I think Purdue is really good. They are a pretty similar program to Pitt, Matt Painter is probably the closest comp to Jamie Dixon currently coaching, outside of maybe Mark Few. Very, very good coaches who haven't been to a Final Four. They went through a couple of down years too recently, I think they had two straight losing seasons, but he has them loaded this year. The big difference looking at the rosters is obviously the size, but also look how many kids Painter gets from Indiana. Hammonds, Swanigan, Davis, Cline..they have like 9-10 guys from Indiana on that roster. Hopefully with some of the local products which seem pretty good in the upcoming classes (Simmons, Cummings), we can get some of that local talent too, but its not as common in Pittsburgh. Last night really highlighted the big man recruiting deficiencies.
As for the game, the beginning was so bad it just threw everything off. Artis was really bad last night, he's getting into some bad habits on offense. Mike Young and Robinson were very good, and really played their hearts out, but when Jamel plays like that, and when we get nothing from the bench, we aren't going to beat teams like Purdue. I thought Maia was our best player off the bench.
Adoda right now is giving them nothing. He has some decent post moves, but lately he's shooting from the 3pt line, and missing. Jamie mentioned it on the postgame show, this team right now just is too in love with jump shots, and when we missed early, it just became contagious. I realize the zone is much better than the man defense right now, but that zone looked a lot better than it was last night because Purdue from the mid 1st half to mid 2nd half missed a TON of open shots.
Probably my favorite play of the game is when Sterling Smith curled into the lane and hit the little floater for the And-1. He needs to be more assertive in the offense, I really like his game, and as a guard who can grab rebounds he's a valuable player.
I don't think last night says anything long term about this team, other than we will struggle against elite front courts.
Better days ahead.
HAIL TO PITT
As for the game, the beginning was so bad it just threw everything off. Artis was really bad last night, he's getting into some bad habits on offense. Mike Young and Robinson were very good, and really played their hearts out, but when Jamel plays like that, and when we get nothing from the bench, we aren't going to beat teams like Purdue. I thought Maia was our best player off the bench.
Adoda right now is giving them nothing. He has some decent post moves, but lately he's shooting from the 3pt line, and missing. Jamie mentioned it on the postgame show, this team right now just is too in love with jump shots, and when we missed early, it just became contagious. I realize the zone is much better than the man defense right now, but that zone looked a lot better than it was last night because Purdue from the mid 1st half to mid 2nd half missed a TON of open shots.
Probably my favorite play of the game is when Sterling Smith curled into the lane and hit the little floater for the And-1. He needs to be more assertive in the offense, I really like his game, and as a guard who can grab rebounds he's a valuable player.
I don't think last night says anything long term about this team, other than we will struggle against elite front courts.
Better days ahead.
HAIL TO PITT
