Game Coaching

[Monroevillefan]

In the N C State game I thought Dixon could,have been more creative in getting his team from sleep walking in the first half. You cannot let a team get up by 25 in the first half and coach the game in your normal pattern.

Some thoughts on what he could have done.

1. Robinson was being lit up by Barber. It was clear that he didn't fear Robinson blocking his shot so he was basically shooting uncontested ljumpshots. Put a bigger guard on him like Jones to force him to the basket and get him out of his rhythm.

2 switch to the zone for a few series. Pitt needed to change the rhythm of NC State's offense.

3 Full court Press. Try to get your players to engage in a faster pace and disrupt their rhythm.

4 call more time outs. Why are you saving your timeouts for the second half. Use them all to slow NC STATE down.
5 Do a wholesale substitution to send a message to your starters.

Maybe none of it would have worked but doing the same ole same ole just got you down 25 at half.
Sometimes you have to adjust.

 

[gary2]

In the N C State game I thought Dixon could,have been more creative in getting his team from sleep walking in the first half. You cannot let a team get up by 25 in the first half and coach the game in your normal pattern.

Some thoughts on what he could have done.

1. Robinson was being lit up by Barber. It was clear that he didn't fear Robinson blocking his shot so he was basically shooting uncontested ljumpshots. Put a bigger guard on him like Jones to force him to the basket and get him out of his rhythm.

2 switch to the zone for a few series. Pitt needed to change the rhythm of NC State's offense.

3 Full court Press. Try to get your players to engage in a faster pace and disrupt their rhythm.

4 call more time outs. Why are you saving your timeouts for the second half. Use them all to slow NC STATE down.
5 Do a wholesale substitution to send a message to your starters.

Maybe none of it would have worked but doing the same ole same ole just got you down 25 at half.
Sometimes you have to adjust.

NC State only plays 7 and is foul prone. They only have one ball handler and their other players are turnover prone.

You would think something could have been done to attack these weaknesses.

 

[Monroevillefan]

I saw Lou Carnesca of St Johns call all 5 timeouts in the first half when Pitt was going on runs. He was going to break our momentum. I am just saying if you are down 25 at half the game is over. The coach has to use whatever he has available,to stop that from happening. Sometimes a coach has to break his own tendencies.

 

[MajorMajors]

In the N C State game I thought Dixon could,have been more creative in getting his team from sleep walking in the first half. You cannot let a team get up by 25 in the first half and coach the game in your normal pattern.

Some thoughts on what he could have done.

1. Robinson was being lit up by Barber. It was clear that he didn't fear Robinson blocking his shot so he was basically shooting uncontested ljumpshots. Put a bigger guard on him like Jones to force him to the basket and get him out of his rhythm.

2 switch to the zone for a few series. Pitt needed to change the rhythm of NC State's offense.

3 Full court Press. Try to get your players to engage in a faster pace and disrupt their rhythm.

4 call more time outs. Why are you saving your timeouts for the second half. Use them all to slow NC STATE down.
5 Do a wholesale substitution to send a message to your starters.

Maybe none of it would have worked but doing the same ole same ole just got you down 25 at half.
Sometimes you have to adjust.

I don't think Pitt has anybody who could guard Barber - he was too quick and is a very good player having a very good night - I mean Sean Miller didn't even go 14 for 14 from the foul line. I would guess Pitt didn't want to go to a zone because NCS likes to shoot 3s - and the last thing Jamie D. wanted to see was Rowan lighting it up.

I was disappointed that we didn't see Pitt try to take advantage of Rowan's defense by trying to isolate him against someone who could drive to the basket, or drive and dish. I only remember Jones driving past Rowan one time and I think Jones was then called for a charge against another NCS defender who stepped in closer to the hoop... Which means somebody should have been open for the dish.

Go Pitt.