Fun Fact: On February 28, 1940, Fordham hosted Pitt at Madison Square Garden in the first televised basketball game ever. And you thought these teams didn't have history.
But seriously, Fordham is to quote Chuck Barkley, "turrible." They lost 41 straight Conference games from 2009-2011. Last year they went 3-13 and probably had a parade.
Digger Phelps coached Fordham for one season before moving on to Notre Dame. They went 26-3 that year.
So about the game, Pitt again dominated in the paint, outscoring the Rams 42-12. Let's just get right into the grades because the Steelers game ended and I have to get up at 5:15 for work.
J.J. Moore - This is the type of dominating performance I want to see from Moore. He had a game high 20. My problem with Moore last year was his over-reliance on three's. He's a decent enough shooter, but he's close to unstoppable when he goes baseline. He attacked the rim tonight. His jump shots were falling also, which isn't a coincidence.
Grade A+
Season GPA = 3.875
James Robinson - I'm pretty sure the entire male population of the Oakland Zoo has a mancrush on Robinson right now. Kid is that good. He doesn't force anything. Okay, well one time he forced a pass on the wing and it got deflected. Dixon took him out immediately to teach him a lesson.
Important Stat: 26 minutes played, 0 turnovers
Are you kidding me? 26 minutes from a true freshman at point guard and 0 turnovers? He also picks his spots on offense. He shot 3-4 from the field (only miss a 3 pointer).
Grade A+
Season GPA = 4.00
Steven Adams - Adams was more aggressive on offense tonight, keeping innumerable plays alive with his length. He finished with 13 and 5 (all 5 offensive) and was a perfect 5-5 from the field. He had a few great cuts. I believe Woodall found him for one bucket.
Grade A+
Season GPA = 4.00
Lamar Patterson - Patterson scored tonight, which was nice. He filled the stat sheet as usual with 5 points 4 rebounds and 6 assists. With this Pitt team a lot more talented than last year's version, expect a lot of these types of nights from Patterson. He doesn't have to score for Pitt to be successful. 8-5-5 should be about the norm for him this year.
Grade A
Season GPA = 3.875
Dante Taylor -
The Good: Taylor had a team high 9 rebounds and shot 50% from the field.
The Bad: 3 turnovers
The Ugly: Two times in the second half, Taylor was all alone on the fast break. The first time he went up for the dunk and it slipped out of his hands out of bounds. The second time he tripped and almost lost it but threw it back to Durand Johnson who was fouled.
I seriously dislike when people criticize college athletes.
Taylor is terrible. Now let me explain.
It bothers me when the media puts blame on a particular STUDENT-athlete (Tino anyone?). They're just kids. It is not their job to play football or basketball or whatever. Their job is get an education. Criticizing a 20 year old kid because he missed a few shots or took a sack to kill a key drive. Grow up dude. That's why I get so annoyed when people bash Taylor on message boards. Give the kid a break.
You obviously knew this video was coming.
However, there is one exception. The only people who are allowed to rip on college athletes are their peers. Yes, if you go to school with the person, then by all means tear them a new one. Since I am still technically a student there I am allowed to criticize whomever I please. Once the masters degree is finished, I have to try to be nice and positive about all these young whippersnappers.
Grade B-
Season GPA 3.00
Talib Zanna - After going for 20 in the opener, Zanna was quiet this evening, only registering 8 points. The three assists were a surprise. According to my friend, Zanna ran the pick and roll with Woodall 4 times in the first half. It resulted in a basket, a foul, and two wide open threes (both missed). The pick and roll remains the single most dominant offensive play in basketball. Adams was rolling to the basket all night, and the guards were getting wide open jumpers. At one point tonight, Zanna and Taylor both tipped in a basket. They both ran down the court with their index fingers in the air to signal that it was to be their basket. The PA announcer called it as Taylor's bucket and Zanna pretended to be shocked. The two of them had a laugh about it at the next whistle.
Grade A-
Season GPA 3.875
Durand Johnson -
Peewee made his college basketball debut tonight and scored his first points on a dunk.
He finished with 8 points, but was very jittery in his first action. He took a baseline jumper and shot it completely over the rim.
Grade A (come on had to give him an A in his debut)
Season GPA = 4.00
Cameron Wright - He didn't do much this game. Had three points, and even made a jump shot, which is rare. That was his only bucket as he shot 1-5 from the field. His three steals sort of makes up for it.
Grade B+
Season GPA = 3.625
Tray Woodall - Another solid night for Tray. Getting lazy because I'm really tired. As always, he made a few nice passes, hit a few jump shots and got into the lane. He didn't turn the ball over at all, which means that our 2 primary ball-handlers were on the floor a combined 52 minutes tonight with 0 turnovers. One particularly nice play involved Wright and Woodall in the second half. After Adams kept a play alive with an offensive board, Pitt seemed to be struggling to reset. They threw the ball around the perimeter before Wright found Tray on a nice cut for an easy lay-in.
Grade A
Season GPA = 4.00
Trey Ziegler - Quiet night from him. He had 7 points. I have a feeling he's gonna lead the team in dumbass reach-in fouls. Call it a hunch.
Grade B+
Season GPA = 3.50
While I've been writing this post, the Gonzaga wvu game has been on in the background. It's currently 34-12 Zags.
LOLmountaineers.
Pitt plays the Lehigh McCollums tomorrow night.
Do it,
J.O.
J.O. knows his stuff and always hits the nail right in the head. Did post a great YouTube video. Copped out because he had to get up for work..... hey ack like he care, but he don.
ReplyDeleteA+
Season GPA = ?