So Louisville

[Delpanther]

Would like to see this team really come out tonight with an edge and a chip on their shoulder given how they were pushed around the last time around. I want to see some toughness and real backbone from this team. That means they need to stick to their knitting on defense, rebound and play team basketball on offense. Because of Louisville's D the first time around, our offense deteriorated into street ball about mid-way thru the first half if not sooner.

Aside from the goal of making the tournie I want to see some tangible improvement from this team. And it in my mind it starts with being tough and aggressive for the whole game. It will be very disappointing if come out and get our heads handed to us yet again. It's a big game. If we win tonight, we have MO on our side going into the Duke game with the house rockin.

 

[VAPITTALUM]

Defense is extremely important in this game, but you hit the nail on the head regarding the offense. There were so many times where PITT tried to dribble into the middle of the lane, then simply stopped and allowed L'Ville to crash the player. PITT did a great job of kicking the ball back out of the post to the open man against Syracuse, leading to wide open shots.

Young, Artis, and Robinson need to have an excellent game, with contributions from Jones and C. Johnson mixed in. This game is a huge boost to their NCAAT hopes.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Easier to execute this vs Cuse zone than Louisville's man defense.

 

[heybandguy]

I need to see Pitt improve its mental toughness as well during these next two games. Tyson said everybody has a game plan until they punched in the mouth - and I feel that during the first game they never quite recovered from Ville's 1st punch. I like what I saw from them down the stretch at SU especially after the Orange went back up by a couple of points in the second half. Cuse and Cards are two very different things. UL has a long front court and the back court will push hard on the guards pressing. I don't put a Pitt upset out of the realm of possibility, but physical and mental toughness, great rebounding, efficient and effective offense, and for the love of Jesus a little bit of defense (please) have to be at their season best tonight.

 

[The Sisco Kid]

revenge game plus Louisville has little to play for, look for a Pitt win.

 

[phijo]

This will be a tough game to win. At the very least, I want to see some fat lips and bloody noses. If someone fouls out hacking someone's arm off, I am ok with that too.

 

[UPitt '89]

This will be a tough game to win. At the very least, I want to see some fat lips and bloody noses. If someone fouls out hacking someone's arm off, I am ok with that too.

So you mean fouls like this?

 

[PushupMan]

revenge game plus Louisville has little to play for, look for a Pitt win.

Pitt certainly may win at home, but Louisville is 1 game back of North Carolina for the only championship they can win - the ACC regular season title. They are probably just as motivated as Pitt is tonight.

The good news for Pitt is that Louisville is going to be down three big men in this game - Mathiang, Mahmoud, and Spaulding, who may not play due to a pulled hamstring.