All year long I have been comparing this Pitt team to the Brandin Knight – Julius Page teams from the early 2000s era. Fittingly enough, the Panthers exited the NCAA tournament in the early rounds in much the same fashion as those early Howland/Dixon teams did. Those Page-Knight teams featured good defense, consistent play and overachievement during the regular season while lacking a true star and the ability to overcome an off game in the NCAA tournament which led to early exits. Yesterday’s loss, and the 2009-2010 Panthers season in general, eerily had the same feeling.
Pitt most certainly did not play its best game of the season yesterday against Xavier. The Panthers shot only 39% from the floor compared to Xavier’s 48%, allowed the Musketeers to shoot 50% from three, and gave up a 16-0 run in the first half. Pitt also got dismal performances from two starters in Jermaine Dixon (1-9, 2 points) and Gary McGhee (0 points, 4 rebounds). Any of these would have been enough for Pitt to lose and yet there were the Panthers right in the game until the very end. The difference, just as it was so many times for those early 2000s Panther teams, was that Xavier featured a star on his way to the NBA while the Panthers were stuck with no one to take over the game in crunch time.
Jordan Crawford, famous for his dunk on LeBron James in a camp last summer, scored 27 points on 9-15 shooting (4-7 from three) and had a number of fantastic one-on-one moves to beat the Panthers’ defense. Pitt’s leading scorer Ashton Gibbs, meanwhile, finished with 19 points on only 6-16 shooting (4-13 from deep) and more importantly scored only 1 point in the second half. This game had the same feeling as the 2003 Sweet Sixteen loss to Marquette when Pitt had no answer for Dwayne Wade. That is the most memorable one but Pitt also lost to Oklahoma State in 2004 when they had no answer for Tony Allen, in 2002 when it was Antonio Gates of Kent State, and 2006 to Bradley and center Patrick O’Bryant. Once again, Pitt had no answer for the opposing team’s star, in this instance Crawford, and thus are left packing their bags earlier than they had anticipated.
I do not want to sound too negative, however, as this season must be classified as a success. Had you told any Pitt fan back in November that this team would finish 25-9, win an NCAA tournament game and finish in the top 20 of the country, I think they would have unanimously approved of such a season. The team, in what was thought to be a rebuilding year after losing Sam Young and DeJuan Blair to the NBA among four starters lost, had a great run and should be able to build on the positives heading into next season. The only meaningful contributor the Panthers lose is Jermaine Dixon and while Dixon was a fine defensive player, I see no reason Pitt should have problems replacing his production. With four starters and the top three reserves returning, the hopeful improvement of Dante Taylor as well as the other freshmen big men, and a very promising recruiting class, Pitt fans should be plenty excited about the 2010-2011 Pitt basketball team.
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Pitt could have a star who might be able to take over games in Gilbert Brown (lead the comeback in the 2nd half yesterday). I think he could be the best player on the team... Too bad Jamie Dixon doesn't even start him. Hopefully he starts next year.
ReplyDeleteAgree with both of you....
ReplyDelete4 things I noticed in this game:
1. Dixon still does not understand how to really adjust his gameplan when it isnt working. Man to man was a terrible decision and Xavier exploited it all night with a simple two man game at the perimiter. Big man/stone statue Gary McGhee could not roll off picks (taylor not much better) and they were victimized all night. An extended zone should have been implemented.
2. Blair leaving was too much to overcome. How its possible for Gary McGhee to accumulate such stats with his minutes is absurd. They need to go after a juco center a la Ontario Lett. The recruiting class is solid and Taylor is getting better, but they need an impact center if they are going to win.
3. Dixon did not adjust his style of play to his personnel. Pitt's best games of the year (including Syracuse) involved fast break points and an up tempo offense. This team doesnt have Aaron Gray or Dejaun Blair, we cant sit back in a half court offense without a true penetrating point guard or established center. We should have gone small (sat McGhee, played Brown) and pressed and ran the floor all game.
4. Dixon's decision to not start Gilbert Brown makes no sense. He has clearly shown his ability to step up when it counts (Villanova, etc) and he can defend in the interior and hit the three pointer. Our offense should have been centered around him later in the year, not Gibbs. Perhaps if he was allowed to get into a rhythm he wouldnt have played so poorly in certain games (big east tourney). To have your best scoring threat come off the bench in a stagnant offense and expect him to immediately contribute is very questionable.
Hail to Pitt, bring back the Mustard and Royal, and next year Final 4 and BCS!