I know some other heartwarming stuff. A new recruit. I’ll get to the football side, but I have a bunch of basketball links I just want to get off the browser.
Steven Adams has been playing in Orlando in the NBA Summer League. Coach Jamie Dixon has been down there to watch him a couple times in between hitting the various AAU Tournaments. Good puff piece on Adams.
Adams understands where he is in his development, which is why he’s taken to coaching with such enthusiasm.
“Whatever they say, I’ll do because they know what’s best for me,” Adams said.
During breaks in Orlando, Adams sat next to Thunder assistant coach Mark Bryant near the end of the bench. Bryant provided non-stop instruction, and Adams listened intently.
By the end of the week, Adams had begun raving about Bryant and the rest of the Thunder’s staff like a child who had just met his heroes.
“They’re legit,” Adams marveled. “They are awesome.”
For now, the Thunder wants to keep everything simple with Adams. His job is to defend, rebound, run the floor and set good screens. Adams said he is focused mostly on improving his pick-and-roll defense. Everything else, he said, is “just a bonus.”
…
When cutters attempted to get to their spot during summer league play, Adams instinctively would step in and give them a little nudge with his shoulder. When matched up against low-post players, Adams bodied up to them and consistently bumped them off their spots.
“That’s one of the things that we’re going to require out of Steven is that he play physical basketball,” Kalamian said. “Luckily for us, he likes to play that way.”
Not sure if that’s all instinctive. That reads like the basics he would be taught at Pitt to play in the Big East.
ESPN.com had a piece on what each school that lost an NBA Draft lottery pick needs to do to make up for the loss.
“We’ve had very few one-and-dones,” Panthers coach Jamie Dixon said. “But we’re happy for Steven. We’re excited for him. We knew this was a distinct possibility.”
What Dixon didn’t predict was the departure of players such as Trey Zeigler and J.J. Moore, both of whom transferred. Pittsburgh has a pair of top-flight returnees in leading returning scorer Lamar Patterson, a small forward who averaged 10 points last season. Point guard James Robinson (3.6 APG) could have a breakthrough year.
Also back is forward Talib Zanna, who has shown flashes of brilliance the past few seasons in the paint. A senior, Zanna snared 19 rebounds against Villanova last season while starting at center in place of Adams.
“[Zanna] was more productive as a 5-man, to be honest,” Dixon said. “He’ll play some more 5 this year than he did last year.”
The biggest issue down low will be a lack of depth. Dixon said freshman Mike Young will have to adapt in a hurry. Dixon said Young is a tad over 6-foot-9 in shoes and weighs about 245 pounds.
“He’s bigger than most people realize,” Dixon said. “He’s growing. He’s getting stronger and bulkier. I’ve been impressed with him.”
Young will almost certainly start. That would be three straight years of at least one freshman starting on the squad. But, you know, Dixon doesn’t play freshmen.
Think Jamie Dixon really regrets not having a true, quality point guard prior to getting Jame Robinson? Newkirk is coming in this year, and there is a consensus, top-100 4-star point guard from Texas that he is making a strong push to add.
2014 Texas Titans point guard Alex Robinson has nearly gone for a triple-double several times this year. He didn’t get one in Friday’s action [at the Peach Jam], but came up close in the process. He did a good job of setting himself up, along with teammates. A natural leader on the court, Robinson executed on both ends by getting into the lane, playing hard nose defense and executing. Right before the July Live Period began, Robinson spent his 4th of July out of Texas and in Pittsburgh for his first official visit. This is due in part to Robinson’s mother going to TCU with Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon, where both played basketball and established a friendship. The Panthers have made it clear that he would play alongside James Robinson if he joined, and this peeks his interest. Along with that, the point guard is being carted hard by Texas A&M, Miami, SMU, Minnesota and Vanderbilt with a likely list cut after July.
We didn’t get that “Tray and Trey” backcourt quite like expected last year, but Robinson and Robinson would work.
A few articles from Kevin Gorman might be worth reviewing a couple months later (I meant it when I said I’m clearing tabs).
Jamie Dixon making it clear that the style of play is not going to be radically different.
“If you are from Pittsburgh and you have success, they are going to say you’re tough and you play good defense,” he said during a break from the ACC spring meetings.
Nice, but Dixon said Pitt will bring other assets to the ACC next season.
“I’ll ask you, ‘Who was the most efficient offensive team in the Big East?’ ” he said to a reporter. “I’ll tell you. It’s us.”
In three of the past five seasons, Pitt finished in the top eight in the nation and No. 1 in the Big East in points per possession (an average of 1.125).
“You have to be good at both (offense and defense) to have the results we have had,” he said. “We’ve had to be very flexible in what we’ve done, and we will continue to be flexible.”
Efficiency at both ends does not mean glacial, but it does depend on the players staying in control. As I said, the pace/tempo will be faster, but the style will remain.
J.J. Moore eventually transferred. Rumors swirled that both Durand Johnson and Cam Wright might transfer. Steven Adams went pro. Trey Zeigler transferred (again). Panic was close to what it could be called about Pitt basketball. Especially after missing on Jon Severe and a couple JUCOs. April and May were rough on some Pitt fans’ psyches.
Yet when the dust settled, Pitt had a brought back a quality assistant and recruiter. And ended up with the best JUCO center available, a 4-star shooting guard and a transfer from Rutgers who can at least provide some depth in the front court. Big picture, it was a good summer for recruiting. Especially on the fly. It helps not to panic.
Dixon is underappreciated as a recruiter, with a keen eye for untapped talent and strong work ethic.
It’s easy to forget that Dixon has shown some past recruiting creativity.
Dixon discovered a July gem in Ontario Lett, who hadn’t played the previous junior-college season.
And one of Dixon’s first orders upon succeeding Ben Howland in 2003 was to salvage the recruiting class.
Not only did Dixon keep Chris Taft in the fold but when center Walter Waters wanted a release from his scholarship, Dixon found a late August replacement in Ohio guard Antonio Graves.
…
Don’t forget that he has signed five-star frontcourt players in three of his past four classes, even if Dante Taylor didn’t live up to his McDonald’s All-America billing, Khem Birch transferred midway through his freshman year and Adams went pro after one season.If Pitt has a problem, it’s with retention. Only three of seven players remain from the past two recruiting classes, and at least one player has flamed out in every class since 2006.
But Dixon has four scholarships with which to rebuild his roster. And it’s worth noting that Pitt won 25 games in each of the seasons after losing Taft and DeJuan Blair to NBA early entry.
“It’s a different climate out there with recruiting,” Dixon said. “There’s more guys available in the spring because of these new rules that they’ve put into place.”
The Pitt coach likes the idea of having scholarships in the spring, so don’t judge Dixon until he’s done.
Not bad afterall.
Well this is just depressing. I realize it’s July and aside from recruiting there’s little basketball news. But trying to figure out new potential rivalries is desperation. And for Pitt fans, this one is kind of insulting.
Pittsburgh and West Virginia don’t exactly get along. Never have. Why not extend that to West Virginia’s eastern cousin? Sure, the geographic intensity might not be as immediate — Morgantown sits just south of the Pennsylvania border, while Charlottesville is a five-hour drive — but with Pittsburgh such a consistent hoops force, and UVa on the rise under Tony Bennett, who’s to say what the relationship might become? At the very least, the slow-paced Cavaliers look best poised to prevent Pitt from totally grinding an otherwise finesse-first ACC on the glass in seasons to come.
Well, at least it wasn’t the really bad Virginia Tech squad. Still. No.
I’m sure UNC fans will dismiss it as borderline message board ranting from an enemy site, but this post from State Fans Nation (NC State) does lay out a lot of the problems once more looming in Chapel Hill. The P.J. Hairston situation is scarier than Tar Heels fans want to admit.
My guess is that Hairston is dismissed from the school and team before the NCAA can get someone down there to interview him. That way they can limit the potential damage of him being linked to a likely runner for an agent — and anyone else from UNC. Both UNC and Hairston are probably wishing he had declared for the NBA draft at this point.
John Calipari has been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches board. His goal: to push for a two-year restriction and at least age 20 on kids going pro. Okay, good luck at that windmill tilting.
If the NCAA
Hopefully we have one of those on the roster
A quick PG will completely shange our offense nad tempo. Critical to do that in the ACC.
Everone will say Fields was a top guard (shot in low thirties/terrible defender). Statistics can be misleading (assists/turnover ratio). With Young a prolific scorer inflated his assists. His lack of turnovers was because opposing coaches wanted him to monopolize the ball which he gladly did. So turnovers were limited excpet when came was on line Fields was a medicore ballhandler and decision maker. Louisville and Villonva pressed him when game was on the line and he would try to dribble through press and his turnovers came when it counted most.
We’re not chopped liver. Just 3 years ago we were a top team, and I won’t forget the CBS warm up to a game against Syracuse, the announcer going to commercial break, “we’ll be right back with the tip off of these two college basketball titans”.
I am as disappointed with two years ago, and allthough a bounce back last year, wasn’t happy with several games (biggest the ND fiasco and the early exit agsint WSU) as much as the next guy.
We have been a powerhouse though, and should fear no one, playing Syracuse, UCONN, G-Town et al every night.
The reason for any fear, is just the unfamiliarity of some of the new teams we’ll be facing. After a couple years, Duke and UNC will be the new UCONN and G-Town.
My fears, are the mid-pack and bottom teams of the ACC. I don’t think there are going to be as many gimmes in the ACC. Or “should be” gimmes as you can certainly lose to one.
I fear Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Clemson more than I ever did DePaul, Seton Hall and Rutgers.
It was deafening.
(Truth be told I couldn’t take the pressure and got out of my seat to walk around from 10 minutes down to 2. But I got back for the finale)
Being there makes the difference. Did any of you go to the ’76 victory over PSU? The win over WVU in Morgantown? Must have been a similar experience.
Without this performance with under 2 min to go: link to youtube.com
Pitt doesn’t even reach the Elite 8
Levance Fields minimal turnovers, played
a lot of minutes, and made big shots/
free throws. Only shortcoming was
lack of quickness which was overcome
by a huge desire to win. Hope Robinson
becomes a clone.
Also I focus only on the strengths or wasted talent in my opinon of others (Adams and Taylor) more argumentively. I do this to contrast what I belief are unfair criticisms from those in this blog(Adams a disappointment the only reason Pitt got to NCAA this year despite playing only 23 minutes [Dixon a disappointment for not focusing the team on Adams and letting him know (RGIII) in non-confernce games, ruining his confidence (major aspect Adams needed to improve learning from experience before conference time, and telling him that rather than turning the fortune of the team over to Woodall, as he did with Fields. Both players marginal guards with inflated egos inflamed by Dixon and the fluanting press. Also for 4 years bloggers attacking Taylor as a failure because Dixon making Taylor a 220lb. quick 4 into a 245 dough boy 5 with tendenitious and back problems due carrying weight his body structure could not handle.
Jamie has been a winning coach but his tendency toward favortism to players without the skill but who have worked hard in the program has hurt Pitt several times.
Young and Adams could have carried their teams futher and both were frustrated by not being the focus of the offense and both suffered in their development on offense going to the NBA/another obvious problem for Pitt attracting top notch talent
No player wants to be looking over his shoulder and atheletes get strong as the game goes on rather than sitting on the bench and cooling off.
The player coming off the bench has to be use to this role.
Dixon better junk the 10 man rotation select his starting 5 with 7 or 8 man rotation. This allows for better offensive flow, unlike last year no one knowing their role and defensive breakdowns.
In my opinion Dixon got early positive press feedback from it and like any manager bought into it because it was novel. Novel enough to get blown out by W.S. with not one player over 6’9′ and playing Woodall 30 minutes hitting 1 out of 20 with 5 turnovers (that is not coaching)
And that would be 6,7 and 8 coming in to give the starters some breathing time.
5 starters, couple off the bench…..
continuity, consistency etc. etc.
In the late 1700’s when Pittsburgh first became a city within Allegheny County, both the state of Virginia & Pennsylvania claimed the area.
“Both Pennsylvania and Virginia claimed the region that is now Allegheny County. Pennsylvania administered most of the region as part of its Westmoreland County. Virginia considered everything south of the Ohio River and east of the Allegheny River to be part of its Yohogania County and governed it from Fort Dunmore. In addition, parts of the county were located in the proposed British colony of Vandalia and the proposed U.S. state of Westsylvania.”
Well at least the Vandalia & Westsylvania names got lost in history ! 🙂
Wasn’t the best shooter, but he was somewhat of a clutch shooter. And the kid usually didn’t fade no matter how many minutes JD played him (which were many). And he was a pretty good on floor coach, which you need in a PG.
And yes he would make a few turnovers on an opponents really good press, however when he was out that year(his jr. year) for many games, we struggled greatly to replace him, so that tells you something.
Overall he’ll be remembered as one of Pitt’s best PG’s ever !
The 10 man rotation last year was sort of a Catch22.
Was the reason he used it because of a lack of consistency from many of the starters ?
Or did the constant shuffling of players in & out of the lineup cause the lack of consistency ?
Or 3, was it due to a general lack of talent at several positions ?
And if John Johnson and Khem Birch would have stayed would that have meant a 12 man rotation?
That would have been something to watch !
He was out there having fun and learning some. Hey, can you blame him?
Sorry to see Dan Mason go. What an incredible athlete and football player before the injury. Like a lot of you, I was at that Miami game and have to say it was one of the worst (to look at) injuries I’ve seen in any sport. I wish him nothing but success in the rest of his life and pray that he leaves with at least a few good memories of his time at Pitt.
We Tu Lo
Ho Lee Fuk
Bang Dink Ow
and….wait for it…Caption Sum Ting Wong
is the funniest thing I have ever seen. A must see for all of us over the top Pitt Fans.
Just watch Leno tonight if you have not seen it
Why hasn’t someone brought up that all-star game where he dominated that 195-lb beast Nerlens Noel?
And Taylor — he would have stunk just as badly at PF. I still remember the first night we saw him in Greentree before his freshman season. I just couldn’t believe it. Pitt finally get’s a McDonald’s All American and he’s got no ups and less muscle than one of my Irish aunts.
Look, we all have our problems with Dixon. But the problem with Adams and Taylor wasn’t the coach. (Unless you want to make the point that Dixon should have recruited better big men.)
Leave it to lib Hollywood to reinforce stereotypes.
All the while while telling other not to stereotype.
Sumting is wong here 🙂
what did the kid do?
was he really a bad apple as well?
Such a story and an athlete it is hard to understand why they let him go unless…???
also, does he get to finish out at Pitt with fee tuition or did he leave the university? that would be a really sad ending to this story…
This is more of a purge on Chryst’s part then these players choosing to go elsewhere. Look for Grigsby to be next maybe.
Folks – this is scholarship opening time for the Chryst regime. PITT is seriously about turning the roster around.
What baffles me even more is the fact other respected writers, such as Maisel, praised it.
A journalist should know the usage difference between “there” and “their.” Zeise also used plural words where he should have used possessives.
This post may be a bit off topic, but I teach middle school English, and my student journalists know better.
H2P
Frankly, I don’t think it matters who recruits them, there will be bad apples in every class. We still have yet to hear about Chapman.
What will Pitt do? Do they have a Title 9 issue where they need to be at 85 otherwise other Pitt sports may need to take away money.
Will they give 3 walkons a scholarship?
Will they just give 3 more for 2014 class.
They currently have 17 available for the 2014 class.
Interesting, The 2013 class had 27 players and was 5 over I believe. I remember we debated who would be asked to leave. LOL. Now we are 3 under not including what will happen with KK and Chapman.
You don’t have to be in college to be dumb, just look at the Pouncey brothers and Dion Lewis.
If Mason worked that hard to rehab, and didn’t take advantage of his “free” education, what a shame. I think there may have been more to the off the field issues.
Playing a full time sport and making grades is hard work. If you don’t have the brains, the background or the work ethic it’s almost impossible, unless you get “special treatment”, and I’m not just talking tutoring and hand holding. If you want to take basket weaving, fly fishing etc, you are going to have to go somewhere else.
Which reminds me … got an email yesterday from Pitt athletics entitled ‘WBB Season Tickets on Sale’, and couldn’t figure out why they were referring to me.
They have to maintain the balance otherwise it is a Title 9 violation.
Now, can they get away with 82 in the fall presuming at least 3 in 2014 class will start in January/winter term. I don’t know.
This staff likes to develop long relationships and evaluations of recruits, which was impossible within the short time after Chryst was hired. That’s why the staff recruited guys who had previous interest in Pitt with Graham’s staff, like Bradley, and kept players like the Davis twins who were already committed.
They won their league and made it to the national championship tourney as the 8 seed and won a first round game against the 9 seed.
Chryst pulled offers from several 2012 class recruits. I remember the center from Ohio and the DB from East PA and several others.
Actually, I think Bradley was better than his brother Grigsby in HS.
Bradley is listed as 2nd team LB which is pretty good for a RS Frosh.
For me, it makes me wonder about Dixon’s recruiting strategy. Why would he bring in two such different point guards in back to back years as Newkirk and Robinson?
The only reasonable explanation is that they project Newkirk to be a combo gaurd who can BACK UP both guard spots. I see him more as a lead guard who has more upside than Robinson. My fear is he’ll never realize the potential if he is stuck behind Robinson for three years.
Robinson appears to be more of what Dixon wants, a pass first, reliable, deliberate, low turn over and unspectacular type.
You are wrong.
There has to be EQUAL scholarships given to both boys and girls if 50/50 girl/boy population.
Towson for instance, had to eliminate some sports because scholarships were out of balance with student population. 60% girls meant 60% scholarships and 40% boys. Therefore, Towson cut baseball and some other boys sport.
Please see my comment reTitle IX on the7-16 “There is a Roster” thread.
I am very confident that title IX would not mandate that Pitt pull a women’s scholarship because the the football did not use one or more of their available scholarships.
Anxious for FB season and always
pumped for Pitt Hoops! JD is the best.