Sophomore Slump

[NGPittCali]

It's only been 2 games so I won't go off a ledge, but none of our 3 vaunted freshmen from last year look at all better so far. In fact, you could argue they look worse than they did at the end of the year.

X needs to get the new supporting cast involved early and run offense. This will make everyone better. Trey, this guy is a 3 pt shot jacker and turnover machine this year. And Toney can't score a kick even if he does hustle on all the plays.

I hope the coaching staff can help get these guys on the right track because as we sit right now it's the new players are carrying the load and the team needs these 3 to step up if Pitt is to progress this season. Lots of basketball left, but there are definite warning signs early on.

 

[Gep Dawg]

X and McGowens are definitely pressing way too much. The supporting cast is good they need to trust them.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

X and McGowens are definitely pressing way too much. The supporting cast is good they need to trust them.

You can be sure Capel knows it as well and will work on it hard!

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

It's only been 2 games so I won't go off a ledge, but none of our 3 vaunted freshmen from last year look at all better so far. In fact, you could argue they look worse than they did at the end of the year.

X needs to get the new supporting cast involved early and run offense. This will make everyone better. Trey, this guy is a 3 pt shot jacker and turnover machine this year. And Toney can't score a kick even if he does hustle on all the plays.

I hope the coaching staff can help get these guys on the right track because as we sit right now it's the new players are carrying the load and the team needs these 3 to step up if Pitt is to progress this season. Lots of basketball left, but there are definite warning signs early on.

What's frustrating is that Murphy looks outstanding, Brown looks improved, Hamilton looks good, and Champagnie looks good. Murphy, Brown, and Champagnie have arguably been our best players. My buddy commented to me that Johnson and McGowens have been "found out." All they can do is drive so if you can limit that and force them into TOs and jumpshots, you're good. They arent basketball-smart like Knight/Page.

 

[levance2]

My buddy commented to me that Johnson and McGowens have been "found out." All they can do is drive so if you can limit that and force them into TOs and jumpshots, you're good. They arent basketball-smart like Knight/Page.

What concerned me last year was that they rely a ton on driving to the hoop and drawing unnecessary contact. A lot of times they go in with zero chance of scoring a legit basket. For the talk of X going pro, I don't see how that style has any chance of working in the NBA. They are certainly dynamic players, but neither is a particularly talented shooter, which IMO sets a ceiling.

 

[ScrantonicityIII]

It's only been 2 games so I won't go off a ledge, but none of our 3 vaunted freshmen from last year look at all better so far. In fact, you could argue they look worse than they did at the end of the year.

X needs to get the new supporting cast involved early and run offense. This will make everyone better. Trey, this guy is a 3 pt shot jacker and turnover machine this year. And Toney can't score a kick even if he does hustle on all the plays.

I hope the coaching staff can help get these guys on the right track because as we sit right now it's the new players are carrying the load and the team needs these 3 to step up if Pitt is to progress this season. Lots of basketball left, but there are definite warning signs early on.

You went off a ledge.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Although he seems better at it this year—Brown isn’t a member of the “all hands team” so that may have possibly been a reason it wasn’t done.

 

[CougarClaws]

X and McGowens are definitely pressing way too much. The supporting cast is good they need to trust them.

I believe this is the biggest issue IMO, followed by X playing like a traditional Pitt Senior - as if his heart was already somewhere else. I can't imagine him not snapping out of it at some point this season.

 

[Tonyt66]

IMO X and Trey act like they don't do any plays because that cycle hand off offense is so predictable. They need to get a better motion offense and do a better job of screening because the screens they set are horrible and X and Trey look like they don't know how to run it.

 

[Drew1208]

IMO X and Trey act like they don't do any plays because that cycle hand off offense is so predictable. They need to get a better motion offense and do a better job of screening because the screens they set are horrible and X and Trey look like they don't know how to run it.

It's getting really stale

 

[9nationalchampionships]

All the team needs to do is pass the ball, PASS THE BALL

 

[JimPL]

The three sophomores seem to have regressed. Start looking for the open man and stop worrying about beating your man off the dribble. (and then go play defense at the other end of the floor).