** Do you like offense? Do you like great shots? Do you like points? If this is your kind of basketball, this was your kind of game.
** Of course, if you are a Panther fan who likes 30+ point wins, this game was for you too.
** There was plenty to enjoy this afternoon on the hardwood on a day surrounded by so much important action on the gridiron.
** More importantly, this was another great win to impress the laptops, which only adds to the fun. And Mr. Pomeroy and Mr. Torvik now both see our Panthers as a top 25 team even if the pollsters don’t.
** What most pollsters and even laptops probably didn’t see today was a completely pleasing array of passes and finishes. Several times Ish and Jaland ventured into the lane and found some sort of way to finish among taller trees in ways that would drop your jaw.
** Even better, our previously troubled three point shooting heated up in a big way, especially after some delightful passes to open shooters. At the top of the list was Ish’s over his head, Doncic-styled, blind toss back to arc to Beebah, who obliged by tickling the net to create a highlight reel play that belongs near the top of any Panther playlist.
** Yet no Panther tickled the net today like our new long range bomber Zach. In his last 6 games, he’s knocked down 17 of 32 from deep, and one shouldn’t need a laptop to compute that number is nicely over 50%.
** One of the most pleasing aspects of the Howland Dixon days was watching solid returners make “great leaps forward” after a year or two in a Panther uniform.
** Now that he’s averaging double digits in scoring 12 games into this season, even if Zach hasn’t done quite enough to compete for “Most Improved Player” status, he’s shown that he’s a legit deep threat instead of the inconsistent one he was last year.
** In college basketball, that used to be the type of improvement many teams would count on from Seniors. It’s nice to see Zach taking this kind of step thus far.
** Meanwhile, maybe we should be considering Ish for Most Improved Player status, even if the ACC voted him as a Pre-season All 2nd team selection. After all, ish has upped his scoring by almost 50% to find himself near the top of the League.
** Ish should also find himself on the first five of the All-ACC Toughness team. Sometimes I almost worry about the physical nature of Ish’s finishes in the paint. I worry one of these times he’s not going to bounce up so readily off the court. But he always does, thankfully.
** But it’s not always so physical for Ish to finish, including his first half trip into the paint that was initially stopped, but ended up with an easy layup after a 360 degree pivot. Masterful stuff Sir!
** I also worry a tad about Jaland’s finishes against big tall men. Instead, I usually end up marveling at his ability to float in buckets high off the glass at seemingly impossible angles. Marvelous!
** Perhaps later I’ll dig back into the record books to find the last time a Panther point guard notched back to back double doubles in points and assists. And while we are talking about Most Improved Player status, it’s worth noting that Jaland’s scoring and assists have ticked up by well over 50%. Just because we expected it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be more impressed with it.
** Actually, every Panther this day was impressive enough on the offensive end. Let’s even offer a special shout out to Amsal who showed off some real Hoopin in the second half. The offensive skills there are apparent, including two really nifty long pass assists. There are still questions about his overall game speed and how well he can keep up on defense.
** I’d also like Amsal to develop a little more of a quick trigger mentality with his three ball, much like we saw from Greg Elliot two years ago. At least three times today he passed on launching a bomb when it appeared he was free. Instead he often makes a good fundamental play, and looks to pass to others. But we will need his three point shooting more on days when the team isn’t going 16-31 from deep.
** Even if this day was no doubt about offense, but that doesn’t mean the Panthers played bad defense to my eye. In the first half especially, the BearKats hit some tough well defended shots.
** It should be interesting to watch how today’s opponent performs as they move into their Conference USA season. A team who can hit shots like it looks like they are capable of should win their share of games.
** There were perhaps a few too many times when our foe blew by us with the dribble than their coach might like. And after forcing four BearKat turnovers in the first four minutes, we only tallied eight the rest of the way.
** But on the defensive end, the effort was there, but perhaps the fullest attention to detail was not.
** Still, this game wasn’t about defense. This game was about points, and the Panthers were certainly up to that task in a fun and watchable way.
** Onto the rest of the ACC Season! I look forward to seeing our Panthers against the Bears in 2025.
** Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to my fellow Pitt Hoops Fans!
** Of course, if you are a Panther fan who likes 30+ point wins, this game was for you too.
** There was plenty to enjoy this afternoon on the hardwood on a day surrounded by so much important action on the gridiron.
** More importantly, this was another great win to impress the laptops, which only adds to the fun. And Mr. Pomeroy and Mr. Torvik now both see our Panthers as a top 25 team even if the pollsters don’t.
** What most pollsters and even laptops probably didn’t see today was a completely pleasing array of passes and finishes. Several times Ish and Jaland ventured into the lane and found some sort of way to finish among taller trees in ways that would drop your jaw.
** Even better, our previously troubled three point shooting heated up in a big way, especially after some delightful passes to open shooters. At the top of the list was Ish’s over his head, Doncic-styled, blind toss back to arc to Beebah, who obliged by tickling the net to create a highlight reel play that belongs near the top of any Panther playlist.
** Yet no Panther tickled the net today like our new long range bomber Zach. In his last 6 games, he’s knocked down 17 of 32 from deep, and one shouldn’t need a laptop to compute that number is nicely over 50%.
** One of the most pleasing aspects of the Howland Dixon days was watching solid returners make “great leaps forward” after a year or two in a Panther uniform.
** Now that he’s averaging double digits in scoring 12 games into this season, even if Zach hasn’t done quite enough to compete for “Most Improved Player” status, he’s shown that he’s a legit deep threat instead of the inconsistent one he was last year.
** In college basketball, that used to be the type of improvement many teams would count on from Seniors. It’s nice to see Zach taking this kind of step thus far.
** Meanwhile, maybe we should be considering Ish for Most Improved Player status, even if the ACC voted him as a Pre-season All 2nd team selection. After all, ish has upped his scoring by almost 50% to find himself near the top of the League.
** Ish should also find himself on the first five of the All-ACC Toughness team. Sometimes I almost worry about the physical nature of Ish’s finishes in the paint. I worry one of these times he’s not going to bounce up so readily off the court. But he always does, thankfully.
** But it’s not always so physical for Ish to finish, including his first half trip into the paint that was initially stopped, but ended up with an easy layup after a 360 degree pivot. Masterful stuff Sir!
** I also worry a tad about Jaland’s finishes against big tall men. Instead, I usually end up marveling at his ability to float in buckets high off the glass at seemingly impossible angles. Marvelous!
** Perhaps later I’ll dig back into the record books to find the last time a Panther point guard notched back to back double doubles in points and assists. And while we are talking about Most Improved Player status, it’s worth noting that Jaland’s scoring and assists have ticked up by well over 50%. Just because we expected it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be more impressed with it.
** Actually, every Panther this day was impressive enough on the offensive end. Let’s even offer a special shout out to Amsal who showed off some real Hoopin in the second half. The offensive skills there are apparent, including two really nifty long pass assists. There are still questions about his overall game speed and how well he can keep up on defense.
** I’d also like Amsal to develop a little more of a quick trigger mentality with his three ball, much like we saw from Greg Elliot two years ago. At least three times today he passed on launching a bomb when it appeared he was free. Instead he often makes a good fundamental play, and looks to pass to others. But we will need his three point shooting more on days when the team isn’t going 16-31 from deep.
** Even if this day was no doubt about offense, but that doesn’t mean the Panthers played bad defense to my eye. In the first half especially, the BearKats hit some tough well defended shots.
** It should be interesting to watch how today’s opponent performs as they move into their Conference USA season. A team who can hit shots like it looks like they are capable of should win their share of games.
** There were perhaps a few too many times when our foe blew by us with the dribble than their coach might like. And after forcing four BearKat turnovers in the first four minutes, we only tallied eight the rest of the way.
** But on the defensive end, the effort was there, but perhaps the fullest attention to detail was not.
** Still, this game wasn’t about defense. This game was about points, and the Panthers were certainly up to that task in a fun and watchable way.
** Onto the rest of the ACC Season! I look forward to seeing our Panthers against the Bears in 2025.
** Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to my fellow Pitt Hoops Fans!
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