This time last week Pitt was a lock for the NCAA Tournament, and now they are teetering on the bubble once more. Losing twice in one week to two teams below 20 wins will do that. The latest lost came at the hands of Georgia Tech by a final score of 63-59.
Recap:
It was like watching the Virginia Tech game all over again, as the Panthers came out strong taking an early 6-0 lead. Michael Young was the key cog to not only their early lead, but also all of their first half offense. He was in complete takeover mode, scoring 18 in the first 20 minutes. However, even with his stellar first half that lead would evaporate. The Yellow Jackets took advantage of a Pitt offense with no real threats outside of Young, to lead by as much as five. Pitt did make a late run with Georgia Tech’s Marcus Georges-Hunt on the bench with foul trouble. They closed the first half on a 14-4 run to take a 36-29 into the intermission.
After briefly trailing by as much as nine, the Yellow Jackets quickly cut into their deficit. They would not let Pitt lead by anymore than three for the first 12 minutes of the half. But Georgia Tech just could not seem to take the lead or even tie, until the 8:19 mark. Adam Smith drilled two threes in roughly a two minute span to give Tech the 56-55 advantage. Smith would continue to kill the Panthers, when he hit a clutch three as the shot clocked was winding down to stretch their one point lead to four. The Panthers did not go away though, getting a steal off of a press to cut the deficit back to two points. And with 1:04 left on the clock Pitt had a chance to tie or take the lead. Sheldon Jeter missed a corner three, which all but ended the game.
The star of the game was easily Young with 24 points on 10-16 shooting. Jeter was also in double figures scoring with 12.
Positives:
Michael Young- The entire offense was on the shoulders of the forward all afternoon. It got to the point where if he did not make a play no one else could. Unfortunately, all the heroics were negated by the fact that Pitt had no other playmakers.
Negatives:
Defensive IQ- Pitt’s defense is not completely awful, but they make some of the most absent-minded plays I have ever seen. Adam Smith torched Pitt in both meetings and that had a lot to do with the fact that James Robinson or any other defender never denied the ball from him. He was able to get his feet set on too many occasions. The worst of which came at the end of the shot clock to give the Yellow Jackets the late four point lead.
Rebounding- Pitt was outrebounded by eight total and three on the offensive glass. Rebounding is really the only thing this team does at an elite level. If they do not rebound well the offense looks like what it did on Saturday.
Shooting- After the 0-11 at Georgia Tech, Pitt is now 3-32 (9.3%) from three in their last two games. That is after a Duke game in which they shot 8-20 (40%). These are Division I athletes, there is no excuse to shoot this poorly over a two game stretch.
Offensive Grade: Z
Yes that is the letter Z, and no it is not a typo. This team’s offense is so bad as of late a simple F cannot describe them anymore. Z is the last letter of the alphabet, so it seems fitting for a last place looking offense. Pitt made on 39% of its’ shots from the field, while not registering a made three. To make matters worse it is not like their shots are even close, most have slim to no chance of going in. At a point Dixon needs to swallow his pride and recruit someone, anyone, who generate buckets consistently.
Defensive Grade: C-
The defense by Pitt in this game was not bad, for the most point they forced Georgia Tech into tough shots, as they were 39% from the field. However, the Yellow Jackets killed them on the offensive glass and Smith was one guy the Panthers should not have let get clean looks. Other than Smith, they were 0-8 from three and somehow Pitt just could not figure out how to stop him. It was frustrating to witness.
Coaching Grade: F
This team was a lock for the NCAA Tournament just a week ago and could have been the five seed in the ACC Tournament. Dixon should have utilized their momentum after beating Duke to make a run. Instead, they got complacent, and that is the worst thing a team can do in sports.
Up Next:
Pitt has a possible do or die situation, when the player rival Syracuse, for the third time this season, in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, March 9 at noon.