Game 3: at Pittsburgh (1-0)
Pittsburgh began their season with an 86-63 win over Fairleigh Dickinson. The Panthers are ranked in or just outside the top 5 in every national poll, largely because the Big 3 of Levance Fields, Sam Young, and DeJuan Blair are back. Add in a mix of veteran role players and highly touted recruits and the Panthers have Final Four potential. Coach Jamie Dixon is fiery and intense, which is how his teams play. Coach Dixon was UCLA Coach Ben Howland's 1st assistant when Howland was at Pitt. The two teams play a similar brand of basketball, except Pittsburgh is arguably the more physical team. What the Panthers may lack in height, they make up for in strength and determination. When you play at Pitt, especially in the Oakland Zoo, you better be ready to compete and battle for 40 minutes because if you're not, you'll get run out of the building.
Probable Starters:
Levance Fields, 5'10" 190 Sr. 15 pts, 8 ass, 67% FG, 50% 3PFG, 100% FT. At first glance, doesn't look like an All-American candidate, but after you see him play, you're convinced he's one of the top point guards in the country. He's great at getting into the lane and dishing off. He has deep range on his jumper. Not much of a mid-range game, when he drives, he's looking to dish or finish. Runs their fast break well, getting the ball down the floor. Makes big shots, wants the ball in his hands at the end of the game.
Jermaine Dixon, 6'3" 195 Jr. 6 pts, 4 ass, 50% FG. JUCO All-American, younger brother of Juan Dixon and plays like him. Really good shooter, off the dribble and from long range.
Sam Young, 6'6" 220 Sr. 15 pts, 3 reb. 50% FG, 50% FT. Added more to his game every year. For a big guy, he drives into the lane under control and is able to stop and pop. Good spot up shooter inside 18 feet, not really a 3 point threat. Expanded his game to include working in the lane for tough baskets last year. Likes to go baseline and pull up for the jumper.
Tyrell Biggs, 6'8" 250 Sr. 8 pts, 4 reb. 67% FG. Experienced backup gets the chance to start this year. Good rebounder. Can step out and hit the jumper and has 3-point range.
DeJuan Blair, 6'7" 265 So. 17 pts, 13 reb. 62% FG, 50% FT. One of the best back-to-the basket games in the country, knows how to get position and he's strong enough to finish underneath. Can flare out and hit the elbow jumper. A terror on the offensive glass, he has a nose for the ball. Sometimes gets into early foul trouble.
Off the Bench:
Travon Woodall, 5'11" 190 Fr. 3 pts, 5 ass. 25% FG, 50% 3PFG. Point guard of the future from St. Anthony's (NJ) and he's built in that mode. Tough player who can get to the basket and make tough shots. He can also hit the deep ball. Will get after you defensively.
Ashton Gibbs, 6'2" 190 Fr. 8 pts, 43% FG, 50% 3PFG. Top-100 recruit who can fill it up. Might be the best shooter on the team.
Brad Wanamaker, 6'4" 205 So. 6 pts, 2 ass. 100% FG, 100% FT. Another shooter off the bench, but can put it on the floor and get to the basket. Also gives opponents fits with his length defensively.
Nasir Robinson, 6'5" 220 Fr. 4 pts, 4 reb. 67% FG.
Gary McGhee, 6'10" 250 So. 4 pts, 4 reb. 50% FG.
In the half-court, Pitt and UCLA will run a lot of the same sets. A lot of high pick and roll for Fields and Blair. Dixon will slide behind looking for the open shot or an open lane to penetrate. But Pitt has the low-post game that UCLA currently doesn't. Look for some high-low action with Biggs up high looking to lob inside to Blair. Also look for those two to possibly cross in the paint, freeing up Blair on the low block. Young and Blair will often be on the same side of the floor. If you guard Young tight, he'll go by you. He only needs one dribble with his long frame and strength to get inside. If you cut him off, Blair is open for the 12 footer. If you play off Young, he'll feed inside to Blair, who will go to work. When the shot clock winds down, Fields will go one-on-one. In transition, look for pick and roll with Young and Blair with Fields and Dixon spotting up behind the 3 point line and Biggs looking for a possible dump pass.
Defensively, Pitt will force you away from the basket (even more than UCLA). They want you to take quick shots so you get frustrated and become impatient offensively. You have to be mentally tough and be willing to compete for 40 minutes. Our offense has a chance to be successful if our ball movement is quick, our cuts are sharp, and we're able to make shots. Those shots have to come off of dribble penetration or some inside-outside action. Blair will commit some silly fouls trying to help out, his intensity gets the better of him sometimes. Just as against UCLA, you can't have empty possessions, and Miami didn't have many of those Thursday night.
Pitt is 57-1 at home against non-conference opponents. Our secret has been let out, which will allow Pitt to be even more ready. The three big keys tonight are turnovers, shot selection, and rebounding. The Panther defense can make you look silly with some of the shots they force you to take. And we have to gang rebound at the defensive end. Pitt may not get 2nd chance points, but their guards can kill you with dagger 3s off of missed shots. The bench has to play well tonight because of how physical the game will be. I don't think Dierkers or anyone can play 40 effective minutes against a physical team like this.
This is a tougher matchup for us because of Pitt's front line ability, arguably the best front line we'll play all year. Plus, they're a little more experienced than UCLA and they haven't had to fly back across the country, practice 1 day, then bus through bad weather. But if we force them to make shots, rebound, and take good shots ourselves, it will be another close game.
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