ProAm Semi Finals ...

[DT_PITT]

** From a basketball standpoint, the games this evening were a great deal of fun. From a Pitt Panther standpoint, not so much.

** In the first game, no Panthers were expected to play, but we got to enjoy another fine performance by Rene Castro from Duquesne. Castro has been consistently excellent during this entire event, and once again he led his Shale Land team with 31 points. It should be interesting to see if he can put it all together for this coming season. Sleeva from Shippensburg had 19 and Burke from RMU had 16.

** On the losing end, Davon Cottrail had 21 and Donte Lombardi had 16.

** In the second game, we were expecting to see Mike Young and Justice Kithcart play for PBC, and Sheldon Jeter for DucaNepa, but none were in attendance this evening.

** Those who filled in and did play put on a wonderful show for the fans flying up and down the court scoring basket after basket. When the dust settled, Cam Johnson's Duca team came away with the win. Like Rene Castro, Cam has also been consistently excellent during the entire event.

** Having said this, Cam wasn't quite at his best this evening, and for Cam that means 24 points on 9-18 shooting, including 4-9 from three.

** Personally, I think Cam would be a little better served by being a little more of a selfish shooter. At times, it almost appears like he's still got a fair amount of his former point guard instinct in him, looking for a basketball play instead of just letting it fly.

** I can't say this is exactly correct, but from my memory Cam seemed to hit the threes that he shot completely without hesitation. Cam also had several really nice drives to the hoop, but two of them rimmed out. Again, Cam was good, but he's been so good during this event that it seemed almost a little weird when he missed.

** But Duca wasn't a one man team by any means. They also had Lance Jeter who is still an excellent player with great strength and vison. He had 25, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

** Duca's best player this day was Emile Blackman, from Duquesne via Niagara. He certainly has some swag, as he led his team with 27, including four huge threes coming down the stretch.

** Akida McClain also made his first appearance at the event, and was very strong inside with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

** Another Dukes player, Isiah Mike did his best to keep PBC with Duca all game long with 38 points and 12 rebounds. With Mike, Blackman, Castro, Cale Abrahamson and Jordan Robinson, the Dukes have the makings of a decent team. But we've said that about the Dukes before after seeing fine performances during the summer. Hard to say if this is the year.

** And once again, Nick Novak, formerly of Pitt-Johnstown, was tremendous with 29 including some amazing finishes when driving the basket.

** Even D.J. Porter had his best game of the event with 18.

** Actually, everyone seemed to have their best game during the nightcap. The action flying up and down was fast and furious, with great play after great play. Like I said ... it was fun.

** I hope folks will join tomorrow night for what should be a great battle.

 

[FireballZ]

Thanks for all of the updates. Did Mike refuse to remove his nipple rings or something??

 

[DT_PITT]

Thanks for all of the updates. Did Mike refuse to remove his nipple rings or something??

Well, I don't know about that -- LOL!

 

[steel_curtain]

** From a basketball standpoint, the games this evening were a great deal of fun. From a Pitt Panther standpoint, not so much.

** In the first game, no Panthers were expected to play, but we got to enjoy another fine performance by Rene Castro from Duquesne. Castro has been consistently excellent during this entire event, and once again he led his Shale Land team with 31 points. It should be interesting to see if he can put it all together for this coming season. Sleeva from Shippensburg had 19 and Burke from RMU had 16.

** On the losing end, Davon Cottrail had 21 and Donte Lombardi had 16.

** In the second game, we were expecting to see Mike Young and Justice Kithcart play for PBC, and Sheldon Jeter for DucaNepa, but none were in attendance this evening.

** Those who filled in and did play put on a wonderful show for the fans flying up and down the court scoring basket after basket. When the dust settled, Cam Johnson's Duca team came away with the win. Like Rene Castro, Cam has also been consistently excellent during the entire event.

** Having said this, Cam wasn't quite at his best this evening, and for Cam that means 24 points on 9-18 shooting, including 4-9 from three.

** Personally, I think Cam would be a little better served by being a little more of a selfish shooter. At times, it almost appears like he's still got a fair amount of his former point guard instinct in him, looking for a basketball play instead of just letting it fly.

** I can't say this is exactly correct, but from my memory Cam seemed to hit the threes that he shot completely without hesitation. Cam also had several really nice drives to the hoop, but two of them rimmed out. Again, Cam was good, but he's been so good during this event that it seemed almost a little weird when he missed.

** But Duca wasn't a one man team by any means. They also had Lance Jeter who is still an excellent player with great strength and vison. He had 25, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

** But Duca's best player this day was Emile Blackman, from Duquesne via Niagara. He certainly has some swag, as he led his team with 27, including four huge threes coming down the stretch.

** Akida McClain also made his first appearance at the event, and was very strong inside with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

** Another Dukes player, Isiah Mike did his best to keep PBC with Duca all game long with 38 points and 12 rebounds. With Mike, Blackman, Castro, Cale Abrahamson and Jordan Robinson, the Dukes have the makings of a decent team. But we've said that about the Dukes before after seeing fine performances during the summer. Hard to say if this is the year.

** And once again, Nick Novak, formerly of Pitt-Johnstown, was tremendous with 29 including some amazing finishes when driving the basket.

** Even D.J. Porter had his best game of the event with 18.

** Actually, everyone seemed to have their best game during the nightcap. The action flying up and down was fast and furious, with great play after great play. Like I said ... it was fun.

** I hope folks will join tomorrow night for what should be a great battle.

-Cam Johnson's shooting has been on fire this whole event. I also read an article today saying he put 30 pounds of muscle on since his freshmen season and is up to 210lbs. Im intrigued by the idea of him potentially taking over the 2 guard position as a full starter. Looking at the box scores, he is filling it up with rebounds and assists too. I understand this is nothing more than scrimmage pick up ball games, but even still, its makes a few of those games last year when he posted 24 points against Syracuse and 20 against Boston College not look like a fluke and more like possible future potential. If he can become a consistent knockdown shooter from the 2, I will really be liking our team heading into the season.

 

[DT_PITT]

-Cam Johnson's shooting has been on fire this whole event. I also read an article today saying he put 30 pounds of muscle on since his freshmen season and is up to 210lbs. Im intrigued by the idea of him potentially taking over the 2 guard position as a full starter. Looking at the box scores, he is filling it up with rebounds and assists too. I understand this is nothing more than scrimmage pick up ball games, but even still, its makes a few of those games last year when he posted 24 points against Syracuse and 20 against Boston College not look like a fluke and more like possible future potential. If he can become a consistent knockdown shooter from the 2, I will really be liking our team heading into the season.

He'll likely play plenty at the three as well.

 

[gary2]

** From a basketball standpoint, the games this evening were a great deal of fun. From a Pitt Panther standpoint, not so much.

** In the first game, no Panthers were expected to play, but we got to enjoy another fine performance by Rene Castro from Duquesne. Castro has been consistently excellent during this entire event, and once again he led his Shale Land team with 31 points. It should be interesting to see if he can put it all together for this coming season. Sleeva from Shippensburg had 19 and Burke from RMU had 16.

** On the losing end, Davon Cottrail had 21 and Donte Lombardi had 16.

** In the second game, we were expecting to see Mike Young and Justice Kithcart play for PBC, and Sheldon Jeter for DucaNepa, but none were in attendance this evening.

** Those who filled in and did play put on a wonderful show for the fans flying up and down the court scoring basket after basket. When the dust settled, Cam Johnson's Duca team came away with the win. Like Rene Castro, Cam has also been consistently excellent during the entire event.

** Having said this, Cam wasn't quite at his best this evening, and for Cam that means 24 points on 9-18 shooting, including 4-9 from three.

** Personally, I think Cam would be a little better served by being a little more of a selfish shooter. At times, it almost appears like he's still got a fair amount of his former point guard instinct in him, looking for a basketball play instead of just letting it fly.

** I can't say this is exactly correct, but from my memory Cam seemed to hit the threes that he shot completely without hesitation. Cam also had several really nice drives to the hoop, but two of them rimmed out. Again, Cam was good, but he's been so good during this event that it seemed almost a little weird when he missed.

** But Duca wasn't a one man team by any means. They also had Lance Jeter who is still an excellent player with great strength and vison. He had 25, 9 rebounds and 9 assists.

** But Duca's best player this day was Emile Blackman, from Duquesne via Niagara. He certainly has some swag, as he led his team with 27, including four huge threes coming down the stretch.

** Akida McClain also made his first appearance at the event, and was very strong inside with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

** Another Dukes player, Isiah Mike did his best to keep PBC with Duca all game long with 38 points and 12 rebounds. With Mike, Blackman, Castro, Cale Abrahamson and Jordan Robinson, the Dukes have the makings of a decent team. But we've said that about the Dukes before after seeing fine performances during the summer. Hard to say if this is the year.

** And once again, Nick Novak, formerly of Pitt-Johnstown, was tremendous with 29 including some amazing finishes when driving the basket.

** Even D.J. Porter had his best game of the event with 18.

** Actually, everyone seemed to have their best game during the nightcap. The action flying up and down was fast and furious, with great play after great play. Like I said ... it was fun.

** I hope folks will join tomorrow night for what should be a great battle.

Do you know if the Pitt basketball staff would rather their players play in this event or not play?

Thanks for any input.

 

[InfoManiac]

Do you know if the Pitt basketball staff would rather their players play in this event or not play?

Thanks for any input.

You ask an interesting question. I can't answer what the coaches are thinking, but I do know the coaches asked the players their opinion about it.

I wasn't there tonight but the only coach I've seen in attendance on the other nights was Ontario Lett. Dixon's staff seemed to be better represented.

 

[DT_PITT]

Do you know if the Pitt basketball staff would rather their players play in this event or not play?

Thanks for any input.

What I can say for sure is that the league organizer and the Pitt staff talked many times before this Summer's ProAm was ultimately set. And as InfoManiac said, part of Pitt's research was talking with their team. In short, I know that the Pitt staff was supportive of bringing the league back this year, especially with the shortened format. So I suppose this means that they would rather have the players play in the event than not play.

Accordingly, one would assume that if the Pitt staff is supportive of the event, they would rather have the players show up for games as often as they can, barring conflicts such as class, or out of town travel.

I can't say whether or not if the staff is encouraging or even monitoring attendance at games this summer. Again, like InfoManiac said, Ontario Lett has been there a few times (at least twice), but I've never seen Stallings or any of his other assistants.

In past years, Dixon and his staff would attend much more frequently, and I know they were somewhat more tuned in with who actually showed up for games.

 

[gary2]

What I can say for sure is that the league organizer and the Pitt staff talked many times before this Summer's ProAm was ultimately set. And as InfoManiac said, part of Pitt's research was talking with their team. In short, I know that the Pitt staff was supportive of bringing the league back this year, especially with the shortened format. So I suppose this means that they would rather have the players play in the event than not play.

Accordingly, one would assume that if the Pitt staff is supportive of the event, they would rather have the players show up for games as often as they can, barring conflicts such as class, or out of town travel.

I can't say whether or not if the staff is encouraging or even monitoring attendance at games this summer. Again, like InfoManiac said, Ontario Lett has been there a few times (at least twice), but I've never seen Stallings or any of his other assistants.

In past years, Dixon and his staff would attend much more frequently, and I know they were someone more in tune with who actually showed up for games.

Is the timing for Pitt staff to attend bad? Is a recruiting evaluation (or something) taking place?

 

[gary2]

You ask an interesting question. I can't answer what the coaches are thinking, but I do know the coaches asked the players their opinion about it.

I wasn't there tonight but the only coach I've seen in attendance on the other nights was Ontario Lett. Dixon's staff seemed to be better represented.

Thank you for your response

 

[gary2]

What I can say for sure is that the league organizer and the Pitt staff talked many times before this Summer's ProAm was ultimately set. And as InfoManiac said, part of Pitt's research was talking with their team. In short, I know that the Pitt staff was supportive of bringing the league back this year, especially with the shortened format. So I suppose this means that they would rather have the players play in the event than not play.

Accordingly, one would assume that if the Pitt staff is supportive of the event, they would rather have the players show up for games as often as they can, barring conflicts such as class, or out of town travel.

I can't say whether or not if the staff is encouraging or even monitoring attendance at games this summer. Again, like InfoManiac said, Ontario Lett has been there a few times (at least twice), but I've never seen Stallings or any of his other assistants.

In past years, Dixon and his staff would attend much more frequently, and I know they were someone more in tune with who actually showed up for games.

Thank you for your response

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Sounds like Duquesne has some players. Wonder if they'll win any games.

 

[DT_PITT]

Is the timing for Pitt staff to attend bad? Is an recruiting evaluation (or something) taking place?

I'll see if I can get an answer to this.

In the past, Brian Regan, Pitt's former Director of Basketball Operations, would come every night, as he could not go out on the road to recruit. Dixon would usually make about 3 or 4 nights.

To be honest, I really wouldn't recognize our new assistants anyway, so perhaps they've been there, although I do suspect I would have known if they were.

I haven't seen Jason Richards as of yet -- he used to come to some of the games when they were in Green Tree.

 

[gary2]

I'll see if I can get an answer to this.

In the past, Brian Regan, Pitt's former Director of Basketball Operations, would come every night, as he could not go out on the road to recruit. Dixon would usually make about 3 or 4 nights.

To be honest, I really wouldn't recognize our new assistants anyway, so perhaps they've been there, although I do suspect I would have known if they were.

I haven't seen Jason Richards as of yet -- he used to come to some of the games when they were in Green Tree.

Dan Cage has the Regan role and I believe Coach Richardson's son is now on staff as a graduate manager.

 

[DT_PITT]

Dan Cage has the Regan role and I believe Coach Richardson's son is now on staff as a graduate manager.

That's correct -- Matt -- and I haven't met him either.

 

[DT_PITT]

Sounds like Duquesne has some players. Wonder if they'll win any games.

Amile is a nice player. Has some swag. I don't think this Duquesne team is as talented as the one with Saunders and Clark. But they could be better than last year.

So much could depend on Castro. I simply do not know why he played so little last year.