UNC ACC Tournament Game & Other Dribbles ...

[DT_PITT]

** These weekday 12:00 noon starts surely can wreak havoc on a Pitt Hoop fans’ basketball watching routines.

** I wasn't able to get out of work to see this one until the second stanza. Too bad I had to watch the wrong half.

** But even from the confines of seeing the score tick by for the first 20 minutes on ESPN Gametracker, it was obvious that the Panthers came to play today.

** This was even evident in the second half too, as it was good to see the Panthers compete quite capably for the first ten or so minutes.

** After that, the much better, much more talented team really decided to play like it.

** There have been several times this year when Panther losses have been tough to take, if not even tougher to watch. This wasn’t one of those times.

** I liked watching the Panthers play the Tar Heels today until the bottom fell out. Not only is North Carolina the more talented team, they are also a poor matchup for our squad that is simply a few spots short.

** A few weeks ago, it was a completely different experience watching Pitt-UNC. I doubt that anyone who wears Blue and Gold rather than Power Blue and White was anything less than extremely exasperated observing that contest which never really resembled a contest.

** During this particular Panther season where we know we just don’t have the makeup to play at the highest level , there is at least some small satisfaction which can be taken from playing well.

** But if you still think there’s more that still can be achieved from this particular season, these two days showed from where this particular magic would have to come. It will have to come from deep.

** For one of the few times this year, our core of Sheldon, Jamel and Mike all brought high level production. Should we get matched up with a top team in the NCAA Tournament, this trio will not need to produce any more of a superhuman response than they offered today.

** But there was a moment in the game today that makes my point going forward. This was the moment when it became clear to me that this could not be the Panthers’ day.

** With just under 14 minutes to go in the second half with the Panthers down three, James swung to ball wonderfully to Cam for the wide open three.

** I suspect there will be some point in Cameron’s career when this will be a shot he’ll rarely miss. But today, like most of his day, he couldn’t hit the mark. Carolina answered with their own three and a tie game became a six point game.

** Proudly, the Panthers kept battling for several possessions, but that was the last shot the Panthers took that could have tied the game.

** If the Panthers’ hope to do anything at all next week, someone will need to hit that shot, several times in fact.

** Of course, I’m expecting the Panthers to be playing in the NCAA Tournament this time next week, assuming they miss or win a round one game.

** And something is plainly wrong if for some reason the Panthers are passed over for this year’s dance.

** I don’t have high hopes for what we can do in the Tournament. We have nowhere near the defense to think of us as a second weekend team.

** But we do have a collection of guys who can score pretty well from time to time. We will just need enough of them to do it all within the same 40 minutes.

** I just hope that next 40 minutes won’t have to be again in the early afternoon. Well, that’s not really true. I’ll do my best to watch them whenever they play.

** And like today, I just want to see them play well. Everything else, for this year anyway, is gravy.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I was wondering where the dribbles (and your comments) were. DT, the advantage of sales and setting your own schedule worked for me this week. We shall see next week.

Anyways... boiling things down to these 3 points.

1) The better team won. The better team played well. We played well for 30 of the 40 minutes, at least offensively. Those 10-12 minutes we didn't was enough because of the talent gap. No other excuses, reasons, blame, etc... Carolina is one of the 2-3 best teams in the nation, and they shot the ball well, played well, we didn't. Simple formula.

2) It is going to be fun watching #4 and #23 develop and how good they are going to be next year. Cam was not good today. But when you watched the game, he had a couple of drives that were UNC level, elite level. Same with Luther. They can hit shots. They are more than "right sized" for their roles. Can't wait. The 3 Jr's (Young, Artis and Jeter) were OK. But Young wasn't able to dominate like he is used to.

3) Looking ahead to the NCAA's, we can beat a lot of teams. ALOT of teams. Depends on matchups. If we play a passive team, we are going to carve them up. If we play a team that plays an aggressive man to man, or presses, we can be out early. If this team shoots well, we are a dangerous out. A real dangerous out.

 

[PittPanther84]

I think this Pitt team can maybe win some games next week depending on who they play.

But like you said DT, we need someone to make those big shots.

Yesterday against SU, Cam was able to make big shots that game and obviously JR came up big at the end.

IMO I feel like that's the key next week. In the NCAAT you're obviously getting every teams best, and a lot of times in many games it comes down to who can make the "big shots" and who can make the most plays down the stretch.

If today was one of those great shooting games from Cam, it would've been a lot closer

 

[vinniep33]

Why did Luther play so little today? Height match ups?

 

[RA time]

Plain and simple luther needs to play more. Team is better when he is on the floor in every way. Young and artist play to many minutes. Need to find this kid more than 3-5 min in the second half.

 

[DT_PITT]

Why did Luther play so little today? Height match ups?

Part of it was that Artis, Jeter and Young were all playing well.

Offensively, anyway.

 

[Chairman Moe]

DT, I couldn't watch the game until I got home from work; stayed off of Internet and didn't listen to the radio, so when I watched the game (between 5:30-7:00) I didn't know who won. First half was very entertaining, especially when we were able to set the pace of play. UNC took most of the half to get into their game, but once they did it looked like Golden State vs Philadelphia (NBA). We were outclassed, pure and simple.

I'm sure several Pitt fans were disappointed in Cam Johnson's play today, but I think that's unfair if they were. He certainly looked more tentative, but give the Tarheels credit; they played tremendous defense on him - as well as many other of our Pitt Panthers. UNC is deep and just wore us down. WEES, I hope our next opponent plays more of a passive, perhaps zone defense. I think that's our best chance to win a game or two in the post season.

 

[DT_PITT]

I think this Pitt team can maybe win some games next week depending on who they play.

But like you said DT, we need someone to make those big shots.

Yesterday against SU, Cam was able to make big shots that game and obviously JR came up big at the end.

IMO I feel like that's the key next week. In the NCAAT you're obviously getting every teams best, and a lot of times in many games it comes down to who can make the "big shots" and who can make the most plays down the stretch.

If today was one of those great shooting games from Cam, it would've been a lot closer

Cam or Chris. Just one or two threes right as UNC was ready to take off might have made it a different game.

 

[DT_PITT]

I was wondering where the dribbles (and your comments) were. DT, the advantage of sales and setting your own schedule worked for me this week. We shall see next week.

Anyways... boiling things down to these 3 points.

1) The better team won. The better team played well. We played well for 30 of the 40 minutes, at least offensively. Those 10-12 minutes we didn't was enough because of the talent gap. No other excuses, reasons, blame, etc... Carolina is one of the 2-3 best teams in the nation, and they shot the ball well, played well, we didn't. Simple formula.

2) It is going to be fun watching #4 and #23 develop and how good they are going to be next year. Cam was not good today. But when you watched the game, he had a couple of drives that were UNC level, elite level. Same with Luther. They can hit shots. They are more than "right sized" for their roles. Can't wait. The 3 Jr's (Young, Artis and Jeter) were OK. But Young wasn't able to dominate like he is used to.

3) Looking ahead to the NCAA's, we can beat a lot of teams. ALOT of teams. Depends on matchups. If we play a passive team, we are going to carve them up. If we play a team that plays an aggressive man to man, or presses, we can be out early. If this team shoots well, we are a dangerous out. A real dangerous out.

On point #3, it's just hard to think we can shoot well enough for back to back games.

And we aren't the kind of team who can "tough it out" to win in games like this.

 

[MajorMajors]

I watched Mike Young some today on the defensive end and I was impressed by how hard he was playing. He doesn't have the mass to handle the bigger guys, but he was hustling and playing at a high level of effort.

Another point, even when he gets worn down or has an "off" game, he still comes out pretty well on the stat sheet. Like today, he took a few tough shots, but still ended up shooting 6 for 10.

Anyway, I thought Pitt played hard today - but MY's effort really stood out to me.

JR played 40 minutes today, after playing 35 minutes yesterday - hopefully in the NCAA games we play someone who allows us to sub for JR some...

Go Pitt.

 

[Franb]

I watched Mike Young some today on the defensive end and I was impressed by how hard he was playing. He doesn't have the mass to handle the bigger guys, but he was hustling and playing at a high level of effort.

Another point, even when he gets worn down or has an "off" game, he still comes out pretty well on the stat sheet. Like today, he took a few tough shots, but still ended up shooting 6 for 10.

Anyway, I thought Pitt played hard today - but MY's effort really stood out to me.

JR played 40 minutes today, after playing 35 minutes yesterday - hopefully in the NCAA games we play someone who allows us to sub for JR some...

Go Pitt.

You are right on Robinson. It is amazing to me the number of posters here who continue to knock him, especially after his 2 plays at the end of yesterday's game. I don't even read their posts anymore.

 

[Black_Man_Panther]

Well... I had to work and I don't think this team is worth me taking off any time to watch, so I am just now catching up. I caught the first half - and for as well as they played for Dixon to get pwned by deputy dawg in the last 2 mins is pathetic. C'mon... he held Page off until Artis cleared then put the pressure on JRob, who thanks to having Johnson playing 2... had no relief and promptly ended 3 possessions in futility. I would have thought 18 mins. in that he would have figured out Johnson was NOT GOING TO WORK at the 2. But no... let's see if he can hit a 30 footer.

So... it doesn't matter how well Young, Artis and Jeter can take their man... it won't matter if you continue to make stupid decisions like this. Some times this guy reminds me of Paul Evans.

 

[DT_PITT]

I watched Mike Young some today on the defensive end and I was impressed by how hard he was playing. He doesn't have the mass to handle the bigger guys, but he was hustling and playing at a high level of effort.

Another point, even when he gets worn down or has an "off" game, he still comes out pretty well on the stat sheet. Like today, he took a few tough shots, but still ended up shooting 6 for 10.

Anyway, I thought Pitt played hard today - but MY's effort really stood out to me.

JR played 40 minutes today, after playing 35 minutes yesterday - hopefully in the NCAA games we play someone who allows us to sub for JR some...

Go Pitt.

I didn't have an issue with anyone's effort today. Jamel was trying to drive the basket and they were moving the ball well. The just didn't hit shots at a high rate.

Defensively, we just aren't a very good team. Even when we could slow dribble penetration, UNC was still able to get touches deep in the paint, and we just aren't equipped to deal with this -- especially when UNC got rolling.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

I watched Mike Young some today on the defensive end and I was impressed by how hard he was playing. He doesn't have the mass to handle the bigger guys, but he was hustling and playing at a high level of effort.

Another point, even when he gets worn down or has an "off" game, he still comes out pretty well on the stat sheet. Like today, he took a few tough shots, but still ended up shooting 6 for 10.

Anyway, I thought Pitt played hard today - but MY's effort really stood out to me.

JR played 40 minutes today, after playing 35 minutes yesterday - hopefully in the NCAA games we play someone who allows us to sub for JR some...

Go Pitt.

Brice Johnson isn't some brute ..he killed mike with athleticism and bounce . and Brice ate his lunch for him.

Mike would do well to study Brice ...and emulate his game... Which is not predicated on dribbling the leather off the ball.