Sterling Smith

[Zaratoughda]

We have had some discussions on Sterling's play in other threads but.. one point I would want to make here...

In the game against BC... I noticed him getting the ball and having a shot but not taking it.. and instead just dribbling around a bit and then passing it off. In other words, 'scared' to take the shot... and in fact he started to remind me of... Cam Wright... who tended to do that. If Sterling was wide open then no problem but those are shots he should be able to take and make.

On the positive side for Sterling... he brings a level of experience that some other players don't have and that is a plus (also along the lines of Cam Wright), and he is also a very good rebounder for a guard.

In any case... after the debacle at the Yum and the game against BC just two days later... I think it is time to base things here on how the players play from here.

The thing is though... Dixon has said a number of times that 'we need another guard that can defend'.

So, that is the message to Smith, Jones, Wilson and possibly Slim. The player that brings the consistent D is gonna be the player that gets the PT.

 

[Pittx9]

Smith has been shooting well a lot of this season also. He just doesn't take very many shots so a bad night almost always ends with 0 made FGs. Shooting guard could improve for us, but it's not a major issue. He does play good D and has a great looking stroke. Realistically he's a role player that just happens to start because they're not going to bump Jeter the whole way down to the 2 position just to get him in the starting lineup.

 

[mo cheeks]

I thought several Pitt players passed up clear looks yesterday, except for Cam, he has some real confidence.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Yesterday's 1st half and early part of 2nd half looked like a bad hangover from the Louisville game for most of the team (except probably Artis). Thought the Louisville game must have hurt the team's confidence. Hopefully the last part of the 2nd half gave it back to them.