** Before tonight’s game at Hemmingways, I had the pleasure of a great conversation with my “Lair friend” @Mike83.
** I reminded Mike of something he said to me about ten years ago at a pregame meetup at the now defunct Fuel & Fuddle. That night, he expressed that it wasn’t so much wins and losses that he liked best about Pitt Basketball. Instead it was the whole experience. The pregame excitement and the crowds at the bars, the energy walking up to the Pete among the throngs of fans, and how much fun it was to spend meaningful Saturday nights at the Pete.
** Turns out that Mike gave up his season tickets during the Stallings years, as unfortunately, those gifts were no longer part of Pitt Basketball.
** But what Mike and all of us were able experience this Saturday night was right up there with any of those wonderful nights from a decade ago.
** At the end of my thoughts last game, I wondered what else this season had in store for us. This night, on top of a wonderful atmosphere and a beautifully convincing win, we got to watch Blake Hinson chase history.
** At halftime, after Blake’s first 27 points, it was simply a blast to begin digging into the record books and dreaming about what it might take for Blake to vault his name above Don Hennon’s whose number hangs in the rafters.
** My friend with whom I sit warned that such pursuits needed to be secondary to a Panther win and a 10 point lead wasn’t nearly enough for him to be focused on such individual record book quests.
** But by the 14:29 mark, the Panther lead was 15, and Blake’s total had ballooned to 36 and the rest of this wonderful night was almost entirely about Blake.
** And after Blake’s layup around the 12 minute mark, he was actually outscoring the Cardinals 38-37.
** But alas, Blake was only able to muster one more measly three for the remainder of the contest. I mean, c’mon Blake. You could only score 14 points in the second half?
** Nonetheless, ending the night at 41, tied for third most in Panther history shouldn’t be considered a disappointment, right?
** But Blake is far from done chasing history. Of course, he just tied his record of 9 threes in game, and he’s just a dozen short of the Panther season triples record, while his three point shooting percentage has inched up a smidge under 43%.
** Finally, we also know Blake just scored his 1,000th point as a Panther, the 4th fastest to do so.
** But beyond these incredible numbers, Blake’s contribution is really much greater. After all, more than anyone else, Blake is the reason that Saturday nights at the Pete really matter once again.
** Blake was a huge part of last year’s success, but it felt like the soul of that team could be found mostly among our quartet of senior guards, particularly Jamarius Burton.
** This team however, is unquestionably Blake’s.
** And when the prospects for the season looked unquestionably bleak, it was Blake’s incredible 7 of 7 from deep followed by standing on top of the table in front of the Cameron Crazies that started the Panthers trek toward the bubble.
** I don’t wish to minimize the leadership of Coach Capel in this 7-1 stretch. Our guys have found themselves playing the way exactly the way Jeff wants them to.
** Still, over this 8 game stretch, Blake is averaging 21.5 PPG. He’s shooting 51% from three. Without a doubt, he’s the reason his teammates believe in themselves once again.
** Tonight, as a team, the Panthers moved the ball to the tune of 22 assists on 30 baskets. It’s always a little more encouraging to move the ball into hands of a player like Blake who you believe is going to do exciting things with it.
** However, after this spectacular Saturday night though, it’s time for all of us to move on.
** Simply stated, a win in Winston-Salem on Tuesday might even be enough to move our Panthers from the next four out to the last four in. This game is that important.
** But congratulations to the entire Panther squad for finding themselves in such an impressive way to make this Saturday night so much fun. They all deserve our appreciation.
** So I’ll close with one last special appreciation to Blake Hinson on his special night. Every one of us at the Pete tonight were very thankful of your gift of making the whole Pitt Basketball experience wonderful again.
** I reminded Mike of something he said to me about ten years ago at a pregame meetup at the now defunct Fuel & Fuddle. That night, he expressed that it wasn’t so much wins and losses that he liked best about Pitt Basketball. Instead it was the whole experience. The pregame excitement and the crowds at the bars, the energy walking up to the Pete among the throngs of fans, and how much fun it was to spend meaningful Saturday nights at the Pete.
** Turns out that Mike gave up his season tickets during the Stallings years, as unfortunately, those gifts were no longer part of Pitt Basketball.
** But what Mike and all of us were able experience this Saturday night was right up there with any of those wonderful nights from a decade ago.
** At the end of my thoughts last game, I wondered what else this season had in store for us. This night, on top of a wonderful atmosphere and a beautifully convincing win, we got to watch Blake Hinson chase history.
** At halftime, after Blake’s first 27 points, it was simply a blast to begin digging into the record books and dreaming about what it might take for Blake to vault his name above Don Hennon’s whose number hangs in the rafters.
** My friend with whom I sit warned that such pursuits needed to be secondary to a Panther win and a 10 point lead wasn’t nearly enough for him to be focused on such individual record book quests.
** But by the 14:29 mark, the Panther lead was 15, and Blake’s total had ballooned to 36 and the rest of this wonderful night was almost entirely about Blake.
** And after Blake’s layup around the 12 minute mark, he was actually outscoring the Cardinals 38-37.
** But alas, Blake was only able to muster one more measly three for the remainder of the contest. I mean, c’mon Blake. You could only score 14 points in the second half?
** Nonetheless, ending the night at 41, tied for third most in Panther history shouldn’t be considered a disappointment, right?
** But Blake is far from done chasing history. Of course, he just tied his record of 9 threes in game, and he’s just a dozen short of the Panther season triples record, while his three point shooting percentage has inched up a smidge under 43%.
** Finally, we also know Blake just scored his 1,000th point as a Panther, the 4th fastest to do so.
** But beyond these incredible numbers, Blake’s contribution is really much greater. After all, more than anyone else, Blake is the reason that Saturday nights at the Pete really matter once again.
** Blake was a huge part of last year’s success, but it felt like the soul of that team could be found mostly among our quartet of senior guards, particularly Jamarius Burton.
** This team however, is unquestionably Blake’s.
** And when the prospects for the season looked unquestionably bleak, it was Blake’s incredible 7 of 7 from deep followed by standing on top of the table in front of the Cameron Crazies that started the Panthers trek toward the bubble.
** I don’t wish to minimize the leadership of Coach Capel in this 7-1 stretch. Our guys have found themselves playing the way exactly the way Jeff wants them to.
** Still, over this 8 game stretch, Blake is averaging 21.5 PPG. He’s shooting 51% from three. Without a doubt, he’s the reason his teammates believe in themselves once again.
** Tonight, as a team, the Panthers moved the ball to the tune of 22 assists on 30 baskets. It’s always a little more encouraging to move the ball into hands of a player like Blake who you believe is going to do exciting things with it.
** However, after this spectacular Saturday night though, it’s time for all of us to move on.
** Simply stated, a win in Winston-Salem on Tuesday might even be enough to move our Panthers from the next four out to the last four in. This game is that important.
** But congratulations to the entire Panther squad for finding themselves in such an impressive way to make this Saturday night so much fun. They all deserve our appreciation.
** So I’ll close with one last special appreciation to Blake Hinson on his special night. Every one of us at the Pete tonight were very thankful of your gift of making the whole Pitt Basketball experience wonderful again.
