I find it quite polarizing

[Chairman Moe]

to read through the posts here, especially following the past two games. From seemingly being euphoric that we defeated a Top 25 team(Duke), and looked like we had a lock to get to the NCAAT, to bemoaning the fact that we $hit the bed three days later against a very middling team in VT, and may be back to sweating out a bid.

I do get it, to some degree, that as fans we would certainly like to "know" where our team is as post-season approaches. Not that they "owe" us anything; still, it would be more "comforting" to think that when we get to the tournament part of the season, we would have a pretty good idea of whether we can or cannot compete with our next opponent.

The reality is - for the 2015-2016 Pitt Cagers - that nobody knows! Not us, not Dixon, and not the team. But ultimately, the team had better figure out if they "want it" - if they really "want" to win. To hear Michael Young say that the team wasn't "focused" last night spoke volumes.

This is on the team; as a group, they better figure out that in this sport, in this league, and at this time of the year, you have to be focused, every game, for 40 minutes (or longer, if OT). Your next opponent doesn't care if you think you're "better" than the last team you defeated. Artis ran his mouth after the Duke game, and then followed it up with a horrible performance last night ... Young said we weren't focused ...

I'd bet dollars to donuts that JD is doing his job to coach these kids correctly - but right now, maybe he (or one of his assistants) needs to smack some of these kids upside the head and get them focused! I don't mind it so much if the team I root for gets defeated, so long as they are competing and trying. From the looks of yesterday (and many other similar games this year) the team didn't. Here's hoping they get the "wake-up call" on Saturday ...

 

[Pitt79]

Pitt "Cagers"? You must be OLD! LOL, I played for my elementary school basketball team in the late '60s/early '70s, in a school built in 1915 and we had the basketball court with the cage around it! LOL!

To be honest, I'd think we are in the NCAAT, no matter what. When in previous years was 20-11 and 9-9 in the ACC not good enough? That's the worst we can do at this point.

But it is odd, they can pound the crap out of Duke on National TV one day, then suck so bad three days later vs. a mediocre team? Overconfidence last night? No way I thought they'd lose myself.

 

[gary2]

Pitt "Cagers"? You must be OLD! LOL, I played for my elementary school basketball team in the late '60s/early '70s, in a school built in 1915 and we had the basketball court with the cage around it! LOL!

To be honest, I'd think we are in the NCAAT, no matter what. When in previous years was 20-11 and 9-9 in the ACC not good enough? That's the worst we can do at this point.

But it is odd, they can pound the crap out of Duke on National TV one day, then suck so bad three days later vs. a mediocre team? Overconfidence last night? No way I thought they'd lose myself.

I think you could see this game coming. Pitt has a history in both FB and BB of not getting up for teams (for no good reason) that they expect to beat. This happens most often after a big win or before a big game. Players remarks after the Duke game revealed the teams mindset. There is only so much a coach can do to combat natural let downs. Jackie Sherrill was the only coach to avoid this and it was most likely due to vastly superior talent.

It helps if you have a Brandin Knight or a Krauser like player that is the leader of your team. Unfortunately we do not.

 

[iMissTheOldDays]

Jamel Artis should be banned from speaking to the media as he has said lots of idiotic things this year .. And for him to come out and play like that last night is unacceptable .. Youngs comment is very , very troubling ..

 

[Farnox]

The Jekyll and Hyde stuff if what really kills me. I was feeling good after the Duke game and hoping they turned the corner. Then wham, back to the same old crap again. Which is the real Pitt? They are only consistent at being inconsistent ( pardon the overused phrase ).

 

[pittbb80]

Why is it surprising that Pitt lost to a "middling" team on the road when by the very definition this current group of Panthers is a "middling team". You are what your record says you are...........Pitt is 9-8 in the ACC and so is VT..........I think our fan base still views the team through the lens of the team that was dominant in the BIg East.........News flash........this isn't the same team any longer. Whatever mojo they used to have is long gone.

This is a team that can be a very tough out when they are shooting well and can be embarrassingly bad when the shots don't fall as it also seems to effect their defensive focus.

Before the season I thought this team would make the NCAA and perhaps win a game in the tourney. That is still within reach. This team needs good Artis and Jrob as well as MY playing like he cares like he did yesterday to win........When Two of the three play like they did yesterday.............its not very pretty

 

[Chairman Moe]

Pitt "Cagers"? You must be OLD! LOL, I played for my elementary school basketball team in the late '60s/early '70s, in a school built in 1915 and we had the basketball court with the cage around it! LOL!

To be honest, I'd think we are in the NCAAT, no matter what. When in previous years was 20-11 and 9-9 in the ACC not good enough? That's the worst we can do at this point.

But it is odd, they can pound the crap out of Duke on National TV one day, then suck so bad three days later vs. a mediocre team? Overconfidence last night? No way I thought they'd lose myself.

Old? Yeah, probably to some! A few years older than you perhaps but yes, I used the term "cagers" intentionally. To also emphasize that maybe our team needs to engage in a "cage match" when facing lesser opponents, and get more physical !!

 

[NTOP]

to read through the posts here, especially following the past two games. From seemingly being euphoric that we defeated a Top 25 team(Duke), and looked like we had a lock to get to the NCAAT, to bemoaning the fact that we $hit the bed three days later against a very middling team in VT, and may be back to sweating out a bid.

I do get it, to some degree, that as fans we would certainly like to "know" where our team is as post-season approaches. Not that they "owe" us anything; still, it would be more "comforting" to think that when we get to the tournament part of the season, we would have a pretty good idea of whether we can or cannot compete with our next opponent.

The reality is - for the 2015-2016 Pitt Cagers - that nobody knows! Not us, not Dixon, and not the team. But ultimately, the team had better figure out if they "want it" - if they really "want" to win. To hear Michael Young say that the team wasn't "focused" last night spoke volumes.

This is on the team; as a group, they better figure out that in this sport, in this league, and at this time of the year, you have to be focused, every game, for 40 minutes (or longer, if OT). Your next opponent doesn't care if you think you're "better" than the last team you defeated. Artis ran his mouth after the Duke game, and then followed it up with a horrible performance last night ... Young said we weren't focused ...

I'd bet dollars to donuts that JD is doing his job to coach these kids correctly - but right now, maybe he (or one of his assistants) needs to smack some of these kids upside the head and get them focused! I don't mind it so much if the team I root for gets defeated, so long as they are competing and trying. From the looks of yesterday (and many other similar games this year) the team didn't. Here's hoping they get the "wake-up call" on Saturday ...

This team is bi-polar, no surprise our fans are a bit unhinged. Frustrating. Maddening, actually.

 

[Chairman Moe]

This team is bi-polar, no surprise our fans are a bit unhinged. Frustrating. Maddening, actually.

Bi-polar is a great description; and this is not the first Pitt team to be. But I gotta be careful saying that, lest it lead to a whole other thread saying that the team's personality resembles their coach

 

[Delpanther]

to read through the posts here, especially following the past two games. From seemingly being euphoric that we defeated a Top 25 team(Duke), and looked like we had a lock to get to the NCAAT, to bemoaning the fact that we $hit the bed three days later against a very middling team in VT, and may be back to sweating out a bid.

I do get it, to some degree, that as fans we would certainly like to "know" where our team is as post-season approaches. Not that they "owe" us anything; still, it would be more "comforting" to think that when we get to the tournament part of the season, we would have a pretty good idea of whether we can or cannot compete with our next opponent.

The reality is - for the 2015-2016 Pitt Cagers - that nobody knows! Not us, not Dixon, and not the team. But ultimately, the team had better figure out if they "want it" - if they really "want" to win. To hear Michael Young say that the team wasn't "focused" last night spoke volumes.

This is on the team; as a group, they better figure out that in this sport, in this league, and at this time of the year, you have to be focused, every game, for 40 minutes (or longer, if OT). Your next opponent doesn't care if you think you're "better" than the last team you defeated. Artis ran his mouth after the Duke game, and then followed it up with a horrible performance last night ... Young said we weren't focused ...

I'd bet dollars to donuts that JD is doing his job to coach these kids correctly - but right now, maybe he (or one of his assistants) needs to smack some of these kids upside the head and get them focused! I don't mind it so much if the team I root for gets defeated, so long as they are competing and trying. From the looks of yesterday (and many other similar games this year) the team didn't. Here's hoping they get the "wake-up call" on Saturday ...

At some point you have to hold the coaches responsible for the team's failure to play to their full capability game in and out. You can't let the coaching staff off the hook for this.

 

[PittPoker]

At some point you have to hold the coaches responsible for the team's failure to play to their full capability game in and out. You can't let the coaching staff off the hook for this.

Exactly right. It's amazing that after 1 great game the WHOLE SEASON against a ranked team, all the usual Jamie lovers came on and insulted all the doubters and were gushing how great Jamie is and all this nonsense. Now look, last night was a complete embarrassment and it starts from bad coaching and getting the team focused and ready to play.

 

[JS School]

Jamel Artis should be banned from speaking to the media as he has said lots of idiotic things this year .. And for him to come out and play like that last night is unacceptable .. Youngs comment is very , very troubling ..

If comments could literally come back to bite you in the a**, Artis would be unable to sit down.