St. Joe's (Indiana) Game & Other Dribbles ...

[DC_Area_Panther]

Better get used to it--this year we won't be shortening the bench to 7-8. Too much quality depth and whistle happy refs will make sure we use 10-12 most of the time.

 

[Zaratoughda]

Yeah this seems rather premature.

Last year, Artis started the year at SF and was a non-factor, only averaging around 6 PPG and not a player known for his defense. Then, when Wright came back, Dixon moved Artis back to what Dixon called his 'natural position', PF.

But, things didn't pick up for Jamel just then. Went 8 games at PF (yeah, just checked last year's schedule to be sure) with still not being much of a factor. Then we got embarrassed losing to Clemson at home, and were really looking BAD as a team... and THEN that is when Jamel got it going (scored 13 the next game, then 20, etc).

So, was it the move to PF, or was it Jamel coming on when the team really needed it?

I have no freaking idea!

But, what I will say, is I think we gotta give this one some time. Jamel didn't come on until around mid-season and then he REALLY came on. So, the same thing might happen again this year.

If we get to mid-season and Jamel still hasn't found his niche, then we should start getting concerned. But, until then, like I said, IMO we gotta give this one some time.

 

[Zaratoughda]

Better get used to it--this year we won't be shortening the bench to 7-8. Too much quality depth and whistle happy refs will make sure we use 10-12 most of the time.

I am sure all 12 will play in the next three games.

But, then we get Purdue at home. All 12 might play in that game also but some of them might just be token minutes in the first half and that is all.

Right now the only two players we got that are solid and consistent, are Robinson and Young. Everyone else, has a question mark in one sense or another.

So, I guess we just gotta see if this team starts shaping up over the next three games.

 

[Protes]

Better get used to it--this year we won't be shortening the bench to 7-8. Too much quality depth and whistle happy refs will make sure we use 10-12 most of the time.

Yep, I get it. Just think it's hard to expect great execution out of the gate for one thing. Dixon teams always seem to take a little time to gel. But I also think athletes need rhythm. Going 7-8 deep is one thing but playing everyone in spurts makes that a little bit of a challenge for guys.

 

[UPitt129]

I'm going to your Tea Party buddies on you.

I totally hate the fact that the only way 200 D1 teams can even exist is because major D1 schools buy wins off of them to enhance their record and resume. That practice has been going on forever but when you really think about it, its utterly ridiculous. College basketball scheduling is a joke. Its not just Pitt. Give the fans games that matter. You might lose, so what. You also might win.

Give me a break. If they scheduled tough games and lost, you would be the first one on here having a meltdown.

 

[NTOP]

I don't think it's espn3 or TV games that affect attendance it's a hassle to go to Oakland anytime and after working all day a lot of people need a reason to prolong their day and a D2 school won't do it. Pitt knows what they need to do to fill the Pete up ,they've chosen a different path it doesn't matter how much we complain.

All relative, my friend. My wife works on Mt. Washington. For 7:00 starts, I drive her to work from Wexford, drive back home (my office), then pick her up, grab some chow, get to the Pete before the tipoff. There's no way she can drive home in traffic and both of us back to Oakland. We've been doing this for years. Just our priorities, and I understand why the joint is almost empty. But lots of schools are in the same boat. TV has changed the dynamics.