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Message: [QUOTE="orange79, post: 2023503, member: 159"] If you’re looking for an X’s and O’s breakdown of the Pitt game, you’ll have to read one of the many board experts’ posts. Because I am not one of those. Not even close. This will just be a commentary on the game experience. I have not read the board before writing this, so please excuse anything that has been beaten to death already.[B] ;)[/B] Once again, Mrs. orange79 and I was fortunate enough and privileged to sit in some very special courtside seats, due to the enormous generosity of cto. She is a very special person who is very special to Syracuse and to this board, which to a large extent would not exist in its present state without her efforts and support. Thank you, Joyce. Got a chance to chat with Cheriehoop, who stopped down from her seats to say Hi. Thanks, Cherie! Didn’t really get a chance to see many other folks this trip – next time! The game just took off from the start and never let up. A stunning run to blow the game open. Based on recent performance, and our history vs. Pitt, I think I can safely say no one saw this coming. The game is very different when you watch from close up – and can hear the players talking, see the nuanced expressions on their faces, etc. It just gives you a different perspective. And that perspective today? The kids were into it. Right from the get-go. I don’t know whether it’s the personnel changes, the learning of the zone finally clicking, or what. But the D today was as active as it was in some of the great years. The team seemed committed to it, which I can’t really say that I saw earlier in the season. Whatever the reason, they need to keep it up and get back in this thing. The O seemed more fluid today also, but I’ll leave the dissection of that to the experts. The following are just some bullet point observations and stream-of-consciousness thoughts: [LIST] [*]So much energy displayed by the team today; based on the season to date, I wasn’t sure they had it in them. So happy to see it. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]When you’re sitting so close to the action (see pic below), you are likely to become part of it. In warmups, I was standing next to my seat with my back to the court when I heard about 6 voices simultaneously say, “Heads up!”. I turned around while unconsciously raising my hands and found myself catching a ball that came my way. Pitt player mumbled, “Good catch” as I threw it back to him. Good thing for my lightning-quick, catlike reflexes :rolleyes: [/LIST] [ATTACH=full]86384[/ATTACH] [LIST] [*]Otto was most definitely there [/LIST] [ATTACH=full]86385[/ATTACH] [LIST] [*]Watching the game from so close of a vantage point, you get to see how big, fast, and strong these kids really are. Wow [/LIST] [LIST] [*]You also get to see how the kids were communicating with each other – really talking and communicating about plays, where they were supposed to be, etc. Good to see. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Jeter of Pitt most definitely touched the ball last on the OOB play that concluded with Pitt being awarded the ball. It happened right in front of us, and it was clear he touched the ball last. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]The title of this post is This is not your father’s Pitt team, and I think that was evident in the way they played. None of the swagger, the clutching and grabbing, the smash you in the mouth manner of play. Of course, we didn’t give them the chance to do any of that with our quick start, but you can tell Vaseline-head is not coaching this team anymore. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]You could see in the Pitt players’ eyes when we played them even for most of the second half that they knew they were walking out with a loss today. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]What was the deal with the Pitt ‘press’ today? It really did nothing but take some time off the clock. It didn’t appear to be meant to try to turn the ball over, it was so loose and weak. Every time down court it was Gillon to Battle to Gillon (or Gillon to Battle to Gillon to Battle) and the ‘press’ was broken. Really weird strategy, unless your goal was to lower the number of possessions available in the game. If it was meant to waste time, it worked. If it was meant to throw us off our O…well, we scored 42 1st half points. :noidea: [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Speaking of Gillon, he is now playing like he’s the man. Huge difference in his on-court persona. Good to see. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]It’s not often you get to hear the lead singer for Anthrax perform the national anthem. Solid job. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Fun the see the refs talking to the players and explaining why they called a play a certain way. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Gillon seemed so psyched to be doing well, both scoring and leading the team, there were a couple times he danced back down the floor. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Frank spent most of the game sitting between JB and Autry. Not a lot of reaction from him one way or the other. I am afraid we may have lost him. I hate when that happens to players. He may not have had a good season, but you can’t accuse him of not trying. [/LIST] Overall, not a lot to complain about with this game. SU put the game away in the 1st half, and played Pitt even for most of the 2nd half, so they never really got the feeling they could get back in the game. That’s about all I have. A wonderful experience, made that much better by a huge win over a team we usually struggle with. And if I could add, I am 2-0 when sitting in these seats. Just sayin’… ;) [/QUOTE]

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