Saw Lindy's Basketball Mag on News stand
- Thread starter DC_Area_Panther
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Lets see... Smith, Maia, ANO, Wilson, Milligan, Slim.... that's six players that most likely can hold down a regular rotation slot this year and the only one we lost was Wright (with Robinson, Young, Artis, Jones and Jeter returning).
So, YEAH, we SHOULD make the NCAA this year.
Dixon has got to put these players together as a team and having 'more than enough', as opposed to 'not enough' as he had last year, that might be a bit of a challenge.
But, IMO the biggest concern we have going into the year is... Jamel Artis at SF. If THAT works out, we could be a pretty good team this coming year.
So, YEAH, we SHOULD make the NCAA this year.
Dixon has got to put these players together as a team and having 'more than enough', as opposed to 'not enough' as he had last year, that might be a bit of a challenge.
But, IMO the biggest concern we have going into the year is... Jamel Artis at SF. If THAT works out, we could be a pretty good team this coming year.
Well Zara, you've been questioning Artis' move to SF for months now. Even though IMO it's the right move
for Jamie to make given our transfers, I have to admit your concern is a good one and makes sense. Of course
we are not at summer workouts and soon to be practices, but I have to believe Jamie has convinced Artis that
this move is the key to the team's success, and if he wants to make it to the pros, it has to be as a SF and never as a PF. So with that said, I'm hoping that he works on his open floor game, passing, and more than anything his defense (his SF defense was awful last year). As we all know he has the jump shot from that
range, but he has a lot to work on to be a totally successful SF.
Yes, it's the "biggest concern"..... but if it works, we'll be a much better team this year.
for Jamie to make given our transfers, I have to admit your concern is a good one and makes sense. Of course
we are not at summer workouts and soon to be practices, but I have to believe Jamie has convinced Artis that
this move is the key to the team's success, and if he wants to make it to the pros, it has to be as a SF and never as a PF. So with that said, I'm hoping that he works on his open floor game, passing, and more than anything his defense (his SF defense was awful last year). As we all know he has the jump shot from that
range, but he has a lot to work on to be a totally successful SF.
Yes, it's the "biggest concern"..... but if it works, we'll be a much better team this year.
Yeah Artis definitely needs to play SF to give Pitt a chance at making the Tournent _and getting a half decent seed. Hope it works out. & Remember, playing SF doesn't mean he has to create everything for himself (off the dribble), he can still catch and shoot. Rob does the passing, he does the shooting = pretty good formula.
Go pitt
Chescat... I remember Doug Collins when he was a pro and, with the little I recall, his game was mostly catch and shoot and... that was from the SG position.
So, it can be done BUT... the thing that concerns me... is when you move from PF to SF the average distance of your shots increases... in other words, a lot more outside shots... and I am not sure Artis can adapt to that.
But, we will see.
Yeah, I really don't know if Dixon plans to still play Artis at PF, when Young is not in the game, or if he plans to spell Young with... ANO. Another one we will have to wait and see on.
I agree with you Zara. Artis can still play a lot of catch and shoot playing SF. It's still "technically" a forward position. Plus, it's not like Artis can't dribble or do anything for himself. The one game last year I think it was against Lousiville or NC State or something... Anyway, during that game Dixon had Artis sort of play point and bring up the ball. But I would say he should still have at least 75% of his shots or more catching and shooting. We'll see. He also might get 10-15 min at PF still... Who knows.
Go Pitt.
Go Pitt.
"Who knows?" might be the best description of what we are looking at going into this season.
Bringing in 6 new players is one thing but when 5 of those are most likely regular rotation players... that is something we have never seen... and then we got Slim back and Young and Artis moving to new positions. On top of that, all the players recovering from injuries.
So, we are just gonna have to see how things develop.
We can expect two B/G games but they usually don't show much. Then there is the one exhibition and with that we should at least be able to get some kind of handle on what the rotation might look like.
Then there is the Zags game and that is a major contest with 4 home OOC games following. Whether Dixon is prepared enough to deal with Wiltjer and company to the point of coming away with a W (to be honest I doubt it) is something we will just have to see one way or another.
Probably won't be until the Purdue game (Dec 1) before we can get any kind of handle as to what we can expect this year.... and whether Dixon can bounce back from recent disapointing seasons or... sink deeper into the abyss.
Bringing in 6 new players is one thing but when 5 of those are most likely regular rotation players... that is something we have never seen... and then we got Slim back and Young and Artis moving to new positions. On top of that, all the players recovering from injuries.
So, we are just gonna have to see how things develop.
We can expect two B/G games but they usually don't show much. Then there is the one exhibition and with that we should at least be able to get some kind of handle on what the rotation might look like.
Then there is the Zags game and that is a major contest with 4 home OOC games following. Whether Dixon is prepared enough to deal with Wiltjer and company to the point of coming away with a W (to be honest I doubt it) is something we will just have to see one way or another.
Probably won't be until the Purdue game (Dec 1) before we can get any kind of handle as to what we can expect this year.... and whether Dixon can bounce back from recent disapointing seasons or... sink deeper into the abyss.
Uhhhh, Artis brought the ball up because he was guarded by their monster PF, who didn't have a prayer of stopping Jamel outside. Good move, as Pitino's pressing guards have always given us fits. If Jamel tried to bring the ball upcourt against one of those guys, it'd be a disaster. His handle is adequate for a guy his size.
Yes. I think most are optimistic of better showing this season, perhaps not always in W/L, but at least in the quality of play on the defensive, rebounding and shot blocking side. Even most games Pitt WON the past couple years, they've often been watch-with-sour-taste-in-mouth quality. Those things don't always assure victories, but they are the best chance for PITT to win.
The concerns are with the seasons afterward, due to recruiting struggles. Though a nice showing this season could right that.
Why the concerns about the season afterward, as long as Young, Artis, Nix, Jeter, Jones and Milligan all return? That's a very, very strong core of seniors.
However, I would agree that 2017-2018 is where we could start to worry. Nonetheless, getting a recruiting class of White, Manigault, Kithcart, and another strong big could keep things on track along with Cam Johnson and Damon Wilson. And we could be graduating 6 seniors, so there's plenty of chances to find help. This is also much more the case where you might what to bring in one very good fifth year senior to play a critical role.
The OP mentioned the SEASONS afterward not the SEASON afterward.
But, yeah, it is 17/18 where we are losing Young, Artis, Jones, Jeter, Milligan, and Nix (unless he gets RSed).
However, with all the seniors on the roster in 16/17 it is difficult to bring in top players because they would like the opportunity to start day 1.... like Blair did... like Adams did... and like Mike Young did.
And... if you look at the ESPN top 60 for 17.... there are only like around 6 or 7 commits at this point.
In short, this one has a ways to go... maybe a long ways to go.
But, one thing is clear... a bounce back season (ACC Championship game and sweet 16, or better) would convince a lot of recruits that Pitt is top program and not one... on the decline.
Right... but it allowed me to make the point that just 7 of the ESPN Top 60 recruits have committed at this time and thus people should not be jumping ship... at least not yet... and ALSO get the point across that having a good season this year is critical for Dixon if he is going to get Pitt BB back to the point he once had it.
There's absolutely no reason at all Pitt should not be in the tourney this year. Maybe they'll only be an 8 or 9 seed, but if Artis plays to his full potential we might actually be near the top of the ACC. Easy to be down on the program as a whole after last year but I think Artis is as talented as anyone we've had during Dixon's tenure.
With everyone else we bring back this year, a year more seasoned should be enough alone to get us back to the tourney. Add in the grad transfers, Wilson, and Nix and we should have a really good team this year.
With everyone else we bring back this year, a year more seasoned should be enough alone to get us back to the tourney. Add in the grad transfers, Wilson, and Nix and we should have a really good team this year.
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