Game Ball- Blake Hinson. Through 3 games Hinson is trying to do his best Sam Young impression. Scoring on all 3 levels, rebounding, hustle plays, he looks like the ultimate secret weapon no one in the country knows much about after not playing live college basketball in over 2 years. Another game, another video game beast mode performance. 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 made 3 point baskets. He continues to get the job done in all facets of the game and helps our team put opponents away.
Game Ball Assist- Fede Federicko- Through 3 games Federicko has played better and better each game out. 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks on 6-7 shooting. I like his athletic ability and wingspan on the backline and he looks like an acc player right now. Its easy to see why Bob Huggins and West Virginia offered him and got him to commit before he came to Pitt. He looks like a typical Huggins frontcourt player. He is going to get a lot better in the future as he has tools to work with.
Game Ball 2nd Assist- Guillermo Diaz Graham. 4 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block in 13 total minutes of action. He’s very raw and thin but the hustle plays, screen setting potential, assist potential, and overall basketball potential; there are tools to work with here and like Fede he is going to be a lot better as the season moves on. I like our frontcourt and John Hugley isn’t even a part of it yet. Great opening game by him and I thought his defense was good.
More notes
21 assists on 26 made baskets. Ball movement inside to out and in transition was good. Want to see more dribble penetration to the basket and less 3 point shooting attempts.
We shot 26% from 3 today. This needs to improve greatly moving forward. Its only 1 game, but it needs to be better.
Defense held UT Martin to 32% shooting and 15% from 3, with 17 forced turnovers. Simon and Stewart were both held in check and the 2 of them had 10 total turnovers combined.
Nike Sibande is forcing the action just a little more than he needs to on offense, but his hustle on both ends of the floor is well noted. I want to see better shot selection and for him to find better flow in the offense without pressing as the rest of the team appears to have good early chemistry going on sharing the basketball.
Nate Santos is still searching for his 3 point shot at the college level. I hope he finds it as we need it. We cannot have another Drumgoole in the rotation this year.
I thought our guard play was just ok in this game.
Player that needs to step up- Nelly Cummings. It’s the 2nd game in 3 performances that Cummings was just average and we need better from a 5th year senior point guard. I want to see more work being done by him getting the ball into the interior and mid range and far less work jacking up 3’s. Utilize the ball screen and crossovers and get the ball into the paint and attack from the midrange. He needs to be better and can be better. It is noted he is coming off a small injury from last game. As a team we shot 19-28 (68%) inside 10 feet today.
Final thought: This team can beat West Virginia without Hugley even playing. But we need an "A" game from Cummings for it to happen.
Game Ball Assist- Fede Federicko- Through 3 games Federicko has played better and better each game out. 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks on 6-7 shooting. I like his athletic ability and wingspan on the backline and he looks like an acc player right now. Its easy to see why Bob Huggins and West Virginia offered him and got him to commit before he came to Pitt. He looks like a typical Huggins frontcourt player. He is going to get a lot better in the future as he has tools to work with.
Game Ball 2nd Assist- Guillermo Diaz Graham. 4 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block in 13 total minutes of action. He’s very raw and thin but the hustle plays, screen setting potential, assist potential, and overall basketball potential; there are tools to work with here and like Fede he is going to be a lot better as the season moves on. I like our frontcourt and John Hugley isn’t even a part of it yet. Great opening game by him and I thought his defense was good.
More notes
21 assists on 26 made baskets. Ball movement inside to out and in transition was good. Want to see more dribble penetration to the basket and less 3 point shooting attempts.
We shot 26% from 3 today. This needs to improve greatly moving forward. Its only 1 game, but it needs to be better.
Defense held UT Martin to 32% shooting and 15% from 3, with 17 forced turnovers. Simon and Stewart were both held in check and the 2 of them had 10 total turnovers combined.
Nike Sibande is forcing the action just a little more than he needs to on offense, but his hustle on both ends of the floor is well noted. I want to see better shot selection and for him to find better flow in the offense without pressing as the rest of the team appears to have good early chemistry going on sharing the basketball.
Nate Santos is still searching for his 3 point shot at the college level. I hope he finds it as we need it. We cannot have another Drumgoole in the rotation this year.
I thought our guard play was just ok in this game.
Player that needs to step up- Nelly Cummings. It’s the 2nd game in 3 performances that Cummings was just average and we need better from a 5th year senior point guard. I want to see more work being done by him getting the ball into the interior and mid range and far less work jacking up 3’s. Utilize the ball screen and crossovers and get the ball into the paint and attack from the midrange. He needs to be better and can be better. It is noted he is coming off a small injury from last game. As a team we shot 19-28 (68%) inside 10 feet today.
Final thought: This team can beat West Virginia without Hugley even playing. But we need an "A" game from Cummings for it to happen.
