So , safe to assume mike young going to the 4

[DT_PITT]

Nope. I've been told Mike Young is excellent at the 5. Despite nearly everybody who watched a Pitt game opined that Young was playing out of position and it adversely affected our team, the usual 5-6 posters held firm that Young was unquestionably the answer at Center.

SMF (and many others): right again

I don't think this is what people were saying. The biggest debate I recall is when Pittlaw said a "true center" was what we needed, and many, including me, disagreed that we didn't need a "true center" -- instead we needed someone better as a five than the combo of Mike and Jamel proved to be at the 5-4. But simply saying what is required is someone who fits this profile of a "true center" I do not think is the solution.

Mike did a pretty good job at the five. It was hardly the biggest problem for the Panthers last year.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

I think JD was more desperate than shrewd in aggressively going after the grad transfers. We had some gaping roster deficiencies that were not addressed at all in the last couple of HS recruiting seasons. These are all band-aids, there is no question about that. It will be interesting to see how it all fits together, and how it all works with the most underrated variable of them all-chemistry.

He replaced guys with one year of eligibility with guys with one year of eligibility .

If we try it again next year, agree alarm bells are ringing.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I don't think this is what people were saying.

Of course it isn't. But there is no one who is more likely to misrepresent an argument than SMF. And the funny thing is that he's just as likely to misrepresent his own arguments as he is someone else's in an effort to make it look like he has a clue.

 

[DT_PITT]

Just an opinion; but, barring very bad luck with the injury bug, and after seeing the Ododa video I don't think we will see much of MY at the 5. I think we will see Ododa with ~25+/- min and Maia with ~15 +/- min at the 5 (with 10 fouls to give ). I think that Nix will redshirt for further development since he will be a JR with 3 years to play 2. This also gives Luther the opportunity to take the redshirt year he should have gotten last year.

I think MY will be strictly the 4 and he should be a more effective 4 since i think he and Ododa will complement each other very well. In this scenario, Artis gets a starter's minutes spread between both the 3 and the 4 spot.

You've described a good scenario. But so much of this will depend upon Jamel's ability to play the three where he was not good at all last year.

 

[thebadby2]

You've described a good scenario. But so much of this will depend upon Jamel's ability to play the three where he was not good at all last year.

Assuming these grad transfer bigs can play a little bit, and aren't just another pair of Randalls (and based on their college accomplishments I think their ability to play effective minutes in the ACC is an unknown) , there will be a lot of possible combinations to put on the floor. It will be nice to be able to go big at times, where we didn't have that ability at all last year-or even the year before. Last year we just didn't have enough big bodies in the front court to survive to the end of the average ACC game.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Especially if by "right" you mean "100% wrong, as usual".

No one, and I mean literally no one, has said that Young was an "excellent" center. However what lots of people that know a hell of a lot more about basketball than you do did say was that Young played better last season as a five than he did as a four. And really, the only people that dispute that are the ones who have no idea what they are talking about (you, for instance).

If Young is going to play significantly more at the four this season, and it sure looks like that will be the plan right now, we had better hope that he takes a page from the Sam Young playbook and shoots about 500 jump shots every day between now and the start of fall practice.

Maybe I exaggerated with the use of the word "excellent" but the usual 10 posters continuously maintained that Mike Young was not a problem at Center and that had littke to nothing to do with our struggles last season. But they were wrong. Jamie went so far as bringing in 2 semi-questionable grad transfera just to move Mike where everyone but the usual 10 thinks his best position is.

Offensively, Young is fine at the 5. However, he's a below average offensive rebounder out of the 5 and just an average defensive rebounder. I can say the same about Artis at the 4. People talk about our defense but it was also the worst rebounding team Dixon ever had. Playing Maia, the Richmond kid, and maybe Nix as a 5 by committee and allowing Young and Artis to slide down a position is upgrading the rebounding literally at 3 positions.

You lost. Maybe next time.

 

[DT_PITT]

Maybe I exaggerated with the use of the word "excellent" but the usual 10 posters continuously maintained that Mike Young was not a problem at Center and that had littke to nothing to do with our struggles last season. But they were wrong. Jamie went so far as bringing in 2 semi-questionable grad transfera just to move Mike where everyone but the usual 10 thinks his best position is.

Offensively, Young is fine at the 5. However, he's a below average offensive rebounder out of the 5 and just an average defensive rebounder. I can say the same about Artis at the 4. People talk about our defense but it was also the worst rebounding team Dixon ever had. Playing Maia, the Richmond kid, and maybe Nix as a 5 by committee and allowing Young and Artis to slide down a position is upgrading the rebounding literally at 3 positions.

You lost. Maybe next time.

It's yet to be seen if Artis sliding down upgrades that position. Jamel played very poorly as the three last year. He struggled there offensively, and even worse defensively.

Mike's problems however had little to do with being out of position. Or I suppose it should be better stated that the team's problem weren't that Mike was out of position. The team's problems were the entire team's problems.

And Mike won't suddenly become a better offensive rebounder playing the four than he was playing the five.

But yes, adding size should help this team, especially with rebounding where the staff did not think we were nearly as good as well needed to be.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

You lost. Maybe next time.

Coming from the guy who declared that he "won" his prediction that the ACC basketball tournament would be played at Madison Square Garden no later than 2016, I'll take your thoughts on who "won" for what they are worth. Which is to say, nothing.

I wouldn't have thought that even you would have trouble figuring out why Jamie Dixon was trying to bring in another big guy or two this spring. Besides Mike Young we had one guy who could play in the post, and that is a juco transfer that no one knows what we are going to get. It was obvious to everyone except you I guess that Pitt was going to have to try to bring in at least one or two guys who could play the four or the five. If we didn't, just what do you suppose the plan would have been had something happened to Young?

We took two guys who could play the five because we needed either one five and one four or two fives and that was who we could get. If you want to pretend that that means Mike Young was a better four last season than he was a five, by all means, pretend away. But that won't make you any more right than you were when you declared that you got your prediction that the ACC would be playing in MSG no later than 2016 right.

 

[Zaratoughda]

The idea of Mike Young starting at PF DOES NOT MAKE IT if for no other reason is it means Jamel Artis starts at SF and Jamel was INVISIBLE starting at SF. Playing Jamel at SF totally takes him out of his game. Back in the days had the same situation with Keith Van Horne when he was playing with the 76ers. Simply does not work.

Also, Mike Young had some PT last year at PF and... didn't do much with it.

Mike Young is best at C.... particularly against Cs that have been worn down a bit. He has a quickness advantage over most Cs but does not have any particular advantage against PFs.

The problem is... MY gets worn down himself from playing C... to the point where his game, particularly his D, goes down hill.

DIXON'S strategy (from watching the rotations he was using last year)... is to play MY at PF the time when Artis is not in there... in the hope this would significantly lighten the load on MY's shoulders.

I would guess this would help BUT... the strategy that worked the best for Dixon on this last year was when he put Uchebo in on defensive possessions and played him for a few possessions.. and MY went off for 22 points in three straight games. A matter of wearing opposing Cs down a bit but it is also a matter of having to deal with MY and then with Uchebo and then with MY again. Difficult for opposing Cs. So, what Dixon should do, is use Nix along the same lines. Yeah, would be difficult for opposing Cs having to deal with MY and then having to deal with this MONSTER and then having to deal with MY again. Just might be a step slow when covering MY and that means 2 points. If Nix can't hold his own on defensive possessions... then Dixon should use Maia or ANO along the same lines, though it would mean less of a physical impact.

As far as Artis and his D... was a hole on D his freshman year but was improved last year... except at PF he sometimes gets posted up and scored over. Meanwhile, Jeter's perimeter defense is questionable to say the least. So, what Dixon should do, on D play Artis at SF and Jeter at PF. Should be better for both of them.

As far as our overall D is concerned... IMO Jeter's perimeter D is a big hole that needs to be corrected one way or another. I still believe Sheldon is the best choice to start at SF but this is something that needs to be corrected in no uncertain terms.

Oh... remember that Maia and ANO are both not true Cs. Listed as Fs on their former team web sites but in fact they are both C/Fs. What this means is they can play PF as well as C, and playing either of them, particularly ANO, at PF is a real possibility. Nix is the only true C on the roster.

 

[Zaratoughda]

Yeah, if it was me, I wouldn't play MY at PF at all.

Instead, I would do the 'Uchebo thing' with Nix or Maia, and play MY at C all the time.... and I would use ANO to spell Artis.

Yeah, it is always nice to spell a player with another player that is completely different... and spelling Artis with the defensive minded, shot blocking, ANO, would have an impact.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Coming from the guy who declared that he "won" his prediction that the ACC basketball tournament would be played at Madison Square Garden no later than 2016, I'll take your thoughts on who "won" for what they are worth. Which is to say, nothing.

I wouldn't have thought that even you would have trouble figuring out why Jamie Dixon was trying to bring in another big guy or two this spring. Besides Mike Young we had one guy who could play in the post, and that is a juco transfer that no one knows what we are going to get. It was obvious to everyone except you I guess that Pitt was going to have to try to bring in at least one or two guys who could play the four or the five. If we didn't, just what do you suppose the plan would have been had something happened to Young?

We took two guys who could play the five because we needed either one five and one four or two fives and that was who we could get. If you want to pretend that that means Mike Young was a better four last season than he was a five, by all means, pretend away. But that won't make you any more right than you were when you declared that you got your prediction that the ACC would be playing in MSG no later than 2016 right.

MSG by 2016, Barclays in 2017 and 2018, what's the diff? Point is, I correctly predicted that both the ACC and Big Ten would be playing conference tournament games in NYC. Many, many posters thought that idea was preposterous. But, I was right.

As for Young, I take it that your believe is that he is still THE man at Center right? Maia and Nelson-Odoa were just brought in to split 8-10 minutes a game, being just an upgraded version of Randall/Uchebo?

FWIW, here's Pitt's lineup:
PG - Robinson (30) Newkirk (10)
SG - Jones, Smith, Johnson, and/or Wilson
SF - Artis (20) Jeter (20)
PF - Young (30) Artis (10)
C - Maia, Nelson-Odoa, Nix

I'd imagine the majority of the SG minutes will go to the best defender. If nobody can defend, we probably have to play the best scoring options. I can see the 2 being a "by committee" setup. I think Artis will slide down to the 3. He wasn't good there last season but he has a long time to improve. If Jeter struggles, I think Jones or Johnson can win some minutes at the 3.

I'm excited about the Center position. I think Jamie has created a fierce 3-way battle for the 40 minutes at the 5. We have a shot-blocking specialist who, you'd hope could deter drives to the baket and a rebounding specialist in Maia. Nix is an unknown but if he's not ready, it wont hurt to redshirt him. I think Luther will redshirt.

 

[Pghfan]

I have to agree with SNF here. These additions are pretty evident that this staff wants to move young to the 4. Not really sure how you could argue that.

 

[JS School]

Just a question. If a team plays with a PG, 2 wings and 2 forwards, do you still number the positions 1 through 5?

I think Young may start at one F and either Maia or Nelson-Ododa the other, with any combination of guys at the wings.

 

[Zaratoughda]

OK, all you guys that think Dixon is gonna start Artis at SF come November... we will see if you all have egg on your faces when that roles along.

 

[DT_PITT]

OK, all you guys that think Dixon is gonna start Artis at SF come November... we will see if you all have egg on your faces when that roles along.

I think the thought/hope here is that Artis can make some improvements to his game so that he can perform better at the three than he did last year. I don't think it's an unlikely hope, and he did start the season playing most of his time at the three, so the staff at least believes to some extent that he can do the job there. However, I would indeed agree that he had struggles there early in the year. And Jamel really found his legs once he got comfortable playing the four. The difference between a 3 and 4 can often be significant as the three is much more of a perimeter player.

 

[JS School]

OK, all you guys that think Dixon is gonna start Artis at SF come November... we will see if you all have egg on your faces when that roles along.

Personally, I don't make definitive predictions, I just suggest possibilities for discussion. And I couldn't care less whose predictions turn out to be correct or incorrect.

Having said that, I don't think Dixon brought in three big men intending them to be the 2nd, 3rd and 4th string Cs. My guess would be that if Artis is not starting at SF, he is not starting at all.

Also, if you are going to say someone has egg on their face I would wait until January instead of doing it in November. I think there is going to be a lot of experimentation with different lineups in November and December.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

MSG by 2016, Barclays in 2017 and 2018, what's the diff? Point is, I correctly predicted that both the ACC and Big Ten would be playing conference tournament games in NYC. Many, many posters thought that idea was preposterous. But, I was right.

As for Young, I take it that your believe is that he is still THE man at Center right? Maia and Nelson-Odoa were just brought in to split 8-10 minutes a game, being just an upgraded version of Randall/Uchebo?

FWIW, here's Pitt's lineup:
PG - Robinson (30) Newkirk (10)
SG - Jones, Smith, Johnson, and/or Wilson
SF - Artis (20) Jeter (20)
PF - Young (30) Artis (10)
C - Maia, Nelson-Odoa, Nix

I'd imagine the majority of the SG minutes will go to the best defender. If nobody can defend, we probably have to play the best scoring options. I can see the 2 being a "by committee" setup. I think Artis will slide down to the 3. He wasn't good there last season but he has a long time to improve. If Jeter struggles, I think Jones or Johnson can win some minutes at the 3.

I'm excited about the Center position. I think Jamie has created a fierce 3-way battle for the 40 minutes at the 5. We have a shot-blocking specialist who, you'd hope could deter drives to the baket and a rebounding specialist in Maia. Nix is an unknown but if he's not ready, it wont hurt to redshirt him. I think Luther will redshirt.

My WAG on PT distribution (in minutes) -- Feel free to divvy up time spent at 4 vs 5 anyway that floats your boat. IMHO, Young may see offensive end of floor at the 5 and defensive end at the 4 depending on which other big is on the floor when he is in the game (e.g., probably 5 on offense when paired with Artis and 4 if with Ododa).

4/5 -- Young (30), Ododa (23), Artis (15), Maia (12)
3 -- Jeter (15), Artis (15), Jones (10)
2 -- Smith (20), Jones (10), Newkirk (5), Johnson (5)
1 -- Robinson (32), Newkirk (8)

NIx, Luther, Wilson all redshirt unless one or more of them turn out significantly better than anticipated or other players go down with season ending injuries.

These predictions are for fan entertainment and discussion only. I don't profess to know whether i am guessing well or am totally off-base.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

OK, all you guys that think Dixon is gonna start Artis at SF come November... we will see if you all have egg on your faces when that roles along.

Sam Young couldn't play the 3 early in his career. He just didn't have the perimeter skills. His senior season, he played primarily the 3 and was an AA. Not saying Artis will have the same success, but its not unreasonable to think that Artis can improve his perimeter game to become a very good small forward. Players evolve. And while I agree Artis looked better and more comfortable at the 3, lets not discount the possibility that he gained confidence and experience as the season went on regardless of the position and his improvement in play was at least partly a result of that and not just the switch to the 4.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Sam Young couldn't play the 3 early in his career. He just didn't have the perimeter skills. His senior season, he played primarily the 3 and was an AA. Not saying Artis will have the same success, but its not unreasonable to think that Artis can improve his perimeter game to become a very good small forward. Players evolve. And while I agree Artis looked better and more comfortable at the 3, lets not discount the possibility that he gained confidence and experience as the season went on regardless of the position and his improvement in play was at least partly a result of that and not just the switch to the 4.

Artis has PLENTY of perimeter skills offensively. In fact- he IS a perimeter player on offense.

He has zero defensive skills on the perimeter, and not many in the post either.

Frankly, not sure if Young can defend away from the basket, either.

 

[DT_PITT]

My WAG on PT distribution (in minutes) -- Feel free to divvy up time spent at 4 vs 5 anyway that floats your boat. IMHO, Young may see offensive end of floor at the 5 and defensive end at the 4 depending on which other big is on the floor when he is in the game (e.g., probably 5 on offense when paired with Artis and 4 if with Ododa).

4/5 -- Young (30), Ododa (23), Artis (15), Maia (12)
3 -- Jeter (15), Artis (15), Jones (10)
2 -- Smith (20), Jones (10), Newkirk (5), Johnson (5)
1 -- Robinson (32), Newkirk (8)

NIx, Luther, Wilson all redshirt unless one or more of them turn out significantly better than anticipated or other players go down with season ending injuries.

These predictions are for fan entertainment and discussion only. I don't profess to know whether i am guessing well or am totally off-base.

Truthfully, this seems to make about as much sense as anything right now.

 

[phijo]

My WAG on PT distribution (in minutes) -- Feel free to divvy up time spent at 4 vs 5 anyway that floats your boat. IMHO, Young may see offensive end of floor at the 5 and defensive end at the 4 depending on which other big is on the floor when he is in the game (e.g., probably 5 on offense when paired with Artis and 4 if with Ododa).

4/5 -- Young (30), Ododa (23), Artis (15), Maia (12)
3 -- Jeter (15), Artis (15), Jones (10)
2 -- Smith (20), Jones (10), Newkirk (5), Johnson (5)
1 -- Robinson (32), Newkirk (8)

NIx, Luther, Wilson all redshirt unless one or more of them turn out significantly better than anticipated or other players go down with season ending injuries.

These predictions are for fan entertainment and discussion only. I don't profess to know whether i am guessing well or am totally off-base.

Hopefully, how each individual plays defense will dictate what the minutes split will be. It always seems that it is more difficult for new guys to play Dixon's particular form of D. Ask Jeter last year. I do thing rebounding will also affect this. Those have always been Dixon priorities, defense and rebounding, and I don't ever see that changing with him.

 

[DT_PITT]

Artis has PLENTY of perimeter skills offensively. In fact- he IS a perimeter player on offense.

He has zero defensive skills on the perimeter, and not many in the post either.

Frankly, not sure if Young can defend away from the basket, either.

Not really sure I'd completely agree that Jamel is a perimeter player on offense. He's most effective working popping up to the perimeter from downscreens. He can pass well from the perimeter, but he gets his shots more from the movements in our motion from the four spot. Sometimes, this can be splitting hairs, because the difference in the movements are subtle. But think of it this way -- Jamel was more effective getting shots off the double big ball screen (where the 4 then 5 run out to the wing then slip) than he was getting shots as the three looking to attack off the screens like Lamar did last year.

Having said this, I don't mean to disagree with your point that he does have plenty of offensive perimeter skills, but he defensive perimeter skills need significant improvement.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Not really sure I'd completely agree that Jamel is a perimeter player on offense. He's most effective working popping up to the perimeter from downscreens. He can pass well from the perimeter, but he gets his shots more from the movements in our motion from the four spot. Sometimes, this can be splitting hairs, because the difference in the movements are subtle. But think of it this way -- Jamel was more effective getting shots off the double big ball screen (where the 4 then 5 run out to the wing then slip) than he was getting shots as the three looking to attack off the screens like Lamar did last year.

Having said this, I don't mean to disagree with your point that he does have plenty of offensive perimeter skills, but he defensive perimeter skills need significant improvement.

I guess I was speaking more in relation to the comparison to Sam Young- who was a post player who added perimeter skills and a reliable shot to his skill set. Artis has those in spades.

 

[Zaratoughda]

Sam Young couldn't play the 3 early in his career. He just didn't have the perimeter skills. His senior season, he played primarily the 3 and was an AA. Not saying Artis will have the same success, but its not unreasonable to think that Artis can improve his perimeter game to become a very good small forward. Players evolve. And while I agree Artis looked better and more comfortable at the 3, lets not discount the possibility that he gained confidence and experience as the season went on regardless of the position and his improvement in play was at least partly a result of that and not just the switch to the 4.

You are wrong on this one as well, SMF.

In his senior year, Sam Young started at SF with Blair at C and Biggs at PF. But, when it came time to spell Blair, Biggs moved over to C. So, that left starter minutes at PF and when Biggs was not playing PF, it was Sam Young that played there. Gil Brown (and Brad Wanamaker also later in the season) came off the bench at SF and it was these two that played most of the minutes there. So, saying that Sam Young 'played primarily the 3'... is quite incorrect.

Also, as I recall Sam seemed to be a much better player when playing PF then when playing SF.

(LOL... when the NBA draft came along he was drafted as a GUARD. Not sure if that is where he played when he played in the NBA).

If you look at Artis' game... getting open for the 10-15 footers and the like... hitting 3balls when open.. making plays under the basket.... it is a PF game. SFs, need to be better outside shooters (I am talking maybe 50% more outside shots) and also able to take it to the hoop and... that is not really Jamel.

Yeah, the idea that Dixon might move MY to PF full time is for real... as an idea.... but when you realize that Artis is a PF (and not going to SF re last year) that idea falls apart... and if you think about it some more then you realize that MY is better at C. So, finally I came to the perception that Maia replaces Randall, Nix replaces Uchebo, and ANO replaces Luther (who is looking at a likely RS), and otherwise the rotation is the same, albeit if any of the three new guys start performing at a high level, their minutes are gonna go up for sure.

I respect the comment that Dixon has probably not etched in stone whatever plans he might have and.... will probably try different schemes early on to see how things go... and may not come to a solid rotation until the ACC season.

But, playing Artis at SF... is NOT GOOD! He is our best offensive player and you don't screw around with something like that.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

MSG by 2016, Barclays in 2017 and 2018, what's the diff? Point is, I correctly predicted that both the ACC and Big Ten would be playing conference tournament games in NYC. Many, many posters thought that idea was preposterous. But, I was right.

Yeah, sure. Similarly, I bought a ticket for the PA lottery yesterday. My number was 361. Today I took my ticket in to claim my winnings. The guy behind the counter told me the ticket wasn't a winner, that the winning number was 250. I said 2, 3 what's the difference? 5, 6 what's the difference? 0, 1, what's the difference? Clearly I correctly predicted, well, nothing at all, but I was sorta kinda but not really close. For some reason the guy behind the counter didn't buy my "logic". I just can't understand it. Obviously I was right.

Like I said, you are the only person who can get a prediction completely wrong and then come on here and pretend like you were right. It's actually kind of funny. But at the same time it's also a lot more than kind of pathetic.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Yeah, sure. Similarly, I bought a ticket for the PA lottery yesterday. My number was 361. Today I took my ticket in to claim my winnings. The guy behind the counter told me the ticket wasn't a winner, that the winning number was 250. I said 2, 3 what's the difference? 5, 6 what's the difference? 0, 1, what's the difference? Clearly I correctly predicted, well, nothing at all, but I was sorta kinda but not really close. For some reason the guy behind the counter didn't buy my "logic". I just can't understand it. Obviously I was right.

Like I said, you are the only person who can get a prediction completely wrong and then come on here and pretend like you were right. It's actually kind of funny. But at the same time it's also a lot more than kind of pathetic.

Well, in 2017 and 2018, I will be in NYC watching the ACC Tournament. Since you were so sure it would never move there, I'll assume you'll be traveling to Greensboro to watch it. Because, you know, the ACC would never do anything that makes business sense, right?

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

You are wrong on this one as well, SMF.

In his senior year, Sam Young started at SF with Blair at C and Biggs at PF. But, when it came time to spell Blair, Biggs moved over to C. So, that left starter minutes at PF and when Biggs was not playing PF, it was Sam Young that played there. Gil Brown (and Brad Wanamaker also later in the season) came off the bench at SF and it was these two that played most of the minutes there. So, saying that Sam Young 'played primarily the 3'... is quite incorrect.

Also, as I recall Sam seemed to be a much better player when playing PF then when playing SF.

(LOL... when the NBA draft came along he was drafted as a GUARD. Not sure if that is where he played when he played in the NBA).

If you look at Artis' game... getting open for the 10-15 footers and the like... hitting 3balls when open.. making plays under the basket.... it is a PF game. SFs, need to be better outside shooters (I am talking maybe 50% more outside shots) and also able to take it to the hoop and... that is not really Jamel.

Yeah, the idea that Dixon might move MY to PF full time is for real... as an idea.... but when you realize that Artis is a PF (and not going to SF re last year) that idea falls apart... and if you think about it some more then you realize that MY is better at C. So, finally I came to the perception that Maia replaces Randall, Nix replaces Uchebo, and ANO replaces Luther (who is looking at a likely RS), and otherwise the rotation is the same, albeit if any of the three new guys start performing at a high level, their minutes are gonna go up for sure.

I respect the comment that Dixon has probably not etched in stone whatever plans he might have and.... will probably try different schemes early on to see how things go... and may not come to a solid rotation until the ACC season.

But, playing Artis at SF... is NOT GOOD! He is our best offensive player and you don't screw around with something like that.

I was aware that Young was our backup PF as well as our starting SF his senior year, not sure what your point is? In fact, I expect Artis to do EXACTLY that. 20 minutes starting at the 3, 10 minutes subbing for Young at the 4 as our primary backup there. Artis is a talented basketball player and while I agree he wasnt a good SF, please dont forget that players can improve in a year. As for his defense, yes, it will be bad at the 3. It was bad at the 4. But its not like Jeter or Jones are much better defensive options at the 3.

 

[oldpantherfan]

really does he belong anywhere else ? Youg at teh 5 was a failed experiment. Wheather it's one center steppig up or all three as long as we keep youg at the four at Artis at the thre we can't go wrong.

 

[Zaratoughda]

I was aware that Young was our backup PF as well as our starting SF his senior year, not sure what your point is? In fact, I expect Artis to do EXACTLY that. 20 minutes starting at the 3, 10 minutes subbing for Young at the 4 as our primary backup there. Artis is a talented basketball player and while I agree he wasnt a good SF, please dont forget that players can improve in a year. As for his defense, yes, it will be bad at the 3. It was bad at the 4. But its not like Jeter or Jones are much better defensive options at the 3.

Yeah, Dixon may in fact do that but.... there are a number of reasons against that.

First, back then it was a matter of Biggs starting or the inconsistent Gil Brown starting, or the 'just coming on' Brad Wanamaker starting and, Biggs was the best option. Now, it is a matter of Jeter, Jones, Nix, Maia or ANO... and Jeter has a problem with suspect D that he has to correct but.... he is a player that comes on late so good to start him even if he doesn't do much until the second half or down the stretch.

Also, Artis is mainly catch and shoot... while Sam Young (as I recall) was better at putting the ball on the floor (and had that famous shot fake). Artis can put the ball on the floor inside but not so much in the perimeter.

The thing is... as I see it Dixon has been leaning in the direction of 'going small' inside with smaller but more athletic players inside.... for some time and I don't see him backing down now... and I thus don't see him starting Maia.

As I see it, what Dixon IS trying to do, is find a way to use MY at C without getting him worn down, and that IMO is the only reason he has been leaning in the direction of playing him at PF when Artis is not in there, spelling him for a few plays with Uchebo like he did in the Cuse dome game, etc. My expectation is we will continue to see Dixon trying things along these lines this coming year.

IMO it is a MYTH that Artis has more problems with his D at SF than at PF.... I feel he is in fact better defensively at SF. But, it is his OFFENSE that suffers when he is at SF. Kinda like a fish out of water.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Well, in 2017 and 2018, I will be in NYC watching the ACC Tournament. Since you were so sure it would never move there, I'll assume you'll be traveling to Greensboro to watch it. Because, you know, the ACC would never do anything that makes business sense, right?

Actually, I said no such thing. But it isn't surprising that the guy who can't even tell the truth about what he said also doesn't tell the truth about what someone else said.

Unlike you apparently, I know that the ACC plays their tournament outside of Greensboro on a regular basis. What I did say, which so far has born out, is that MSG was not going to push aside the Big East, who plays there every year, for the chance to get the ACC once or twice. You, on the other hand, insisted that of course MSG would push aside the Big East, because the ACC is the much better league. So, you know, another thing that you got absolutely wrong.

As to who is going to be where watching what, based on what you actually predicted as opposed to what you try to pretend you predicted, you will be spending next March and several Marches to come sitting in MSG watching the Big East and wondering where Pitt and Duke and North Carolina and the like are.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

You, on the other hand, insisted that of course MSG would push aside the Big East, because the ACC is the much better league.

The only thing I was wrong on was the date. The ACC didn't feel like going to court to get MSG but MSG isn't stupid. They like to make money and aren't some non-profit goodwill entity. When the Big East's contract runs out, they'll go to the highest bidder between the Big East, Big Ten, and ACC. If the ACC or Big Ten won't agree to play there every year, I'd expect a rotation between the 3 leagues.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

The only thing I was wrong on was the date. The ACC didn't feel like going to court to get MSG but MSG isn't stupid. They like to make money and aren't some non-profit goodwill entity. When the Big East's contract runs out, they'll go to the highest bidder between the Big East, Big Ten, and ACC. If the ACC or Big Ten won't agree to play there every year, I'd expect a rotation between the 3 leagues.

The date and venue.
You know...the very basis of your conjecture.

Other than those two things..you nailed it.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Not just the date and the venue. Let's not forget that he also said that the reason he predicted the ACC would be at MSG by 2016 even though MSG had a contract already in place with the Big East was because like any business entity, when confronted with a chance to make a slightly higher short term profit it was obvious that MSG was going to break their long term contract with the Big East so they could sign a short term one with the ACC.

So not only was he wrong about what was actually going to happen, but his "logic" on the subject was so completely and utterly ridiculous that you would think he'd want everyone to forget the subject entirely. Instead, for some reason he keeps bringing it up as if it were some sort of great success on his part, rather than further proof that he has a lot of goofy ideas about all sorts of topics that come true about as often as Pitt wins a national championship.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Let's not forget that he also said that the reason he predicted the ACC would be at MSG by 2016 even though MSG had a contract already in place with the Big East was because like any business entity, when confronted with a chance to make a slightly higher short term profit it was obvious that MSG was going to break their long term contract with the Big East so they could sign a short term one with the ACC.
.

Slight correction, I didn't say that MSG would break their contract to host the ACC every once in awhile. I said they'd break their BE contract for the oppportunity to sign a long-term deal with the ACC.........which they still would. The problem is that the ACC won't commit to MSG on an annual basis. They want to move around. So, my "logic" is still true, all else equal, MSG prefers the ACC because more money is better than less money but the ACC couldn't commit.

Stay tuned though, because as I said, the Big East, Big Ten and ACC will be sharing MSG when that contract runs out.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Slight correction, I didn't say that MSG would break their contract to host the ACC every once in awhile. I said they'd break their BE contract for the oppportunity to sign a long-term deal with the ACC.........which they still would.

Actually, yes, you absolutely did say that MSG would break their contract with the Big East to sign a short term deal with the ACC. Because that was your response when people pointed out to you that MSG already had a contract with the Big East in 2016. That contract didn't matter, because MSG would obviously drop the Big East and break their contract in a second for the chance to get one or two ACC tournaments.

People told you at the time that your idea was ridiculous, and it turned out to be so. And now here you are, again, pretending that you said something other than what you actually said. I guess when someone is wrong as often as you are that's one way to try to save face.

 

[Zaratoughda]

This whole thing is STUPID (lol),

There should be a BIG NORTHEAST conference that would include BC, UConn, Cuse, Rutgers, Temple, Maryland, PSU, Pitt, WVU, Cincy, Louisville and... ND or Miami. All football playing schools.

The US Congress should step in and apply anti-trust and make the max number of teams in a conference to be 12... and then assign someone to make that happen with those already over this limit.

Of course, given the US Congress is totally incompetent... ain't gonna happen.

 

[Harve74]

This whole thing is STUPID (lol),

There should be a BIG NORTHEAST conference that would include BC, UConn, Cuse, Rutgers, Temple, Maryland, PSU, Pitt, WVU, Cincy, Louisville and... ND or Miami. All football playing schools.

The US Congress should step in and apply anti-trust and make the max number of teams in a conference to be 12... and then assign someone to make that happen with those already over this limit.

Of course, given the US Congress is totally incompetent... ain't gonna happen.

I think Congress has a lot more important things to do than worry about supposedly amatuer sports conferences LOL.