I didn’t get to watch the Louisville game this past weekend. Instead it was spent at a Boy Scout weekend “Klondike.” As I stood there early that Saturday morning. In 10 degree weather, contemplating the snow that was falling and just how cold I was. There was that realization that just a few degrees can be the difference between the quiet, picturesque beauty of a light snowfall in the forest; and really fucking miserable, cold, bone-soaking drizzle.
It’s not the neatest metaphor for where Pitt basketball is at the moment, but I’m still waiting to get feeling back in my toes.
The optimism over this team and the future is still present. There is still more excitement then there has been in the prior three years. But it is more tempered after the last couple of weeks. Tempered with the knowledge that there is still a way to go before we can see Pitt striving for the top of the ACC.
Yes, Pitt has played five of the seven presently ranked ACC teams six times in the first seven conference games. Making this about as brutal a start to the conference as you could ask. It skews the record a bit. On the plus side, however, the final eleven conference games features only three ranked teams –with two of the opponents being at the Pete.
The glaring weaknesses this team had going into the season — not much of a front court, big questions about the perimeter shooting, youth and a lack of depth. Those are still there.
Teams are doing a much better job of preparing for Pitt. They know that Pitt will attack inside, and the defenses have adjusted. Playing further off the guards to prevent penetration. Pitt is now the most blocked team in all of college basketball. 15% of Pitt’s shots have been blocked. It’s kind of amazing.
The offense has struggled against these adjustments. The free throw shooting attempts have dropped as the defenses are less likely to get caught being late or out of position to defend drives to the basket.
Turnovers have continued to be and issue, though not nearly so bad in terms of differential. Rebounding, though, has improved as the emphasis has increased on attacking for rebounds almost as hard as attacking the basket.
The interesting thing, though, is that even as Pitt’s offense has struggled more lately, the defense has improved greatly. This group is up to 20th nationally in defensive efficiency.
The thing that makes me pleased about this part of their game is that they have kept working hard on defense even when they are clearly struggling on offense. The most common thing you see from young teams that hit that wall on offense is letting it get to them on the other end. Letting it effect their energy and effort on defense. (And, well, we’ve also seen it on past teams that had plenty of experience.)
Young teams hitting the wall is a cliche, but that doesn’t make it less true. It isn’t the quantity of the games. It’s the amount of effort required each game. The focus and the physical demands that they never really saw every game.
The good thing about this team and the coaches is that the wall in this case is just temporary. They be against it a bit right now, but it is more than simply plausible that this team will either go through or go around that wall sometime soon.
And just for one other thing regarding the future since Pitt is still looking to get some (any) commits for next year.
Who is in and who are they targeting? Jeff Capel and the Panthers have yet to scratch in 2019, making the next few months really important. Four-star big man Qudus Wahab decides this week, they are getting involved with four-star wing Christian Brown and continue to target four-star Tre Mitchell and Rivals150 wing Gerald Drumgoole.
Best case: Because of the work Capel was able to do when he landed the Pitt job last spring, the Panthers do have good young talent. But, they could really use some size on the wings and interior. Wahab could be a shot blocking presence and Mitchell is a skilled scorer from the area. It’s hard to imagine them going 0-fer with this group but any two would do and getting three isn’t out of the question.
Honestly, even at this point, recruiting is not worrying me with Head Coach Jeff Capel in charge.
