Archive for the ‘College Basketball’ Category

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Posted: April 9, 2013 by dontbeskerritt in College Basketball, Games, Hockey, MLB, NBA, NCAA, NHL
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College Basketball's One Shining Moment

College Basketball’s One Shining Moment

I won’t start this post with a glowing tribute to college basketball.  Before the masterpiece that was the National Championship game, college basketball looked to be in big trouble.  Poor play, awful officiating, coaches kicking players, it was not a good time to be a college basketball defender.  The tournament, with the exception of Florida Gulf Coast and a couple of games here and there, was a clunker.  Even the Michigan-Syracuse game became a letdown, limping to finish behind spotty decision-making on the floor, on the bench, and by the refs.

But then Monday night happened and showed us the best of basketball.

Suddenly this time of year, from the middle of March to June, was shoved back to the forefront as the best time for sport fans.  Forget the beginning of football season, college and pro, or December to February.  This time is the time for sports fans and Monday night reminded us of that.  The game between Michigan and Louisville had athleticism, talent, and coaching all at its best.  A rocking dome, with the Fab Five in attendance added frosting to the cake.  A movie like performance by Spike Albrecht, who came off the bench averaging 1.6 points per game, then proceeded to drop 17 points easily in the first half, then MOP Luke Hancock bringing his team back with 4 straight 3s (and Phil Jackson’s commentary on twitter about momentum).  Then the 2nd half, with Allen Ive- I mean Trey Burke bounce up and down off the canvas trying to push his team to victory (Burke easily was the best player on the court and it wasn’t even close).  Peyton Siva, with an all-world performance in the battle of some of the best backcourts in the country.  In the end, Louisville’s mental toughness won out over Michigan’s youthful exuberance.  The only thing missing was a last-second shot opportunity to cap it off.  What a treat to the sports fans, at least those that were able to stay up and watch.

Even Mascots Love This Time of Year

Even Mascots Love This Time of Year

But this is just the beginning of this glorious time of year.  Baseball started last week, and the storylines are already forming with the Battle of LA, Cano signing with Jay-Z, the Yankees and Red Sox being trash, the Big Red Machine, the two nice Upton Brothers, Washington’s Rise, and the Astros and Marlins competing for being the worst team ever.  This week the Masters starts, and Tiger Woods has his life together seemingly, because he has his game back.  Later this month, the NHL starts their playoffs, which is arguably the most dramatic games of the year, especially if and when the game goes to overtime.  Not to mention the Kentucky Derby at the beginning of May if you like to participate in America’s greatest pastime; gambling.

Finally, in two weeks, the greatest basketball players in the world start their tournament, in what projects to be the another fantastic NBC playoffs.  The West looks wide open, from the number one seed down to the five.  Yes, I included Memphis because not having Rudy Gay makes them better.  Heck, if the Lakers get in (and even me, the diabolical Laker hater wants the purple and gold to get mollywhopped in the playoffs) that could be intriguing at least.  In the East, let’s not pretend we are not dying for a Heat-Knicks showdown in the Conference Finals, especially with Carmelo hitting the B button 7 times, then going up, Y, B before each game.  Just to hear that Madison Square Garden organ in meaningful playoff games (and wins, they’ve only had 1 in 12 years), is life for NBA fans.

From the great sports on TV, great weather outside to turn into a weekend warrior, Iron Man 3, and the return of the sundress, this is probably the greatest time of year for the Mancave  Now if we can get Phil Jackson to tweet all about it to make it even better.

Football Friday: AP = All Power

Posted: December 8, 2012 by dontbeskerritt in College Basketball, College Football, Must See TV, NFL
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grant_g_adrian-peterson_mb_576What else is there to say about Adrian Peterson?  Call him Terminator.  Robocop.  6 Million Dollar Man.  It probably does not equate to what this guy is doing this season.  A little less than a year go, on Christmas Eve no less, on a terrible field in Landover, Maryland, just 20 minutes from my house, #28 was laying on the ground, with his career seemingly in his hand.  A torn left ACL along with MCL damage doomed his season, and threatened the next, and even his career.  However, he wouldn’t let doctors dictate the terms of his recovery.  He rehabbed relentlessly, some of which we watched on ESPN.  But nobody thought he would see the field until the 2013 season, or late into the 2012 season. 

Little did we know that AP lives by rules that are not same as the rest of mankind.

AP was back on the field for the first week of the 2012 season.  And he wasn’t a decoy, oh no he quickly became the workhorse.  Now through 12 games, he is closing in on a 2,000 yard season.  Let me say that again; less than a year after major damage to his left knee, AP is closing in on 2,000 yards, which is a historic season for running backs, especially in a league that downplays the running game.  AP needs 554 yards in 4 games to crack the mark; while he is only averaging a measly 120.5 yds/gm, he has averaged 157.8 yds over the last 6.  Did you see how he carved the Packers up last week?  And that was with 8 in the box to stop him!

This week the Bears take their shots at AP.  I doubt they can slow down the potential MVP and Comeback Player of the Year; hopefully they can keep him off the field with a sizable lead.  Whatever the case, it is truly a marvel to watch Adrian Peterson, one of the last true athletes in the mold of Jim Brown, Bo Jackson, and Hershel Walker.   Guys that would run over you and take names.  After watching you on that horrible field in Landover last year, I know not take you or anyone that will come after you for granted again.  All hail Adrian Peterson!  Song of the week (thanks @Esteban_Matriz) and games of the weekend after the bump.

Saturday, December 8

EARLY AFTERNOON – CBB Arkansas vs 3 Michigan (12pm, CBS)/LBSU vs 7 Ohio State (12pm, BTN)/Towson vs 15 Georgetown (12pm, MASN)

LATE AFTERNOON – Armyvs Navy (3pm, CBS)/CBB Temple vs 2 Duke (3:15pm, ESPN)/UCLA vs Texas (5:15pm, ESPN)

NIGHT – Heisman Trophy Presentation (8pm, ESPN)/CBB 8 Arizona vs Clemson (8pm, ESPN2)/13 Illinois vs 10 Gonzaga (10pm, ESPN2)

Sunday, December 9

EARLY AFTERNOON – Baltimore vs Washington/Chicago vs Minnesota/Dallas vs Cincinnati

LATE AFTERNOON – New Orleans vs New York Giants/Miami vs San Francisco/Arizona vs Seattle

 

3pt Play: My Super Not-so Sweet 16

Posted: March 22, 2012 by dontbeskerritt in College Basketball
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I hope you totally went the other way from my picks for the 2012 NCAA Tournament (well at least for Friday, I went 14-16 last Thursday).  While the tournament has lacked for buzzer-beaters, it has provided us a great deal of upsets, crazy twists, and unexpected storylines leading to wide open regions for this second weekend of the tournament.  Here are a couple of things I observed from last weekend and what you can look for this weekend coming up.

1. College Basketball Sucks: Well let me not be so harsh.  The games are not really well-played.  They are really intense, which I guess is kind of fun to watch.  But when I see teams struggling to get out of the 40s midway through the second half, I know that the defenses can’t be that good.  So what’s the problem?  Do the players suck?  No, blame the guys that are leading them, the coaches.  As Pete Prisco from CBS Sports said, let the players play.  Coaches are so power-hungry and paranoid, they chain these athletes to their half-court sets.

You would think coaches know that a 2-on-1 fastbreak has a higher success rate than a 5-on-5 halfcourt offense.  You would think that coaches would put the ball in their best playmaker’s hands earlier in the shot clock and let him go to work (that’s usually what happens anyway).  But that doesn’t happen, especially not in this tournament.  Why is that?  Prisco says it like this; in the NBA players are the stars, in college its the coaches.  Because of this dynamic, coaches want the glory for having the best game preparation, style of play, halftime adjustment, etc.  Last I checked, I’ve never seen a coach make a basket.  If the NCAA wants better games, put the ball in the hands of players, not the coaches.

Marquette is the best example I have seen so far of a street-ball styled team that can still play great defense that they turn into easy offense (2nd best example is the Murray State Racers who lost to Marquette).  That is why the Golden Eagles look like a darkhorse for the Final Four.

Can the Heels win without their leader?

2. One free-flowing team looked liked a Final Four lock.  The North Carolina Tar Heels looked like at least the 2nd best team in the nation when Kendall Marshall, their floor general, was fouled hard during the 2nd half of their game against Creighton.  Marshall was awarded with a broken wrist.  UNC could have survived a John Henson wrist injury to make it to the Final Four.  But without Marshall?  Now the Midwest Region is wide open.

UNC is still the most talented team in the region from top to bottom.  But their depth has taken a hit with no Marshall or Dexter Strickland, their best perimeter defender.  Ohio brings DJ Cooper, their outstanding guard who said that Tennessee and Baylor tried to steal him away. If they get past the Bobcats, they get the Kansas/NC State winner.  Kansas has the player of the year (Thomas Robinson) and NC State almost beat UNC in the ACC Tournament.  Keep an eye on the Midwest thanks to this injury.

3. I may never do brackets again.  Norfolk State and Lehigh?  A VCU who should have beaten Indiana?  Florida State doing Florida State things (I probably should have seen that coming)?  There’s too much luck, too much bounce of the ball moments to really ever be comfortable with picks.  Would Norfolk State beat Missouri again if they play 10 more times?  Imagine the refs in the Notre Dame/Xavier game NOT deciding the game with a lane violation call.

Actually, I’ll switch up my strategy next year and you should too.  Just flip a coin for each pick.  With the way the games are these days, you have a great chance to be correct.  You have at least a better chance than listening to me on a blog post.

Part II of My Mancave06 Bracket (That Will Be Ripped to Shreds)

Posted: March 14, 2012 by dontbeskerritt in College Basketball, Just Turrible
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Bracket of Insanity

On Wednesday, I hope you caught part 1 of my bracket reveal when I showed my South and West Regions for the NCAA Tournament.  Today, I reveal my East and Midwest Regions leading up to an NCAA Champion.  Winners in bold:

East Region – 1ST ROUND

Yeah, Frank Martin is even scary when he smiles

1 Syracuse vs 16 UNC Asheville

I think all of Syracuse’s starters could go to class during the game and this will still be a breeze.

8 Kansas State vs 9 Southern Miss

I like seeing Frank Martin yell so I’m keeping the Wildcats around.  Also, Southern Miss barely got by East Carolina and lost to Marshall in their conference tournament.

5 Vanderbilt vs 12 Harvard

Harvard is gonna need some Linsanity to pull off the upset.  Mainly because the Crimson have no outside threat

4 Wisconsin vs 13 Montana

The boring Badgers will make the Grizzlies, and everyone who is watching, hibernate during this one.

6 Cincinnati vs 11 Texas

Texas only has one guy that can score (J’Covan Brown).  Cincinnati has 5 guys that can go without scoring.  Rick Barnes still coaches Texas though.  I’ll take Cincinnati.

3 Florida State vs 14 Saint Bonaventure

St. Bonaventure more than likely took my Drexel Dragon’s spot in the tournament.  So I gotta pick Florida State to wrap up the Bonnies.  And the Seminoles can (38.1% FG defense)

7 Gonzaga vs 10 West Virginia

I would say that this is a home game for the Mountaineers but since they don’t win in Pittsburgh very often, I got the Zags.

2 Ohio State vs 15 Loyola (MD)

Jimmy Patsos is a great guy.  If wins were determined by press conferences, Loyola would be in the Final Four.

2ND ROUND

Melo changed his game on the court, but he couldn't get to class

1 Syracuse vs 8 Kansas State

If only Fab Melo made it to class this would be an easier matchup for Syracuse.  Kansas State can rebound like crazy, which is the Orange’s weakness.  But Syracuse is too deep to get put out here.

4 Wisconsin vs 5 Vanderbilt

I’m not going to fall in love with Vandy’s late run.  Vandy has been a terrible Tournament team in the last couple of years.  Wisconsin is always solid in the tourney.  Jordan Taylor is going to carry the Badgers

3 Florida State vs 6 Cincinnati

The paint is not going to be for the faint of heart in this one.  The Seminoles D, combined with the Bearcats pension for droughts will make this is Florida State win.

2 Ohio State vs 7 Gonzaga

Sullinger has been awesome all year and it will continue as the Buckeys get to the Sweet 16

SWEET 16

1 Syracuse vs 4 Wisconsin

I actually was going to have Syracuse out early anyway even before Fab Melo went out.  As Bomani Jones says “zone is for cowards”.  That is a little extreme but this isn’t, Syracuse hasn’t gotten past the Sweet 16 since their National Championship.

2 Ohio State vs 3 Florida State

Florida State has the defense.  But can they score?  I can’t trust their offense to make it to the Final Four.

ELITE 8

2 Ohio State vs 4 Wisconsin

Rivalry game.  Throw out the records.  But I like Jordan Taylor over Jared Sullinger to come through in the clutch.  That’s just me.

Midwest Region – 1ST ROUND

This wrist can keep UNC from cutting down the nets

1 UNC vs 16 Vermont

The Catamounts have a history of tournament upsets.  I hope they have the DVDs of those games for the plane ride home after this one.

8 Creighton vs 9 Alabama

Classic underrated/overrated game: Creighton is underrated, Alabama is overrated.  Take the Blue Jays

5 Temple vs 12 South Florida

Man, South Florida is terrible on offense.  But they can definitely win this one with its defense.  Temple is lucky I lived in Philly so I am partial to them.

4 Michigan vs 13 Ohio

Michigan has to win a game in Columbus over an Ohio team, that where’s green.  Talk about rivals aligning.  Wolverines can handle it though.

6 San Diego State vs 11 NC State

Purely a bandwagon, everyone else is picking them pick.  But I do like C.J. Leslie for the Wolfpack

3 Georgetown vs 14 Belmont

I like things in 3′s.  I like triple-header NBA games, 3 blind mice, and Georgetown losing 3 straight times in the first round.  Georgetown needs to bring back some goon to the program.

7 St Mary’s vs 10 Purdue

In Robbie Hummel’s 10th season of eligibility (I kid), he’s made it through the year without major injury.  Matthew Dellavedova will celebrate by putting the Boilermakers out of the tournament

2 Kansas vs 15 Detroit

I don’t remember a 15 seed having a player that could match the best player on the 2 seed.  But after Ray McCallum/Thomas Robinson show, what else does Detroit have to throw against Kansas?

2ND ROUND

1 UNC vs 8 Creighton

This is why Creighton should be mad that it’s ranked 8.  Bring your abacus, calculator, fingers, and toes to keep count in this one.

4 Michigan vs 5 Temple

I think Michigan’s guards are better than Temple’s guards

11 NC State vs 14 Belmont

Belmont is really good.  They took Duke to the wire.  But I’m sticking with NC State in this one

2 Kansas vs 7 St Mary’s

St Mary’s doesn’t have an answer for DC’s own Thomas Robinson

SWEET 16

1 UNC vs 4 Michigan

Another abacus game.  Michigan better make every 3 they take if they want to win this one.

Plenty of wins, but no trophy for Coach Cal yet

2 Kansas vs 11 NC State

Kansas has overachieved all year.  I think NC State could soften them up for the fall in the Elite 8.

ELITE 8

1 UNC vs 2 Kansas

First good game in this region.  UNC can actually contain Thomas Robinson.  UNC may have too many horses for the Jayhawks.  But Kansas with a loss has nothing to hang their head about.

And now we are down to the…

FINAL 4

1 Kentucky vs 2 Missouri

This is the battle of which coach will screw up in the big game.  Despite all of his great squads, Calipari has never won a title.  I think he screws up here.  Missouri is a better Vanderbilt with their guards.  Kentucky won’t hit the 3′s to keep up.  Their youth will show up again, just like in the SEC Championship.  I’ll take Missouri.

1 UNC vs 4 Wisconsin

Wisconsin actually slowed down UNC when they played in Chapel Hill.  Won’t happen this time around.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

1 UNC vs 2 Missouri

There will be more scoring in the 1st half than the whole 2011 National Championship game combined.  But with all the parity in the NCAA these days, just fill out multiple brackets because it will take Tebow power to make this matchup occur.

Just remember, because I (and President Obama) picked UNC, stay far away from the Tar Heels!  That’s my best advice to you.  Good luck in all of your pools fellow Cavers.

My ManCave06 Bracket (Before It Gets Torn Up)

Posted: March 14, 2012 by dontbeskerritt in College Basketball, Just Turrible, Must See TV
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This will be me by Saturday

LBC challenged me to put up my bracket for the 2012 Tournament.  Not wanting to look lik I don’t know what I’m talking about, I accepted his request.  I will unveil my entire bracket on Thursday, but today I reveal my South and West Regions with the winners of each region.  Thursday will be the East and Midwest, leading to my eventual National Champion.  I will also explain why I chose each winner.  But, none of this matters because I never won a pool in my life anyway.  So you probably should do the opposite of what I say. Winners in bold:

South Region – 1ST ROUND

1 Kentucky vs 16 Western Kentucky

Umm, the Hilltoppers had 28 turnovers vs Mississippi Valley State.  I didn’t even know that was a school.  Imagine what Kentucky will do.

8 Iowa State vs 9 UCONN

This will be a theme for my bracket.  Stay away from the Big East going deep this year.  UConn has the talent but they never feel like living up to it.  I gotta love the Mayor Fred Hoiberg and Royce White for the Cyclones

Do the Rams have another run?

5 Wichita State vs 12 VCU

You can pick against Shaka Smart in a tournament game if you want to.  I won’t be so bold.  But Wichita State is no cupcake.

4 Indiana vs 13 New Mexico State

I really wanted to pick NM State because their athleticism will give the Hoosiers problems.  But I think Indiana has enough offense to survive.

6 UNLV vs 11 Colorado

Love Colorado’s late season run, but I can’t pick against the Runnin’ Rebels.

3 Baylor vs 14 South Dakota State

Gotta love the nickname Jackrabbits.  But Perry Jones III will jack up SD State on Thursday

7 Notre Dame vs 10 Xavier

Watched a lot of A-10 ball this year.  You could argue that Xavier shouldn’t be in the tournament.  Zip’em up early

2 Duke vs 15 Lehigh

Duke always has to win in the 1st Round.  It’s in the Bible

2ND ROUND

1 Kentucky vs 8 Iowa State

The Mayor has no answers for the Unibrow

You can't tell me Jack Cooley isn't Harangody's long lost twin

4 Indiana vs 12 VCU

It would be sweet to see Kentucky vs Indiana.  That’s why I picked VCU so it would happen *shrugs*

3 Baylor vs 6 UNLV

Unfortunately Perry Jones jacked and ran and didn’t show up for the next game…as usual.

2 Duke vs 7 Notre Dame

Duke probably will actually win this game because Notre Dame doesn’t have the guard play to really break down Duke and Luke Harangody’s clone will not be enough for the Plumlee twins.  But I hate Duke so there.

SWEET 16

1 Kentucky vs 12 VCU

Calipari will have his team focused.  Kentucky won’t mess up just yet.

6 UNLV vs 7 Notre Dame

UNLV can make a deep run y’all, I’m letting you know right now…so you can avoid them.

ELITE 8

1 Kentucky vs 6 UNLV

I remember when UNLV crushed UNC.  I remember when Kentucky beat UNC by 1.  This has nothing to do with this game.  Just go with Kentucky.  Kentucky the South Region winner.

West Region – 1ST ROUND

1 Michigan State vs 16 LIU-Brooklyn

Love Michigan State this year, not bad for starting the year getting blown out on a boat

Will Barton is a DMV icon...but he won't go far8 Memphis vs 9 Saint Louis

Memphis is better than an 8th seed.  Too bad, cause they are only getting one win.  Don’t sleep on Saint Louis with Rick Majerus as their coach.

5 New Mexico vs 12 Long Beach State

To make me feel better about the Pitt loss earlier this year I will ride Long Beach State.  Casper Ware is scary good (see what I did there) and you need good guards in the tournament.

4 Louisville vs 13 Davidson

Stephan Curry ain’t walking through that door.  But maybe he left his ankles in the Davidson locker room.

6 Murray State vs 11 Colorado State

If you only have one loss on the year, I guess you gotta win at least one tourney game.

3 Marquette vs 14 BYU

God loves this matchup: Marquette better pray they don’t have as many turnovers as they had in their Big East Tournament game

7 Florida vs 10 Virginia

I would say this is an upset but Florida is not good.  So there’s that.

2 Missouri vs Norfolk State

At least the music will be good at the game.

2ND ROUND

1 Michigan State vs 8 Memphis

Again Memphis should have been a higher seed.  If you remember the UNC Washington game from last year, this game will be just like that.  Memphis is good but I trust Izzo’s squads

4 Louisville vs 12 Long Beach State

Louisville is the best Big East team in this tournament so I have them in the Sweet 16.  But they won’t get far.

I don't know when Frank Haith became a good coach, but he is hitting the right buttons this year

3 Marquette vs 6 Murray State

I had to really research this one.  So after flipping a coin…sike actually Marquette is 102nd in the country in rebounding, Murray State 237th.  So while both these teams can score, I trust Marquette to dominate the glass.

2 Missouri vs 10 Virginia

I’m a history geek so bear with me.  In WWII, the German attack was built on speed.  The Russians slowed the Germans down, eventually aggravating and stopping them.  Well that’s what Virginia wants to do to Missouri.  But you can’t stop the Tigers blitz

SWEET 16

1 Michigan State vs 4 Louisville

The sweet 16, where the Big East goes to die.  Michigan State will be prepared for Louisville’s pressure D.

2 Missouri vs 3 Marquette

My eyes might bleed in this game.  But Missouri is better.

ELITE 8

1 Michigan State vs 2 Missouri

Gotta love guard play and Missouri’s is playing excellent right now.  When all else fails trust the team with the better guards.

A PITT-iful Panthers Basketball Season

Posted: January 13, 2012 by dontbeskerritt in College Basketball
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I remember my lowest moment as a Panther fan.  It was around 3pm during the Panthers first round game my sophomore year in 2005 in the WPTS radio studios.  I was slated to do the postgame show for an apparent first round victory against Pacific.  Why shouldn’t we be overconfident?  The Panthers had been to the Sweet 16 three consecutive years.  We had an all-world big man in Chris Taft, the explosive X-man Carl Krauser (from the Bronx), and the veteran Chevon Troutman leading our team.  Sure our 2004-05 squad was shaky heading into the game, coming off a season which saw our first loss at home to a non-conference opponent (Bucknell), three straight losses during the season (Nova, WVU, UConn), lost in the first round of the Big East Tourney, and had one of our role players in the Pitt Blotter in one of several strange incidents that season.

Well that Pitt team lost to Pacific in the first round 79-71.  It wasn’t even that close, even with the Panthers cutting the lead to 4 late.  I did the radio show trying to contemplate how Pitt Basketball could fall so low as to lose in the first round.  I hoped to never have that feeling again.

Well the feeling came back, even worse on Wednesday night.  When Pitt lost by 19.  At home.

To Rutgers.

It was the 5th straight loss during the worse stretch of games I have ever witnessed as a Panthers fan, even more than the end of that 2005 season.  This loss especially, to Rutgers, was historically bad.  The Panthers scored only 39 points.  That’s right, the Panthers couldn’t even score 1 point a minute.  It was the lowest point output since December 1973, the lowest at home since 1950, and they NEVER scored that low in Big East play.  Words cannot describe 21% shooting from the field (what made it worse is that I was watching the Wizards perform just as bad in Chicago during time-outs).  But how do you explain getting outrebounded by 20 to Rutgers…RUTGERS!!!  The Panthers never get outrebounded like that.  My how the mighty have fallen.

This season has been a struggle for the Panthers ever since Tray Woodall injured his abdominal and groin.  The offense has been woeful.  Ashton Gibbs NBA stock has nose-dived as it becomes clearer that this guy has to play off someone else.  No one else is capable of getting their own shot as well.    The perimeter defense has been non-existent from the Wagner game until now.  The Panthers All-American recruits have all but disappeared, literally.  Dante Taylor, slated to be a starter, looks like he has had too many late nights snacking on O’s fries (if you went to Pitt you know what I am talking about).  Khem Birch left the program in December to transfer to UNLV.  In short, the program is a mess right now.

We're A Long Way from This

Over the years, the Panthers never had players with all-world talent.  It was a blue-collar team that played a black-and-blue style for the steel city.  The bruising squads over the years would outmuscle and outeffort teams to great success.  The most talented squad was the 2008-09 team with DeJuan Blair with no knees, Levance Fields who wasn’t good at any one thing, and Sam Young who wasn’t a superstar.  Pitt always supplemented their marginal talent with hustle and tenacity.  And it create a wave of success for Jamie Dixon and the Pitt Basketball program.

What’s most disappointing now is that there is no more hustle and tenacity with this Pitt squad.  As the Rutgers lead grew, the Panthers effort dwindled.  That is evident by getting outrebounded by 20.  As Cardiac Hill describes it in their blog, Nasir Robinson was the player of the game for the Panthers with this line: Five turnovers, 3-9 from the field for seven points, and nine rebounds.  The Panthers have been defanged, the Oakland Zoo is now an aquarium.

The problems with Pitt may not be solved with Woodall coming back.  Gone is Brad Wanamaker that added the offense punch that Gibbs seems to have lost.  Gone are Gilbert Brown and Gary McGhee who played the tough defense that Talib Zanna and Taylor seem ill-equipped and/or uninterested in playing.  The Pitt program has been built on young guys biding their time on the bench, learning from veteran players.  That is why Fields, Wanamaker and McGhee did well; they sat behind Krauser, Antonio Graves and Blair respectively.    It seems that Dixon has lost this team this year.

With their next three games against ranked opponents – including #1 Syracuse, things look like it’s going to get worse for the Panthers.  What looked as just a hiccup for the Panthers could be an avalanche of disaster for the team.  Even if they do not have the firepower to be .500 in the Big East, all I ask for is the effort and toughness that made this program a consistent threat year in and year out.  Because right now, not only does it suck to lose, it sucks that the Panthers have lost their bite.

No Regard for Human Life

Posted: November 11, 2011 by dontbeskerritt in College Basketball
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It’s the unofficial start of college basketball tonight.  As Jeremy Lamb points out to us in this shot, there are some stars to watch out for in college while the NBA continues to wet the bed.  And for the other guy in the shot…for his sake he will remain nameless.  It’s good to have you back basketball.

Football Friday: Solving the Great Mystery of the Universe – Pitt Athletics Pt. 2

Posted: October 21, 2011 by dontbeskerritt in College Basketball, NFL
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When Will the Trophy Become the National Championship Trophy?

This article is tough for me to write because I would really be whining talking about the Pitt Basketball team.  Only Duke and Kansas has had a better win percentage than Pitt in the last decade.  The school is consistently a 20-win team, with 10 wins in the rugged Big East.  The Panthers have won 3 Big East regular season titles under Jamie Dixon.  The Panthers have gone to 11 straight NCAA Tournaments (2 with Ben Howland).  They have done all of this based in Western Pennsylvania, not exactly the hotbed of basketball recruiting.  In fact, before DeJuan Blair (RIP Schenley HS), the best Western Pennsylvania product recruited to Pitt was Sean Miller, who graduated in 1992.  I am very proud of what Pitt Basketball has become as a basketball power, and yet…

I can’t call Pitt a basketball powerhouse because we have never, NEVER, been to the Final Four.  Not even accidentally.  The closest the Panthers have gotten is our only Elite Eight appearance in 2009, when Scottie Reynolds and Villanova ran a cross-court play in 5.5 seconds to eliminate Pitt from the Tournament (Pitt was a 1 seed too).  That is still our only Elite Eight appearance. 11 straight Tournament appearances.  I can’t do math, but that isn’t a good ratio.

Pitt is terrible in tournaments.  The Panthers have only won 2 Big East Tournaments since 2002.  Jamie Dixon only has one of them.  Pitt has 3 Big East titles, with only one B.E. Tournament title in 4 appearances in the championship game under Dixon.  The NCAA Tournament is even more heartbreaking.  In 11 straight appearances, Pitt has been a top 4 seed 8 times.  One Elite 8 appearance, 0 Final Fours.  In fact, they have only made the Sweet 16 5 times in that period.  Pitt Basketball is cursed, as proved by the bizarre ending to the tournament last year, with a foul in the last seconds that was 84 feet away from the basket.  Pitt lost 71-70; the third straight year Pitt has lost by 3 or less in the tournament.  Will Pitt ever get that 3 points in a tournament to put them over the top?

The Scene of the Crime

You can say that coaching is the problem.  While Jamie Dixon has one of the best resumes for his work at Pitt thus far, people still have a problem with his philosophy especially on pick-and-roll defense (see pic to the right as an example).  You can blame the recruits Pitt gets; there really hasn’t been anyone that could make a play with the ball in his hands.  You could say Carl Krauser was our best player with the ball in his hands but see a first round Tournament game vs Pacific (yes Pacific) to see why we don’t want to relive those Krauser days.  Those playmakers are usually one-and-done types and Pitt never, ever, recruits those guys. Pitt has one of the best pure shooters in the country in Ashton Gibbs.  But as the Big East Tournament last year proved, where UCONN refused to let Gibbs spot up and shoot clean looks.  As Kemba Walker proved last year, if you have a player that could create his own shot, you can go as far as he is willing to take you in the NCAA Tournament and who knows if Gibbs can do that this year.

However, all is not doom and gloom for Pitt.  They may not be able to get Western PA talent because there is none, but they do get bruisers.  Pitt has a fierce recruit named Khem Birch who is compared to Kenyon Martin.  He replaces Gary McGhee (see picture above and to the right) who was as athletic as a parked Ashton Martin.   So Pitt is going to keep on rebounding and beating up opponents in the paint.  Brad Wanamaker is gone to Italy but Travon Woodall is a suitable replacement.  Nasir Robinson will be motivated to prove he isn’t brain-dead.  And Gibbs will shoot the lights out again.

But as with all Pitt sports, will it be enough?  Will Pitt ever be able to create the magic and moxie that is needed to make a run at the Final 4?  You saw VCU last year; sometimes its more than just what the players can do and how they execute, there has to be a belief around the team that nobody can get in the way of their run.  After 11 straight tournaments, including last year’s disaster, can Pitt create that magic within themselves?  Or will the pressure to prove that they are an upper echelon basketball program stymie them again like it has the last 2 tournaments?

Pitt basketball is not Duke, UNC, or Kansas.  Pitt football is not Ohio State, Penn State, or Michigan.  The Great Mystery of Pitt Athletics probably has nothing to do with what the teams do.  The football team is remodeling and the basketball team is searching for the next level.  The mystery has to do with us the fans, with our expectations.  We need to just enjoy this golden era of Pitt Athletics and hold on to the hope for the day that all of our squads (the volleyball and swim teams were pretty good when I was there) are at the upper echelon of their sports.  Everything is alright Pitt fans, that day is coming soon. After the video, the games of the weekend.  How about taking your lady to church on Sunday and staying for potluck?  This may be the Sunday to do it.

Saturday, October 22

12-3pm: Oklahoma State vs Missouri (FX), North Carolina vs Clemson (ESPN), Kansas State vs Kansas (check local TV)

3:30-7pm: Auburn vs LSU (CBS), Georgia Tech vs Miami (ESPN), Maryland vs Florida State (ABC or ESPN2)

8pm-11pm: Washington vs Stanford (ABC), Wisconsin vs Michigan State (ESPN),  Game 3 World Series (FOX)

Sunday, October 23

1-4pm: San Diego vs New York Jets, Atlanta vs Detroit, Denver vs Miami

4-7pm: Kansas City vs Oakland, Green Bay vs Minnesota, Pittsburgh vs Arizona