Pittsburgh Virginia Tech basketball preview

 #41 R.P.I. Pittsburgh @ #11o R.P.I. Virginia Tech:

Today’s word of the Day …borrowing in my football preview template is…

winner!

(ˈwɪnə)

noun
  1. One that wins, especially a victor in sports or a notably successful person.
  2. informal a person or thing that seems sure to win or succeed
  3. Buzz Williams and Hokie men’s basketball 2015-2016!!!

Mathematically gar-ron-damn-teed, now!Pitt logo

As Buzz Williams and Virginia Tech can not finish <.5oo overall from the Wake Forest victory on; and try as you might, you still can not spell victory without Vee Tee!

However, up next is a pretty dang solid 20 up and 8 down overall and 9-7 in league play Pitt team. From my hometown, the 412, Upper Saint Clair, the Orange Belt, South Hills, the Tubes, Century III, the Kabuki and Bimbo’s pizza parlor! Great peeps, great Pirate and Stiller City of Champions times.

My how the times have changed.

Virginia Tech basketball is now a … winner!

Although can we win at home on Wednesday night vs. Pitt?
Read on, to find out…

Pitt at a glance:

  • 7th in Assists per game (17.8 apg)
  • 12th in Rebounding Margin (+8.8 rpg)
  • 14th in FT percentage (75.9%)
  • 9th in assists per game (18.3 apg)
  • 28th in offensive rebounding (13.21 orpg)
  • 59th in shooting percentage (46.4%)
  • ton of national rankings in single or double digits, may not be an epic team, though it is a dead solid team all-around!
  • NO injures listed (thank God)

Panther Returning Starters=4

Pittsburgh Strengths:

  • #2, Michael Young counts. So let’s start with him, other than the fact that he does not always start for Pitt. 6’9” and 233 lbs. junior year of  kinda lean looking scoring relief at a team leading 15.9 ppg and a likewise team lead in Windex work wiping the glass with 7  rpg. Not bad work in relief; if you can get it. So Pitt has a pretty damn good frontcourt all by junior year Michael Young’s ownself. Prolly more at home at the Four; although Young can slide over thanks to the narrower collegiate lane and man the Five as well. Tough, physical, does have more than normal P/F-Center range on his J, (3o% from three), 53% overall, and 78% from the charity-stripe connote more than just a brutal guy. Which at least to this previewer? He’s not –that brutal. Nevertheless, that is what the book reads, especially on the offensive-glass; where he thrives with 128 FTA’s this season. And do recall he once shattered the fiberglass on a dunk in high school! To me Michael is almost a stronger 3 trapped in a 4’s body and all of this while being all-A.c.c. Academic Team first-string! A 4 that looks and plays leaner than he is listed mind you as I still do not see these ~235 lbs. when I break tape here. Still yet, this is 1st or 2nd all-A.c.c. teamer and he is some measure of a Pro’ baller; even if his game seems a bit more overseas. (OVERALL play: since we last saw him is across the board less rebounding)

    MY pitt
    Has ‘tude, and a right away sized game.
  • James Richardson counts, too. As do  his 10.4 ppg and Panther leading 5.3 dimes. 6’3” 197 lb. senior year Pt.Guard from the famed DeMatha basketball scholastic factory. Best backcourt lock-down perimeter defender for Pitt; said to be a pass first guy who needs to learn to take his own looks; once he works on his shot, as some have questioned his range over the years. Although 39% last year from downtown does not see that questionable to me. Has started every game less one in his Pitt career, so you know he is durable and therefore well seasoned and highly experienced to boot. 45th overall outta high school; however, his trajectory has been hobbled a bit by a history of off-season foot surgeries. Had a massive high school career, won a championship for DeMatha, won a slew of individual awards and honors; and has had a subsequently very decent college career for it, maybe “a few bricks shy” (final pre-Super Bowl winning season book on the early 70’s Stillers;  -in Pittsburgher parlance- maybe a few NC2A bricks shy of a massive college load however. Did just break a Pitt all-time mark for most consecutive starts with 130 and counting. So this is one tough/durable/reliable kid.  (OVERALL play: since we last saw him is or up, slowly, surely, steadily, better)
  • Second in scoring would be 6’7” 222 lb. Wing Jamel Artis. Jamel is listed by some of my pre-season rags as the alpha-Panther or at least as the true(r) key to this campaign. 15.1 ppg from the third-year B’more inner city native who is said to be something of a bankrupt man’s Larry Bird or point Forward –as he’s  second on Pitt in assists (3) and is third in rebounding 5.1 rpg. Said to be a high basketball-I.Q. guy, with good vision and handles. Decent enough range (37% on threes), can play the four in a pinch and is just a really versatile all-round jack of all trades flavored baller. Roomed and played ball with Young in high school; they do have a winning history together. (OVERALL play: since we last saw him is or down just a bit, though nothing all that major)

Pittsburgh Weaknesses:

  • offensive firepower is the pre-season mytharc nag here. As Pitt is deep enough, though do they notch the scoreboard often enough is the question?
  • I will not officially say that this is small A.c.c. team, because it is not. All the more so if they could get the 7’2” 330 lb. monsta Nix kid in shape. It is however not a true Center and true P/F filling out kinda team. Kinda has a wing(y) and/or ‘tweener stretched and possibly overstretched vibe to it overall.
  • a play the man not the ball kinda defense, does not generate a lotta turnovers, does not allow a lotta penetration, however; either.
  • that said, both statistically and in watching their style of play, Pitt does not do anything real poorly. A very balanced if not an epic hoops club.

Panther Bench: (depth=5 and change, no shortage of depth here, pretty good pine squad for Pitt, lead by  Jr. 6’8” 224 lb. 6.5 ppg and 2.3 rpg scrapper Sheldon Jones and Stirling Smith. The 6’4” 185 lb. Sr. Smitty in particular is listed as one of the elite A.c.c. newcomers this year by way of transferring his then 15 ppg and 3-point range from Coppin State. And do be aware, 11 different Panthers log 9 mins. or more per contest!)

pitt match ups

Beating Pitt is really all about what???

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Illation, conclusion (s) and OPT digits:

the takeaway:
The takeaway here is… that Pitt is a post-season basketball team, for sure; traveling to play a potential post-season basketball team T.B.D. (to be determined). Or in other words, each as a lot at stake!

Something very Odo DS9 about this guy...
Something very Odo DS9 about this guy…

Pittsburgh has gone Smother’s brother’s routine and yo-yo’ed a bit of late. Having dropped four of five prior to now having won three of four. Pitt does enter this one -interestingly enough- as the 3 point favorite, on the A.c.c. road on the Las Vegas betting big-board.

the closer:
Though who will win? As things stand, I can stand to say that I give us a better shot here, at home, than I did last time up in Three Rivers territory. Where Pitt did win, by a lopsided and downright taming 90-71 margin.

The Panthers just upset 21st Duke 76-62 on Sunday for their third victory in four games and first W in six contests against a ranked opponent this season! That should tell you something regarding the true(r) level of this  Pitt men’s hoops squad folks. They have taken care of their lesser business and they have taken care of their business on their own level –to their credit. However, they have struggled stepping up in class. We in boxing call that a prospect, maybe even a contender and seldom a champ’.

Furthermore, these Panthers may very well need to win their final two regular-season game to maintain their projected spot as one of seven A.c.c. teams on the March Madness dance-floor. So Pitt is prolly gonna be ready for this one and we are prolly gonna have to take their visiting A-game shot.

 ***

Of late, this 7pm Wednesday night tip-off takes shape as the following… in the last five games Pitt has been better by 12 ppg in scoring margin and in rebounding margin by a backbreaking 18 rpg! Virginia Tech has been better in overall FG percentage margin by 3%, in FT percentage margin by 9% and in 3-point percentage margin by an absurd 18%! The Forum Guide is not as unkind as I had thought, only averring a 4.6 Panther win.

Or in other words you should choose between Pitt controlling the glass or Virginia Tech shooting the rock. Tough call, as this one is pretty close to splitting hairs; and although I know Pitt prolly should win, I’ma still gonna pick Virginia Tech, at home, to defend the Cassell, here.

(44% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech
=68, Pittsburgh=66

LETS GO!

Hokies!

 bourbonstreet**

3 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. very pleased with progress of all programs & those administering & coaching considering the almost wholesale changing of the guard in such a short period….. I can’t imagine any major athletic program in country successfully
    navigating such a massive renovation as successfully as the university has……from change of presidents, AD, legendary coaches………..proof that administration at all levels & programs that the future will be bright

    1. Yah; no kidding!
      Roger that.

      Whit batting 1,ooo right now.
      And make NO mistake sports-fans… that is so umpossible to do?
      As to be… unheard of.

      bourbonstreet

  2. If I am understanding your chart correctly, you give VT the edge in coaching. It got me curious about a couple of things since I don’t think you talked too much about it in your pregame analysis. How much of an edge in coaching do you think VT has over Pitt? Dixon is 326-119 (.733) as HC at Pitt. In the 13 seasons at Pitt, he has delivered only 1 championship (2011-2012 CBI) to the school. How would you access his tenure at Pitt?

    Even though I am not a fan of Dixon’s coaching style, I do think both coaches are very good at their jobs. I do think it is a toss up (or maybe even equal) on which school has an advantage in coaching. So I am curious to know what factors you considered that I may be overlooking that tipped the edge in VT’s favor.

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