** When the Pete scoreboard showed Levance’s winning three against Duke in 2007, followed by an appearance of Big Fella in the house, I kind of had the feeling that today would be one of those days when it was going to be our day.
** And it certainly was our day. A great day. In fact, it was our very best day, and our very best game in two seasons.
** Perhaps you were more impressed with our defeat of UNC last year, but that was a victory earned on amazing jump shooting.
** This was a complete game, with the Panthers delivering outstanding execution in all aspects of the game.
** This was exactly the kind of game we had become long accustomed to watching during Jamie Dixon’s tenure.
** This leads me to this question – is it a legit hope that after all his begging and pleading and teaching and screaming, that Dixon is finally starting to get through to these guys?
** Are the Panthers indeed improving as a team?
** We will learn at least some of the answer to this question with these two road games to finish the regular season. A team that plays like we played today wins those games for sure.
** Undoubtedly, we looked like a certain NCAA Tournament Team today, which wasn’t really the case two weeks ago in Chapel Hill.
** Since that day, which was quite discouraging, we have gone 3-1, and perhaps should even be 4-0 if it weren’t for the late meltdown on Wednesday.
** Let’s look at what’s changed in these past two weeks.
** First is rebounding, which actually started at the UNC Game. But we have attacked the glass, particularly the offensive glass. Our focus and energy going after rebounds has been noticeably superior to our opponent.
** Second is defense. Yes, we are actually defending. Today we guarded dribble penetration, and rotated effectively to guard perimeter shooters. And we handled ball screens. It was team defense from what has been a below average defensive team.
** We are now #88 in defensive efficiency according to Pomeroy, and that number had slipped all the way down to around #150 not long ago.
** Next is guard play. Plain and simply, Chris and James are playing better. Chris is just a smidge under 10PPG since he almost won the Miami game by himself. In his previous 7 games, he had averaged 2 PPG. Both are defending better.
** James has scored in double digits in five straight games, averaging 15PPG in that time.
** I was one of those folks who wondered if we had any guards at all when we played Virginia. I told many that I didn’t think Chris Jones should play anymore. I was dead wrong.
** Fourth is Ryan Luther. Ryan is averaging just under a smidge under 10PPG in his last 6 games. And this doesn’t really even tell the whole story, as he’s been begun to emerge as a quality post defender as well.
** Mike Young came out at the 15 minute mark of the second half. He never returned and we never missed him. Thank you Ryan.
** And when Duke cut the second half lead to ten, Ryan drove and got fouled, the later hit a deep three to push it back to 16. Not uncoincidentaly, Ryan’s three put Pitt’s point total at 64, a number Duke would never get to.
** Fifth, and most importantly, confidence. The Panthers didn’t always look like a confident team, or a team who believed in themselves. They also didn’t look like they had much leadership, nor an identity.
** Looking at how he’s stepped up his play, it appears that it’s James who is providing this leadership.
** And despite the number of detractors James has had, it was good to hear the hardy ovation he received when he was recognized on Senior Day, or when he came out with under a minute to go.
** One of the great little benefits of this lopsided wins was it allowed for a senior day appearance for Mike Lecak. In his own ways, Mike has contributed to this team greatly, and a classier man would be hard to find.
** Somehow, folks like James and Mike helped keep their team on task, and have kept it, thus far, from slipping away. In fact, James may have saved this season with one shot.
** Many were concerned that Dixon was on the verge of losing his team this year. But somehow, his leadership too has been critical.
** After Referee Jeff Anderson whistled Dixon for a technical foul, you had to like how Chris, Sheldon and James came over to rib their coach by giving him a high energy clap in his face, like he often does to them. Obviously, the players have not tuned him out as many suggested they may have.
** For now, it looks like our guys are believing in their coach, and perhaps even themselves. Teams who believe in themselves can beat teams like Duke the way they did today.
** Congrats to our team on a fine win! Let’s keep it going and nail down our spot in the Dance on Wednesday.
** And it certainly was our day. A great day. In fact, it was our very best day, and our very best game in two seasons.
** Perhaps you were more impressed with our defeat of UNC last year, but that was a victory earned on amazing jump shooting.
** This was a complete game, with the Panthers delivering outstanding execution in all aspects of the game.
** This was exactly the kind of game we had become long accustomed to watching during Jamie Dixon’s tenure.
** This leads me to this question – is it a legit hope that after all his begging and pleading and teaching and screaming, that Dixon is finally starting to get through to these guys?
** Are the Panthers indeed improving as a team?
** We will learn at least some of the answer to this question with these two road games to finish the regular season. A team that plays like we played today wins those games for sure.
** Undoubtedly, we looked like a certain NCAA Tournament Team today, which wasn’t really the case two weeks ago in Chapel Hill.
** Since that day, which was quite discouraging, we have gone 3-1, and perhaps should even be 4-0 if it weren’t for the late meltdown on Wednesday.
** Let’s look at what’s changed in these past two weeks.
** First is rebounding, which actually started at the UNC Game. But we have attacked the glass, particularly the offensive glass. Our focus and energy going after rebounds has been noticeably superior to our opponent.
** Second is defense. Yes, we are actually defending. Today we guarded dribble penetration, and rotated effectively to guard perimeter shooters. And we handled ball screens. It was team defense from what has been a below average defensive team.
** We are now #88 in defensive efficiency according to Pomeroy, and that number had slipped all the way down to around #150 not long ago.
** Next is guard play. Plain and simply, Chris and James are playing better. Chris is just a smidge under 10PPG since he almost won the Miami game by himself. In his previous 7 games, he had averaged 2 PPG. Both are defending better.
** James has scored in double digits in five straight games, averaging 15PPG in that time.
** I was one of those folks who wondered if we had any guards at all when we played Virginia. I told many that I didn’t think Chris Jones should play anymore. I was dead wrong.
** Fourth is Ryan Luther. Ryan is averaging just under a smidge under 10PPG in his last 6 games. And this doesn’t really even tell the whole story, as he’s been begun to emerge as a quality post defender as well.
** Mike Young came out at the 15 minute mark of the second half. He never returned and we never missed him. Thank you Ryan.
** And when Duke cut the second half lead to ten, Ryan drove and got fouled, the later hit a deep three to push it back to 16. Not uncoincidentaly, Ryan’s three put Pitt’s point total at 64, a number Duke would never get to.
** Fifth, and most importantly, confidence. The Panthers didn’t always look like a confident team, or a team who believed in themselves. They also didn’t look like they had much leadership, nor an identity.
** Looking at how he’s stepped up his play, it appears that it’s James who is providing this leadership.
** And despite the number of detractors James has had, it was good to hear the hardy ovation he received when he was recognized on Senior Day, or when he came out with under a minute to go.
** One of the great little benefits of this lopsided wins was it allowed for a senior day appearance for Mike Lecak. In his own ways, Mike has contributed to this team greatly, and a classier man would be hard to find.
** Somehow, folks like James and Mike helped keep their team on task, and have kept it, thus far, from slipping away. In fact, James may have saved this season with one shot.
** Many were concerned that Dixon was on the verge of losing his team this year. But somehow, his leadership too has been critical.
** After Referee Jeff Anderson whistled Dixon for a technical foul, you had to like how Chris, Sheldon and James came over to rib their coach by giving him a high energy clap in his face, like he often does to them. Obviously, the players have not tuned him out as many suggested they may have.
** For now, it looks like our guys are believing in their coach, and perhaps even themselves. Teams who believe in themselves can beat teams like Duke the way they did today.
** Congrats to our team on a fine win! Let’s keep it going and nail down our spot in the Dance on Wednesday.
