Questions I need to get from preseason practice coverage

[daytonpanther]

1. How is the new group coming together as a team? I don't expect them to read each others minds until conference opens but this is paramount. Each minute is going to someone. Better a team on the floor than a bunch of individuals. Jamie must get the transfers to buy-in to Pitt's system (WHATEVER THAT WILL BE).
2. What type of system will Jamie choose to go - fitting the personnel into his vision or using the talents to mold the system?
3. Will Luther red shirt and what is his upside talent look like? I see a solid player but would love to see him exceed expectations. He will be a 4 year standout when finished. Yes, I believe.
3. Who is the heir-apparent point guard. We now appear to have some depth to be a little more patient with Wilson. Not that he wants to sit. A year to get stronger and learn is a luxury these days.
4. Nix - similar to Luther. What is his top level talent? Will he be one remember for the ages like Big Fella or one that just gives us a second option?
5. Is our scoring threat better or about the same from all over the court. James Robinson. Young and Artis are "known" factors but lots of combinations can be rotated if we find a hot hand to feed. Not sure outside of Cam and Jones that we had 3P consistency last year.

Anyone else chime in with facts or opinions. Just need a little hoops fix.

 

[Zaratoughda]

Unfortunately I do not believe you are gonna get many answers to your questions until mid-November at the earliest. Others may have to wait until the start of the ACC season or later.

One thing you can do.... go to the official site and watch the interviews with Dixon, Robinson, Young and Artis. You will get some answers and can infer others by reading between the lines.

Oh... and your 6th question should be.... How well is Jamel Artis gonna do offensively playing SF?

 

[phijo]

I agree, not much will be answered in practice. I want to know how the d looks and who is doing the rebounding. Unfortunately last year we suspected even in the preseason, the d would suffer.

 

[daytonpanther]

Good advice on the videos -- they definitely gave me more information and background on this years team.

 

[KiwiJeff]

Unfortunately I do not believe you are gonna get many answers to your questions until mid-November at the earliest. Others may have to wait until the start of the ACC season or later.

One thing you can do.... go to the official site and watch the interviews with Dixon, Robinson, Young and Artis. You will get some answers and can infer others by reading between the lines.

Oh... and your 6th question should be.... How well is Jamel Artis gonna do offensively playing SF?

Jamel's offense is the least of my worries. That would be #60, not #6.

 

[DT_PITT]

1. How is the new group coming together as a team? I don't expect them to read each others minds until conference opens but this is paramount. Each minute is going to someone. Better a team on the floor than a bunch of individuals. Jamie must get the transfers to buy-in to Pitt's system (WHATEVER THAT WILL BE).
2. What type of system will Jamie choose to go - fitting the personnel into his vision or using the talents to mold the system?
3. Will Luther red shirt and what is his upside talent look like? I see a solid player but would love to see him exceed expectations. He will be a 4 year standout when finished. Yes, I believe.
3. Who is the heir-apparent point guard. We now appear to have some depth to be a little more patient with Wilson. Not that he wants to sit. A year to get stronger and learn is a luxury these days.
4. Nix - similar to Luther. What is his top level talent? Will he be one remember for the ages like Big Fella or one that just gives us a second option?
5. Is our scoring threat better or about the same from all over the court. James Robinson. Young and Artis are "known" factors but lots of combinations can be rotated if we find a hot hand to feed. Not sure outside of Cam and Jones that we had 3P consistency last year.

Anyone else chime in with facts or opinions. Just need a little hoops fix.

At the #zooafterhours event, when he was interviewed by Jay Williams, Dixon talked abut being more physical, and especially spoke being more up-tempo than we have been in the past and getting out on the break with our guards.

 

[Zaratoughda]

At the #zooafterhours event, when he was interviewed by Jay Williams, Dixon talked abut being more physical, and especially spoke being more up-tempo than we have been in the past and getting out on the break with our guards.

As far as being more 'up tempo'.... Dixon says that every year and things never change noticeably.

As far as being more physical.... you need a Gary McGhee for that and we don't have one. But, Maia is 20 pounds heavier than Artis, and ANO 10 pounds heavier, so we at least should not be getting as pushed around inside this coming year as we did last year.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

As far as being more 'up tempo'.... Dixon says that every year and things never change noticeably.

As far as being more physical.... you need a Gary McGhee for that and we don't have one. But, Maia is 20 pounds heavier than Artis, and ANO 10 pounds heavier, so we at least should not be getting as pushed around inside this coming year as we did last year.

Plus just having two 6-9s on the floor all the time vs only one (and the ability to make it 3 6-9s on the floor in certain situations) should help the inside game considerably). I really also like the available option to go big overall should it be occasionally desired (e.g., 6-9, 6-9, 6-8, 6-8, 6-5 even w/o using Nix).

 

[DT_PITT]

As far as being more 'up tempo'.... Dixon says that every year and things never change noticeably.

As far as being more physical.... you need a Gary McGhee for that and we don't have one. But, Maia is 20 pounds heavier than Artis, and ANO 10 pounds heavier, so we at least should not be getting as pushed around inside this coming year as we did last year.

I think there is more meaning to the comments than in some of the past years. However, I too will believe it when I see it.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

I think there is more meaning to the comments than in some of the past years. However, I too will believe it when I see it.

Yes, as far as up-tempo is concerned, it will happen only to the extent we can dominate the backboards and create defensive turnovers that gets us uncontested breakaways. But, just pushing tempo in general is not something I expect us to see and I don't think is what Dixon means when he says more up-tempo. In Dixon's mind up tempo is taking breakaways you generate from defensive rebounding and turnovers and does not mean playing a Run and Gun Offense (RAGO) style.

In any event, Dixon's version of up-tempo, IMHO, is a better road to overall success than RAGO. RAGO is the way to go only if you are way more talented than your opponents (think talent levels at Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, etc.). All it will get you is more losses if you don't out talent your opponents.

 

[Zaratoughda]

I think there is more meaning to the comments than in some of the past years. However, I too will believe it when I see it.

I would guess that Dixon was referring to the fact that we have 3 new guards, Wilson, Milligan and Smith, and they are all probably quicker than Robinson and Jones (who, I guess, is considered a guard now). So, with that Dixon wants the team to go for fast breaks when they present themselves... as he has done in the past... as opposed to 'run and gun' which some posters want but something Dixon has not done in the past... and I agree with him on that.