** I’ve been offering these post-game “dribbles” for about 17 seasons. On my odder days, I’ve attempted to bring a musical theme to the comments, using song titles and themes from some of my very favorite bands to spur on some thoughts.
** Over the years, inspiration has come from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye, the Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, and a few others. But never once have I been able to bring my all-time favorite band into the mix … until now.
** So in the immortal words of R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, after this game perhaps we should proclaim It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine).
** OK, there’s the question. Do I feel fine with a team that can really score, but can’t really defend? Maybe I’m Losing My Religion, but after watching a good share of basketball during the beloved “Feast Week,” it appears that College Basketball is a different Animal this year. Maybe defense isn't what it used to be.
** Points are being scored everywhere, and no one I’ve seen thus far is looks to be capable of stringing together stop after stop. So this is Life in College Basketball, and so far it appears as though Pitt knows How to Live It.
** But let’s cut to the chase and the story of tonight’s game. The Panthers can certainly Walk Unafraid with #2 in the game. Mike Young was a manchild! Trip after trip, Mike has calling for the ball, and the Panthers found him time and time again. Get the ball into Mike in the post, and Sweetness Follows -- be that a gorgeous back down move, a nifty face up jumper, or a deft pass to an open man on the perimeter. At times, he was also a strong defender in the post, too.
** We need to come to grips with the idea that we likely watching the most offensively skilled power forward to play at Pitt since Brian Shorter, and Mike can probably can do a variety of things better. He’s not Superman, but he’s on his way. All the Way to Reno, he’s Gonna Be a Star.
** And Mike has All the Right Friends with Jamel and James. Actually, it’s been my understanding that Jamel and Mike are indeed very close friends, and even more than last year, these two demonstrate remarkable chemistry with each other.
** With Jamel shedding a few pounds, he now looks At his Most Beautiful as a prototypical small forward. He still needs to tighten up the handle a bit, but he too looks exceptional on the offensive end.
** I am tired of people Second Guessing James Robinson. Not only did he shoot it well, but he was able to Drive effectively at times, passed and found shooters with ease, and even played a little defense, something that can’t be said of everyone tonight. The faster pace at which the Panthers are playing seems to suit him well.
** It was a Bad Day for Alonzo Nelson Adoda, and the same thing can be said for the most part about Rafel Maia. While Alonzo looks the part of a fine center, sometimes he’s second behind with where he should be. And Rafel needs to get off his feet quicker. This left most of the post minutes to Ryan Luther, to mixed results.
** I’m not exactly sure about how I feel about these three sharing the minutes at the five. For one, it leaves Sheldon Jeter left out as the Wrong Child in the Panther rotation. We know Sheldon can be very effective at times as a mid-range shooter. But with Mike and Jamel doing this as well as they did tonight, one has to wonder how our team would be better with giving Mike more minutes at the five to get time for Sheldon. At the moment, it’s hard to see how it would be. After all, only one guy can shoot at a time.
** Quietly, I’m gaining the Suspicion that Sterling Smith might be the perfect complement as our two guard, to the trio of Mike, James, and Jamel. He’s not forcing a thing, and has now hit 8-13 of his wide-open threes. I don’t know if the time will come when we will need him to create. But for now, he’s filling his role to perfection, as opposed to Chris, who maybe has more to bring to the table, but forced a bit, not always to good results.
** For most coaches, it’s often a situation where We All Go Back to Where We Belong. For Jamie Dixon, that’s certainly playing man to man defense. But we’ve now had two games against opponents who would fit at the bottom of the ACC where the man to man defense was terrible. Tonight’s zone wasn’t as totally effective as it was against Detroit. But it was clearly superior to our man defense which in both games led to Panther deficits.
** While I appreciate Dixon sticking with using a man defense, as there will be times when it will come in handy, maybe he should Begin the Begin with his zone. With the way College Basketball seems to be These Days, it’s a move many seem to be making.
** Can the Panthers be successful scoring points like they are, but not necessary rebounding or defending well? Of course we won’t know Until Till the Day is Done. But there are those who believe that better offense is what is needed for Dixon to get to the Great Beyond known as the Final Four.
** Regardless, the Panthers are always The One I Love. And I want them winning games any way that they can Fall on Me, regardless if that’s holding opponents to at FG% under 40%, or scoring in the 80’s.
** Over the years, inspiration has come from the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye, the Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, and a few others. But never once have I been able to bring my all-time favorite band into the mix … until now.
** So in the immortal words of R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, after this game perhaps we should proclaim It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine).
** OK, there’s the question. Do I feel fine with a team that can really score, but can’t really defend? Maybe I’m Losing My Religion, but after watching a good share of basketball during the beloved “Feast Week,” it appears that College Basketball is a different Animal this year. Maybe defense isn't what it used to be.
** Points are being scored everywhere, and no one I’ve seen thus far is looks to be capable of stringing together stop after stop. So this is Life in College Basketball, and so far it appears as though Pitt knows How to Live It.
** But let’s cut to the chase and the story of tonight’s game. The Panthers can certainly Walk Unafraid with #2 in the game. Mike Young was a manchild! Trip after trip, Mike has calling for the ball, and the Panthers found him time and time again. Get the ball into Mike in the post, and Sweetness Follows -- be that a gorgeous back down move, a nifty face up jumper, or a deft pass to an open man on the perimeter. At times, he was also a strong defender in the post, too.
** We need to come to grips with the idea that we likely watching the most offensively skilled power forward to play at Pitt since Brian Shorter, and Mike can probably can do a variety of things better. He’s not Superman, but he’s on his way. All the Way to Reno, he’s Gonna Be a Star.
** And Mike has All the Right Friends with Jamel and James. Actually, it’s been my understanding that Jamel and Mike are indeed very close friends, and even more than last year, these two demonstrate remarkable chemistry with each other.
** With Jamel shedding a few pounds, he now looks At his Most Beautiful as a prototypical small forward. He still needs to tighten up the handle a bit, but he too looks exceptional on the offensive end.
** I am tired of people Second Guessing James Robinson. Not only did he shoot it well, but he was able to Drive effectively at times, passed and found shooters with ease, and even played a little defense, something that can’t be said of everyone tonight. The faster pace at which the Panthers are playing seems to suit him well.
** It was a Bad Day for Alonzo Nelson Adoda, and the same thing can be said for the most part about Rafel Maia. While Alonzo looks the part of a fine center, sometimes he’s second behind with where he should be. And Rafel needs to get off his feet quicker. This left most of the post minutes to Ryan Luther, to mixed results.
** I’m not exactly sure about how I feel about these three sharing the minutes at the five. For one, it leaves Sheldon Jeter left out as the Wrong Child in the Panther rotation. We know Sheldon can be very effective at times as a mid-range shooter. But with Mike and Jamel doing this as well as they did tonight, one has to wonder how our team would be better with giving Mike more minutes at the five to get time for Sheldon. At the moment, it’s hard to see how it would be. After all, only one guy can shoot at a time.
** Quietly, I’m gaining the Suspicion that Sterling Smith might be the perfect complement as our two guard, to the trio of Mike, James, and Jamel. He’s not forcing a thing, and has now hit 8-13 of his wide-open threes. I don’t know if the time will come when we will need him to create. But for now, he’s filling his role to perfection, as opposed to Chris, who maybe has more to bring to the table, but forced a bit, not always to good results.
** For most coaches, it’s often a situation where We All Go Back to Where We Belong. For Jamie Dixon, that’s certainly playing man to man defense. But we’ve now had two games against opponents who would fit at the bottom of the ACC where the man to man defense was terrible. Tonight’s zone wasn’t as totally effective as it was against Detroit. But it was clearly superior to our man defense which in both games led to Panther deficits.
** While I appreciate Dixon sticking with using a man defense, as there will be times when it will come in handy, maybe he should Begin the Begin with his zone. With the way College Basketball seems to be These Days, it’s a move many seem to be making.
** Can the Panthers be successful scoring points like they are, but not necessary rebounding or defending well? Of course we won’t know Until Till the Day is Done. But there are those who believe that better offense is what is needed for Dixon to get to the Great Beyond known as the Final Four.
** Regardless, the Panthers are always The One I Love. And I want them winning games any way that they can Fall on Me, regardless if that’s holding opponents to at FG% under 40%, or scoring in the 80’s.
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