** One of the things that makes Pitt Hoops fandom – if not all sports fandom – so fantastic, is the connections it allows us to make.
** This afternoon after acquiring PTO for the afternoon from work, I settled into a barstool at Fat Heads to enjoy our Panthers take on the Tigers in the Ballroom at White Sulphur Springs.
** Unfortunately, because of work, I wasn’t able to find my spot until near the final TV timeout of the first half. And those first few minutes of my viewing were not the best for our Panthers. In that time, the Panthers’ 5 point lead slid to a one point deficit.
** Worse than that, the stool mates to my right were talking about the two twins from Pitt who were both 7-2. Of course, I needed to explain instead they were 7-0 and 6-11. Oh well.
** After they departed, I was joined on my left at halftime by a friendly gentleman who sported a nifty accent, which he offered was Swedish. I warned him that he might need to tolerate my outbursts watching the game as a Pitt Hoops fan of the highest magnitude.
** Our conversation at the break turned to our vocations, and after I shared that my wife and I have four degrees from Pitt, he explained that he was actually a surgeon at UPMC specializing in kidney transplantation.
** Suddenly, a college basketball game seemed a little less meaningful I suppose, but the conversation that followed was actually wonderfully cerebral.
** He also offered that as a Swede, he loved hockey, and not so much basketball, but I digress.
** And then second half started with our glorious 13-0 run.
** Suddenly I found myself changing from a respectful US Ambassador to my Swedish doctor friend to an insane Pitt fan pounding the bar with each bucket watching our lead grow to double digits.
** And I couldn’t quite really explain to him how well the Panthers were playing defense to not allow a single point over the first seven minutes.
** In the huddle coming into second half, Coach Capel really seemed to be firing up the troops. He did so as much as any time during Capel’s tenure, and I saw a group respond.
** Beyond the defense, the offense spread it around better than they have at any point this season.
** Jaland started with a three. Cam flushed a duce from Jaland, Damian with back down two, Austin with a great dish from GDG, and then a couple of foul shots from Austin following an Ish steal and our Panthers were in cruise control.
** Without a doubt, it was our best stretch of the year. It was a stretch at a really good time, and it was equally a good time to watch.
** My Swedish doctor friend could tell I was excited, even if he confessed he wasn’t at all knowledgeable about the finer points of basketball.
** Nonetheless, from that point the game the lead narrowed as expected against a solid opponent as LSU.
** I got worried around the 11 minute mark when the 12 point lead became just five just like that. But instead, Jaland channeled his inner Blake, and went on his own 8-2 run to push things back to 11.
** So far this season, my kid has wondered to me if we really have “that guy” who can hit shots when needed like Blake. This was exhibit A that Jaland is that guy,
** Still, around the 6 minute mark with the Panthers up by 8, “this is a dominant lead?” my Swedish friend asked.
** I responded that 8 points at this point in the game of college basketball is next to nothing. I suggested that a 10 point lead with four minutes to go is the mark I look for. And unfortunately, the Tigers made my point, quickly knocking the difference down to four.
** But our Panthers were ultimately undeterred. And when Ish drove for a Euro step bucket to push the lead to back to 11 with three minutes to go, I received a high five indirectly from the suburbs of Stockholm as we both knew this one was over.
** Personally, I felt a little bit charmed that a man involved with saving lives in the way that he does could join me in my joy.
** But why not? This game was indeed a true Panther joy.
** Jaland was also indeed a true Panther joy. This is the guy we’ve been looking forward to seeing. This is the kind of player who makes us a legit top 25 type team.
** And so was Ish really. They are looking more and more like college basketball’s elite backcourt pair.
** Actually, everyone was a joy with the exception of Damian.
** We were fortunate enough that we didn’t need Damian more, because those weren’t very smart fouls, and he needs to be on the court more than 12 minutes.
** But as much as we need Jaland and Ish on the court, it is likely better that both don’t play 40 minutes each game. But that's something to be concerned about on another day.
** Accordingly, hopefully we will find our way to get contributions from Amsal and JGD, but it’s early. There’s room to grow and we all know wins like this matter now.
** And on a more personal note, I’m so incredibly thrilled with this win as I know now my kid and I will be driving down to White Sulphur Springs on Sunday to watch as big of a non conference game as the Panthers have played in at least a decade. Thank you @Bethlehemjohn for your assistance. We are both so pumped!
** So in English or Swedish or any other language you might choose, Congratulations to our 6-0 Panthers!!
** This afternoon after acquiring PTO for the afternoon from work, I settled into a barstool at Fat Heads to enjoy our Panthers take on the Tigers in the Ballroom at White Sulphur Springs.
** Unfortunately, because of work, I wasn’t able to find my spot until near the final TV timeout of the first half. And those first few minutes of my viewing were not the best for our Panthers. In that time, the Panthers’ 5 point lead slid to a one point deficit.
** Worse than that, the stool mates to my right were talking about the two twins from Pitt who were both 7-2. Of course, I needed to explain instead they were 7-0 and 6-11. Oh well.
** After they departed, I was joined on my left at halftime by a friendly gentleman who sported a nifty accent, which he offered was Swedish. I warned him that he might need to tolerate my outbursts watching the game as a Pitt Hoops fan of the highest magnitude.
** Our conversation at the break turned to our vocations, and after I shared that my wife and I have four degrees from Pitt, he explained that he was actually a surgeon at UPMC specializing in kidney transplantation.
** Suddenly, a college basketball game seemed a little less meaningful I suppose, but the conversation that followed was actually wonderfully cerebral.
** He also offered that as a Swede, he loved hockey, and not so much basketball, but I digress.
** And then second half started with our glorious 13-0 run.
** Suddenly I found myself changing from a respectful US Ambassador to my Swedish doctor friend to an insane Pitt fan pounding the bar with each bucket watching our lead grow to double digits.
** And I couldn’t quite really explain to him how well the Panthers were playing defense to not allow a single point over the first seven minutes.
** In the huddle coming into second half, Coach Capel really seemed to be firing up the troops. He did so as much as any time during Capel’s tenure, and I saw a group respond.
** Beyond the defense, the offense spread it around better than they have at any point this season.
** Jaland started with a three. Cam flushed a duce from Jaland, Damian with back down two, Austin with a great dish from GDG, and then a couple of foul shots from Austin following an Ish steal and our Panthers were in cruise control.
** Without a doubt, it was our best stretch of the year. It was a stretch at a really good time, and it was equally a good time to watch.
** My Swedish doctor friend could tell I was excited, even if he confessed he wasn’t at all knowledgeable about the finer points of basketball.
** Nonetheless, from that point the game the lead narrowed as expected against a solid opponent as LSU.
** I got worried around the 11 minute mark when the 12 point lead became just five just like that. But instead, Jaland channeled his inner Blake, and went on his own 8-2 run to push things back to 11.
** So far this season, my kid has wondered to me if we really have “that guy” who can hit shots when needed like Blake. This was exhibit A that Jaland is that guy,
** Still, around the 6 minute mark with the Panthers up by 8, “this is a dominant lead?” my Swedish friend asked.
** I responded that 8 points at this point in the game of college basketball is next to nothing. I suggested that a 10 point lead with four minutes to go is the mark I look for. And unfortunately, the Tigers made my point, quickly knocking the difference down to four.
** But our Panthers were ultimately undeterred. And when Ish drove for a Euro step bucket to push the lead to back to 11 with three minutes to go, I received a high five indirectly from the suburbs of Stockholm as we both knew this one was over.
** Personally, I felt a little bit charmed that a man involved with saving lives in the way that he does could join me in my joy.
** But why not? This game was indeed a true Panther joy.
** Jaland was also indeed a true Panther joy. This is the guy we’ve been looking forward to seeing. This is the kind of player who makes us a legit top 25 type team.
** And so was Ish really. They are looking more and more like college basketball’s elite backcourt pair.
** Actually, everyone was a joy with the exception of Damian.
** We were fortunate enough that we didn’t need Damian more, because those weren’t very smart fouls, and he needs to be on the court more than 12 minutes.
** But as much as we need Jaland and Ish on the court, it is likely better that both don’t play 40 minutes each game. But that's something to be concerned about on another day.
** Accordingly, hopefully we will find our way to get contributions from Amsal and JGD, but it’s early. There’s room to grow and we all know wins like this matter now.
** And on a more personal note, I’m so incredibly thrilled with this win as I know now my kid and I will be driving down to White Sulphur Springs on Sunday to watch as big of a non conference game as the Panthers have played in at least a decade. Thank you @Bethlehemjohn for your assistance. We are both so pumped!
** So in English or Swedish or any other language you might choose, Congratulations to our 6-0 Panthers!!
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