Game 16: Pitt 80 Wake Forest 65

Pitt jumped out to an 8-1 lead and never looked back.  The Demon Deacons were not complete strangers to the Pete.  Guard Coron Williams played 4 years at Robert Morris before transferring to Wake as an immediately eligible graduate student.  This was actually his third time facing Pitt at the Pete.  He scored 8 points as a Redshirt Freshman in 2010 and 19 a year later.  He had 10 this time around.  Also side note, Demon Deacons is the best nickname in college sports.  Also relevant from this game was Wake forward Travis McKie flying into the Zoo and breaking a laptop.  Let's grade some people because I have to be over at Lady J.O.'s place at 4:30.  The injury bug bit the Panthers in this one.  Durand Johnson's knee buckled in the second half.  He's out for the year with an ACL and meniscus tear.  Sadness.

Lamar Patterson - Oh you know, Patterson just had 27 points on 10-17 shooting with 5 rebounds and 6 asssists.  I'm running out of adjectives to describe his play this season.  It has been magnificent, stupendous, outstanding, top-notch, phenomenal, incredible, super, scintillating, sensational, sparkling, and just plain good.  Wake Forest came out on fire after the second half began.  Lamar answered.

First 6 minutes of second half:
Wake Forest:  5-7 FG (1-2 3pt), 4-4 FT, 15 points
Lamar Patterson:  3-3 shooting (2-2 3pt), 1-1 FT, 2 assists, 9 points

Adding in Zanna's 6 points that Lamar wasn't involved in, and instead of Wake making a game of it, Pitt's lead ballooned to 19 points.

Grade:  A+ (MVP)

Talib Zanna - He had a man's performance with 16 points 12 rebounds (5 offensive) and 4 blocks.  He had a really nice tip-in in the first half off a Robinson miss and also completed a 3 point play in the second off a feed from Wright in transition.

Grade:  A+

James Robinson - He shot above 50%, made all of his free throws and didn't turn the ball over in 30 minutes.  Seriously, how spoiled are we getting to watch him run the point?

Grade:  A+

Michael Young - He had 4 points but also committed 4 fouls in 14 minutes.

Grade:  C

Cameron Wright - Wright has struggled in conference play as he has struggled to score in double figures in all three games.  He had 8 in this one.

Grade:  B-

Durand Johnson - He only made one basket (a three naturally) but he still scored 11 points off the strength of 8-9 from the line.  He was fouled shooting a three in the first half (made all 3 FT).  In the second half, Durand drove down the middle and got stuffed in the lane.  Wake Forest went the other way.  This is relevant because Durand did not give up on the play, ran the guy down, stole the ball back, saved the ball from going out of bounds, and Zanna's 3 point play came on the ensuing fast break.  Sadly, it will be Durand's last game this season.

Grade:  A+

I might be a little generous with the A grades this time, but seriously I was impressed with them yesterday.

Jamel Artis - He didn't score but he rebounded a three point miss by Durand and found Patterson for a sick 3 point play.

Grade:  B-

Derrick Randall - He made a free throw and had a steal.  He also had 3 fouls in 6 minutes so I get to use this again.

Grade:  C-

Joseph Uchebo - He scored his first career basket AND grabbed two rebounds.

Grade:  A because unless he directly causes Pitt to lose, I'm giving him an A every game his knees do not explode.

Chris Jones - He had a layup and three rebounds.

Grade:  B

Josh Newkirk - He was 0-4 from the field, but did redeem himself a little with 4 assists.

Grade:  B

Mike Lecak - The walk-on missed a three.  He had a chance to score in the closing seconds when he drove uncontested to the hoop, but somebody yelled, "Don't be a jerk."  He then pulled the ball out as time expired.

Grade:  n/a

I love that conference play has started and the walk-ons are still playing.  Haha, suck it ACC.

Pitt should be ranked on Monday.  They play at Georgia Tech on Tuesday night.

Hail to Pitt,

J.O.