Women’s BB Team…

[MajorMajors]

So the women’s team just picked up a transfer guard from Maryland - Channise Lewis. That’s the 4th guard added this off season - giving the Panthers a whopping 9 guards on the new roster.

Guards: Clesca, Harris, Exanor, Hayford, Strother + Malcolm, Strickland, Washenitz and Lewis.

Forwards: King, Brown, Johnson, Ezeja + Hutcherson.

Need a 6-4 player who is at least a defensive presence - like Rita was. If we somehow got Rita back, we could have a much improved team, IMHO, because of the shooters coming in…

Go Pitt.

 

[MajorMajors]

So the women’s team just picked up a transfer guard from Maryland - Channise Lewis. That’s the 4th guard added this off season - giving the Panthers a whopping 9 guards on the new roster.

Guards: Clesca, Harris, Exanor, Hayford, Strother + Malcolm, Strickland, Washenitz and Lewis.

Forwards: King, Brown, Johnson, Ezeja + Hutcherson.

Need a 6-4 player who is at least a defensive presence - like Rita was. If we somehow got Rita back, we could have a much improved team, IMHO, because of the shooters coming in…

Go Pitt.

I see where Rita Igbokwe has transferred to Ole Miss. What she said about leaving Pitt does not sound good for Pitt trying to recruit another center…

"I just felt like I wasn't getting any better," she said. "I was watching a whole bunch of my old games back from my freshman year, and I didn't see any growth. I feel like I was stagnant. I just felt like I wasn't growing, either mentally or physically on the court."

Ouch…

Go Pitt.

 

[joeydavid]

I see where Rita Igbokwe has transferred to Ole Miss. What she said about leaving Pitt does not sound good for Pitt trying to recruit another center…

"I just felt like I wasn't getting any better," she said. "I was watching a whole bunch of my old games back from my freshman year, and I didn't see any growth. I feel like I was stagnant. I just felt like I wasn't growing, either mentally or physically on the court."

Ouch…

Go Pitt.

No one is more to blame than the player.

 

[Chescat]

I see where Rita Igbokwe has transferred to Ole Miss. What she said about leaving Pitt does not sound good for Pitt trying to recruit another center…

"I just felt like I wasn't getting any better," she said. "I was watching a whole bunch of my old games back from my freshman year, and I didn't see any growth. I feel like I was stagnant. I just felt like I wasn't growing, either mentally or physically on the court."

Ouch…

Go Pitt.

Actually I thought she
did improve somewhat.
The problem is she's
slow in reaction time,
has trouble catching
the ball especially if
it's a no look, or quick
pass inside. She does
rebound and does a
good job blocking shots.
I thought she worked
hard, but should have
been better after three
years here.

As an ACC starting Center
she's below average. Easy
to blame the coaching
(and she probably has a
point there), however it's
also on her.

 

[Chescat]

So the women’s team just picked up a transfer guard from Maryland - Channise Lewis. That’s the 4th guard added this off season - giving the Panthers a whopping 9 guards on the new roster.

Guards: Clesca, Harris, Exanor, Hayford, Strother + Malcolm, Strickland, Washenitz and Lewis.

Forwards: King, Brown, Johnson, Ezeja + Hutcherson.

Need a 6-4 player who is at least a defensive presence - like Rita was. If we somehow got Rita back, we could have a much improved team, IMHO, because of the shooters coming in…

Go Pitt.

The need of a big is
very real for this team.
We have a bunch of
what I would call "athletic
type guards." Unfortunately
they are not outside threats,
and they play out of control,
(the coach IMO is responsible
for that). A few of these new
additions reportedly can
hit from outside. The best
of the bunch look like
incoming frosh. Will they be
ready in year one?

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

No one is more to blame than the player.

After playing three years of college basketball she still has to think the game rather than just play the game. And that is not a recipe for success at this level.

 

[MajorMajors]

I thought Rita improved some over her time at Pitt - but with all the practice they do, she’d have to. Sometimes she’d make a nice bucket and you’d think, okay, now she’s got it…. However, it would remain maddening how she could not consistently convert close-in shots.

That said, her 6-4 “presence” in the paint will be sorely missed, IMHO…

It’s like we really need to bring in whoever the tallest person in the portal is… 😊

Go Pitt

 

[Chescat]

I thought Rita improved some over her time at Pitt - but with all the practice they do, she’d have to. Sometimes she’d make a nice bucket and you’d think, okay, now she’s got it…. However, it would remain maddening how she could not consistently convert close-in shots.

That said, her 6-4 “presence” in the paint will be sorely missed, IMHO…

It’s like we really need to bring in whoever the tallest person in the portal is… 😊

Go Pitt

You might be right about
"bringing in the tallest
person in the portal,"
but as you know we do
need someone who can
actually play effectively.
Right now the only height
is 6'3" Cynthia Ezeja and
a 6'2" transfer from O.St.
That isn't going to cut it
in the ACC. IMO the only
talented inside player is
King, and she's more
effective on the high post.
I do like Brown but she's
way too undersized. So,
let's see what White can
do getting a legit big.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Right now the only height
is 6'3" Cynthia Ezeja and
a 6'2" transfer from O.St.
That isn't going to cut it
in the ACC.

I agree that it probably won't. But let's not forget that it was only a couple years ago that Notre Dame made the Final Four with a starting lineup with one player taller than 6 foot in it. Their starters were something like 5-8, 5-10, 5-10, 5-11 and 6-4. The team that Pitt put on the court that season was taller.

But no where near as talented.

 

[gary2]

I agree that it probably won't. But let's not forget that it was only a couple years ago that Notre Dame made the Final Four with a starting lineup with one player taller than 6 foot in it. Their starters were something like 5-8, 5-10, 5-10, 5-11 and 6-4. The team that Pitt put on the court that season was taller.

But no where near as talented.

I think the three freshmen begin to for the nucleus of agog team.

 

[Chescat]

I agree that it probably won't. But let's not forget that it was only a couple years ago that Notre Dame made the Final Four with a starting lineup with one player taller than 6 foot in it. Their starters were something like 5-8, 5-10, 5-10, 5-11 and 6-4. The team that Pitt put on the court that season was taller.

But no where near as talented.

I remember that ND team.
Of course those smaller ND
players were damn good.
Our smaller players are IMO
good athletes, but they're
not good Bball players.

I'm not for one minute
suggesting that an infusion
of height is going to turn
this team around. It is a
need though. As you know
the ACC teams dominate us
on the inside. I wish we had
the talent of the ND team
that you mentioned.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I remember that ND team.
Of course those smaller ND
players were damn good.
Our smaller players are IMO
good athletes, but they're
not good Bball players.

I'm not for one minute
suggesting that an infusion
of height is going to turn
this team around. It is a
need though. As you know
the ACC teams dominate us
on the inside. I wish we had
the talent of the ND team
that you mentioned.

We need good players.

Full stop.

Short ones, tall ones, medium sized ones. It looks like maybe we got a couple of them. We need more.

 

[gary2]

We need good players.

Full stop.

Short ones, tall ones, medium sized ones. It looks like maybe we got a couple of them. We need more.

I think all 3 freshmen will be solid contributors. Don’t know about the transfers.

 

[MajorMajors]

I think all 3 freshmen will be solid contributors. Don’t know about the transfers.

I worry that Coach will continue to feel the need to play the entire roster regardless of performance level. We have nine guards on this team - and the 5 returning guards, while good athletes, haven’t shot well. Will any of those guards progress - is the question…

I’m going to guess that Harris finally puts it together next season…

Go Pitt.

 

[gary2]

I worry that Coach will continue to feel the need to play the entire roster regardless of performance level. We have nine guards on this team - and the 5 returning guards, while good athletes, haven’t shot well. Will any of those guards progress - is the question…

I’m going to guess that Harris finally puts it together next season…

Go Pitt.

Win with team play, not volume shooters.

 

[Chescat]

I worry that Coach will continue to feel the need to play the entire roster regardless of performance level. We have nine guards on this team - and the 5 returning guards, while good athletes, haven’t shot well. Will any of those guards progress - is the question…

I’m going to guess that Harris finally puts it together next season…

Go Pitt.

Good point about "the
need to play the entire
roster." The new recruits
appear for the most part
to be more talented than
the returnees. Is he going
to bench Hayford, Clesca,
Exanor, Strother, (Harris
has to play) in order to
get the newbies on the
floor?
You're right about the #
of guards. This team is
guard heavy.

Personally I like a rotation
of eight maybe nine
players. Platooning doesn't
usually work in Bball, yet
White went with it the
past two years. He actually
has experience, and now
some young talented
players. Let's see what he
does with them.