I feel like I'm dragging the current team throughout this whole thread and that's absolutely not my intent. I think they're really good and I agree with you that Toney, X, and Champ make a really intriguing core. if they all come back next year we're just an impact piece away from being extremely good.
Sam Young vs Justin Champagnie Debate
- Thread starter TheSpecialSauce
- Start date
I feel like I'm dragging the current team throughout this whole thread and that's absolutely not my intent. I think they're really good and I agree with you that Toney, X, and Champ make a really intriguing core. if they all come back next year we're just an impact piece away from being extremely good.
I think our regular season success that we had in the Big East will be hard to duplicate. For one, Capel, is more of a guy who wants to be more “hands off” and let his guys “get it”. Meaning, a lot of what we do offensively gives our guys a lot of freedom, and the hope is that over time they figure out how to use that and excel. That’s a little different than Dixon’s micromanage style.
Also, while the Big East had really good TEAMS, the talent level in the ACC is just different. Look at how Duke, UNC, Louisville, Florida State recruit on a annual basis. Those guys have elite talents every year, then you have Virginia with an elite system... and schools like Miami, NC State, Syracuse get their share of 4/5 stars too.
So it’s really hard to dominate. Even when a team is “down“ like Duke is, they still have a lottery pick and a few other Top 50 prospects.
But, I do think we’ll have a better chance for success in March than we did every year except 08-09 when we should have won the Natty.
I mean, let’s say the core is X (Sr), Champ (Jr), Toney (SR), Efton Reid, Femi, with one more impact piece.. that team can be a 3-4 seed in the NCAAs and beat anyone on a given night.
Also, while the Big East had really good TEAMS, the talent level in the ACC is just different. Look at how Duke, UNC, Louisville, Florida State recruit on a annual basis. Those guys have elite talents every year, then you have Virginia with an elite system... and schools like Miami, NC State, Syracuse get their share of 4/5 stars too.
So it’s really hard to dominate. Even when a team is “down“ like Duke is, they still have a lottery pick and a few other Top 50 prospects.
But, I do think we’ll have a better chance for success in March than we did every year except 08-09 when we should have won the Natty.
I mean, let’s say the core is X (Sr), Champ (Jr), Toney (SR), Efton Reid, Femi, with one more impact piece.. that team can be a 3-4 seed in the NCAAs and beat anyone on a given night.
I agree. The upside of Capel coached teams far outweighs the upside of Dixon.
Dixon is a floor raiser and there's nothing wrong with that, but without giving his guys freedom it's hard to win.
I have a different perspective. I think this team is good, NCAA Tourney good, if they can stay healthy.
You add Reid to this group next season? I think that's a team that can beat anyone, and compete for a #1 seed.
Whoa!! Pump the brakes fella.
why? What else do they need?
Agree or disagree..
top 5 player in the conference
top 3 pg in the conference
top 5 2way guy in the conference
40% 3 point shooter
how far off is it from Blair, Young, Fields, Dixon? The depth isn't there right now, but next year with Femi, Will, Noah, Nike + a young stud center could easily push for the top spot in the conference.
I’m arguing just to argue at this point, but Louisville, UCONN, Syracuse, and Georgetown were all regularly recruiting elite talent during Pitt’s peak in the Big East.
no doubt, but it's why we hired Jeff Capel. Next year is year 4.. I wouldn't say it's out of the question.
We beat Duke tonight and we're a top 25 team.
I'm like any other hardcore fan, and these guys are showing me something right now, for real. So I'm just going to project that out to next season, and it looks like a really really great team if we can solve the Center issue. Nothing wrong with getting carried away when the team is actually really good.
This assumes their top 7 players come back.
I’m the biggest fanboy out there. I just think we need to learn how to handle success before we talk 1 seeds.
We might be a "top 25" team in theory, but unless we absolutely crush Duke tonight we probably won't be one when the poll comes out next week. We didn't even get one vote in either of the two polls this week, and you are at the point in a season when teams basically never go from not getting even one vote to being in the top 25 next week.
Of course this season is different than any other, so I guess we can have hope.
Cougar = Vader
even still...you add a piece like that, with returning starters and we’re a top 10 team, imo.
It’s ridiculous that we didn’t have a top 25 vote. That first game is haunting us.
I think it would be close one way or the other, because no one thought of us that highly when the season began.
Champagnie is far more advanced than a Sam Young who had a few years on him in a comparative analysis. It's not even close. Sam showed a lot of potential but never put that into on the board numbers like Champagnie has.
Champagnie is a brut.
Champagnie is a brut.
Champagnie is performing at the same high level that Young played at during his Sr. year.
That was one of the best all arounds games I've seen from a Pitt player in years. Champ keeps playing like this and the next comparison thread will be over with one post.
If he keeps hitting the 3-ball like tonight he will be in the league next year.
Damn right! He did it all. He knew we needed to make some outside shots against that zone and he delivered. He even had 5 blocks! He was just totally dominant. It seemed whenever we needed a basket, he would make one or get fouled.
Against a quality opponent, that was one of the very best games I have seen from any Panther. I don't want to take anything away from XJ and Toney, but, Penny is the Alpha Dog. He played tonight like he had his eye on the Wooden Award.
Absolutely. I’ve only been a Pitt fan since 2000 but that was a top 5 performance following up a top 20 performance....
Assuming everyone returns next year who should be returning on the roster, and you add a big who can play (either big recruit or transfer) this team could definitely approach that 2008-2009 team.
I wouldn't be surprised if he leaves early for the NBA, 6-6 and he can jump, dunk, rebound and even shoot the 3 like he's doing.
Way late to this party, but obviously Champ not having older people in front of him have helped him flourish more so than Sam could’ve.
will be enjoyable watching him play his last 10-15 games in a Panther uniform this year because with 2 knee injuries in 2 years there is 0.0 percent chance he’s back for a 3rd.
will be enjoyable watching him play his last 10-15 games in a Panther uniform this year because with 2 knee injuries in 2 years there is 0.0 percent chance he’s back for a 3rd.
I’ll take that bet ....0.0 % chance , that should get me some pretty good odds !
These kids have talent, but you're talking about two Pros/First Team All-Americans and an SI Cover guy. I realize you're trying to project out, but the disparity between the two trios in overall wins, ranked victories, and individual accomplishments is frankly not closable even if they took advantage of the extra COVID year. Hell, give me Ashton, Brad, and your pick over these three.
It's not crazy to think they have a shot at the top 5 in conference IF THESE THREE COME BACK. I wouldn't put money on that happening, though. X has been very vocal about not staying all four. Champ is gonna have a choice to make after another injury. Etc, etc.
And, again, that aformentioned trio wasn't worried about top 5 - they were gunning for the top spot. Which this trio, even projecting out, isn't talented enough to hit.
Young and Blair were way better than Penny. Sam and Dejuan transformed the program into one of the best in country. They played and beat legit competition and won at a high clip. The carried games and made plays at crunch time. After Levance the teams they played on weren't really star studded either. They just won big. Sam was the MVP of the BET don't forget.
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If Sam had developed a left hand he might have been a lottery pick. Not too hard for an NBA wing to defend when you can only go right.
