Game 3: Pitt 84 Howard 52

Okay, I've been pretty busy the past week so I'm a little behind on these recaps.  Yes, I realize that Pitt has already played and won another game, but we have to talk about Howard first.

Pitt shot 81% (17-21) in the first half and these were my seats.

That broke the school record set on January 9, 1980 against George Washington when the Panthers shot 80.8% (21-26) in the first half.  I think we all remember that game.  Pitt went 17-12 that season and lost to Duquesne in the first round of the NIT.  That Duquesne team was coached by Mike Rice, Sr., father of Mike Rice, Jr. who has known anger issues.  The elder Rice is now a color commentator for the Portland Trail Blazers and is still the only television broadcaster to be kicked out of an NBA game.  That family must be a ton of fun on Thanksgiving.

This was the 5th meeting between the two teams with Pitt winning all four meetings.  Pitt raced out to an 18-1 lead in the first 8 minutes as Howard was completely overwhelmed.  During one 40 second sequence, Patterson grabbed a defensive rebound, drilled a 3, stole the ball and dunked it.  With 2:30 left in the first half the score read:

Howard 17

Lamar Patterson 16

In the second half, I upgraded my seats due to absolutely no one in the Pittsburgh area wanting to come see this game.

Pitt shot 12-29 (41%) in the second half so obviously I am terrible luck and should stay up in peanut heaven where I belong.  Let's give some grades.

Lamar Patterson - Patterson was absolutely dominant in the first half.  In addition to the sequence I mentioned above he also found Young with a nice look for a dunk early in the game.  His final line was 20 pt 5 rebounds 4 assists to go along with a 4-5 night from long range.

Grade:  A+ (MVP)

Cameron Wright - Wright had an efficient night.  He was 3-5 from the field for 9 points with 0 turnovers.  He also ran the point late in the first half with Patterson, Artis, Randall and Johnson on the court.  In the first half some Howard player burned Wright with an up an under move, and I'm fairly certain Wright still has no idea where that player went.  However, in typical Howard fashion, the player missed anyway.

Grade:  A-

Michael Young - Young did not miss a shot.  He was 4-4  from the field (including his first career 3) and also 2-2 from the line to finish with 11 points.  He had an uncharacteristically low 2 rebounds but anytime a player doesn't miss a shot, there's only one grade he can receive.

Grade:  A

James Robinson - In the first half, Robinson had a wide open three and missed badly.  I put down in my notes on my iPod "Robinson wide open 3, can't shoot."  Obviously next possession Robinson buried a three from the wing and pointed up at me.  The second part might not have happened.  Robinson's going through the motions right now.  I can't wait to see what the kid is going to do when ACC play starts.  Last year he fell off the face of the earth in conference play.  He had 8 points and 4 assists in this one.

Grade:  B+

Talib Zanna - After his double-double against Fresno State (19 and 10) Zanna was invisible in this one.  He only shot 1-3 for four points.  One of those misses was a three pointer, which was his first 3 attempt since a 2010 game against North Florida.  There's a reason you don't shoot threes Talib.

Grade:  C+

Jamel Artis - I am coming around on Artis.  He'll be a good player.  He was very jittery in the opener, but he's since settled down.  He had 8 points in this one and had a very nice pass to Johnson for an and one.  Johnson missed the free throw, though.

Grade:  A-

Durand Johnson - He had 8 points and 3 rebounds, but frankly I don't remember anything else he did other than not completing the and one.

Grade: B+

Derrick Randall - He missed his only shot attempt and committed four fouls in 21 minutes.  He did have 7 rebounds, but it was not a good effort.

Grade:  C-

Josh Newkirk - He did make 2-3 shots, but he turned the ball over 5 times in 12 minutes.  He also found time to commit 3 fouls.  He was awful tonight, but we'll chalk this one up to freshmen growing pains.

Grade:  D

Chris Jones - He had 7 points (aided by 5-5 ft) and 4 rebounds in what was easily his best game as a Panther.

Grade: A

Aron Nwankwo, Mike Lecak, Joshua Ko - Nwankwo even played a minute in the first half and scored 5 points.  Lecak and Ko played in the final seconds and Ko missed a shot attempt.

Grade: A+ because Nwankwo buried a second half three and it was amusing.

Pitt will play already beat Lehigh on Wednesday night.

Hail to Pitt,

J.O.