** Any current assessment of the Panther’s chances for the NCAA Tournament have been accurately proclaimed as “work to do.” Tonight, our Panthers certainly did the work!
** Along those lines, I suppose if you watch enough college basketball, you can begin to expect certain things to happen.
** With all other Pitt Hoops fans, I was hopeful our Panthers would win last Tuesday at Wake Forest. But I’ve learned to expect that this was the kind of conference game on the road our Panthers would lose. Not by 33 points, mind you, but a loss nonetheless.
** Before tonight’s game, I thought that if our Panthers are the team we think they are, a solid win should be expected.
** In fact, what our Panthers turned in this evening was their most complete home win of the season, with a total second half domination of a Tech team still fighting for their postseason lives.
** Not many times this season though, would you describe a Panther win as “workmanlike.” But after the Hokies took a 2 point lead early in the second half, that’s exactly what this was.
** And let’s give our biggest work bonus to the Panther worker who showed up with the fullest lunch pail – Zack Austin.
** Zach is a pretty fascinating player. While his athleticism is often tantalizing, equally frustrating is his invisibility at times. Tonight, he made perhaps most impactful appearance when his team needed him most. His physical presence was most noteworthy.
** We already know we can be successful without Zach scoring. But when he defends and rebounds, that matters. It mattered tonight.
** But singling out one Panther this night perhaps misses the point. This was a game when contributions were across the board.
** For exhibit A, let’s look at the 18-0 run the turned a two point deficit into a 16 point lead from which the Hokies would never seriously challenge. None of the those 18 points were scored by Zach, or even our lead dog Blake. And everyone defended.
** Instead, Jaland had a pair of buckets, as did Ish, while Bub and Guillermo led the way with a two and three each.
** There’s no doubt that this clinching Panther run was aided by the absence of Hokie Sean Pedulla who had his moments before exited with his third foul.
** But there’s also little doubt that the Virginia Tech’s halftime tie was also greatly aided by the absence of Bub Carrington, who gave just 5 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble,
** After Bub’s triple double debut, I fear that the overall success of his season might be a little less appreciated than it should be. He’s still a sure fire deserving entry onto the ACC All Freshman Team. But even more than his offense, to me Bub has emerged as this team’s best perimeter defender. I think that was never more clear this season than during the second half tonight.
** But if Bub is on the All-ACC freshman team, doesn’t Jaland have to be there with him? After all, in his last 11 ACC games, Jaland is averaging over 14PPG.
** What we all know though is that Blake is working his way toward a spot on the All-ACC First Team. Actually, at the moment he’s on it. And depending on what happens over the last four games, he might might even find his way to the top of the list.
** What was most impressive about Blake this evening was the actual workman like nature of his performance. After all, how many times might you describe 22 points from Blake as “quiet.” But it kinda felt that way tonight.
** Perhaps that’s not totally true. It’s hard to understate what it does for his team’s psyche when he hits his first deep bomb like he did tonight.
** Blake hit 2 more deep bombs, now giving him 95 for the season. Only 2 players in College Basketball this season have more. And both have shot more that him.
** Back in December at the Pete, Blake was able to hit 6 threes against the Clemson Tigers among his 10 attempts.
** It wasn’t a poor Panther performance that night, but one where they lost track of Joe Girard and PJ Hall far too often. In short, it felt like the kind of game where our Panthers just didn’t put in the work they needed to come away victorious.
** For one, we were outrebounded that night by 7, unlike the +14 we cashed in today.
** Most importantly, Jaland Lowe played just 9 minutes. He didn’t score. Since that time, the Panthers are a whole different team, and more so, Jaland is a whole different player.
** So as I mentioned before, I suppose if you watch enough college basketball, you can begin to expect certain things to happen.
** On Tuesday, I expect all of our Panthers to bring their hardhats and lunchpails and battle the Tigers with their best. After all, this is their game of the year.
** I can’t say I’m predicting a win. But I do expect a serious battle of which our Panthers can be proud.
** Until then, congrats on great win tonight and Hail to Pitt!
** Along those lines, I suppose if you watch enough college basketball, you can begin to expect certain things to happen.
** With all other Pitt Hoops fans, I was hopeful our Panthers would win last Tuesday at Wake Forest. But I’ve learned to expect that this was the kind of conference game on the road our Panthers would lose. Not by 33 points, mind you, but a loss nonetheless.
** Before tonight’s game, I thought that if our Panthers are the team we think they are, a solid win should be expected.
** In fact, what our Panthers turned in this evening was their most complete home win of the season, with a total second half domination of a Tech team still fighting for their postseason lives.
** Not many times this season though, would you describe a Panther win as “workmanlike.” But after the Hokies took a 2 point lead early in the second half, that’s exactly what this was.
** And let’s give our biggest work bonus to the Panther worker who showed up with the fullest lunch pail – Zack Austin.
** Zach is a pretty fascinating player. While his athleticism is often tantalizing, equally frustrating is his invisibility at times. Tonight, he made perhaps most impactful appearance when his team needed him most. His physical presence was most noteworthy.
** We already know we can be successful without Zach scoring. But when he defends and rebounds, that matters. It mattered tonight.
** But singling out one Panther this night perhaps misses the point. This was a game when contributions were across the board.
** For exhibit A, let’s look at the 18-0 run the turned a two point deficit into a 16 point lead from which the Hokies would never seriously challenge. None of the those 18 points were scored by Zach, or even our lead dog Blake. And everyone defended.
** Instead, Jaland had a pair of buckets, as did Ish, while Bub and Guillermo led the way with a two and three each.
** There’s no doubt that this clinching Panther run was aided by the absence of Hokie Sean Pedulla who had his moments before exited with his third foul.
** But there’s also little doubt that the Virginia Tech’s halftime tie was also greatly aided by the absence of Bub Carrington, who gave just 5 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble,
** After Bub’s triple double debut, I fear that the overall success of his season might be a little less appreciated than it should be. He’s still a sure fire deserving entry onto the ACC All Freshman Team. But even more than his offense, to me Bub has emerged as this team’s best perimeter defender. I think that was never more clear this season than during the second half tonight.
** But if Bub is on the All-ACC freshman team, doesn’t Jaland have to be there with him? After all, in his last 11 ACC games, Jaland is averaging over 14PPG.
** What we all know though is that Blake is working his way toward a spot on the All-ACC First Team. Actually, at the moment he’s on it. And depending on what happens over the last four games, he might might even find his way to the top of the list.
** What was most impressive about Blake this evening was the actual workman like nature of his performance. After all, how many times might you describe 22 points from Blake as “quiet.” But it kinda felt that way tonight.
** Perhaps that’s not totally true. It’s hard to understate what it does for his team’s psyche when he hits his first deep bomb like he did tonight.
** Blake hit 2 more deep bombs, now giving him 95 for the season. Only 2 players in College Basketball this season have more. And both have shot more that him.
** Back in December at the Pete, Blake was able to hit 6 threes against the Clemson Tigers among his 10 attempts.
** It wasn’t a poor Panther performance that night, but one where they lost track of Joe Girard and PJ Hall far too often. In short, it felt like the kind of game where our Panthers just didn’t put in the work they needed to come away victorious.
** For one, we were outrebounded that night by 7, unlike the +14 we cashed in today.
** Most importantly, Jaland Lowe played just 9 minutes. He didn’t score. Since that time, the Panthers are a whole different team, and more so, Jaland is a whole different player.
** So as I mentioned before, I suppose if you watch enough college basketball, you can begin to expect certain things to happen.
** On Tuesday, I expect all of our Panthers to bring their hardhats and lunchpails and battle the Tigers with their best. After all, this is their game of the year.
** I can’t say I’m predicting a win. But I do expect a serious battle of which our Panthers can be proud.
** Until then, congrats on great win tonight and Hail to Pitt!
