So what *is* the problem?

[NC Panther]

How can Pitt come out that flat - how?

- Can we just chalk it up to..."just a bad game" - how does a "bad game" just happen - see below maybe?

Where's the competitive fire? Because they're no leaders on this team. We need a Krauser or Fields like player...like *now*!

- Jeter is the only one that seems to get pissed off now and then and it's usually only because of lack of playing time or from a perceived mistake from another player.

Is it that we can't or won't play defense?

- are the players just tuning Dixon out regarding the "D" - thinking...my only hope (read prayer) to get to the NBA is to score and not play "D"?

Every year it seems the same damn thing - omg, we start the season so good (tomato cans) - omg, we're so great and then reality sets in - another mediocre season with either a one and done in the NCAA or like last year, the NIT.

I'll ask again...So what *is* the problem?

My take?

The players tune Dixon out regarding playing defense - you can only scream about "D" so much and then it's like what Jerome Lane said about Paul Evans..."There's only so many times that you're called a Mother f$%#^& until you just tune it out."

There *is* no leader on this team.

When you get down early like we did a player - *the leader maybe*? takes over a huddle and looks every player in the eye and say..."Get your sh!t together like effen pronto"

If I were Dixon last night, I would have pulled every single starter for about 10 minutes - sit their slack asses down - put in the subs - conceded the game and tell them if they don't show up like they didn't last night that you *will* sit.

They can't tune that out.

Zero excuse for coming out like that - be accountable for God's sake.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Well, the team is bad defensively and that's not going to get better. But the thought was that we will just outscore people. The thing is, your shot takes the night off sometimes. Good offense isnt as reliable as good defense. We could have won 82-78 last night but our offense stunk.

As simple as this sounds, Pitt needs to make a lot of their shots to win. They cant win games on defense and rebounding.

 

[dr2011]

NC. is right, this has gone on too long. The lack of recruiting and the unexplainable flat games. This was a home game with Rowan coming in, come on. Got to win this type of game.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

A simple explanation for last nights performance.
The team got "beat up" physically early, rough fouls, tough NCState D some pushing by NCState and PITT went away/folded like a fat man sitting on a cheap beach chair Somehow the Rowan thing was might have been in their head because he was playing hard basketball.
Its the same team that beat ND and others so the good news is this can be fixed.

 

[oldpantherfan]

HER WE GO.Lose aganme and the band wagon starts getting empty. We can't play d. no leaders, etc. Stop the BS. Do you think Duke and Kentucky fans are acting this way ?

 

[oldpantherfan]

meant lose a game. sorry for typo.

 

[KennyTheKangaroo]

this team took a lot of bad shots last night. the first half's offensive philosophy involved a.) poorly selected jump shots and b.) ill timed drives to the hoop against a very large front court.

Also, way too many jump shots from guys coming off the bench

at least the offense looked better in the second half?

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

A simple explanation for last nights performance.
The team got "beat up" physically early, rough fouls, tough NCState D some pushing by NCState and they went away. Somehow the Rowan thing was might have been in their head because he was playing hard basketball.
Its the same team that beat ND and others so the good news is this can be fixed.

Well the we don't play defense is true while winning.

 

[UPitt129]

They didn't take bad shots in the first half..they just missed them. When you have a jump shooting team that can happen.

BTW, this is the type of team many asked for. "We need more skilled offensive players!" Was the common refrain. People were willing to sacrifice that defensive identity we alway had for improved shooters.

Well, we have that now, and this can happen. People got what they wanted.

 

[JD1976]

Like it or not, this is the type of team that can overachieve in the NCAA Tourney unlike 30 years worth of Pitt teams. WHy? They live and die by the jump shot. And every once in a while a team gets hot and goes on a 3-4 round run. This team could do that. Of course, they could also go ice cold, score 50 and get knocked out in the first round.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Like it or not, this is the type of team that can overachieve in the NCAA Tourney unlike 30 years worth of Pitt teams. WHy? They live and die by the jump shot. And every once in a while a team gets hot and goes on a 3-4 round run. This team could do that. Of course, they could also go ice cold, score 50 and get knocked out in the first round.

Or they can not make the Dance, like last year.

Respectfully, this forum really under-values the importance of defense to winning basketball games.
Defense has knocked us out more frequently than offense lately.

 

[ClarkLotTgate]

this probably fits in a number of threads today, but this is as good a place as any.

1) i really don't know what to say about the way the team got punched in the mouth, and didn't respond until the 2nd half, when Dixon clearly fired them up. (if the effort/pride/whatever of the 2nd half, was there in the 1st, we win that game in a gross looking game)

2) We still do not have a 100% "ACC Style" roster. This is evident mainly in JRob. He isn't built physically to play against these types of guards. He's better in a more physical style of defense, which makes up for a lack of quickness. In the ACC most PG's are extremely quickl, so he has to give them more space, which leads to jumpers in his face.
-this problem was attempted to be fixed before the season started with Milligan (and will be further fixed with Kithcart)

3) The "bruiser" type big men on SOME ACC teams is also a problem, because we don't really have an ACC caliber center. Nelson-O and Maia aren't built to match-up with true ACC talent level big men. They will give a lot of effort and try to be in the right places, but we really just need to hope for them to minimize the damage down low.

None of these issues are going to be fixed during the season, other than the "effort, coming ready to play" type of thing. The team physically is...what it is.

IMO:
If the turnovers are going to continue, then lineup changes for defensive purposes becomes a realistic option. I wouldnt be against having Smith guard the point, Artis go to the 2, Sheldon at 3, Young 4, and then the most logical matchup at C based upon who the other team has on the court. It'll mess with the offense somewhat, but u can't allow a team to just rip apart your PG one on one.

 

[Harve74]

How can Pitt come out that flat - how?

- Can we just chalk it up to..."just a bad game" - how does a "bad game" just happen - see below maybe?

Where's the competitive fire? Because they're no leaders on this team. We need a Krauser or Fields like player...like *now*!

- Jeter is the only one that seems to get pissed off now and then and it's usually only because of lack of playing time or from a perceived mistake from another player.

Is it that we can't or won't play defense?

- are the players just tuning Dixon out regarding the "D" - thinking...my only hope (read prayer) to get to the NBA is to score and not play "D"?

Every year it seems the same damn thing - omg, we start the season so good (tomato cans) - omg, we're so great and then reality sets in - another mediocre season with either a one and done in the NCAA or like last year, the NIT.

I'll ask again...So what *is* the problem?

My take?

The players tune Dixon out regarding playing defense - you can only scream about "D" so much and then it's like what Jerome Lane said about Paul Evans..."There's only so many times that you're called a Mother f$%#^& until you just tune it out."

There *is* no leader on this team.

When you get down early like we did a player - *the leader maybe*? takes over a huddle and looks every player in the eye and say..."Get your sh!t together like effen pronto"

If I were Dixon last night, I would have pulled every single starter for about 10 minutes - sit their slack asses down - put in the subs - conceded the game and tell them if they don't show up like they didn't last night that you *will* sit.

They can't tune that out.

Zero excuse for coming out like that - be accountable for God's sake.

Pretty simple really.

We did NONE of the Dixon mantra.

We played poor defense.

We rebounded horribly.

We took bad shots, (and missed them, anyway).

Recipe for a bad loss.

The problem is we've now done that 2 out of 3 games.

 

[passedout]

Problems im not concerned about = jumps shots will fall again, it was an off night shooting. Defense and rebounding can be fixed, those things are all about throwing on your hard hat and getting to work. What concerns me = that lack of strength on this team. Who runs the strength program for the team? Name? Were missing alot of buckets around the hoop and in traffic. Thats where strength comes into play.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Well, we have that now, and this can happen. People got what they wanted.

Noy exactly. We went from an average offense/good defense/great rebounding program to a good offense/bad defense/so so rebounding program. We sacrificed way too much defense and rebounding for just "good," not great offense. That said, offense wins games in March so if we make it, I can easily see us as an 11 seed beating the 6 and 3 to make the Sweet 16 because Young and Artis are going off. But you have to make it first.

 

[MoTownPanther]

whatever the problem is, I sure hope it gets corrected ASAP. It has been a rough 6 days and the 2 two losses have been extremely embarrassing! I'm hoping this team is somewhere closer to the Notre Dame performance than they have been lately. Can they win more than they lose the rest of the way? That's the question that I didn't think I'd be asking myself this early into conference play.

H2P

 

[Delpanther]

THE problem is easy to identify: the roster is a mishmash with gaping holes: a PG who can't penetrate or make plays consistently; no ACC caliber played at SG ; no forward who is a tough rebounder and can consistently score inside when the team's outside shooting goes south; and no center that can give you reasonable scoring and rebounding production.

 

[Jeffburgh]

I have softly challenged the perception or belief some have of this team's offense.

It is a better offense than most of JD's teams, but it is just a better version of last years offense, very perimeter shot based. Just more guys who can hit shots and some guys who have matured into stronger shooters.

But, it can be derailed by teams that play tough defense because there are not a lot of guys who can CREATE offense AND there is limited post offense.

SO, if they are playing a team that gives them a little space and they are on, they will score a lot. But, if a team is able and willing to play hard defense, this team can fold up.

And, yes, this discussion comes in the context that group just does not play defense, and as noted, is a poor rebounding team for a JD team.

I so desperately want this to be a team that makes an NCAA run, but it in fact is team that is NOT suited for a NCAA run because it does not play defense and offensively will likely suffer as teams play do or die tournament defense. I mean, they are going to need absolutely the right draws to do any damage in March.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

We ( PITT) got pushed around and folded like a fat man sitting on a cheap beach chair!