Without further (or any) ado, here is the first edition of the Panther Sports Network Top 25 for the 2010-2011 Men's College Basketball season.
(Nov. 23, 2010)
1. Duke
2. Kansas
3. Kansas State
4. Michigan State
5. Pittsburgh
6. Ohio State
7. Villanova
8. Syracuse
9. Kentucky
10. Washington
11. Purdue
12. Baylor
13. Georgetown
14. Missouri
15. Minnesota
16. Memphis
17. San Diego State
18. Temple
19. Tennessee
20. Florida
21. Texas
22. Illinois
23. BYU
24. Gonzaga
25. Louisville
Nov 23, 2010
Nov 10, 2010
Pitt Basketball back in action, improves to 134-11 at the Pete
Since I wasn't at home last night, there was no post about the Pitt basketball opener. It was a tough game as expected, but it was made much closer than it should be due to some inexcusable missed lay-ups and the rock solid hands of Gary McGhee. Rhode Island is a pretty good team, so I didn't think it was going to be a runaway win for Pitt, but if they make half of those lay-ups it's a 15 point win. Brad Wanamaker and Ashton Gibbs did their usual thing and accounted for 46 of Pitt's 83 points. Talib Zanna added what appears to be an inside presence, something Pitt has lacked since DeJuan Blair's departure. Zanna used his athleticism to grab 11 rebounds and added some transition game to the Pitt effort. One thing Pitt is going to have to address is having a third banana. Gil Brown added 10 points, but only shot 2 for 8 from the field and just never got in the zone. As we saw at the end of last season, Brown can carry the team for periods of time and then disappear just as easily. This team can't just rely on Gibbs and Wanamaker to carry them night in and night out. They need someone else to step up in their absence. Look at the 2008-2009 Pitt team. You has Sam Young, DeJuan Blair and Levance Fields all capable of leading the team every night. You also had Brown, Wanamaker and Gibbs that could also contribute when needed. Unless something dramatic happens in the near future, none of the bigs are going to add a ton of offensive punch. Nas Robinson did have that huge game against Louisville last year where he could do no wrong, but those type of efforts out of him are going to be few and far between. Gary McGhee is not an offensive threat in any way, shape or form. Dante Taylor hasn't shown any huge offensive output either, so this team needs Brown and/or Patterson to step up and be the number three guy.
Tonight we saw another edition of the Gibbs and Wanamaker show. Ashton scored 24 and hit five of 10 threes and Wanamaker added 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Before the game got out of hand, Gibbs and Wanamaker combined for 41 of the teams first 74 points. This was a non-conference home game and a blowout of a team picked to finish ninth in a mid-major conference. This team can't rely on two guys to score nearly 3/5 of their points when the games against tournament teams roll around. So what i'm looking for in the next few games is how Brown, Patterson, Woodall and Zanna play in the first half. #4 Pitt ended up winning 97-54 in a much easier bout with Illinois-Chicago. Pitt improved to 2-0 in 2010-2011 and 134-11 at the Petersen Events Center. The Panthers will host North Florida on Saturday before they take a step up in competition against Maryland, when they head to their home-away-from-home, Madison Square Garden, where they are 21-10 since 2001. Recently, Pitt has captured two Big East Championships and notched an unforgettable upset against the undefeated Duke Blue Devels on December 20, 2007. Gibbs will be taking his Big East Player of the Year campaign back to the area where he grew up and try to make his imprint on the Garden. These games against high profile opponents will serve as a measuring stick for this years Panthers.
There are two other important sporting events going on tonight.
First, my Sixers are in Oklahoma City attempting to slow down the 2010 FIBA World Championship MVP and defending scoring champion, Kevin Durant. The Sixers are hanging tough without Andre Iguodala thanks to a heel injury. Jrue Holiday and Elton Brand have carried the Sixers so far in what has been a relatively close contest. Kevin Durant has been quiet (for him) and yet has managed to put up 17 points and four rebounds. A few things that I have learned from this game (other than about Eric Snow's insistence on talking non-stop about his mediocre NBA career) is that the Sixers desperately need a center. Spencer Hawes has looked awful (although still better than Jason Smith). If we are dead set on having a white center, please find a good one. I'd even be happy with playing Brand at center and Thaddeus Young at power forward. The best line-up I've seen for this team includes Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Elton Brand. With a few trade chips, Marreesse Speights, Lou Williams and Jason Kapono's expiring contract, I believe that getting a solid center is highly possible.
Second, we have the Ultimate Fighter semifinals. I apologize to those that thought I was going to talk about that Toledo-Bowling Green barn burner. Not happening. I'm hoping that Koscheck's guys can get it done tonight in a few tough match-ups. Actually, I'm hoping for another fight between Koscheck and someone GSP brings in to piss Koscheck off, but I highly doubt that will happen. GSP's guy, Jonathon Brookins, looks like Clay Guida, so how appropriate would it be if he were to win this thing and get the UFC contract. You'd have Clay Guida and a guy that looks like Clay Guida. It's like how in the NBA when the Nuggets play the Suns. On the same court, you have Shelden Williams and the Suns mascot, a guerrilla.
Pitt vs. Illinois-Chicago Halftime Update
Pitt 43
UIC 29
The Panthers take a 14-point lead into the half, certainly nothing to scoff at considering this pesky Illinois-Chicago squad. Brad Wanamaker is already doing his usual stat sheet-stuffing routine, putting up 11 points, 7 assists, and 3 boards in the first half. Ashton Gibbs leads the scoring with 13 points and also has 4 assists.
UIC 29
The Panthers take a 14-point lead into the half, certainly nothing to scoff at considering this pesky Illinois-Chicago squad. Brad Wanamaker is already doing his usual stat sheet-stuffing routine, putting up 11 points, 7 assists, and 3 boards in the first half. Ashton Gibbs leads the scoring with 13 points and also has 4 assists.
Nov 8, 2010
Pitt - Rhode Island Post-Game
Pitt hailed victorious in the first game of the season.
The Panthers defeated the Rhode Island Rams by a score of 83 - 75.
Going into the game many wondered why such a challenging game was scheduled to open the season. In the post-game news conference, Jamie Dixon joked about not having to answer any more questions playing URI to start off the season.
Defeating the Rams definitely leaves Pitt on an optimistic note
Not only does the team have a reputable non-conference team, but Brad Wanamaker and Ashton Gibbs have established themselves as the leaders of this team on and off the court; this was ever-more prevalent when in the final few minutes of the first half when the two helped lead the Panthers to nine consecutive point, and in the final few minutes of the second half when the two remained poised to help solidify the game.
Throughout the game, the Panthers should a relentless ability to drive to the hoop and obtain close-range shots; however, the Panthers missed nine lay-ups which kept the Panthers back in the first-half.
During the second-half, the team was more effective from the field as it finished more close-range buckets. The Panthers' ability to penetrate will be a driving force behind the success of the team throughout the season.
For the Rams, Delroy James was a stand-out player. His enthusiasm, versatility, and deep three point shooting under pressure helped keep the Rams in the game.
The Pitt defense held up well as URI was forced into mostly contested long range shoots. URI shot a surprisingly high percentage from the field despite being limited to the perimeter. This could be an extremely useful asset to fall back on in tough games if the team finds itself struggling in what will be a competitive A-10.
All in all, Pitt can take out a lot of positives from such a game. The only disappointing facet was the Jamie Dixon could not find an effective solution for containing a dynamic forward-guard like Delroy James which could be threatening in the Big East which is filled with mirror players such as Jimmy Butler (Marquette), Jeremy Hazell (Seton Hall), D.J. Kennedy (St. John's), Corey Stokes (Villanova), and Kevin Jones (West Virginia). In the press-conference Dixon said that he expected everything he saw from James but that there wasn't anything in particular that he had immediately taken away in terms of guarding a player like James.
The Panthers defeated the Rhode Island Rams by a score of 83 - 75.
Going into the game many wondered why such a challenging game was scheduled to open the season. In the post-game news conference, Jamie Dixon joked about not having to answer any more questions playing URI to start off the season.
Defeating the Rams definitely leaves Pitt on an optimistic note
Not only does the team have a reputable non-conference team, but Brad Wanamaker and Ashton Gibbs have established themselves as the leaders of this team on and off the court; this was ever-more prevalent when in the final few minutes of the first half when the two helped lead the Panthers to nine consecutive point, and in the final few minutes of the second half when the two remained poised to help solidify the game.
Throughout the game, the Panthers should a relentless ability to drive to the hoop and obtain close-range shots; however, the Panthers missed nine lay-ups which kept the Panthers back in the first-half.
During the second-half, the team was more effective from the field as it finished more close-range buckets. The Panthers' ability to penetrate will be a driving force behind the success of the team throughout the season.
For the Rams, Delroy James was a stand-out player. His enthusiasm, versatility, and deep three point shooting under pressure helped keep the Rams in the game.
The Pitt defense held up well as URI was forced into mostly contested long range shoots. URI shot a surprisingly high percentage from the field despite being limited to the perimeter. This could be an extremely useful asset to fall back on in tough games if the team finds itself struggling in what will be a competitive A-10.
All in all, Pitt can take out a lot of positives from such a game. The only disappointing facet was the Jamie Dixon could not find an effective solution for containing a dynamic forward-guard like Delroy James which could be threatening in the Big East which is filled with mirror players such as Jimmy Butler (Marquette), Jeremy Hazell (Seton Hall), D.J. Kennedy (St. John's), Corey Stokes (Villanova), and Kevin Jones (West Virginia). In the press-conference Dixon said that he expected everything he saw from James but that there wasn't anything in particular that he had immediately taken away in terms of guarding a player like James.
Pitt - Rhode Island Half-Time
Pitt leads URI 37 - 36 at high due to last minute run of 9 - 0. The run concluded with a Lamar Patterson dunk to electrify the crowd.
Foul trouble will surely be addressed by Jamie Dixon in the locker-room at half.
The Panthers committed 9 personal fouls; most of them being off-the-ball giving the Rams easy opportunities.
The Rams have capitalized at the free throw line making 7 of 9.
The rest of URI's baskets have mostly come from perimeter shooting and mid-range shots. URI is an impressive 7 of 14 from outside the arc.
The underlying question will be if the Rams can maintain this shooting percentage in the second half because Dixon and the Panthers will surely secede the long range shots as opposed to inside penetration.
On the other end of the floor, the Panthers have had great penetration.
Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker have driven in the lane with ease. These high percentage opportunities will hold the Panthers in this game even if their poor shooting doesn't heat up.
It is unlikely that the Panthers will continue to shoot 14.3% from 3-point range.
Additionally, the Panthers have been able to offset this poor percentage with offensive rebounds: the Panthers grabbed 11 with Lamar Patterson leading the team with 3 offensive rebounds.
Foul trouble will surely be addressed by Jamie Dixon in the locker-room at half.
The Panthers committed 9 personal fouls; most of them being off-the-ball giving the Rams easy opportunities.
The Rams have capitalized at the free throw line making 7 of 9.
The rest of URI's baskets have mostly come from perimeter shooting and mid-range shots. URI is an impressive 7 of 14 from outside the arc.
The underlying question will be if the Rams can maintain this shooting percentage in the second half because Dixon and the Panthers will surely secede the long range shots as opposed to inside penetration.
On the other end of the floor, the Panthers have had great penetration.
Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker have driven in the lane with ease. These high percentage opportunities will hold the Panthers in this game even if their poor shooting doesn't heat up.
It is unlikely that the Panthers will continue to shoot 14.3% from 3-point range.
Additionally, the Panthers have been able to offset this poor percentage with offensive rebounds: the Panthers grabbed 11 with Lamar Patterson leading the team with 3 offensive rebounds.
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