channel 4, wtae, gc.

Comment by alcofan 01.06.18 @ 12:16 pm

Wilson Frame comes into the game and a 5 point lead turns into a 4 point deficit

Comment by Steve h 01.06.18 @ 12:21 pm

Boy was that a cold finish to the 1st half. O for everything in the last five minutes. And then in the last minute they allow three 2 pointers to give up the lead.

Pitt had the potential for the last shot, threw up a brick with 4 seconds left and let VT run the floor for an easy layup.

Sad display of basketball…

Comment by Erie Express 01.06.18 @ 12:55 pm

Carr’s turnovers are troublesome. He is dribbling to deep without a plan.
VT has missed several open shots, otherwise Pitt would be down big, at the half.
Pitt’s post defense is non-existent.
They should have been attacking Blackshear to draw fouls.
Way too many turnovers!

Comment by xfmrman 01.06.18 @ 12:59 pm

I’m encouraged by the first half!, except for the turnovers

Comment by Keith 01.06.18 @ 1:04 pm

Pitt making a run with Peace in the game.

Comment by xfmrman 01.06.18 @ 1:27 pm

So, After the run, Stallings subs in Kene and Milligan. And VT makes them looks foolish.

Comment by xfmrman 01.06.18 @ 1:35 pm

I’m seeing a lot of blow by baskets today by VT

Comment by Erie Express 01.06.18 @ 1:37 pm

Yeah, Pitt cannot defend ball screens.

Comment by xfmrman 01.06.18 @ 1:39 pm

Just like last yr, ee. And for a couple yrs since we joined the acc.

Comment by alcofan 01.06.18 @ 1:41 pm

But, I do love the fight in them. Hopefully, with experience, their efforts will show results.

Comment by xfmrman 01.06.18 @ 1:41 pm

Stevenson should do that every time he touches the ball. None of the finesse crap.

Comment by xfmrman 01.06.18 @ 1:49 pm

Can Pitt keep it under 17 for the bookies

Comment by Erie Express 01.06.18 @ 1:55 pm

VT playing hard for Vegas

Pitt not so much…

Comment by Erie Express 01.06.18 @ 1:56 pm

But Kevin call timeout once the score got to 12 with under one minute to play.

Why?

Comment by Erie Express 01.06.18 @ 1:58 pm

Say what you will about the coaching search and how it was handled, but these kids play hard for their coach, that’s all you can ask

Comment by Keith 01.06.18 @ 3:51 pm

LOL – Play Hard…. B/C no one else in D1 would give them a scholarship. Play Hard?? Stallings makes 2M+ a year. God the standard for you guys is basically a dark alley with a car on blocks and crack addicts and hookers and a burned out streetlight.

Comment by Upittbaseball 01.06.18 @ 5:24 pm

And, this team has talent that will prevail, just not this year

I’m excited about the future, but will stallings survive?!, probly not

Comment by Keith 01.06.18 @ 6:12 pm

This team is very young and seems to be a tight group, it’s sad they don’t have the support of pitt “fans”

Comment by Keith 01.06.18 @ 6:31 pm

Duke going down to nc state tonight leaving us alone in the acc basement.

Comment by alcofan 01.06.18 @ 10:18 pm

link to espn.com

Keith – Pitt paid for a Brand New BMW and got a 96 Corolla with no front end and 187K miles and a missing fuel pump.

Comment by Upittbaseball 01.07.18 @ 5:03 pm

Was anyone happy with how stallings was hired, nope

Did all pitt fans think we deserved better?, yep

Do these young players (with talent) deserve an entire fan base to not support them?, nope

If the fan base is unhappy for the stallings hiring, fine, be mad at the punk that’s in Oregon st, what happens if stallings wins in year 3 or 4? (Which I think happens), does the fan base continue to not support the team?, if so, grow the fuck up

Comment by Keith 01.07.18 @ 9:56 pm

You waste 3 more years on a hope and a dream. Little to no talent on the team.

In 3 years the damage done has 5-10 year effect.

What has Stallings done over a career that gives you hope? He couldn’t win in the nations worst hoops conf.

Stallings sucks and he needs purged. I called the Barnes hire a joke on Day 1. He was brought in with a 12 month plan to can Jamie and then resign and move back west. No PNW guy moves to Pittsburgh unless it was a mercenary move.

Comment by Upittbaseball 01.07.18 @ 11:13 pm

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