Georgia Tech Game & Other Dribbles ...

[DT_PITT]

** I'm not going to try to come up with anything clever for this one. The loss is pretty clear and straighforward.

** We simply do not have the talent to make up for problematic errors in a game when they occur. In this game, it was turnovers and terrible offensive execution in the first half.

** And this was indeed a game where the foul line played a deciding role, both with an exceptional performance by Ga Tech and a substandard one by the Panthers.

** A shout out to Ithiel who was exceptional scoring the ball, and his defense continues to improve.

** Beyong that, I wish I had something better or smarter to add.

** I can only hope that we can put some wins together soon, because if we crash for a third straight year under Capel, it's hard to look at that in any positive way,

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Horton was the lone bright spot

 

[4Mark_Marty]

** I'm not going to try to come up with anything clever for this one. The loss is pretty clear and straighforward.

** We simply do not have the talent to make up for problematic errors in a game when they occur. In this game, it was turnovers and terrible offensive execution in the first half.

** And this was indeed a game where the foul line played a deciding role, both with an exceptional performance by Ga Tech and a substandard one by the Panthers.

** A shout out to Ithiel who was exceptional scoring the ball, and his defense continues to improve.

** Beyong that, I was I had something better or smarter to add.

** I can only hope that we can put some wins together soon, because if we crash for a third straight year under Capel, it's hard to look at that in any positive way,

Simple to the point

 

[bobfree]

Good thoughts.

we are a flawed team like many. We can still win some games down the stretch and make it interesting.

it worries me to see Justin so lackadaisical. I wonder at times if he and Toney are 100%

hugely was a loss. Brown can’t even give them a couple minutes.

 

[below0w]

Good thoughts.

we are a flawed team like many. We can still win some games down the stretch and make it interesting.

it worries me to see Justin so lackadaisical. I wonder at times if he and Toney are 100%

hugely was a loss. Brown can’t even give them a couple minutes.

I don't wonder about Toney at all. I think he loses focus at times, but I haven't seen any reason to question his effort. X and Toney play hard, but they don't necessarily play smart. For whatever reason I've seen people conflate that for not caring and I think that's wrong.

 

[PittMed]

** I'm not going to try to come up with anything clever for this one. The loss is pretty clear and straighforward.

** We simply do not have the talent to make up for problematic errors in a game when they occur. In this game, it was turnovers and terrible offensive execution in the first half.

** And this was indeed a game where the foul line played a deciding role, both with an exceptional performance by Ga Tech and a substandard one by the Panthers.

** A shout out to Ithiel who was exceptional scoring the ball, and his defense continues to improve.

** Beyong that, I was I had something better or smarter to add.

** I can only hope that we can put some wins together soon, because if we crash for a third straight year under Capel, it's hard to look at that in any positive way,

Horton's defense was pretty good today. He is maturing.

 

[PittMed]

I don't wonder about Toney at all. I think he loses focus at times, but I haven't seen any reason to question his effort. X and Toney play hard, but they don't necessarily play smart. For whatever reason I've seen people conflate that for not caring and I think that's wrong.

Toney oozes with athleticism. He is chucking up 3s recently which has made him go away from his strengths.

 

[pittizit]

** I'm not going to try to come up with anything clever for this one. The loss is pretty clear and straighforward.

** We simply do not have the talent to make up for problematic errors in a game when they occur. In this game, it was turnovers and terrible offensive execution in the first half.

** And this was indeed a game where the foul line played a deciding role, both with an exceptional performance by Ga Tech and a substandard one by the Panthers.

** A shout out to Ithiel who was exceptional scoring the ball, and his defense continues to improve.

** Beyong that, I was I had something better or smarter to add.

** I can only hope that we can put some wins together soon, because if we crash for a third straight year under Capel, it's hard to look at that in any positive way,

 

[below0w]

Toney oozes with athleticism. He is chucking up 3s recently which has made him go away from his strengths.

He's an NBA athlete with a skill set that seems to ebb and flow with the phases of the moon. I actually like his shot, which is why I think it's mostly a mental problem. You're completely right that he's not playing to his strengths.

 

[bobfree]

I don't wonder about Toney at all. I think he loses focus at times, but I haven't seen any reason to question his effort. X and Toney play hard, but they don't necessarily play smart. For whatever reason I've seen people conflate that for not caring and I think that's wrong.

I didn’t question Toneys effort I wondered if he’s fully healthy

 

[FIVE4PITT]

Pitt still plays with a lack of energy and focus at times. They are frustrating to watch. The same players make the same mistakes over and over. You want your team to improve as the season goes along this team hasn't.

 

[DT_PITT]

Good thoughts.

we are a flawed team like many. We can still win some games down the stretch and make it interesting.

it worries me to see Justin so lackadaisical. I wonder at times if he and Toney are 100%

hugely was a loss. Brown can’t even give them a couple minutes.

I agree with the Brown comment, but he played 2:42 today. Just really not worth mentioning I believe.

 

[docpanther26]

I think my biggest question is how do you not come out prepared after eight days off? As Souf said in another thread to my response and one I’m sure we all know....as X goes we go. He has to let the game come to him instead of constantly trying to force things. We were completely out of rhythm the entire first half and most of the second half. Guys standing there when Coulibaly had the ball each time on the perimeter. This Georgia Tech team was NOT good and its a team that we should have beaten by 20, like Syracuse.

 

[wolf0717]

He's an NBA athlete with a skill set that seems to ebb and flow with the phases of the moon. I actually like his shot, which is why I think it's mostly a mental problem. You're completely right that he's not playing to his strengths.

Men will land on Pluto before Toney sees the NBA.

 

[below0w]

Men will land on Pluto before Toney sees the NBA.

Cool, he's still objectively an NBA calibre athlete.

 

[Vader_Storm]

** I'm not going to try to come up with anything clever for this one. The loss is pretty clear and straighforward.

** We simply do not have the talent to make up for problematic errors in a game when they occur. In this game, it was turnovers and terrible offensive execution in the first half.

** And this was indeed a game where the foul line played a deciding role, both with an exceptional performance by Ga Tech and a substandard one by the Panthers.

** A shout out to Ithiel who was exceptional scoring the ball, and his defense continues to improve.

** Beyong that, I was I had something better or smarter to add.

** I can only hope that we can put some wins together soon, because if we crash for a third straight year under Capel, it's hard to look at that in any positive way,

Shooting for .a 500 record in the ACC remains in play. The games remaining include Wake Forest, NC State twice, and Clemson twice. We have the opportunity to close the season strong and on a good note. Losing today to a borderline Top 50ish team doesn't change that. We have 3 of these games at home and can do this.

On another note, here is the experience level of what the value of seniors are this year in the ACC of the Top 8 teams in the league right now

1) Virginia- 33 points per game from seniors
2) FSU- 23 points per game from seniors
3) Virginia Tech- 7.7 points per game
4) Louisville- 17.5ppg
5) UNC-15 ppg
6) Clemson-25 ppg
7) Syracuse- 11 ppg
8) Georgia Tech- 52 ppg


Our true senior is Terrell Brown. It is difficult to win in this league or be a contender without at least a few seniors on your team.

 

[PittMed]

I think my biggest question is how do you not come out prepared after eight days off? As Souf said in another thread to my response and one I’m sure we all know....as X goes we go. He has to let the game come to him instead of constantly trying to force things. We were completely out of rhythm the entire first half and most of the second half. Guys standing there when Coulibaly had the ball each time on the perimeter. This Georgia Tech team was NOT good and its a team that we should have beaten by 20, like Syracuse.

I think I like moving to the following line up to avoid the x-factor issues we are having.

1- Femi
2- X
3- Toney
4- Champ
5- AKC

Bring Horton off the bench. I like jeffers getting some reps as well.

The biggest non-factor is Nike. What happened to him?

 

[PittMed]

I think I like moving to the following line up to avoid the x-factor issues we are having.

1- Femi
2- X
3- Toney
4- Champ
5- AKC

Bring Horton off the bench. I like jeffers getting some reps as well.

The biggest non-factor is Nike. What happened to him?

X would be so much better off the ball - Horton comes in for Femi, X slides to the 1, then Femi/Horton/X rotate. Again, Nike is the issue, we need another guard.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Well, despite whatever we may think—ESPN only gave us about a 1 in 3 chance to win this game. Also, the oddsmakers had us a 5 point underdog and we lost by 6. This means the game went as the experts expected. So, it wasn’t an upset.

Eighteen turnovers (5 more than GT) is way too many and proved to be the difference in the boxscore. More generically, not having at least one quality big man is still a major defficiency.

 

[DT_PITT]

Shooting for .a 500 record in the ACC remains in play. The games remaining include Wake Forest, NC State twice, and Clemson twice. We have the opportunity to close the season strong and on a good note. Losing today to a borderline Top 50ish team doesn't change that. We have 3 of these games at home and can do this.

On another note, here is the experience level of what the value of seniors are this year in the ACC of the Top 8 teams in the league right now

1) Virginia- 33 points per game from seniors
2) FSU- 23 points per game from seniors
3) Virginia Tech- 7.7 points per game
4) Louisville- 17.5ppg
5) UNC-15 ppg
6) Clemson-25 ppg
7) Syracuse- 11 ppg
8) Georgia Tech- 52 ppg


Our true senior is Terrell Brown. It is difficult to win in this league or be a contender without at least a few seniors on your team.

A .500 ACC record is a perfect goal at this point.

 

[Chescat]

We simply do not have the talent to make up for problematic errors in a game when they occur. In this game, it was turnovers and terrible offensive execution in the first half.

Not your usual longer Dribbles, but
the above quote IMO says it all about
this team. I said it a little differently in
an earlier post today.....we're good, but
not that good. We have to play an
almost perfect game to win in the ACC.
That first half performance would put
us behind score wise against just about
every team in this league.

What I saw as positive today was a very
different second half. We were hurt by a
few costly mistakes, TO's, and some calls
by the refs that were questionable. The
T on Horton?.... that was a killer at that
point in the game.
With all that said, we almost pulled it out
late. I saw no quit, and let's face it, GT
CAN play, and they have talent and a legit
BIG. As long as we play with an edge, and
string two halves together like the second
half today, we can win maybe two more.
This is not like that three game losing
streak we had a few weeks ago.
I'm optimistic.

 

[Chescat]

Well, despite whatever we may think—ESPN only gave us about a 1 in 3 chance to win this game. Also, the oddsmakers had us a 5 point underdog and we lost by 6. This means the game went as the experts expected. So, it wasn’t an upset.

Eighteen turnovers (5 more than GT) is way too many and proved to be the difference in the boxscore. More generically, not having at least one quality big man is still a major defficiency.

Very true! Sometimes a reminder of what
we are and who we are as players and as
a team is important. Realistically, as I
mentioned a few times today, we're good,
but not THAT good. Also, GT CAN play.
They have talent, they have a BIG, and
they play hard, in fact just as hard as we
did today. We had our chances, but so
did GT. They made the most of theirs,
we didn't, and we started with a dismal
first half.
Not the end of the world. We're getting there,
it ain't easy.

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

Having a .500 record in ACc play is perfectly acceptable in ACC play in year 3. EXCEPT if you have a kid overplay his ranking and become an all American and draft pick in year 2. Disappointing

 

[docpanther26]

Having a .500 record in ACc play is perfectly acceptable in ACC play in year 3. EXCEPT if you have a kid overplay his ranking and become an all American and draft pick in year 2. Disappointing

Not necessarily, this isn’t an individual sport like wrestling! Need five guys all moving together to win...but I know you know that.

 

[Protes]

** I'm not going to try to come up with anything clever for this one. The loss is pretty clear and straighforward.

** We simply do not have the talent to make up for problematic errors in a game when they occur. In this game, it was turnovers and terrible offensive execution in the first half.

** And this was indeed a game where the foul line played a deciding role, both with an exceptional performance by Ga Tech and a substandard one by the Panthers.

** A shout out to Ithiel who was exceptional scoring the ball, and his defense continues to improve.

** Beyong that, I was I had something better or smarter to add.

** I can only hope that we can put some wins together soon, because if we crash for a third straight year under Capel, it's hard to look at that in any positive way,

Perhaps unsurprisingly, I had very similar thoughts.

Game ball to Ithiel, for sure. If he can consistently give what he gave today, we will obviously be better for it.

Thought the team did give effort today (save Justin's "lollygagging"). Your first half analysis is spot on. We aren't good enough to turn the ball over 12 times in a half (let alone 18 times a game). Amazingly, despite the poor first half, our shooting #'s today were more than acceptable save the free throw line. The stats indeed say that's where this one was lost.

Toney's numbers look good in the box score, but when you watch the game he just doesn't feel like a force. We know the D is going to be there. I just wish he was more of a 3-ball threat. In the meantime, he's got to get back to his mid-range game.

Of course, it's hard not to question the two technicals against us in this one. I didn't think X did anything wrong on his. It looked to me like he ran into a teammate and it just maybe looked bad. The one on Ithiel was a total joke. Those 2 calls, in what ended up being just a 6-point loss, could have made the difference.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

X would be so much better off the ball - Horton comes in for Femi, X slides to the 1, then Femi/Horton/X rotate. Again, Nike is the issue, we need another guard.

Sibande and Hugley have been huge disappointments. We’d have a couple more wins if these two provided what we hoped they would.

 

[DT_PITT]

Perhaps unsurprisingly, I had very similar thoughts.

Game ball to Ithiel, for sure. If he can consistently give what he gave today, we will obviously be better for it.

Thought the team did give effort today (save Justin's "lollygagging"). Your first half analysis is spot on. We aren't good enough to turn the ball over 12 times in a half (let alone 18 times a game). Amazingly, despite the poor first half, our shooting #'s today were more than acceptable save the free throw line. The stats indeed say that's where this one was lost.

Toney's numbers look good in the box score, but when you watch the game he just doesn't feel like a force. We know the D is going to be there. I just wish he was more of a 3-ball threat. In the meantime, he's got to get back to his mid-range game.

Of course, it's hard not to question the two technicals against us in this one. I didn't think X didn't anything wrong on his. It looked to me like he ran into a teammate and it just maybe looked bad. The one on Ithiel was a total joke. Those 2 calls in what ended up being just a 6-point loss could have made the difference.

I agree about the technicals, especially the one on Ithiel. In almost every case, I forgive referees for bad calls during play. It's a tough game to officiate and the action happens so quickly. But the call on Ithiel is decision making on the part of the ref that was not necessary in any way. Refs have to be better than that.

I didn't see what ref called the actual T. The crew was Lee Cassel, Ron Groover and Jerry Heater. Groover is probably the most veteran and highest regarded of the crew.

 

[pittbb80]

Horton needs to look for his shot earlier in the game He was more assertive in the second half

With X hot and Cold and Champ being locked down he has to look for his shot earlier in the game and more consistently

 

[Pitt5593]

Simple to the point

DT said it. TALENT. We don’t have nearly enough. Not close.

 

[Fredact]

** I'm not going to try to come up with anything clever for this one. The loss is pretty clear and straighforward.

** We simply do not have the talent to make up for problematic errors in a game when they occur. In this game, it was turnovers and terrible offensive execution in the first half.

** And this was indeed a game where the foul line played a deciding role, both with an exceptional performance by Ga Tech and a substandard one by the Panthers.

** A shout out to Ithiel who was exceptional scoring the ball, and his defense continues to improve.

** Beyong that, I was I had something better or smarter to add.

** I can only hope that we can put some wins together soon, because if we crash for a third straight year under Capel, it's hard to look at that in any positive way,

This may have been the saddest I've ever been after reading a Dribbles. When the passion is gone from DT, its a sad day in the 'Burgh.

 

[DT_PITT]

This may have been the saddest I've ever been after reading a Dribbles. When the passion is gone from DT, its a sad day in the 'Burgh.

I wasn't even going to write anything at all.

 

[Fredact]

I wasn't even going to write anything at all.

 

[PittPoker]

** I'm not going to try to come up with anything clever for this one. The loss is pretty clear and straighforward.

** We simply do not have the talent to make up for problematic errors in a game when they occur. In this game, it was turnovers and terrible offensive execution in the first half.

** And this was indeed a game where the foul line played a deciding role, both with an exceptional performance by Ga Tech and a substandard one by the Panthers.

** A shout out to Ithiel who was exceptional scoring the ball, and his defense continues to improve.

** Beyong that, I was I had something better or smarter to add.

** I can only hope that we can put some wins together soon, because if we crash for a third straight year under Capel, it's hard to look at that in any positive way,

Shortest Dribbles I can ever remember from you. Wow. Matt on the pay board said Xavier Johnson at this point is damaged goods. Do you agree DT? He hasn't made ANY improvement from year 1 to year 3 which is very disappointing.

 

[Bethlehemjohn]

** I'm not going to try to come up with anything clever for this one. The loss is pretty clear and straighforward.

** We simply do not have the talent to make up for problematic errors in a game when they occur. In this game, it was turnovers and terrible offensive execution in the first half.

** And this was indeed a game where the foul line played a deciding role, both with an exceptional performance by Ga Tech and a substandard one by the Panthers.

** A shout out to Ithiel who was exceptional scoring the ball, and his defense continues to improve.

** Beyong that, I was I had something better or smarter to add.

** I can only hope that we can put some wins together soon, because if we crash for a third straight year under Capel, it's hard to look at that in any positive way,

Pretty much agree with everything said. This loss isn't an endictment on this team or anything different than what should be expected. We were a 5 point dog today to GT and lost by 6. We were what we were supposed to be and anyone who thinks any differently is just delusional.

Yes, we can play better.

Yes, we could have won this game.

Yes, we are every bit as good as GT.

However...............

We can and have played worse.

GT was ahead most of the game.

GT is every bit as good as us.


I just don't understand all of the craziness around this game and many of the others. Ultimately, we have just about an even chance to win or lose any of our games. Our remaining 5 will all be games that we could just as easily win as lose and hopefully we end up on the winning side of the ledger more than the losing side. Ending on a losing streak would be very disappointing, just as winning every game would be incredible. More than likely we are looking at winning 2 or 3 more and none would surprise me any more than the other.

 

[Saboteur II]

Good thoughts.

we are a flawed team like many. We can still win some games down the stretch and make it interesting.

it worries me to see Justin so lackadaisical. I wonder at times if he and Toney are 100%

hugely was a loss. Brown can’t even give them a couple minutes.

If he is lackadaisical it means he is nowhere near ready for pro basketball and will be back next year.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Is it just me, or is the angst not really borne out of each of these games and their individual results, but the flow of the program, the young guys on the roster, and more to the point, the lack of recruits in queue to replace and hopefully upgrade positions.

Because that is where my real concern lies. That we throw together a last minute class with C and D level recruits therefore more of the same.

That's what is really bothering me. Especially with the increasing likelihood of Champagnie going pro.

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

If he is lackadaisical it means he is nowhere near ready for pro basketball and will be back next year.

He’s having an all American season on literally one leg. He honestly should shut himself down because yesterday was the first time you could visibly see it.

 

[snaphook297]

The bad X showed up 7 turnovers 4 assists the standard is the standard

 

[Ronnyp91]

He’s having an all American season on literally one leg. He honestly should shut himself down because yesterday was the first time you could visibly see it.

I wanted to ask if you thought there was any chance he would shut it down? Seems like the smart move for his future if he’s leaving.

 

[BballinsiderfromPitt]

I wanted to ask if you thought there was any chance he would shut it down? Seems like the smart move for his future if he’s leaving.

I’d be the wrong person to ask. I have absolutely no idea. Could cite covid and get his knee surgery done now.