This group earned that last night. That kind of win in that kind of environment with that kind of send off. Especially Jamarius Burton, who played so many games in front of empty crowds. Everything about last night was vintage Pitt. Beating Syracuse with incredible efficiency. Actually though, not sure Pitt has had a team that could score 99 points in a game where they didn't even play that well in the first half.
Talk about a beatdown. Can't believe Boeheim didn't come out of the zone at all. Just incredible. Who knows if it would have made a difference, but I would have certainly tried mixing it up and making Blake and Greg try to drive. The press they ran was also incredibly weak. Great job by Pitt immediately exploiting it.
Let me also say this. I don't know a lot about Coach Capel as a man. Since he has been here, I felt like he was very quiet and under the radar. Very hesitant to open up. Chip on the shoulder, etc. But the moment by him in the locker room after the game was as special as it gets. He deserves the ACC Coach of the Year award, but he showed me a lot by what he did for Aidan Fisch last night. That was special and the reason why sports can be so special.
All of the seniors had their moment, as it was basically a perfect performance for them. What these kids did in a year and how they fit in around Jamarius has been incredible. It is so difficult to put teams together in today's world. This also has to be so special for Nelly as well. Overlooked out of high school to getting this team back to the tournament for the first time since this draught.
I also thought the Nike alley oop was quite symbolic. Maybe it ends up being Julius Page at Georgetown like. Sometimes a single play can be traced to meaning so much more. Maybe I am just crazy here and it was a dunk, but I just feel like that dunk was an exclamation point on everything. All of the frustration of the past years seemed to be taken out on that rim. Nike was a kid that looked beaten down and unsure of himself at the beginning of THIS season. To that last night. Just incredible.
Can't say I have ever seen a player like Blake Hinson. So much of that is because of his personality. He is literally unphased by anything. Trip after trip, he just lets it fly. It doesn't matter if he misses 9 in a row, that 10th one is flying. That goes to the entire team really. That many three-point attempts is crazy. That is why they are so dangerous though. It can lead to a scoring drought or put them in a hole, but they can get out of it like right now. The other dynamic is, Blake can literally make shots from anywhere with anyone in his face. It does not matter. That is very rare. You have to have guys that can get their own shot in March, and they have that with Jamarius and Blake is in range from anywhere against anything. Some of the shots are horrible decisions, but that is just the DNA of this team. Every time I find myself about to get frustrated by a shot, I immediately remind myself that it doesn't matter. You can't live and die by the possession with this group. Just enjoy the entire ride.
The old Pitt teams beat the Syracuse zone with strength and vision with some unique size and skill set combinations. This team smartly sets up guards and wings in the middle that are capable of turning and passing. Similar philosophy but this this team has a few terrifying outside shooters. No matter who they end up playing in the tournament, I can tell you that the opponent is going to be worried. In a one game setting, that kind of outside shooting firepower is terrifying.
The fact that Pitt is not ranked is comical. I actually think that it has helped them thus far, and they are actually better off if it continues. But between us on this board and for people outside of the team, it is an absolute joke. If they keep this pace and finish strong, I would be very surprised if they don't end up much higher than these current projections. I just can't fathom it right now. No question that November was rough, but since that point you are talking about one of the best 10-15 teams in the country.
My last point here is about the offseason and next year. Here is what I would say - don't worry about it right now. There is plenty of time to discuss and analyze that. Just sit back and give this team another 3-4, who knows how many weeks.
Talk about a beatdown. Can't believe Boeheim didn't come out of the zone at all. Just incredible. Who knows if it would have made a difference, but I would have certainly tried mixing it up and making Blake and Greg try to drive. The press they ran was also incredibly weak. Great job by Pitt immediately exploiting it.
Let me also say this. I don't know a lot about Coach Capel as a man. Since he has been here, I felt like he was very quiet and under the radar. Very hesitant to open up. Chip on the shoulder, etc. But the moment by him in the locker room after the game was as special as it gets. He deserves the ACC Coach of the Year award, but he showed me a lot by what he did for Aidan Fisch last night. That was special and the reason why sports can be so special.
All of the seniors had their moment, as it was basically a perfect performance for them. What these kids did in a year and how they fit in around Jamarius has been incredible. It is so difficult to put teams together in today's world. This also has to be so special for Nelly as well. Overlooked out of high school to getting this team back to the tournament for the first time since this draught.
I also thought the Nike alley oop was quite symbolic. Maybe it ends up being Julius Page at Georgetown like. Sometimes a single play can be traced to meaning so much more. Maybe I am just crazy here and it was a dunk, but I just feel like that dunk was an exclamation point on everything. All of the frustration of the past years seemed to be taken out on that rim. Nike was a kid that looked beaten down and unsure of himself at the beginning of THIS season. To that last night. Just incredible.
Can't say I have ever seen a player like Blake Hinson. So much of that is because of his personality. He is literally unphased by anything. Trip after trip, he just lets it fly. It doesn't matter if he misses 9 in a row, that 10th one is flying. That goes to the entire team really. That many three-point attempts is crazy. That is why they are so dangerous though. It can lead to a scoring drought or put them in a hole, but they can get out of it like right now. The other dynamic is, Blake can literally make shots from anywhere with anyone in his face. It does not matter. That is very rare. You have to have guys that can get their own shot in March, and they have that with Jamarius and Blake is in range from anywhere against anything. Some of the shots are horrible decisions, but that is just the DNA of this team. Every time I find myself about to get frustrated by a shot, I immediately remind myself that it doesn't matter. You can't live and die by the possession with this group. Just enjoy the entire ride.
The old Pitt teams beat the Syracuse zone with strength and vision with some unique size and skill set combinations. This team smartly sets up guards and wings in the middle that are capable of turning and passing. Similar philosophy but this this team has a few terrifying outside shooters. No matter who they end up playing in the tournament, I can tell you that the opponent is going to be worried. In a one game setting, that kind of outside shooting firepower is terrifying.
The fact that Pitt is not ranked is comical. I actually think that it has helped them thus far, and they are actually better off if it continues. But between us on this board and for people outside of the team, it is an absolute joke. If they keep this pace and finish strong, I would be very surprised if they don't end up much higher than these current projections. I just can't fathom it right now. No question that November was rough, but since that point you are talking about one of the best 10-15 teams in the country.
My last point here is about the offseason and next year. Here is what I would say - don't worry about it right now. There is plenty of time to discuss and analyze that. Just sit back and give this team another 3-4, who knows how many weeks.
