Young and Artis - what happened?

[NCanton Panther]

Young and Artis getting a lot of criticism today, rightfully so.

Am I remembering correctly that many were calling them one of the best forward tandems in the ACC if not the whole country earlier in the year. Not looking to point fingers at anyone as I don't even recall who all may have claimed it. It is just disappointing to see where they are currently.

I guess it is just a matter of who they were playing against early in the season vs now.

 

[Piranha]

Who brought these guys in? Knight and Barton. These are your 2 best players and leaders (LOL) of this team.

 

[runthewildcat]

Young and Artis getting a lot of criticism today, rightfully so.

Am I remembering correctly that many were calling them one of the best forward tandems in the ACC if not the whole country earlier in the year. Not looking to point fingers at anyone as I don't even recall who all may have claimed it. It is just disappointing to see where they are currently.

I guess it is just a matter of who they were playing against early in the season vs now.

That's exactly what happened. They put up great numbers vs. the cupcakes now against stiff competition they are struggling. Robinson is another example.

 

[Delpanther]

Their defensive lapses are now a constant. Neither guy hits the boards. Their shot selection is consistently horrendous. Defend both guys physically, they wilt. Young rarely gives up the ball without shooting it. And for two guys with their degree of experience neither one shows an ounce of leadership on the floor. They're pretty much the antithesis of what Dixon BB is supposed to be about and I think their teammates realize it.

 

[PittPoker]

Don't forget to mention Smith. He has all but vanished from the offense. Hardly ever shoots and they never seem to run any set plays for him to shoot 3's. Pretty disappointing from a guy that was supposed to be a legit 3 point shooting threat for us.

 

[Jeffburgh]

I am really disappointed in them.

And, this is what is disturbing from a JD standpoint.

I distinctly remember when they were recruited.

The program was struggling with the very same issues it is struggling with now - the loss of the JD formula of defense, rebounding and toughness.

I remember posting TOS that Young really wanted to be a Panther, as did Artis, and that unlike Birch and some others, they probably would understand what the program was about, knew coming in what JD wanted, and would be more on board with it.

And, yet, here we sit today ...

Four years later ...

 

[Jim Z]

Playing against tougher competition and the fact that they themselves are complimentary players who don't have top talent around them . As sports fans we often want to believe our players are more talented than they are.H2P

 

[PittPoker]

Playing against tougher competition and the fact that they themselves are complimentary players who don't have top talent around them . As sports fans we often want to believe our players are more talented than they are.H2P

Yeah but they all looked good against the cupcakes didn't they?

 

[JS School]

Don't forget to mention Smith. He has all but vanished from the offense. Hardly ever shoots and they never seem to run any set plays for him to shoot 3's. Pretty disappointing from a guy that was supposed to be a legit 3 point shooting threat for us.

The problem with Smith is the exact opposite of the problem with Young and Artis. In fact their problems may be the cause of the problem with Smith. Those two can be double teamed, yet they never seem to find anyone else open.

 

[BigZeke]

Playing against tougher competition and the fact that they themselves are complimentary players who don't have top talent around them . As sports fans we often want to believe our players are more talented than they are.H2P

They're both plenty talented and I'll admit I was one of the guys who called them one of the best F tandems in the ACC, if not in the country. What's disappointing is neither guy seems to "want it" enough. No leadership. No toughness. No emotion. Bad body language. In other words - no leadership. Every great team needs that Alpha Dog in the locker room that enforces the HC's mantras day after day through good times & bad. Just don't see it with these two. Bad turnovers. Laissez Faire defense. Bad shot selection. I'm sure BK is ready to kill both of them. Hopefully Justice & Corey bring those intangibles to the table cause IMO it ain't a talent question with Young & Artis but it's a "want to" problem.

 

[thebadby2]

Playing against tougher competition and the fact that they themselves are complimentary players who don't have top talent around them . As sports fans we often want to believe our players are more talented than they are.H2P

Certainly a true statement in the case of Artis, he has never been the player people on this board like to believe he is. I think Young has real talent that is offset by attitude and questionable work ethic. I think Dixon's hands are dirty as well as he doesn't seem to use his maximize the use and potential of his personnel including Young. I think there has been a bit of a square peg/round hole issue with JD's use of personnel. At some point, consistently blaming the players for the failures of the program becomes a little disingenuous on the part of fans.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

here's what happened...
neither showed much interest in dedicating themselves to playing the game on both ends..
they both spent their time working on their offensive skills.

 

[33pitt99]

I get a strong feeling that Mike is playing to develop his skills for his next step, whatever that might be. He appears to be using the games as his own personal scrimmage, trying things out like you would in an off season workout. Some of the one on one (or five) stuff and crazy shots are so completely out of line with what he has done up to this point that you have to think his agenda has changed and it is now about moving on from Pitt in any way he can.