Pitt basketball preview...a look ahead to the start of practice

I was up at the Petersen Events Center today preparing a story previewing the start of practice next week. Look for the story in Sunday's paper.

Here are a few tidbits to chew on that I won't include in the story but are interesting nonetheless.

Jamie DIxon said he is hoping starting shooting guard Jermaine Dixon is ready for the Nov. 13 season opener against Wofford. If he is not ready, he expects him to be available shortly thereafter. Jermaine Dixon is rehabilitating his injured foot after bone graft surgery this summer.

One quote from Jamie that I thought was very telling was this one: "We've had seniors act like freshmen and freshmen act like seniors." The senior acting like a freshman is redshirt junior Gilbert Brown who is not with the team because he is serving an academic suspension. Obviously, Dixon is disappointed in Brown's off-court problems, but I thought it was a very encouraging sign for the freshman class. It tells me they are working hard and picking things up in their individual workouts. I asked Jermaine DIxon and Ashton Gibbs about the freshmen and they said similar things about their work ethic and attention to detail. This is a very highly rated freshman class and one or two of the players are going to have big roles.

Look for freshman Dante Taylor, the centerpiece of the freshman class, to play power forward and center, according to Jamie Dixon. He did not specify at which position he would play the most. 

Jamie DIxon said Ashton Gibbs, Travon Woodall and Chase Adams will battle for the starting point guard duties. I know a lot of fans are fretting over this position, but I don't get the idea that Jamie is. He seems very confident that it will work out at the point.

Junior Brad Wanamaker will play small forward and shooting guard, two positions that are very similar in Jamie's system. 

This could be a season when you see a lot of three-guard lineups much like you saw a few years back when Levance Fields, Ron Ramon and Keith Benjamin were around. Pitt's best and most-experienced players are guards and Dixon could lean on them quite a bit.  

Check out the Sunday story.

Posted Oct 07 2009, 11:12 PM by Ray Fittipaldo
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Comments

collegesportsfan wrote re: Pitt basketball preview...a look ahead to the start of practice
on Thu, Oct 8 2009 7:31 AM

while the 3 guard line-ip makes sense due due to the number of experienced, talented guards on the team, but at the same time, it means that there will be only 2 biggies ... which may be an issue since virtually everyone the roster playing the 4 and 5 position has no experience at all (except for McGhee's very limited minutes.)

collegesportsfan wrote re: Pitt basketball preview...a look ahead to the start of practice
on Thu, Oct 8 2009 11:09 AM

Since Paul has apparently forgotten or is too busy too, or simply quit doing the Godd, Bad & Ugly weekly feature, here is my condensed version of the UL game:

The Good

Bill Stull's long passes -- all 3 resulted in TDs (one called back) and seemed to hit the WRs right in stride.

The team's 2nd half performance.

The Bad

Stull's short passes -- he doesn't seem to lead the the receivers on the short outs which resulted in a few near-picks

The team's !st half performance

The Ugly

The all white unis

Freedoman wrote re: Pitt basketball preview...a look ahead to the start of practice
on Thu, Oct 8 2009 5:40 PM

Yo, college......you do know this is an article about basketball don't you?

collegesportsfan wrote re: Pitt basketball preview...a look ahead to the start of practice
on Thu, Oct 8 2009 6:42 PM

Freedoman,  Sure do.   In fact, you will note that I made the first and, thus far, only comment about the contents in the article.

Also note that this is the blog for Pitt football, and the Good, Bad & Ugly feature ... and certainly didn't mean to offend you or Ray.

BuseysTwoMeatballSubs wrote re: Pitt basketball preview...a look ahead to the start of practice
on Fri, Oct 9 2009 12:39 AM

My projected starting lineup for Game 1:

PG -- Adams

SG -- Dixon

F -- Wanamaker

F -- Taylor

C -- McGhee

For a young team, that's two seniors, two juniors and a McDonalds All-American.  Gibbs could start over Adams, or will be the first guard off the bench.  Not sure who'll be the backup center?  J.J. Richardson?

It's definitely Wanamaker's time to shine.  If he plays well early in the season, Brown may never start.

collegesportsfan wrote re: Pitt basketball preview...a look ahead to the start of practice
on Fri, Oct 9 2009 8:18 AM

Ray,   Allegedly, Maurice Walker is supposedly very high on Piit, which would make him the 3rd 2010 recruit,..  yet only 2 schollies appear to be available.  Any insights?  

Could Brown possibly be shown the door, since I sense his ineligibility was not the only thing that has alienated the coaching staff?

Pantherman13 wrote re: Pitt basketball preview...a look ahead to the start of practice
on Fri, Oct 9 2009 10:36 AM

Given the youth and uncertainty, it is harder than usual to project a starting lineup this season.  That being said, I have a feeling that Dixon will be coming off the bench at the start of the year, and Gibbs would be the logical choice to start at SG if that happens.  I'm still not convinced that Adams will beat out Woodall at PG, but whomever starts, I think both will get extensive playing time.  Also, I have a hard time seeing McGhee being the starting center.  I think he'll get a chance, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Taylor start at the 5, with Miller or one of the freshmen at the 4.  It's going to be an interesting ride, particularly early in the season...

jaysmitty wrote re: Pitt basketball preview...a look ahead to the start of practice
on Fri, Oct 9 2009 3:45 PM

Would like to see baldwin and romeus, from the football team suit up for hoops seeing as both were all state and very high college prospects in that sport .

collegesportsfan wrote re: Pitt basketball preview...a look ahead to the start of practice
on Sat, Oct 10 2009 8:24 AM

as talented as Baldwin and Romeus are, they still weren't as highly rated in BB as some of the new recruits (Taylor, Zanni, Richardson, Patterson) ... and of course, they don't have any college BB experience either.

The fact is that Pitt is overdue for a rebuilding year where they will have to struggle just to make it to the NCAAs, and this appears to be the year.  But after that, look out!