I haven't seen this posted anywhere on the board so I thought I'd share. Just an interesting read on a national writer's thoughts about Pitt. It's more optimistic than I would have expected, actually, and I completely agree with him on what the team needs to do to be better.
Q: Does Pitt have a realistic chance at NCAA tourney? Josh Newkirk gone, Mike Young too small for C, and James Robinson still uninspiring? -- John Melson
A: I think that will certainly be the Panthers' goal this season, yes. However, the problem for them won't be uninspiring talent. Robinson is a fine point guard in the ACC. Young could be all-league. Jamel Artis was solid last season. Talent shouldn't be an issue if they get some depth from the incoming freshmen and transfers. Rather, it'll be a renewed commitment to the defensive end of the floor that will hold the key.
Early last season, I wrote about some of the problems the Panthers were having on that side of the ball. Unfortunately for Jamie Dixon and his team, the problems dovetailed from there, and became even more exacerbated as the year went on. They ended up finishing 202nd in the NCAA in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom, by far the worst performance on that end in the Dixon era.
It's not a surprise that a team who has built its identity and reputation upon physicality and defense over the past decade would struggle if they stopped doing those things at a high level. In fact, the only two times Dixon's teams have missed the NCAA Tournament over the past 12 seasons were when they finished outside of the top-65 in defensive efficiency. If they can get back to their old selves and re-establish that identity that has made Dixon so successful, they can definitely make a run back to the dance.
Q: Does Pitt have a realistic chance at NCAA tourney? Josh Newkirk gone, Mike Young too small for C, and James Robinson still uninspiring? -- John Melson
A: I think that will certainly be the Panthers' goal this season, yes. However, the problem for them won't be uninspiring talent. Robinson is a fine point guard in the ACC. Young could be all-league. Jamel Artis was solid last season. Talent shouldn't be an issue if they get some depth from the incoming freshmen and transfers. Rather, it'll be a renewed commitment to the defensive end of the floor that will hold the key.
Early last season, I wrote about some of the problems the Panthers were having on that side of the ball. Unfortunately for Jamie Dixon and his team, the problems dovetailed from there, and became even more exacerbated as the year went on. They ended up finishing 202nd in the NCAA in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom, by far the worst performance on that end in the Dixon era.
It's not a surprise that a team who has built its identity and reputation upon physicality and defense over the past decade would struggle if they stopped doing those things at a high level. In fact, the only two times Dixon's teams have missed the NCAA Tournament over the past 12 seasons were when they finished outside of the top-65 in defensive efficiency. If they can get back to their old selves and re-establish that identity that has made Dixon so successful, they can definitely make a run back to the dance.
