** Tonight I'm only offering the most positive comments. And I’ll start with congratulations to our Pitt Panthers for an ACC Tournament which all but assures them of an NCAA Tournament berth!
** It took me a few days to write post game after the BC loss in the ACC tourney last year. There was next to nothing positive in my comments that day. But one year later, we head to the ACC quarterfinals. Like I said … Congratulations!
** In Capel’s post game last year, he remarked he needed to get better players. Obviously, that’s exactly what he did. When you do that, you most deservedly win Coach of the Year.
** But as it turns out, the best of those better players was already on his roster.
** Jamarius was certainly at this best this day. I think I may have said some not so great things about Jamarius after the BC loss last year. Turns out I couldn’t have been more wrong.
** Let’s look at the man’s work from the eight and a half minute mark when the Panthers held just a one point lead, to when Blake’s three put the game out of reach at 85-77. In that time, JB's scoring or assists accounted for 20 of the Panthers' 25 points.
** All of the clichés – go to guy, putting a team on your back in crunch time and on and on – can certainly be applied to Jamarius.
** Although, I'm glad I can share that despite the nervous moments in this game, I was really never all that nervous. It was just before Burton’s fine stretch when I became convinced we’d win. Tech was at the line with a chance to go up one but missed both. Yet they still got the offensive rebound and kicked it out for a wide open three that missed. It always feels like when you are in trouble when threes like this go in. But this one didn’t, and then JB took care of business starting with the assist to Greg for a triple. A huge six point swing.
** Heaping all of the praise on Burton doesn’t do the rest of the team justice, of course, Everyone including Guillermo played important roles. This was indeed a team win.
** And although it was indeed a team win for a bunch of guys who indeed play as a unit, I must also admit that even though Coach Capel went and got some better players, it took me a long time to realize that they were indeed better ones.
** But the Colgate Kid, the Marquette Sub, the Journeyman Transfer, Skinny Twin G, and the Unknown JUCO combined for 64 points on the brightest ACC stage today. Last year on a similar ACC stage, the whole team combined for a paltry 46.
** Grumbling about defense is a typical refrain I’ll offer on days when the Panthers surrender 50 in a half. But not tonight. We are long past the point of dissecting this team’s weaknesses. At this point in the season all that’s left to do is appreciate wins.
** And appreciate this one I’m glad to say I did. And if we can get one tomorrow, I’ll appreciate that one even more. I like our chances tomorrow too. I’m not saying we will win it. But we can.
** The wins I’ll appreciate most as any that follow after Selection Sunday. For the first time in seven years, we will get the chance to do just that. Better players, better coaching, better team and a much, much better disposition for an entire program.
** Once more … CONGRATULATIONS!
** It took me a few days to write post game after the BC loss in the ACC tourney last year. There was next to nothing positive in my comments that day. But one year later, we head to the ACC quarterfinals. Like I said … Congratulations!
** In Capel’s post game last year, he remarked he needed to get better players. Obviously, that’s exactly what he did. When you do that, you most deservedly win Coach of the Year.
** But as it turns out, the best of those better players was already on his roster.
** Jamarius was certainly at this best this day. I think I may have said some not so great things about Jamarius after the BC loss last year. Turns out I couldn’t have been more wrong.
** Let’s look at the man’s work from the eight and a half minute mark when the Panthers held just a one point lead, to when Blake’s three put the game out of reach at 85-77. In that time, JB's scoring or assists accounted for 20 of the Panthers' 25 points.
** All of the clichés – go to guy, putting a team on your back in crunch time and on and on – can certainly be applied to Jamarius.
** Although, I'm glad I can share that despite the nervous moments in this game, I was really never all that nervous. It was just before Burton’s fine stretch when I became convinced we’d win. Tech was at the line with a chance to go up one but missed both. Yet they still got the offensive rebound and kicked it out for a wide open three that missed. It always feels like when you are in trouble when threes like this go in. But this one didn’t, and then JB took care of business starting with the assist to Greg for a triple. A huge six point swing.
** Heaping all of the praise on Burton doesn’t do the rest of the team justice, of course, Everyone including Guillermo played important roles. This was indeed a team win.
** And although it was indeed a team win for a bunch of guys who indeed play as a unit, I must also admit that even though Coach Capel went and got some better players, it took me a long time to realize that they were indeed better ones.
** But the Colgate Kid, the Marquette Sub, the Journeyman Transfer, Skinny Twin G, and the Unknown JUCO combined for 64 points on the brightest ACC stage today. Last year on a similar ACC stage, the whole team combined for a paltry 46.
** Grumbling about defense is a typical refrain I’ll offer on days when the Panthers surrender 50 in a half. But not tonight. We are long past the point of dissecting this team’s weaknesses. At this point in the season all that’s left to do is appreciate wins.
** And appreciate this one I’m glad to say I did. And if we can get one tomorrow, I’ll appreciate that one even more. I like our chances tomorrow too. I’m not saying we will win it. But we can.
** The wins I’ll appreciate most as any that follow after Selection Sunday. For the first time in seven years, we will get the chance to do just that. Better players, better coaching, better team and a much, much better disposition for an entire program.
** Once more … CONGRATULATIONS!
