Pittsburgh Thoughts

[Oakland]

Keep in mind that quite a few kids don't go to the NBA at the earliest opportunity.

The General's recap for this one is awesome!

I would add Ennis snapping the net on his pressure free throws is probably a huge positive worth mentioning. The kid has ice in his veins!!

After Grant made his slam down dunk against BC, I finally conceded in my mind Grant is leaving for the NBA. The same thing for Ennis and this game. After the Pitt game I mentally conceded Ennis might actually be gone after this year. I hate the idea of losing either one of these guys. But both are playing really good BB right now and I think they are both going to continue to improve through February and March.

 

[CorduroyG]

You are right, easy was a poor choice of words. My point was, in the last ten years I hardly remember Pitt's half court defense giving up any lay ups, and Ennis got two in the last two minutes of the game when Pitt should have been the most locked in.

A lot of what made their defense good is gone, I believe this is by design, and I believe it will lead to more meaningful success for Pittsburgh (if they can recruit at a high enough rate to pull it off, which I suppose is the big question).

pitt's half court defense didnt give up layups in the last 10 years because pitt wasnt trying to defend tyler ennis in the last 10 years

 

[capeorange]

Thanks for another great post General!

 

[moqui]

General20 Love your posts, but one quibble and it may be semantics, I don't think the two layups Ennis made were "easy". Besides the circumstances of the game adding pressure, the right-handed finger roll maybe could be construed as easy, butt he left-handed finish was a hard layup and it looked like he got bodied on the way up as well.

Otherwise, agree with everything and keep the posts coming!

and it wasn't just the points; it was the calm, the decisiveness, and the leadership.

Love your takes, General, but I think you seriously undersold Ennis in this write up. Year after year after year, this is the kind of game that Pitt almost always wrestles away from Syracuse. As they chipped away at the nine point lead, then built themselves a 3 point lead of their own with under 4 to play, as SU could not squeeze a defensive board and every loose ball fell out of their hands out of bounds, a feeling of dread began to grow in my heart. "Here we go again," I thought. "Dixon just knows how to beat us, and his players are always going to out-heart and out-hustle SU down the stretch." I'll bet you thousands of other Orange fans were having similar feelings.

But this time was different. And the difference was Tyler Ennis. It's one thing to play well when there is a lot of time on the clock and the score is in your favor. But to play like that when it looks like the house is burning down is special.

 

[HarrisonJBounel]

I'm not much of an X's and O's guy, but what I saw several times was Pitt flashing the center from the strong side post up to the weak side elbow, while at the same time the guard with the ball would pass to the other guard with the center now coming toward him. The center would receive the entry pass at the elbow. Our now strong side forward would step up to challenge, and the center would bounce pass to their strong side forward cutting to the basket.

 

[Rocco]

As usual, you leave me hanging on several details. Maybe next game...

 

[jordoo]

If you ever feel like you want to give it a try, let me know. It could be fun.

I expect this to be linked to the board gentlemen!!!!!

 

[jordoo]

My one complaint is that you made us wait 2 days . . . . . . are you on a snow day like us down in Baltimore area?

For me I thought we had methodically taken Pitt out of their offense while playing the most efficient offensive game of the season then Patterson hit his 3 bombs and it energized his team which was followed by them putting a dominating rebounding performance in the rest of the way. Had Cooney made a couple of his harder 3's I believe the game would have been out of reach before Patterson went off.

I loved your explanation about how Pitt's most used offensive set put them in block out position for offensive rebounds against us. This is also why rebounds were so hard to hold onto even when we grabbed them since there were often 4-5 guys all in the lane right by the basket giving no room to bring the ball down.

Pitt defense: I saw the same things they have really cleaned things up especially on the ball. I did feel like they have redirected that physicality elsewhere to an extent. They were more than just tough and physical in the rebounding action. I thought they jumped sideways crashing into guys, shoved in the back often with 2 hands (especially on their own FT misses) and indiscriminately slapped and wacked at the ball whenever it was in the hands of one of our guys on the rebounding action. I could see their front line getting into foul trouble in the NCAAT until they get better athletes who can defend penetration more regularly. Poor penetration defense combined with super physicality on the glass could have Zanna sitting early which would hurt them.

I wonder if Tyler knew he had those drives all game long and just waited until they were really needed so Pitt couldn't make an adjustment. We were scoring regularly anyways so no need for it until late and he just seems like that kind of player. I honestly am beginning to feel that we have the best player in all of college basketball at the helm.

 

[General20]

My one complaint is that you made us wait 2 days . . . . . . are you on a snow day like us down in Baltimore area?

For me I thought we had methodically taken Pitt out of their offense while playing the most efficient offensive game of the season then Patterson hit his 3 bombs and it energized his team which was followed by them putting a dominating rebounding performance in the rest of the way. Had Cooney made a couple of his harder 3's I believe the game would have been out of reach before Patterson went off.

I loved your explanation about how Pitt's most used offensive set put them in block out position for offensive rebounds against us. This is also why rebounds were so hard to hold onto even when we grabbed them since there were often 4-5 guys all in the lane right by the basket giving no room to bring the ball down.

Pitt defense: I saw the same things they have really cleaned things up especially on the ball. I did feel like they have redirected that physicality elsewhere to an extent. They were more than just tough and physical in the rebounding action. I thought they jumped sideways crashing into guys, shoved in the back often with 2 hands (especially on their own FT misses) and indiscriminately slapped and wacked at the ball whenever it was in the hands of one of our guys on the rebounding action. I could see their front line getting into foul trouble in the NCAAT until they get better athletes who can defend penetration more regularly. Poor penetration defense combined with super physicality on the glass could have Zanna sitting early which would hurt them.

I wonder if Tyler knew he had those drives all game long and just waited until they were really needed so Pitt couldn't make an adjustment. We were scoring regularly anyways so no need for it until late and he just seems like that kind of player. I honestly am beginning to feel that we have the best player in all of college basketball at the helm.

I took MLK day off. Hey he deserves it.

You've got to give Ennis credit for making all the right reads, but I don't think he is capable of scoring at will against Pitt. Both lay ups were the result of Pittsburgh mistakes.

One time Zanna was forced to cover Ennis on an island which he was never going to be able to do, and help never came (give credit to Boeheim here, it happened right after a time out and I assume it was how he drew it up, Cooney was waiting in the corner and his man was not about to leave him).

The other time Robinson got way out of position and Ennis took advantage.

Again, Ennis deserves all the credit for taking what the defense gave him, but I do think both scores came off defensive mistakes by Pitt, and defensive shortcomings they have.

 

[moqui]

Pitt defense: I saw the same things they have really cleaned things up especially on the ball. I did feel like they have redirected that physicality elsewhere to an extent. They were more than just tough and physical in the rebounding action. I thought they jumped sideways crashing into guys, shoved in the back often with 2 hands (especially on their own FT misses) and indiscriminately slapped and wacked at the ball whenever it was in the hands of one of our guys on the rebounding action. I could see their front line getting into foul trouble in the NCAAT until they get better athletes who can defend penetration more regularly. Poor penetration defense combined with super physicality on the glass could have Zanna sitting early which would hurt them.

one thing that they did was to play very physically on Cooney. He was held and bumped repeatedly on his cuts, and that wore him down. He was two for five after hitting the three that put us up 7, then missed the next three and they were all bricks; not even close. Didn't help that JB played him without a break in the 2nd half, either. I think Cooney is so active on his cuts and curls that needs a blow here and there, especially against physical teams.

 

[jordoo]

one thing that they did was to play very physically on Cooney. He was held and bumped repeatedly on his cuts, and that wore him down. He was two for five after hitting the three that put us up 7, then missed the next three and they were all bricks; not even close. Didn't help that JB played him without a break in the 2nd half, either. I think Cooney is so active on his cuts and curls that needs a blow here and there, especially against physical teams.

They did call one foul on Robinson I think holding him on a baseline cut early in the second half but you are correct for the most part they were physical and certainly the refs could have blown the whistle on them the way they defended Cooney when he was running. I did say they cleaned things up on the ball.

 

[jordoo]

I took MLK day off. Hey he deserves it.

You've got to give Ennis credit for making all the right reads, but I don't think he is capable of scoring at will against Pitt. Both lay ups were the result of Pittsburgh mistakes.

One time Zanna was forced to cover Ennis on an island which he was never going to be able to do, and help never came (give credit to Boeheim here, it happened right after a time out and I assume it was how he drew it up, Cooney was waiting in the corner and his man was not about to leave him).

The other time Robinson got way out of position and Ennis took advantage.

Again, Ennis deserves all the credit for taking what the defense gave him, but I do think both scores came off defensive mistakes by Pitt, and defensive shortcomings they have.

Glad you where able to take off. I had to drive home with a bunch of crazies who have no business driving in the snow nor any concept of why they should get some speed and momentum before attempting to drive up a snow covered hill. At least I am home relaxing now even if I couldn't help myself from bringing some paperwork along.

I don't know if Tyler could have driven all game but I wonder if he saw something on the high screens earlier that indicated to him that Pitt was not defending it properly and there would be an advantage there to press if he needed it. You're probably right about the second drive coming out of the TO being designed by JB though. The spacing was especially good with not only Cooney's position keeping the perimeter driving lane open but also GRant and CJ being far enough away that the lane was clear and the help too far away.

 

[bballbeadle]

35

OH MY GOD, YOU'RE AN INFANT!!

Clearly, you are precocious.

 

[edowd26]

OH MY GOD, YOU'RE AN INFANT!!

Clearly, you are precocious.

That word immediately makes me think of Betty Davis Eyes.. which is my jam...

 

[JOC44]

one thing that they did was to play very physically on Cooney. He was held and bumped repeatedly on his cuts, and that wore him down. He was two for five after hitting the three that put us up 7, then missed the next three and they were all bricks; not even close. Didn't help that JB played him without a break in the 2nd half, either. I think Cooney is so active on his cuts and curls that needs a blow here and there, especially against physical teams.

After Robinson came back in with three fouls, Cooney sprinted from the right baseline to the left baseline and Robinson basically had his arm around Cooney's neck to slow him down. I assumed Robinson would have had to hit Cooney with a tire iron to get hit with a fourth foul.

 

[Col. Bleep]

Pitt may be THE most physical team in America.
And for my money they are a Top 10 team.
We prevailed despite getting absolutely obliterated by their offensive rebounding.
But we're used to their style.
So is Cincy...the only other team to beat them.

So, two points:

1. I look forward to seeing how the usual bigshot ACC teams try to handle Pitt.

2. About now the rest of the ACC is realizing there's a new sheriff in town.
And just wait until Louisville joins us along with Pitt and ND.
The ACC ain't what it used to be.
Their nice southern conference is now mostly the second division.

 

[zhanjuzi]

Finally!

When the General posts his predictions and post game analysis I immediately scroll down to the end, hit the like button and then scroll back to the top where I can slowly take my time to absorb all the information without having to worry about whether I acknowledged the post.

This analysis is right-on the money. As for Ennis, he is like a cobra, in that he can strike so quickly and deadly, it's impossible to stop him. I doubt he is around next year so I'm going to savor every minute he plays this year.

 

[Dave85]

I'm not much of an X's and O's guy, but what I saw several times was Pitt flashing the center from the strong side post up to the weak side elbow, while at the same time the guard with the ball would pass to the other guard with the center now coming toward him. The center would receive the entry pass at the elbow. Our now strong side forward would step up to challenge, and the center would bounce pass to their strong side forward cutting to the basket.

I watched the first half again from the DVD. Pitt was definitely using some kind of read-react motion Offense. Players were moving to set spots as the ball moved to certain spots.