** Exhibit A: January 22, 2020. Pitt Panther Men's Basketball is 4-4 in the ACC.
** Exhibit B: Pitt Panther Men's Basketball finished the 2019-2020 season at 3-15 in the ACC.
** As the author and manager of these proceedings, I will not allow any other evidence into the case.
** I am sure there are those in the Panther public who are demanding that more facts be placed into evidence.
** One might recognize the call to hear testimony about losing a ten point lead in the final four minutes. Maybe some might want evidence introduced surrounding the notion that the Panthers just slipped by one of the worst teams in the league in the final seconds on our home court.
** I’ll bet there are those who witnessed another poor start by the Panthers, or a defense that still struggles to cover corner shooters.
** There is likely another constituency still who wish to put forth into the record that our combination of “fives” combined for a measly seven points and an equal number of rebounds.
** I’ll hear none of it.
** From the place from where we once came over the last two years, our Panthers continue to improve. Case closed.
** There is other supporting evidence for my case.
** Ryan played his most efficient minutes of the year and finally decided to take the winning shot to a wonderful result.
** Justin played his most consistent and best all-around game of the season. He’s a shoe-in for the ACC All Freshman Team and might even be putting himself in the running for the top spot.
** Xavier played much more like a “true point guard” than many would have even thought capable just a few games ago.
** Trey continued his stretch of big shot making that has become somewhat commonplace for him in this new year.
** And most importantly, Au’Diese is proving to those who spoke poorly about his offensive ability early in the season that they judged him far too soon. He’s averaging over 10 PPG in his last 6 contests and is shooting 3-7 from three in the same time frame.
** Our Panthers will face 12 more ACC trials this year. I’m pretty convinced now the verdict will fall in our favor in at least four of them, and maybe one or two more than that.
** For this Panther fan, knowing I expected seven wins in the ACC this year, I’m pretty enthused with the bigger picture this result tonight should indicate.
** And this night, I’ll once again resist efforts to impeach our Panthers any further, even for their more obvious transgressions.
** I confess that in another term, I may not treat the Panthers with such leniency. A year from now, I might even think of a performance like we witnessed tonight as a bit troubling.
** But for the case at this point in time, a simple two point victory earned in the last four seconds of the closing argument is nothing short of a monumental judgement in favor of Coach Capel and the Panthers.
** Congrats to all of them for the wonderful outcome today. Let’s take Jimmy B to court on Saturday!
** Exhibit B: Pitt Panther Men's Basketball finished the 2019-2020 season at 3-15 in the ACC.
** As the author and manager of these proceedings, I will not allow any other evidence into the case.
** I am sure there are those in the Panther public who are demanding that more facts be placed into evidence.
** One might recognize the call to hear testimony about losing a ten point lead in the final four minutes. Maybe some might want evidence introduced surrounding the notion that the Panthers just slipped by one of the worst teams in the league in the final seconds on our home court.
** I’ll bet there are those who witnessed another poor start by the Panthers, or a defense that still struggles to cover corner shooters.
** There is likely another constituency still who wish to put forth into the record that our combination of “fives” combined for a measly seven points and an equal number of rebounds.
** I’ll hear none of it.
** From the place from where we once came over the last two years, our Panthers continue to improve. Case closed.
** There is other supporting evidence for my case.
** Ryan played his most efficient minutes of the year and finally decided to take the winning shot to a wonderful result.
** Justin played his most consistent and best all-around game of the season. He’s a shoe-in for the ACC All Freshman Team and might even be putting himself in the running for the top spot.
** Xavier played much more like a “true point guard” than many would have even thought capable just a few games ago.
** Trey continued his stretch of big shot making that has become somewhat commonplace for him in this new year.
** And most importantly, Au’Diese is proving to those who spoke poorly about his offensive ability early in the season that they judged him far too soon. He’s averaging over 10 PPG in his last 6 contests and is shooting 3-7 from three in the same time frame.
** Our Panthers will face 12 more ACC trials this year. I’m pretty convinced now the verdict will fall in our favor in at least four of them, and maybe one or two more than that.
** For this Panther fan, knowing I expected seven wins in the ACC this year, I’m pretty enthused with the bigger picture this result tonight should indicate.
** And this night, I’ll once again resist efforts to impeach our Panthers any further, even for their more obvious transgressions.
** I confess that in another term, I may not treat the Panthers with such leniency. A year from now, I might even think of a performance like we witnessed tonight as a bit troubling.
** But for the case at this point in time, a simple two point victory earned in the last four seconds of the closing argument is nothing short of a monumental judgement in favor of Coach Capel and the Panthers.
** Congrats to all of them for the wonderful outcome today. Let’s take Jimmy B to court on Saturday!
