** From time to time, I find myself getting into minor quarrels with my fellow posters because of my defense of College Basketball referees.
** A big reason for this defense was a common practice of rewatching most Panther hoops games, and often realizing that critical calls that sometimes looked wrong in the heat of the Pete tended to look a little more right in retrospect.
** In the heat of the Pete today, there were more than a few calls which raised my ire. Still, on this day, I’m looking forward to rewatching the contest to obtain my usual better disposition about the officials.
** But that’s just a side effect actually. The main point is that I’m really just looking forward to just rewatching the game. This was a game that I think most Panther fans should want to watch more than once.
** Sure, had not referees A.J. Desai and Bert Smith rewatched the next to last inbounds play and realized that Tommy Morrisey got it wrong, I might have left the Pete with a totally different disposition about rewatching the game. But they got it right, and UNC didn’t get one last chance.
** Therefore I was able to retain my disposition that the better team won. The Panthers were the better team.
** The Panthers didn’t outshoot the Tar Heels. They just outplayed them. We were the more physical team and were the tougher team too.
** Granted, it took the Panthers a little bit of time to realize they were the better team. In the first few minutes, we looked a little intimidated by UNC’s size and strength.
** Because of that, it’s possible one can site the turning point of the game at the 15:34 mark of the first half when Jamarius took a nice feed from Nike a drove the lane to score among the tall Tar Heel trees.
** It was the first time we were able to see that not only were the Panthers the better team, but Jamarius was the best player on the court.
** This moment marked the first of over a dozen times he took the ball successfully, and actually quite brilliantly, into lane.
** I’m not sure I can remember a game when we have watched a Panther guard who out muscled a bigger opponent like Burton did today. And I’m not sure I can remember a game when we have watched a Panther guard who drove into the lane as fearlessly as Burton did today.
** Because this wasn’t a game when Jamarius was hitting deep bombs, some might not instantly recognize this game among the very few of the best ever (if not even THE best ever) offensive Panther games at the Pete. But it should be.
** This is something I can’t wait to watch several more times starting at the conclusion of Tony’s exhibition.
** Unfortunately, while rewatching Jamarius make magic in the lane, we will have to watch the rest of the Panthers miss a whole bunch of threes for much of the game.
** I’m not sure I thought many, if any, of the threes were bad ones to take. Most were good open shots that have been going down of late.
** Because of this, midway through the second frame, it looked like this might not be the Panthers day despite Jamarius’ magic.
** Then one of Blake’s triples finally fell and we outscored UNC 30-19 the rest of the way.
** Those last 11 minutes were as much fun I’ve had at the Pitt Hoops game since … well it been a while. Maybe since the Panthers beat Virginia in OT in 2017. Not only do I remember that one well, I remember how much I enjoyed rewatching it too.
** Still, with just over a minute to go, the Panthers needed a hero, and Blake was happy to step forward, when most probably thought to look for Burton in the lane. Shooting is confidence, and despite his previous misses, Hinson obviously never lost his.
** The only other single shout out I wanted to add to this game was mention of Nike’s critical 24 minutes. He brought energy, lots of defense, and even some much needed offense too.
** So here it is – one day before the end of 2022, and the Panthers are 3-0 and in second place in the ACC. Like most fans, I’m starting to become pretty optimistic about where this season could go. After all, the Panther prospects look better for this season than I ever thought they would be in September, let alone after our tough trip to Brooklyn.
** But I’ll hold back any predictions or proclamations at this time. We’ve all learned our lessons about that. Instead, I’ll just enjoy another viewing of this wonderful effort today. It’s great to want to do that again!
** Happy New Year to my fellow Pitt Hoops fans!
