Kevn Stallings - I don't think the guy is a great coach by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't think he's an idiot either. He needed to find a way to coach this team up, and that's something I think is easier said than done. But he was unable. Stallings lost this team, and he's not going to get them back this season. It is what it is, the season is over. Now I never wanted to hire Stallings, but Pitt did, so here we are. He's going to be here for a little bit. 2-3 more years unless things get really bad, he does something illegal, or the new AD just wants to waste a bunch of money. With him being here, I think Pitt's ceiling is pretty much a bubble team at best, which is what they've kinda been since they lost to Butler. They can also really be bad like this. So hopefully he can recruit some kids. The class he has is pretty good, but it's not big time either.
Jamie Dixon - I hate how it's either all Kevin Stallings fault or all Jamie Dixon's fault. It's both. Pitt had an OK enough team to compete this year, and they are not competing - that's on Stallings. Pitt did not have enough to win this year and that's on Jamie. Pitt shouldn't be as bad as they are like losing to Louisville by 70, but they also don't have the talent to beat Louisville either. Dixon didn't recruit well in two big positions, point guard and center. His recruiting class 2 years ago was Damon Wilson, Rozelle Nix, Jon Milligan, Rafael Maia, Alonzo Nelson-Ododa, and Sterling Smith. I'm not sure any of those guys should be on an ACC roster that has any intention on winning games. So yeah, he gets the blame. Is the cupboard totally empty? No. But they were picked 12th in this league for a reason.
The Players - Again it's been a Dixon-Stallings year long debate for some reason. The players can be held accountable as well. Jamel Artis and Mike Young are fantastic talents, and they've improved some but, their attitudes suck. There has never been a Pitt team in their 111 year history that allowed themselves to lose by 55. They just did. That sucks. That's inexcusable. Were their feelings hurt by Stallings comments? Apparently so. They're old enough to be able to get over words and play hard, but they didn't. Aside from that Jones' confidence is shot, he's gotten worse. Jeter is what he is, but I'd argue this is his worst of his three seasons here. He should be better. Johnson and Luther are what they are. Losing games is often about talent, but getting embarrassed is about effort. They aren't showing much.
Scott Barnes - Kevin Stallings was a sorry choice for a hire. They were literally getting ready to fire the guy. He used questionable practices to make the hire as well. He acted like a child in the introductory press conference as well. I wish him and his family good health, but he really screwed this up.
Moving Forward - The team next year isn't going to be good, but if the young guys show effort and play hard I personally can live with that. I can't and won't watch 55 point conference losses like that again. Stallings doesn't need to win big next year, he just needs to show some signs of life. The crowds will be small, the games could probably be held at Fitzgerald comfortably. It is what it is. If he starts to show signs of life, I'll be encouraged at least. They just need to start fresh. I wish they could start fresh with a new coach, but there's a myriad of reasons why they won't/can't get rid of him yet.
Jamie Dixon - I hate how it's either all Kevin Stallings fault or all Jamie Dixon's fault. It's both. Pitt had an OK enough team to compete this year, and they are not competing - that's on Stallings. Pitt did not have enough to win this year and that's on Jamie. Pitt shouldn't be as bad as they are like losing to Louisville by 70, but they also don't have the talent to beat Louisville either. Dixon didn't recruit well in two big positions, point guard and center. His recruiting class 2 years ago was Damon Wilson, Rozelle Nix, Jon Milligan, Rafael Maia, Alonzo Nelson-Ododa, and Sterling Smith. I'm not sure any of those guys should be on an ACC roster that has any intention on winning games. So yeah, he gets the blame. Is the cupboard totally empty? No. But they were picked 12th in this league for a reason.
The Players - Again it's been a Dixon-Stallings year long debate for some reason. The players can be held accountable as well. Jamel Artis and Mike Young are fantastic talents, and they've improved some but, their attitudes suck. There has never been a Pitt team in their 111 year history that allowed themselves to lose by 55. They just did. That sucks. That's inexcusable. Were their feelings hurt by Stallings comments? Apparently so. They're old enough to be able to get over words and play hard, but they didn't. Aside from that Jones' confidence is shot, he's gotten worse. Jeter is what he is, but I'd argue this is his worst of his three seasons here. He should be better. Johnson and Luther are what they are. Losing games is often about talent, but getting embarrassed is about effort. They aren't showing much.
Scott Barnes - Kevin Stallings was a sorry choice for a hire. They were literally getting ready to fire the guy. He used questionable practices to make the hire as well. He acted like a child in the introductory press conference as well. I wish him and his family good health, but he really screwed this up.
Moving Forward - The team next year isn't going to be good, but if the young guys show effort and play hard I personally can live with that. I can't and won't watch 55 point conference losses like that again. Stallings doesn't need to win big next year, he just needs to show some signs of life. The crowds will be small, the games could probably be held at Fitzgerald comfortably. It is what it is. If he starts to show signs of life, I'll be encouraged at least. They just need to start fresh. I wish they could start fresh with a new coach, but there's a myriad of reasons why they won't/can't get rid of him yet.
