Im ready for a few Predictions for next season, let's get started

[DC_Area_Panther]

Steel--I disagree on the center thing. There was a reason Dixon brought in two grad transfers Centers last season. There was a gaping hole. IMO, unless Nix and/or Manigault or a combo of the two fill it adequately that hole will still be there. Luther is not a Center and I doubt he is truly 6-9. He looks closer to 6-8 IMO; not that it really matters, IMHO, since he doesn't have the length and hops to be an ACC rim protector.

I will stick by my stance that you have to have at least one athletic 6-10 or taller (or shorter guy with equivalent reach and hops) to compete well enough to finish in the top 1/3 of the ACC. We don't have one. Nix has the height but most likely not the athleticism. Luther lacks the height and isn't long enough or springy enough to compensate. Manigault is the unknown. Is he 6-8 or 6-9? Does he have the athleticism and hops to play bigger than his height? We just don't know. If Stallings uses the last ship on a JUCO or grad transfer center we will know for sure that hole remains. The alternative will leave us guessing until the fall.

If our 6-8 and almost 6-9 guys had the athleticism and hops of UNC's bigs we wouldn't have a gaping hole--but we don't. Jeter is our only big with comparable hops. I am hoping Manigault has them also and is a legit 6-9.

 

[steel_curtain]

Steel--I disagree on the center thing. There was a reason Dixon brought in two grad transfers Centers last season. There was a gaping hole. IMO, unless Nix and/or Manigault or a combo of the two fill it adequately that hole will still be there. Luther is not a Center and I doubt he is truly 6-9. He looks closer to 6-8 IMO; not that it really matters, IMHO, since he doesn't have the length and hops to be an ACC rim protector.

I will stick by my stance that you have to have at least one athletic 6-10 or taller (or shorter guy with equivalent reach and hops) to compete well enough to finish in the top 1/3 of the ACC. We don't have one. Nix has the height but most likely not the athleticism. Luther lacks the height and isn't long enough or springy enough to compensate. Manigault is the unknown. Is he 6-8 or 6-9? Does he have the athleticism and hops to play bigger than his height? We just don't know. If Stallings uses the last ship on a JUCO or grad transfer center we will know for sure that hole remains. The alternative will leave us guessing until the fall.

-Syracuse doesnt have a guy over 6'8 and they just went to the Final 4. Dejaun Coleman cant even jump, he's to fat.

-The Oklahoma State team that beat us in 2004 didnt have a player over 6'6 in the entire rotation. Im sure if I dug deep enough I could find a ton of teams that do not meet your center criteria that went to the Final 4.

-And I dont really care about Dixon's opinion to be honest. Dixon thought Nelson Ododa was a better player than Luther.

-And let's not forget little 6'5 Dejuan Blair and what he did at Center.

-We wont know on Luther until he actually plays. And based off evidence of him getting real playing time, he puts numbers up

 

[thebadby2]

TCU will be better coached.

Let's see how much good that does them.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Love your optimism!

-Syracuse doesn't have a guy over 6'8 and they just went to the Final 4. Dejaun Coleman cant even jump, he's to fat.

We beat them 3 times. they nearly got left out of the tourney. Then they got incredibly lucky in their bracket early rounds. They play nothing but that zone that lots of teams have trouble with--are we going to be a zone only team? Don't think so.

-The Oklahoma State team that beat us in 2004 didnt have a player over 6'6 in the entire rotation. Im sure if I dug deep enough I could find a ton of teams that do not meet your center criteria that went to the Final 4.

Center was Torree Morris. Enough said.

-And I don't really care about Dixon's opinion to be honest. Dixon thought Nelson Ododa was a better player than Luther.

Dixon knew we didn't have an adequate center--didn't have one after Zanna graduated. How did that work out? All of Dixon's bad years we lacked a Center. Watch and see if Stallings doesn't go after a transfer center with that last ship--good chance it will happen--he had three (3) 7-footers at Vandy and liked to force the other team down the lane toward his centers.

-And let's not forget little 6'5 Dejuan Blair and what he did at Center.

DeJuan had hops and the length and reach of a 6-10 guy. He fits my description of a good center. ". . .have to have at least one athletic 6-10 or taller (or shorter guy with equivalent reach and hops) . . ."

-We wont know on Luther until he actually plays. And based off evidence of him getting real playing time, he puts numbers up

We need a guy who gets at couple of blocks a game, intimidates dribble drivers, and is a windex man on the defensive glass. Luther will never be that-he lacks the athleticism for it, IMHO. IMO, at best, he will provide a little more offens than Maia did if he is forced into playing center. He wont be any better on defense than Maia.

Bottom Line--we will have to agree to disagree.

 

[steel_curtain]

We need a guy who gets at couple of blocks a game, intimidates dribble drivers, and is a windex man on the defensive glass. Luther will never be that-he lacks the athleticism for it, IMHO. IMO, at best, he will provide a little more offens than Maia did if he is forced into playing center. He wont be any better on defense than Maia.

Bottom Line--we will have to agree to disagree.

-The Center on that Pitt team that lost to Oklahoma State was Chris Taft, the Big East freshmen of the year. Oklahoma State went to the Final 4, and lost on the last possession of the game.

-Matt Howard was the starting Center for Butler 2 years in a row. He is 6'7, and less athletic than Luther is. At 6'7, he took his team to the National Title game, twice, in 2 years.

-In the last 14 ACC games Pitt played plus Wisconsin, Maia and Ododa combined to score 15 points total together. That is laughable. To even compare that to Luther, who scored more points in 1 game against Louisville (17), than both of these players combined in the last 14, is again laughable. Maia and Ododa suck. They suck, Again, they suck.

-If you trust Chris Dokish, Pitt is targeting a shooting guard that can shoot. He has since deleted the tweet.

 

[heybandguy]

-I still dont understand the center argument. North Carolina doesnt have a single player over 6'9 in their rotation. They go 6'8, 6'9, and 6'9 from the 3 through 5.

Artis-Young-Luther is 6'7, 6'8, 6'9

-We dont lose a single player in the entire frontcourt rotation, but gain Manigault and Nix. Unless you want to count players that scored 1 points per game in conference play.

A shot-blocking 5 that makes other teams think twice in the lane is valuable. The ACC teams are seemingly long - thus the need for extra bodies to take care of the boards. I understand your point about UNC, and it's valid. As I stated, I like the front court Pitt has, I just want to see depth actually develop. My bigger concern is for the backcourt.

 

[steel_curtain]

A shot-blocking 5 that makes other teams think twice in the lane is valuable. The ACC teams are seemingly long - thus the need for extra bodies to take care of the boards. I understand your point about UNC, and it's valid. As I stated, I like the front court Pitt has, I just want to see depth actually develop. My bigger concern is for the backcourt.

-Well, Butler didnt have a problem beating ACC teams in route to playing the National Title game 2 years in a row. They sure didnt have a problem beating Pitt. Matt Howard sure put up 16 points and 6 rebounds against big Gary McGhee, in route to Butler bouncing Dixon and Pitt. A 6'7 unathletic center, abused Pitt. go figure.

 

[heybandguy]

-Well, Butler didnt have a problem beating ACC teams in route to playing the National Title game 2 years in a row. They sure didnt have a problem beating Pitt. Matt Howard sure put up 16 points and 6 rebounds against big Gary McGhee, in route to Butler bouncing Dixon and Pitt. A 6'7 unathletic center, abused Pitt. go figure.

I see where you are coming from, but we will have to disagree with grace. I appreciate your fervor and research throughout this post.

 

[steel_curtain]

I see where you are coming from, but we will have to disagree with grace. I appreciate your fervor and research throughout this post.

-Get offense into the game. I dont know how you guys dont understand this. Offense wins in the NCAA tournament. OFFENSE. Jamie Dixon did not try to win against Wisconsin, understand that. He played not to lose against Wisconsin, with some type of suspect defensive strategy with Maia and Ododa. In the end, he lost, again.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

-Get offense into the game. I dont know how you guys dont understand this. Offense wins in the NCAA tournament. OFFENSE. Jamie Dixon did not try to win against Wisconsin, understand that. He played not to lose against Wisconsin, with some type of suspect defensive strategy with Maia and Ododa. In the end, he lost, again.

My thesis on the need for a center have nothing particularly to do with who is our coach. You can't be in the top 1/3 of the ACC without at least one big guy like Villanova's Ocefu. They would be getting blown out by UNC tonight without him to contend with UNC's quality bigs.

 

[gary2]

-The Center on that Pitt team that lost to Oklahoma State was Chris Taft, the Big East freshmen of the year. Oklahoma State went to the Final 4, and lost on the last possession of the game.

-Matt Howard was the starting Center for Butler 2 years in a row. He is 6'7, and less athletic than Luther is. At 6'7, he took his team to the National Title game, twice, in 2 years.

-In the last 14 ACC games Pitt played plus Wisconsin, Maia and Ododa combined to score 15 points total together. That is laughable. To even compare that to Luther, who scored more points in 1 game against Louisville (17), than both of these players combined in the last 14, is again laughable. Maia and Ododa suck. They suck, Again, they suck.

-If you trust Chris Dokish, Pitt is targeting a shooting guard that can shoot. He has since deleted the tweet.

-If you trust Chris Dokish, Pitt is targeting a shooting guard that can shoot. He has since deleted the tweet.

Did he give a name or just that description? Thanks

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

-Get offense into the game. I dont know how you guys dont understand this. Offense wins in the NCAA tournament. OFFENSE. Jamie Dixon did not try to win against Wisconsin, understand that. He played not to lose against Wisconsin, with some type of suspect defensive strategy with Maia and Ododa. In the end, he lost, again.

Great offense but also great defense played in the championship tonight. You can't win with only one or the other.

 

[steel_curtain]

-If you trust Chris Dokish, Pitt is targeting a shooting guard that can shoot. He has since deleted the tweet.

Did he give a name or just that description? Thanks

-No name. And I still find it surprising Baldwin has not declared yet.

 

[mvk112]

Andrew Smith was the center for Butler those years. He was 6'11". Averaged 24 minutes as a sophomore in 2011 & 26 minutes as a junior in 2012. He made the shot to put Butler ahead before Mack fouled Gil Brown.

Matt Howard was the 4 for them.

 

[steel_curtain]

Andrew Smith was the center for Butler those years. He was 6'11". Averaged 24 minutes as a sophomore in 2011 & 26 minutes as a junior in 2012. He made the shot to put Butler ahead before Mack fouled Gil Brown.

Matt Howard was the 4 for them.

-Andrew Smith played 4 minutes per game in 2010. I just saw Smith died of Hodgkin lymphoma this year. Wow, didnt know that. Stay strong Conner.

 

[mvk112]

Yeah, but 2010 wasn't their Final Four year. 2011 & 2012 were. He started at center both years, not Matt Howard.

 

[steel_curtain]

Yeah, but 2010 wasn't their Final Four year. 2011 & 2012 were. He started at center both years, not Matt Howard.

-This was the year they went to their first final 4. Gordon Hayward went to the NBA

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2086/year/2010/butler-bulldogs

-This is the following year. So in context, Smith did play half the basketball game at center, you are correct in saying that. Howard played the other half.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2086/year/2011/butler-bulldogs

Andrew Smith played 21 minutes against Pitt. Half the game. He had 7 points.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/2011-03-19-butler.html

 

[steel_curtain]

-This was the year they went to their first final 4. Gordon Hayward went to the NBA

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2086/year/2010/butler-bulldogs

-This is the following year. So in context, Smith did play half the basketball game at center, you are correct in saying that. Howard played the other half.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2086/year/2011/butler-bulldogs

Andrew Smith played 21 minutes against Pitt. Half the game. He had 7 points.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/boxscores/2011-03-19-butler.html

-One other thing I want to point out here. Howard torched us from 3. The game of basketball has changed, and having a center that can step out and shoot the ball can open up the offense. Luther is a guy that can do that.

 

[QuitCallingMeWanny]

If Doke says something, it has to be true.......Doke4prez

 

[heybandguy]

-Get offense into the game. I dont know how you guys dont understand this. Offense wins in the NCAA tournament. OFFENSE. Jamie Dixon did not try to win against Wisconsin, understand that. He played not to lose against Wisconsin, with some type of suspect defensive strategy with Maia and Ododa. In the end, he lost, again.

My original point: I like the returning front court rotation. I want sustained production out of the front court (e.g. control the boards, get points) - if they can do that without a true 5 and not indulge the "center argument", great. Control the boards and you can control how many times your offense gets a chance at the other end. My questions are about the back court and what Pitt actually has. I am not really worried/concerned about what Dixon DID (it's like Destiny's child - it doesn't matter anymore). Do they have a PG on the roster that will break down defenses and as you say "Get offense into the game" - they need it. Based on video I watched on Kithcart - I think he can do that. Can Wilson? Despite playing a whole season, I think the sample of his experience is a bit limited.

 

[steel_curtain]

My original point: I like the returning front court rotation. I want sustained production out of the front court (e.g. control the boards, get points) - if they can do that without a true 5 and not indulge the "center argument", great. Control the boards and you can control how many times your offense gets a chance at the other end. My questions are about the back court and what Pitt actually has. I am not really worried/concerned about what Dixon DID (it's like Destiny's child - it doesn't matter anymore). Do they have a PG on the roster that will break down defenses and as you say "Get offense into the game" - they need it. Based on video I watched on Kithcart - I think he can do that. Can Wilson? Despite playing a whole season, I think the sample of his experience is a bit limited.

-Villanova got destroyed on the glass by North Carolina last night. And they won. You can have your rebound numbers. Give me offense and guys that can score. Because with offense you aren't getting beat with the right players. That was proven again last night when Nova beat Carolina and ran OU right out of the gym.

 

[IamHeisenberg]

TCU will be better coached.

Should you change your handle to NTOHF?

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

-Villanova got destroyed on the glass by North Carolina last night. And they won. You can have your rebound numbers. Give me offense and guys that can score. Because with offense you aren't getting beat with the right players. That was proven again last night when Nova beat Carolina and ran OU right out of the gym.

Nova had just enough rebounding and size presence/rim protection inside on defense (mostly Uchefu) to mostly prevent UNC from getting a ton of 2nd chance points on offensive boards (it was obvious and the analysts also commented on it). Without Uchefu's presence UNC would have easily been the winner. Also, Nova played superb agressive defense. They won at least as much by their defensive efforts as by their offensive prowess in both games. The turnovers and runouts for breakaways were the key ingredient vs Oklahoma tha made it a blow-out.

 

[steel_curtain]

Nova had just enough rebounding and size presence/rim protection inside on defense (mostly Uchefu) to mostly prevent UNC from getting a ton of 2nd chance points on offensive boards (it was obvious and the analysts also commented on it). Without Uchefu's presence UNC would have easily been the winner. Also, Nova played superb agressive defense. They won at least as much by their defensive efforts as by their offensive prowess in both games. The turnovers and runouts for breakaways were the key ingredient vs Oklahoma tha made it a blow-out.

-Villanova lost the rebound margin by 13 to North Carolina. And North Carolina only had 11 turnovers in the entire game. So that theory doesnt hold water. That's a Jamie Dixon theory, that rebounding beats out everything. Bullshit theory. Offense beats out everything.