Flying start gives Pitt season promise
Keith Srakocic
Pittsburgh’s Michael Young (2) plays against Kent State in an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, in Pittsburgh.
Keith Srakocic
Pittsburgh’s James Robinson plays against Kent State in an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh's Chris Jones (12) plays against Kent State in an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pitt is off to a flying start as it tries to improve on last year’s 19-15 record and make it back to the NCAA Tournament.
The Panthers fell short last season after qualifying for the Big Dance 12 of the last 14 years. One reason Pitt had a subpar year was playing with a depleted roster. Coach Jamie Dixon addressed that in the offseason by bolstering his bench with graduate and junior college transfers.
After the first four games this season, all Pitt wins, it appears Dixon will have the luxury of a full bench as he has been rotating 12 players.
“If someone isn’t playing well or gets in foul trouble, we have guys that can step in,” said Dixon, how entering his 13th season as men’s basketball coach at Pitt. “We didn’t have that help (last season). Now we do.”
Dixon’s definition of “not playing well” usually means “not playing defense” and he still uses that method to determine who plays and how much.
“We’ve proven we can be a really good offensive team this year. All of (our players) can score. You’re not going to win championships on scoring,” Dixon said. “The guys that play defense are the guys that will play.”
The Panthers return three starters, all-ACC junior forwards 6-9 Michael Young and 6-7 Jamel Artis, and 6-3 senior point guard James Robinson. Young, who has started every game in his college career, has already felt the affect of a full bench this season. He feels he has played with more energy by not being forced to play extended minutes each game.
“Last year, we didn’t have a deep rotation. This year we have a real deep rotation. Knowing that you have 12 or 13 guys who can come in and contribute means myself, James and Jamel don’t have to play over 30 minutes a game. It helps out everybody,” Young said. “I’ve noticed the difference. I have more energy, so I can give more effort on defense and rebounding.”
Sophomore forwards 6-9 Ryan Luther and 6-8 Sheldon Jeter return after seeing considerable action last year, as does red-shirt 6-6 junior Chris Jones. Forwards Alonzo Nelson-Ododa and Rafael Maia, both 6-9 graduate transfers, were brought in to bolster the front line. Luther worked on his game and his conditioning all summer and it looks like he’s poised to have a breakout year.
“I feel a lot more comfortable this season,” Luther said. “I’ve been improving on defense. By emphasizing defense, it makes it easier on the offensive side.”
Nelson-Ododa is able to slide into the starting center spot right away, which allows Young to play his more-natural power forward position after being forced to play center last season out of desperation.
“I felt going back to the four would be better for me. I worked out a lot over the summer on moving back,” Young said. “I actually felt I gained a few steps and I think I can face up against guys who aren’t as quick or as strong as me.”
Junior transfer center Rozelle Nix, a 6-11, 300-pounder, was brought in to beef up the middle, but after the arrival of Nelson-Ododa and Maia, Nix will be red-shirted this year to get into better shape.
The onslaught of junior college and graduate transfers does not stop in the frontcourt, as 6-4 graduate transfer guard Sterling Smith and 6-2 junior college transfer guard Jonathan Milligan arrive to bring depth to the backcourt. Red-shirt freshman guard Cam Johnson, 6-7, returns after sitting out most of last season with a shoulder injury.
The only true freshman, 6-5 combo guard Damon Wilson, will contribute as well. Although he is not polished yet, he has already shown he is talented enough to play the backup guard spot right away and learn on the fly.
After a fairly-lackluster preseason, where the most-challenging game against Gonzaga in the opener was cancelled at halftime, the Panthers will not play a true road game until January.
They host Purdue in the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge at the Petersen Events Center today. They also play in the annual City Game against cross-town foe Duquesne at Consol Energy Center on Friday, and they travel to Madison Square Garden on Dec. 20 to play Davidson in the Gotham Classic.
Pitt begins ACC play on Dec. 30 by hosting long-time foe Syracuse. Other home ACC games include Georgia Tech, Boston College, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Louisville and Duke on Feb. 24 for an afternoon CBS nationally televised game.
Road conference games include Notre Dame, Louisville, Florida State, Clemson, Miami, North Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.
The ACC Conference Tournament is being played this year at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The 10 through 15 seeds start play on Tuesday, March 8. The championship game is Saturday, March 12.
The Panthers have the roster in place to advance in the ACC Tournament and earn an invitation to the NCAA Tournament this season. Now they have to gel as a team with all the new faces, and continue to improve on both sides of the court, especially the defensive side, if Dixon has his way.