Pitt loss has many benefits

I hope the embarrasment they feel this morning is enough to drive them to do well in the NCAA tourney. What a terrible way for the senior class to end their Big East careers.

as much as i agreed with ron cook's column yesterday going into the BET, i disagree with his column that much this morning, and vice versa with your views on the matter, bob.

although the bit about fields' turnovers...how'd pitt do in those games against the good teams?  win any?  sometimes stats are overrated.  simply put, any implication that fields is a detriment to his team at crunch time against the best competition is just plain wrong.  the guy's a winner, period.

as for last night, the whole team was off, and so what?  i read the semi-hysterics of some Pitt fans today and think, "oh ye of little faith."  as i said previously, if Pitt wasn't going to win the BET this year, i wanted them out right away, and to an inferior foe, to rest up and so as not have the psychological aspect of "maybe we are not as good as UConn or Lousiville after all" possibly hanging over them.

if anything, last night's loss will inspire them -- 6 games left.  6 games left and one at a time.

i am peachy keen today and looking forward to a great run in the NCAAs.  now we have no excuses.  none.  and that's how it should be.

the chancellor

Things could have been worse for Pitt.  How do you think they would feel if they lost in 6 overtimes like UConn?

Wasn't it just last week folks were calling this team Pitt's greatest ever? Yes, they ascended to the #1 ranking in the national polls a couple of times this year. Yes, they have exceptionally talented players. But what have they achieved? They did not win a regular season Big East championship. (Even if that was due to a quirky scheduling glitch in a bloated conference.) They lost in their first game in the conference playoffs. And yet everyone expects them to be a regional #1 seed? Why?

If this teams wants to be remembered in the positive light it received all year, they better do what you say, Bob, and come out with all cylinders firing in the tourney. Otherwise, the OVERRATED cheer those 'Eers fans love to shout at them will be well earned.

WVU played a good game, Pitt played poorly. Lots of bad calls both ways, so that's not an excuse.

Two of Pitt's problems can't be resolved this season. One, they don't have any size depth up front. If proof was ever needed, last night supplied it. Magee simply is not ready for high level competition. Second, very quick guards still cause problems for Pitt, though they usually find a way to overcome ithem.

Equally troubling is a resolvable problem: zone defenses. Pitt looked completely bewildered last night against the 1-3-1. It's an uncommon defense but one they've seen regularly, since it's been played a lot by Syracuse as well as WVU. Until they prove they can conquer good zones I suspect they'll see more of them in the tourney. This is one that should be coachable, but time's running short.

They still could do very well, but their shortcomings (like those of other teams) are becoming more apparent.

Let's continue to hope for favorable physical/strategic matchups.

I fully agree with you Bob.  The loss will benefit them greatly and I also think that the pre tournament talk about how badly the team wanted to win the BET was also greatly exaggerated.  You saw it when they took the court.  There really was no true passion to win and nobody really cared.

I knew we were in trouble last night when Fella made comments this week how he was looking forward to eating gyros with his family while they came to NYC this year.  Then when he was shooting the foul shot and winked at the WVU mascot, I pretty much knew this kid was not taking this game seriously.

Just got done re-reading a great book by John Feinstein about the Final Four.  Written during the year that Roy WIlliams won his first National Championship.  The one thing you truly walk away with from that book is that getting to the final four is one of the most difficult tasks that there can be in basketball.   And then once you are there, winning the championship is ten times more difficult.  Don't have the book in front of me, but it cited that there are only about a handful of coaches who won the National Championship in their first time at the game.  So, it is an incredible hill to climb for Pitt no matter what.

I like the idea of eight days off and a bad loss still lingering in their brain.  I suspect there will be a lot of blood shed at the Pete this coming week and a couple of teams may experience that fury next weekend.

I know you have a lot of detractors on the Blue and Gold visioned Pantherlair, but most of those guys are screaming that it is the end of the world today.

I still think Pitt is going to make a great run.

Oh, by the way, I disagree with Ron Cook.  I have no problem with Levance and Sam not talking to the media.  I want them to be really, really, ticked off and mad at the world going into the tournament.

Nice blog post, Bob.

(I've covered many, many post-season games, be it conference or NCAA tournament, when players are required to come to an interview room. I cannot ever recall players refusing, as Fields and Young did and that includes many tougher losses than Pitt's Thursday night. That is not acceptable and reflects poorly on them, their coach and the university. -- Bob Smizik)

Right on Big Daddy!!  Obviously, we were watching the same game!!  If Pitt makes it to the final four, nobody will remember last nights loss!  Great programs are built in the NCAA tourney (see North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, UCLA) not the Conference tourney!  Pitt already has a # 1 seed locked up, last nights game meant nothing to them!  In fact, had they won last nights game, all it would have meant is that they would playing another meaningless game tonight at 9:00. The heck with that!!  This team will be judged by how they perform in the NCAA tourney and not the BE tourney (just like last year)!! Time to get ready for the BIG DANCE!!

GO PITT!!

I'll respectfully disagree with Big Pitt Daddy, and agree with Bob and Cook. Fields' and Youngs' actions (or inactions) were inappropriate. Of course they were hurt and embarrassed. But they are Senior representatives of the University and the Pitt basketball program. They should have showed the maturity that that position implies, and at least faced the press. Their failure to do so reflected poorly on themselves and the entire program. All Pitt fans should have expected better.

(While we're on the subject, the day or two before the final regular-season game vs. Connecticut, Pitt had what it calls a ``media opportunity.''  The beat reporters from both Pittsburgh papers went with the intent of doing a story about the team's three seniors, who would be playing their final game at the Petersen Event Center.  Young and Fields did not show up. --  Bob Smizik

my loyalty is with the players and team i love, not the media.  

and i'd rather an athlete or coach not come out to talk to the press at all if he's going to make a complete horse's ass out of himself the way Calhoun so often does.

yet Bob defends Calhoun a few weeks ago and then turns around and actually says that Fields and Young reflect poorly on Dixon!  nice.

GO FIELDS AND YOUNG!!  i don't need to see you guys quoted in the paper or on the internet anymore.  i just hope i'm lucky enough to see you guys play for my team -- hopefully 6 more times. :)

the chancellor

Well now Bob, looks like they don't like you guys very much , lol. Seriously though, IMHO the only guy who should be interviewed after a game is Dixon.  The players aren't getting paid and shouldn't have to talk to the media if they're not up for it.

A few thoughts/observations:

1. More confirmation of the importance to Blair's presence AND performance as essential, inescapable to Pitt's success.

2. More confirmation that when he's on the court and on task, Blair has impressive, often dominating physical capacity against most teams.

3. Except perhaps when he and his guards face a WVU or Providence style zones.  Every team ought to play them as such.

4. DeJuan faces 2 major neutralizing forces.  First are the officials, and as was "I told you so" in several previous threads, they will become omni-present from here on out for DeJuan and friends.  This does not bode well for Pitt's near future.

5. The much greater threat in all of this is a sense of lack of leadership from DeJuan or others on the Pitt squad.  I go back to DeJuan and DePaul ...He was ugly selfish, and his post-game rant was imo, a very disappointing and ominous performance and possible forewarning of things to come.

In summation, and I hope for Pitt's sake I'm off target but It perceive that Pitt should fear ...

Zone defenses that stifle DB ...highly attentive officials who are "trying out" for the final 4 as much as the teams and players ... and most of all a mental melting down of DeJuan ...are the major infections that may already be eating away at the Panthers.

Last night just might have been the near  end of the string for this man-child who increasingly shows up in the latter form as often as the former.  They may win another game or 2, but DB may have already signed off emotionally and moved on mentally.

P.S. And as Bob, Big Ron and others along the way have noted, the presence (or void) of outstanding, quick leader/guards and their obvious, inescapable  value becomes so apparent @ tournament time.  Another big void for Pitt, especially against teams with their presence.

Much is made of the fact that Pitt went 0 for 8 from the 3 arc, and thus, Pitt is ill-equipped to handle zone defenses. What bull! Outside shooting ability does not beat zones, ball movement does. If you move the ball quickly, you will get open shots inside and outside. I'm quite sure Coach Dixon is aware of this axiom and will address it in the coming week.

Whistle Pig, although you have formatted your comments in a very pleasing manner they nonetheless are incorrect.

Lets make it clear the biggest thing to hurt Pitt against WVU was the fact that WVU shot lights out from the foul line.  Average WVU night and you can take away 8 points from their final score.  Then take into consideration the number of wide open looks Sam missed and the number of bunny layups Levance missed and you ask yourself on a normal night what does this game look like?

And as to teams putting up zone defenses against Pitt, I will remind you that Marquette applied four different defenses (three of which were zones) against Pitt and we managed to come back from a nine point deficit in the second half to win.

Never, ever question the leadership on this team.  It is amazing how people look at the losses and hyper-examine them to draw conclusions on the season.  Look at the "body of work" and tell me where this lack of leadership was during each double digit victory at home?

And yes of course the biggest myth so far this year is that Dejuan Blair has checked out and been checked out since the Calhoun rant in the first UCONN game.  During the games prior to and including the first UCONN game Dejuan averaged 2.6 fouls per game.  During the last six games that has bumped up to 3.0 fouls per game.  Wow!!!  At that rate he will foul out of none of the remaining games.  Amazing how out of control the officials are now with Blair.  And given the fact that he did foul out of two games in the last six, that means in the other games he barely drew a glance from the officials.

But, you say, the foul trouble has kept him on the bench and that has effected the Pitt fortunes.  Again, in the games prior to the rant Dejuan averaged 26.36 minutes per game (did not even include the game he sat out).  In the games since the rant Dejuan has averaged 26.66 minutes per game.

So, Whistle Pig perhaps you might actually want to consider some facts before sounding off about what you "perceive" is happening to the Pitt team.

Hail to Pitt!!!!

"Never, ever question the leadership on this team.  It is amazing how people look at the losses and hyper-examine them to draw conclusions on the season."

Amen, Big Pitt Daddy!!!!

some people in life enjoy predicting the end of the world.  one day, they are bound to be right.  and when that happens, oh what a beatiful day that will be for them, eh?  hahahaha

Pitt Daddy ...you may be more right than me. No sweat, I'm used to that, but I guess that puts you in alignment w/ the missus.  Be careful, she's a butt-kicker.

And I hope you are more right.

Your pt. about average fouls doesn't count though.  It's a new season, new rules, and single elimination from here on out.  I'll stick w/ the forecast that DeJuan will be watched like a bunny on an owl.  Again, averages mean nothing on a single coin flip.

More to the pt is his capacity for leadership joined w/ others. You see it half full, I see it nearly empty, as revealed not by Calhoun's rant, but DeJuan's following a meaningless route. That, I fear, was revealing of head/heart issues.  At this time of year, they kill.

And I'm prepared to project Pitt's season is cooked in a game or 2.  Again, hope you can call me all wet, which pinkie already has.  So I guess that means we're both dug in, out on our individual limbs.  It'll be fun watching who tumbles 1st.

But to malign the practice of predicting ...either the tournament's disappointing or delightful end for Pittsburgh ...well that's what office pools, Las Vegas, and even Bob's blogs are often about.  So count me in, but don't diss me simply because I see Pitt's immediate potential sorely less than my fellow jimmythegeeks.  

And if the pie in the face be mine?  You may appropriatelly make it coco-nut.  Or if you're so inclined a Prantl's almond torte would be grandly appreciated.

But I'll be clear.  Pitt's cooked.  DeJuan's game cannot be changed to meet the demands of the tourney zebras.  Nor can he receive a heart transplant.  And those 2 issues were the real issues in the WVU game ...Great teams do one thing.  Git 'er dun.  Pitt didn't and won't, I believe.

Well, let me try and give you some more statistics Whistle Pig.  I want to explode the myth that Pitt gets jobbed by whistle happy refs in the NCAAs by walking through the last seven years.

In 2001-2002, Pitt averaged 19.37 fouls per game before the NCAAs.  In the NCAA that dropped to 17 fouls per game.

In 2002-2003, Pitt averaged 18 fouls per game before the NCAAs.  In the NCAA that dropped to 17 fouls per game.

In 2003-2004, Pitt averaged 15 fouls per game before the NCAAs.  In the NCAA that did jump to 16.5 fouls per game.

In 2004-2005, Pitt averaged 17 fouls per game before the NCAAs.  In the NCAA we had 20 fouls in our only game against Pacific.  That year totally stunk.

In 2005-2006, Pitt averaged 16 fouls per game before the NCAAs.  In the NCAA that jumped by 2 to 18 fouls per game.

In 2006-2007, Pitt averaged 16.5 fouls per game before the NCAAs.  In the NCAA that jumped to a whopping 17 fouls per game.

Last year Pitt averaged 16.25 fouls per game before the NCAAs.  In the NCAA that dropped to 14.5 fouls per game.

So in three of seven years our fouls decreased by a little less than two per game and in four of seven years our fouls increased by about two per game.  So a probable maximum of four additional points per game if the other team hit all their fouls shots.

I know people love to talk about how the refs will impact how we play but it is just not valid based on the data.

Thursday night was an anomaly.  Take a few ingredients.  Face a team you beat twice already.  Face a team that is your most bitter rival.  Sounds like a loss is quite possible in that situation and has no real reflection on the state of the team.

Let's make an equivalent comparison.  Our good friend Ben Howland's UCLA squad went against their cross town rivals in USC last night.  Ben had beaten USC four of the last four meetings between the clubs.  USC has been playing horribly down the stretch.  Guess what?  USC lays a ten point beating on the Bruins.

Pitt is not cooked and trust me this team will likely still be playing in April.

you know, i must confess, i had once believed that Pitt's current Number One RPI rating, their 28 victories in a tough conference (most of them by large margins), their impressive road wins this year against UConn, Florida State and WVU and their recent excellence shown in the two commanding victories over Marquette and UConn which, if memory serves me, a little over a week ago...all of that silly stuff had me a bit deluded into thinking Pitt was a good team with a legitimate chance to win it all.

but after reading over whistle pig's comments a few times, he has me convinced.  and i truly believe now that Pitt should just decline any inviation it may receive to the NCAAs.

i mean, why bother? whistle pig wants Pitt to fail.  with the pigs against us, we clearly don't stand a chance.

now, if you'll excuse me...back to my bacon...

the chancellor

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Pitt's lack of consistency in shooting 3's and free throws will continue to haunt them in the NCAA tournament.  If Sam Young is having an off night, Pitt will have trouble advancing.

Like many complex phenomena, basketball is more than the sum of its parts.  

Were it not so, there'd be no explanation for how Bird and his Sycamores ever ended up playing MSU Magic & Co. in the championship.  There'd be no explanation for how Hawaii Chaminade with 900 no-name students beat Ralph Sampson and #1 VA.  There'd be no explanation for NC State beating Houston or 'Nova beating G-Town and Patrick or how can Winthrop, Coppin St., Richmond, Valpo and all these others beat monster teams that should but didn't dominate them? And there are simply multitudes of the inverse of these, i.e. the teams that never should have lost who never won ...

Sometimes one just gets the sense from watching, listening, pondering that what makes little sense on paper just might happen. Or things that do make sense, won't. And that's why they play, no matter where they're ranked.

Looking @ the big pic, it's just increasingly challenging to see DeJuan Blair and what we know about his erratic performances and personal perspective, values and actions and when joined with his mate Young's similar inconsistencies ...well, it's tough seeing these 2 carrying this squad very far much longer.

btw pinkie, that deee - lishous meat you been smacking your little chops over? It comes from the hind-end of Punxsy Phil's  1st cousin.     Enjoy your " blt."  

Next week's menue will feature a delightful seafood entree lightly sauteed in butter ... those luscious morsels of the half-shell ...rocky mountain oysters.  (Yours not mine.  ) To be served on a slightly browned bed of sweet breads.  And lastly, a palate cleanser of Pitt pate, I'm afraid.

thanks for the lesson in fine quisine, piggie.

in fact your final 2 paragraphs were quite reminiscent of another gormet chef you may have heard of...hanibal lecter.  especially when coupled with your attempts at psycho-analysis re DeJuan Blair.  haha

actually, i just watched the video on this site of the post-game press conference from the other night, and Blair seemed like a good kid to me with a good attitude following a tough loss.

i further suggest that you have no right nor invitation to assess Blair's "personal perspective, values and actions".  how about you just keep the comments related to to his basketball play there, chief?

the chancellor