** We all know the names. Cassius Winston. Tony Carr. Kevin Marfo. Maverick Rowan. Mustafa Heron. Xavier Simpson. Myles Powell. Lamar Stevens. Dylan Painter.
** The list of potential Panther Hoops recruits for 2016 who have chosen to go elsewhere lately is certainly discouraging. It’s probably more than that. It’s downright depressing.
** And that’s just the list from just this summer. If you go back further, it gets much, much more disheartening.
** But there’s another list I hope to discuss this evening. That list is … Mike Young. Jamel Artis. James Robinson. Sheldon Jeter. Chris Jones. Ryan Luther. Cameron Johnson. Damon Wilson. Rafeal Maia. Jonathan Milligan. Alonzo Nelson-Ododa. Sterling Smith. Rozelle Nix.
** When thinking about this group, I’ve started to feel pretty good about the coming season. I like the possibilities that the list above can provide. I challenge my fellow Pitt Hoop fans to feel the same way. In fact, I dare you!
** Make no mistake. I’m not trying to make a case that all is well in the Pitt Hoops world. Our recruiting problems are real. They appear to be significant. And there is not much of a light at the end of a much lengthier tunnel.
** Therefore, if you are willing to take the tonight’s dare, it is required that put your longer term concerns in your pocket for the moment. If you can do that, well then …
** Personally, I know I enjoy the idea of getting my hopes up for a Pitt Hoops season. And I realize that being optimistic isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
** In fact, lately it even seems like it’s becoming the “cooler” notion to take the opposite route for Pitt Hoops. Maybe some folks feel like it’s somehow less risky, if not even less embarrassing, to be fan unless you can be a fan who talks about how bad you think the team will be.
** If that’s where you are, then I dare you to change your mindset. Why not? Really, what do you have to lose?
** Or maybe, you are a fan who is just not truly convinced that the list of Mike Young, et al, just won’t be all that good in the coming campaign.
** If that’s where you are, then there is surely some evidence to back up your thought. Despite the fact that the Panthers were more or less “in” the NCAA tournament when the calendar turned to March 2015, losing the final five in an often disturbing fashion isn’t encouraging.
** But look at the list of Panthers above. This list of Panther Hoopers is importantly different than the list that lost those final five games. The above list of Panthers is better.
** The Panthers were pretty good offensively last year. They were ranked #30 by Kenpom. And they will be better. In fact, they will be formidable.
** They will be better offensively because our guard play will be significantly improved. I’ve been told very good things about Milligan. He can do some things that we couldn’t do last year, such as get by people with dribble penetration. Maybe it was blind luck that we got Jonathan. But he will make a difference.
** Many among the Panther faithful aren’t James Robinson fans. That’s understandable when James doesn’t seem to be able to bring enough offensively to make a difference. But with Milligan, an improved Chris Jones, and a really decent player in Sterling Smith, James will have the quality backcourt partner he hasn’t had since Tray Woodall.
** I regret speaking negatively about Cam Wright, but the reality is that he was miscast last year, and simply did not have the skills needed for his role last year.
** And I haven’t even mentioned Damon Wilson and Cam Johnson. Especially with Cameron, there’s so much that could happen there beyond normal expectations.
** When moving to the front court, it’s very important to note how much offensive quality we brought last year with Jeter, Artis and Young at the 3-4-5 spots. And this trio will only get better. They will get better because experience makes Pitt players like this better.
** The only problem with that trio was that there wasn’t any offensive depth behind them when one or more of the three wasn’t bringing it offensively. From everything I’ve come to understand, Rafael Maia should be a real contributor. We should expect more offensive skills than a Gary McGee and every bit his equal as a rebounder. Defensively? Well. We’ll have to see.
** This leads to the one and only thing that really matters if you want to take the dare, and to believe the Panthers will be a pretty darn good team next year. Defense.
** We all know the truth. The Panthers were a very, very bad defensive team last year. If anyone is going to dare to think we can be a pretty darn good team in 15-16, we have to understand how this can improve significantly.
** Here’s how. Execution and depth. Some of our defensive problems were not about ability, but understanding execution, such as help and rotation. More experience with improve this.
** Depth will improve it as well. It will allow a greater focus and understanding that defense will make this team better. Last year, someone very close to the team confided to me: “I think some of the guys are worried more about scoring than they are about winning.” Depth will help to solve this problem. Especially when there are more guys who can score.
** And let’s go back to our much maligned recruiter and Head Coach, Jamie Dixon. He has proven time and time again, regardless if you always agree with how he does it, that he can most often get the players he does have to do what they need to do. Dixon is far too concerned with defense for it not to improve. How much? Well … we’ll see.
** In Hawaii last year, I was told by the one person closer to Jamie Dixon than anyone else that we were going to have a tough year, but we would be much better next year. I’ll dare to take her at her word.
** So what does “much better” actually mean? I’m convinced we’ll be an NCAA Tournament Team. Do you dare to believe me?
** How much better than that depends so much on defensive progress. We were 202 in defensive efficiency last year. I’m sure that number will be at least split in half next year. That’s good enough to get us to the Big Dance.
** If that number gets closer to 50 or so, then we can start talking Top 25. I’ll even dare to believe this is in the cards.
** From there, it’s all about a run a this team can make in the NCAA Tournament. OK … that’s where my daring to dream a little will have to slow down. I have a tremendous belief in Coach Dixon’s ability to get his team to play at a high level in the regular season. But it’s a little much even for me to take that dare in the NCAA tournament until he provides me with better evidence.
** But let's take one thing at a time. Take the dare! Believe in this team at least until we get to March.
** Anyway, allow me to close with an enthusiastic congratulations to the Football Team and Coach Narduzzi for an incredibly tough and courageous effort this evening. There are indeed times when the winning team doesn’t have the most points on the scoreboard at the end.
** And I encourage all Pit Hoops fans to join me in being enthused about the upcoming season. C’mon. I dare you!
** The list of potential Panther Hoops recruits for 2016 who have chosen to go elsewhere lately is certainly discouraging. It’s probably more than that. It’s downright depressing.
** And that’s just the list from just this summer. If you go back further, it gets much, much more disheartening.
** But there’s another list I hope to discuss this evening. That list is … Mike Young. Jamel Artis. James Robinson. Sheldon Jeter. Chris Jones. Ryan Luther. Cameron Johnson. Damon Wilson. Rafeal Maia. Jonathan Milligan. Alonzo Nelson-Ododa. Sterling Smith. Rozelle Nix.
** When thinking about this group, I’ve started to feel pretty good about the coming season. I like the possibilities that the list above can provide. I challenge my fellow Pitt Hoop fans to feel the same way. In fact, I dare you!
** Make no mistake. I’m not trying to make a case that all is well in the Pitt Hoops world. Our recruiting problems are real. They appear to be significant. And there is not much of a light at the end of a much lengthier tunnel.
** Therefore, if you are willing to take the tonight’s dare, it is required that put your longer term concerns in your pocket for the moment. If you can do that, well then …
** Personally, I know I enjoy the idea of getting my hopes up for a Pitt Hoops season. And I realize that being optimistic isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
** In fact, lately it even seems like it’s becoming the “cooler” notion to take the opposite route for Pitt Hoops. Maybe some folks feel like it’s somehow less risky, if not even less embarrassing, to be fan unless you can be a fan who talks about how bad you think the team will be.
** If that’s where you are, then I dare you to change your mindset. Why not? Really, what do you have to lose?
** Or maybe, you are a fan who is just not truly convinced that the list of Mike Young, et al, just won’t be all that good in the coming campaign.
** If that’s where you are, then there is surely some evidence to back up your thought. Despite the fact that the Panthers were more or less “in” the NCAA tournament when the calendar turned to March 2015, losing the final five in an often disturbing fashion isn’t encouraging.
** But look at the list of Panthers above. This list of Panther Hoopers is importantly different than the list that lost those final five games. The above list of Panthers is better.
** The Panthers were pretty good offensively last year. They were ranked #30 by Kenpom. And they will be better. In fact, they will be formidable.
** They will be better offensively because our guard play will be significantly improved. I’ve been told very good things about Milligan. He can do some things that we couldn’t do last year, such as get by people with dribble penetration. Maybe it was blind luck that we got Jonathan. But he will make a difference.
** Many among the Panther faithful aren’t James Robinson fans. That’s understandable when James doesn’t seem to be able to bring enough offensively to make a difference. But with Milligan, an improved Chris Jones, and a really decent player in Sterling Smith, James will have the quality backcourt partner he hasn’t had since Tray Woodall.
** I regret speaking negatively about Cam Wright, but the reality is that he was miscast last year, and simply did not have the skills needed for his role last year.
** And I haven’t even mentioned Damon Wilson and Cam Johnson. Especially with Cameron, there’s so much that could happen there beyond normal expectations.
** When moving to the front court, it’s very important to note how much offensive quality we brought last year with Jeter, Artis and Young at the 3-4-5 spots. And this trio will only get better. They will get better because experience makes Pitt players like this better.
** The only problem with that trio was that there wasn’t any offensive depth behind them when one or more of the three wasn’t bringing it offensively. From everything I’ve come to understand, Rafael Maia should be a real contributor. We should expect more offensive skills than a Gary McGee and every bit his equal as a rebounder. Defensively? Well. We’ll have to see.
** This leads to the one and only thing that really matters if you want to take the dare, and to believe the Panthers will be a pretty darn good team next year. Defense.
** We all know the truth. The Panthers were a very, very bad defensive team last year. If anyone is going to dare to think we can be a pretty darn good team in 15-16, we have to understand how this can improve significantly.
** Here’s how. Execution and depth. Some of our defensive problems were not about ability, but understanding execution, such as help and rotation. More experience with improve this.
** Depth will improve it as well. It will allow a greater focus and understanding that defense will make this team better. Last year, someone very close to the team confided to me: “I think some of the guys are worried more about scoring than they are about winning.” Depth will help to solve this problem. Especially when there are more guys who can score.
** And let’s go back to our much maligned recruiter and Head Coach, Jamie Dixon. He has proven time and time again, regardless if you always agree with how he does it, that he can most often get the players he does have to do what they need to do. Dixon is far too concerned with defense for it not to improve. How much? Well … we’ll see.
** In Hawaii last year, I was told by the one person closer to Jamie Dixon than anyone else that we were going to have a tough year, but we would be much better next year. I’ll dare to take her at her word.
** So what does “much better” actually mean? I’m convinced we’ll be an NCAA Tournament Team. Do you dare to believe me?
** How much better than that depends so much on defensive progress. We were 202 in defensive efficiency last year. I’m sure that number will be at least split in half next year. That’s good enough to get us to the Big Dance.
** If that number gets closer to 50 or so, then we can start talking Top 25. I’ll even dare to believe this is in the cards.
** From there, it’s all about a run a this team can make in the NCAA Tournament. OK … that’s where my daring to dream a little will have to slow down. I have a tremendous belief in Coach Dixon’s ability to get his team to play at a high level in the regular season. But it’s a little much even for me to take that dare in the NCAA tournament until he provides me with better evidence.
** But let's take one thing at a time. Take the dare! Believe in this team at least until we get to March.
** Anyway, allow me to close with an enthusiastic congratulations to the Football Team and Coach Narduzzi for an incredibly tough and courageous effort this evening. There are indeed times when the winning team doesn’t have the most points on the scoreboard at the end.
** And I encourage all Pit Hoops fans to join me in being enthused about the upcoming season. C’mon. I dare you!
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