News: Jamie Dixon, speaking just before boarding the Pitt bus that will eventually have the Panthers landing in Greensboro, N.C., for the ACC Tournament, said he aims to use more of his bench beginning with the Wednesday opener vs. North Carolina State.
Here’s part of our talk today outside the Petersen Events Center.
Views: He’s really got no choice, given that Pitt needs to beat N.C. State, then Duke, then probably Notre Dame, then probably Virginia to win the tournament. And in four consecutive days, no less. And if the Panthers don’t run the table, they have zero shot at the NCAAs.
Still, I’ll believe it when I see it. As I mention to the coach in the above video, he wasn’t exactly going deep on his bench down the stretch. Aron Phillips-Nwankwo, a genuine energy guy up front, logged 20 minutes in Pitt’s final four games. Derrick Randall had 18 minutes in the final five games. Josh Newkirk was an afterthought until the finale at Florida State. Joseph Uchebo and Ryan Luther never took off the sweats.
It’s one thing to bemoan lack of depth. It’s another to not use it.
Look, I’m not suggesting Pitt has a prayer at this thing. That would be silly. But there is plenty for the program to gain from the process, and the more players that get involved, the better. Dixon discussed openly how his team’s shortcoming was its defense but also conceded that part of the problem was that the starters wore down. The only solution for both is to get more players involved. It can’t just be Michael Young, Jamel Artis and the usual. Wonderful as those two, in particular, have been, it’s equally evident that they’ve got little left when they get back to the other end of the court. That’s not helping them become better.
Here’s all the info on Pitt and the conference tournament.
The problem is more players can only help if they can play and you can mask their shortcomings. If they haven't played much all season they are unlikely to help now.
HCJD has never been a big depth guy once the calendar turns. Playing fresh guys off the bench should always be preferable to grinding down your starters. Worn down starters prove the law of diminishing returns...and get injured. Of course the guys on the bench aren't as good....that's why they're on the bench. If they can't play...well who is the one who gave power conference scholarships to guys who can't play?
Their lack of experience in the low post for next season is beyond frightening. Especially if you consider what the rest of the ACC brings back. And as we saw all this year, when they went to 2-3 zone defensively to compensate for it, they got crushed by 3s and long jumpers.
Perimeter Defense, rebounding and blocked shots will be an issue next year too. And Jamie knows it.
Haughton and Nix have to be a little more than just bodies next year. Because if Mike Young still has to man the 5 all year, they could as bad or worse defensively.
Depth doesn't just mean having bodies. Every single one of the players you mentioned is either a walk on or not played well at all in the later half of the ACC season. There isn't proven talent depth is what I think Dixon means. He came short of saying "the guys aren't getting it done with the minutes given"
I'm not a big Derrick Randall fan by any means, but how he didn't play a minute against FSU still amazes me.
Groat2Maz2Strangeglove
3-9-2015, 9:57 pm
Newkirk's regression killed Pitt.
Randall's lack of mobility killed Pitt.
Chris Jones losing his shot killed Pitt.
Sheldon Jeter's lack of shooting killed Pitt.
Cameron Wright's lack of shot killed Pitt.
No Gary McGee, Chevy Troutman, Ontario Lett, Aaron Gray, Dejaun Blair in the middle for defense killed Pitt.
Although "played" is probably open to interpretation. :)
J.R.
3-10-2015, 7:35 pm
Yes, of course, I was kidding. But he did take off his sweats! I think, unfortunately, those guys aren't playing for a reason.
Gasman
3-10-2015, 3:56 pm
"We don't have enough (depth to make up for foul trouble?) for obvious reasons." Why not? Are we still using Durand Johnson's absence as an excuse Jamie? Or is it true freshmen Cam Johnson's injured shoulder?
Maybe your inability to recruit a viable big man (sorry, the 3 headed monster of Randall, Uchebo, and Haughton just isn't cutting it) has doomed this team. Maybe your inability to recruit a guard who can actually shoot a basketball has doomed this team. You can preach defense and rebounding until your blue in the face Jamie, but at some point you'll need to take accountability and accept some blame for the construction of this roster dating back several years.
March 9, 2015
News/views: Dixon seeks depth in tourney
by Dejan Kovacevic • News/views • Pitt
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
News: Jamie Dixon, speaking just before boarding the Pitt bus that will eventually have the Panthers landing in Greensboro, N.C., for the ACC Tournament, said he aims to use more of his bench beginning with the Wednesday opener vs. North Carolina State.
Here’s part of our talk today outside the Petersen Events Center.
Views: He’s really got no choice, given that Pitt needs to beat N.C. State, then Duke, then probably Notre Dame, then probably Virginia to win the tournament. And in four consecutive days, no less. And if the Panthers don’t run the table, they have zero shot at the NCAAs.
Still, I’ll believe it when I see it. As I mention to the coach in the above video, he wasn’t exactly going deep on his bench down the stretch. Aron Phillips-Nwankwo, a genuine energy guy up front, logged 20 minutes in Pitt’s final four games. Derrick Randall had 18 minutes in the final five games. Josh Newkirk was an afterthought until the finale at Florida State. Joseph Uchebo and Ryan Luther never took off the sweats.
It’s one thing to bemoan lack of depth. It’s another to not use it.
Look, I’m not suggesting Pitt has a prayer at this thing. That would be silly. But there is plenty for the program to gain from the process, and the more players that get involved, the better. Dixon discussed openly how his team’s shortcoming was its defense but also conceded that part of the problem was that the starters wore down. The only solution for both is to get more players involved. It can’t just be Michael Young, Jamel Artis and the usual. Wonderful as those two, in particular, have been, it’s equally evident that they’ve got little left when they get back to the other end of the court. That’s not helping them become better.
Here’s all the info on Pitt and the conference tournament.