yesterday, for what turned out to be two barn-burning games. Great night of basketball and I had great seats on the first level. Still, I couldn't help be somewhat wistful - me and the 6,000 other Pitt fans there yesterday all seemed to be talking Pitt basketball and when we would be back.
However, these four teams from the round of 32 teams were vastly different than what I have been watching the past few years.
The two things that stood out to me in person as opposed to watching on TV:
1) The play under the basket was extremely physical - the effective big guys were strong, burly players The physical conditioning and strength was obvious, even in the smaller players. NC State looked unbeatable in this regard.
2) Hard, strong defense was the rule of the day -there seemed to me much, much more effort exerted in setting up and running team defense. Most of the players played hard both ways. Defense was not just something they did when they didn't have the ball. And lots of defensive communication.
Maybe it was just this stage, with all the lights and noise, but this this was a different level of play that I am used to watching. I couldn't imagine our Pitt team competing on that floor - not any Pitt team I have seen in what now seems like years. I almost have to think back to Krauser and Blair.
Anyone else there? Any thoughts?
However, these four teams from the round of 32 teams were vastly different than what I have been watching the past few years.
The two things that stood out to me in person as opposed to watching on TV:
1) The play under the basket was extremely physical - the effective big guys were strong, burly players The physical conditioning and strength was obvious, even in the smaller players. NC State looked unbeatable in this regard.
2) Hard, strong defense was the rule of the day -there seemed to me much, much more effort exerted in setting up and running team defense. Most of the players played hard both ways. Defense was not just something they did when they didn't have the ball. And lots of defensive communication.
Maybe it was just this stage, with all the lights and noise, but this this was a different level of play that I am used to watching. I couldn't imagine our Pitt team competing on that floor - not any Pitt team I have seen in what now seems like years. I almost have to think back to Krauser and Blair.
Anyone else there? Any thoughts?
