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PrintRay Fittipaldo's Pitt basketball chat transcript: 3.10.2010
Live from New York City, site of the Big East Tournament
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Welcome to the Pitt basketball chat live from the Big East tournament. Fire away with questions. |
| PittFanDave: | Hi Ray. I saw your Q&A post today regarding Dixon's use of timeouts. When I saw the topic, I thought for sure it would be in reference to his end of game timeouts against Providence. The Friars tied the game with 35 seconds left, and Dixon calls a timeout with the ball under the opposing basket. A move that I hate since it allows the defense to get set up. I much prefer to see them get the ball past half court before calling that timeout to set up a play. Ok, not the end of the world, we still have shot. I was blown away when he called another timeout after we got the ball past half court. Now we are at risk of a 5 second call if we have trouble getting the ball in. Frustrated, but still happy we have the last shot. Or not! The decision making at the end of the game was painful to watch. If Gibbs doesn't make a heroic shot, that loss definitely falls on Dixon's shoulders. |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Gibbs saved the bacon for a lot of people that night. The players didn't play well and I'm sure Dixon would have liked to have a timeout at the end if necessary, although I have a hard time believing he could have foreseen Jermaine Dixon fouling to put the Friars on the line with 3.5 seconds left. As it turned out, not having a timeout worked out great for Pitt. Gibbs got the ball and was able to get a clean look. It doesn't always work out that well when you design a play out of a timeout. |
| Chris: | Granted, it would be great for Pitt to win the Big East championship, but do you think the energy expended in advancing in the Big East tourney could better be spent in the NCAA tourney? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | I don't subscribe to that theory. Even if you play in the title game Saturday night you have four complete days rest before you might have to play, five days at maximum. That's more time to recuperate than most weeks during the regular season. I know other coaches have espoused that theory, but Jamie Dixon does not. He wants to win this tournament bad every year. |
| John: | Ray hows New York? I was wondering what your thoughts were on where Pitt will play in the opening round of the NCAAs? Do you think they are competing with Nova and WVU to play in Buffalo, with whoever does the worst out of those 3 in New York possibly playing in Providence? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Just got here yesterday, staying in Times Square so I have a nice 10-minute walk to the Garden every day. Great location. Even if Pitt beats West Virginia Friday night in a semifinal game the Mountaineers still might have a better RPI than Pitt. In that scenario it will be interesting to see which teams gets to go to Buffalo, which is the closest site for both teams. If Pitt loses tomorrow night or on Friday to the Mountaineers, I expect the Panthers to end up in Milwaukee, Providence or Jacksonville. I don't think they'll be sent out west. |
| Jeff: | Does Pitt have a better shot against ND this time? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | First, Notre Dame has to get by Seton Hall, which is not a sure thing. But if it is Notre Dame, I think Pitt will be motivated by losing to the Irish by 15 two weeks ago. Clearly, that was not one of Pitt's finer performances of the season. So the motivation will be taken care of. Tactically, the Panthers have to do a much better job defending the 3-point line. The Irish have a stable of really good 3-point shooters, and they were left wide open on too many occasions. It would be a good game if it comes to pass, but I would give the Panthers a slight edge. |
| Gino3109: | Hey Ray - I was trying to figure out how Pitt can have 3 recruits coming in next year (Epps, Moore and Wright) but only 2 scholarship players leaving (Dixon and Adams). What am I missing? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Somebody currently on the team is going to have to transfer out. Or one of the incoming recruits (moore) might have to prep a year before coming to Pitt. |
| JamieFor President: | For Pitt in the B/E Tourney, they either play in one or they play in three. If you "have to" play in the Championship game you might as well win it. Agreed? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Of course. Pitt hasn't always had as much luck in the title game as it does in the semifinals, but the Panthers have won two in seven tries. |
| Send It In, Jerome!: | I had to stop & rewind Tivo several times to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. But sure enough, in garbage time against Rutgers, Jamie Dixon actually had a legit (well, height-wise, anyway???) front-court on the floor for the FIRST TIME ALL SEASON: JJ Richardson at 5, Dwight Miller at 4, and Gilbert Brown at 3! Que pasa? An experiment in case we run into a taller ??? better rebounding ??? team in March Madness? Now all we need is Gary McGhee (or Dante Taylor) instead of Dwight Miller, and we'll really have something going! |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | I just think he was emptying the bench and wanted to get some guys like Miller playing time. I wouldn't read much into it. The game was well in hand and Dixon doesn't always sub with anything in particular in mind in those situations. |
| PittFanDave: | How much do you think a player's demeanor after a foul call influences the officials throughout the game. Both Wannamaker and Dixon have disgusted looks on their face when they are called for a foul. They are also two players I feel get screwed over by the officials on a regular basis. Most of the bad calls I have seen against these two are from officials right on top of the play. I can't help but wonder if they just rub the officials the wrong way and it costs them. |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | It's rare when you see a player raise his hand anymore to let the scorer's table know he committed the foul. Almost every player, and coach for that matter, dispute every foul call nowadays. I think they're OK as long as they don't demonstratively display their feelings. Jeremy Hazzell for Seton Hall does this all the time. He got called for a technical last night when he did it in the Providence game. As long as Brad and Jermaine don't show up the officials in that way I think they're OK. |
| Send It In, Jerome!: | Does Pitt's pre-game happy-dance have a nickname (the one with a guy in the middle weaving in the opposite direction from everyone else)? Who's the guy in the middle this year, and how / by whom is he selected? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Nick Rivers. And it does not interest me enough to ask how he was selected. |
| BIG AL: | I think Calhoun is retiring after seeing his body language. I know he get "star" recruits but that team is pathetic and do not see how he goes another season. |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | I wouldn't read too much into his body language after a loss like that. Calhoun still recruits at a high level. He was in the FInal FOur last year. What happened to Connecticut this year should make people appreciate what Jamie Dixon has done at Pitt. Not only does Pitt make the NCAA tournament every year, but the panthers are never on the bubble. That's amazing. |
| Chief Powhatan: | Should Pitt win the Big East title, can it be as high as a 2-seed? Or does reaching the conference title game relegate them to a 3? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | I think if Pitt wins the Big East title it has a great argument for a No. 2 seed although that might depend upon what teams such as Kansas State and Purdue do in their respective conference tournaments. |
| PittFanDave: | I saw that Jim B. got BE coach of the year. Do they publish how many votes were cast per coach? If so, how many did Jim B get compared to Jamie Dixon? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | They do not make the vote count public, but I wold imagine that Dixon got a few votes. Fred Hill from Rutgers voted for him. He said so after the regular-season finale. But I kind of expected Boeheim to win it. He hadn't won the award since 1991. That seems like an awful long time to go without winning the award for a coach of his caliber. |
| theWellHungarian: | I think Ashton Gibbs deserved to be recognized for an award, but not the Most Improved Award. He was good last year, just didn't log enough minutes. Most Improved should go to someone like, Gary McGhee who in my opinion stunk last year, but was very effective this year. |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | I hear that from a lot of people and I just don't buy it. yes, Gary McGhee has improved a lot since last year, but he sill only averages 7.2 points per game. Why would an opposing coach be impressed by that? Gibbs is much more deserving in my opinion. |
| PittFanDave: | I read that Pitt plans to stick with their routine for the BE tournament, and that includes grabbing a gyro. Are you familiar with where they get it? If so, is it better than Mike & Tony's on the South Side? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | I am familiar with where they stay. It's the Hilton. But I have not sampled the gyros outside the hotel. I just hope it's lamb the Panthers are eating. But I have a feeling it is not. |
| Send It In, Jerome!: | If using Dante Taylor at PF together with Gary McGhee at center is beating a dead horse, okay fine. But what about trying JJ Richardson instead at PF (with G-Mac)? My diabolical plan keeps Nasir Robinson and DT as back-ups to spell a few minutes per game at PF & C, resp., and allows Gilbert Brown to finally slide down to SF where he truly belongs. Thoughts? In case inconsistent guard play returns, don't we need SOME alternative plan to ALWAYS playing small to make any serious noise in March? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Dixon will not use Richardson at power forward for the same reason he doesn't use Dante Taylor at power forward. He does not want a freshman learning two positions. Plain and simple. He believes it's hard enough for them to master one position. |
| Guest: | Do you still think Pitt is out in the second round of the NCAAs this year? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | It's hard to say without knowing the opponent. But some of the teams that might land a No. 6 seed is a team like Butler. I don't think it would be a big upset if Butler beat Pitt. A No. 6 beating a No. 3 shouldn't be that much of a surprise. But who knows. Maybe Pitt can get to another Sweet 16. The Panthers have proved me and a lot of other people wrong in the past. |
| Send It In, Jerome!: | This question relates to the NCAA possibly expanding their Dance card to 96 (or how many ever...) teams: in a typical year, how many truly worthy bubble teams are left out? IMHO, 2-3 in a tight year; never even 16 -- let alone 32. |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | I guess three or four always have a real argument for being included. Don't be mistaken, going to 96 is all about making more money off these already exploited players. |
| theWellHungarian: | People are saying that Coach Boeheim didn't deserve the Coach of the Year, but I disagree. Much like Coach Dixon, he lost starters from last year in Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf. Syracuse was also projected to finish 6th in the Bg East. I've been listening to the talk shows and hearing people call it an outrage that Coach Dixon didnt win. My vote would have went to Coach Dixon, but Coach Boeheim was VERY well-deserving. |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | I agree. He lost three players early and made a similar unexpected jump i the standings. I have no problem whatsoever with Boeheim winning. |
| BIG AL: | Your dream match up for the BET title game? I know you wanna stay in NYC until sunday morning. |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Pitt vs. Syracuse. The Orange might be the best team in the country, but the Panthers have their number. That would be very intriguing. But it never works out that way. A lower seed always seems to make a run to the title game. |
| theWellHungarian: | How do you see Gilbert Brown's game translating to the next level? Do you see him at the 2 or the 3? I think he has the range to play the 2, but his athleticism would be better suited for the 3. Thoughts? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | I see him as more of a small forward type at the "next level." I'm not sure that next level is the NBA, though. He is very talented, but he does not possess a consistent outside shot. I do like his game and I would like it even more if he could be consistent night in and night out. |
| Guest: | Do you think this team is going to have trouble with the opening round game in the NCAAs like all Pitt teams do? Im scared considering the almost meltdown against Middle Tennesse State when we were a #1 seed? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | How about that game with Central Florida in 2004? That was another one. Pitt has had some easy first-round game such as the one against kent State a few years back, but more often than not they are closer than anticipated. |
| PittFanDave: | Ray, I can understand why an opposing coach might not consider McGhee the most improved player. However, I agree with the other post that Gibbs would have put up good numbers with more minutes last year. When you get a chance to speak with McGhee, tell him many fans noticed his improvement. |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | McGhee has improved tremendously from last season. I just think coaches look at scoring numbers more than anything else for those types of awards. |
| Send It In, Jerome!: | Kinda personal question, which do you enjoy least: (a) chewing aluminum foil, (b) fingernails on a blackboard, (c) sipping cranberry juice after brushing your teeth, or (d) when Dickie-V uses his catch phrase "Diaper Dandy" to describe a young player? Make mine Choice D. |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | (E) Doing these chats. Sorry, I just channeled Ed Bouchette. I don't have as much a problem with Vitale than most do. I think he's good for the game even though he can rub some people the wrong way. |
| Leave it to McGhee: | Ray I know you addressed this earlier in the chat. But here is my opinion on the destinction between Dixon and Boheim. Sure Boheim lost a lot of starters so did Dixon. But Dixon had to play without two major role players for half the year and Dixon has no NBA caliber talent (at the moment) on the team. That is where the distinction lies and that is why Dixon should have gotten coach of the year. Your opinion on my theory? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | I don't disagree that Dixon got more out of his talent. But as they do with player awards, the coaches often look at where a team finishes and the record. Syracuse only lost three times and was in the top five virtually all season. Plus, sometimes awards such as this one have a sentimental element. Boeheim is getting up there in years and hadn't won since 1991. I think coaches pay attention to stuff like that. |
| theWellHungarian: | Leaving tomorrow morning, Ray... Can you save me a barstool at Rosy O'Grady's? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Rosy O'Grady's wasn't as busy last year with that early exit. Maybe this week will be kinder to Pitt fans and owners at Rosy's. |
| Jeff K.: | Your dream match up could happen... But first what Gilbert Brown is going to show up for Pitt |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Change his routine. He had a good game against Rutgers so he's due for a bad game. HIs up and down nature is very confusing to me. Maybe Jamie ought to start him ... |
| BIG AL: | How many ships are in the 2011 counting the one on J. Johnson? Also, do you know if any of their targets are close to a commit for Pitt? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | That's the year Brad, Gary and Gil graduate so I am assuming three. |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | And no, I do no t know if any others are close to committing. Those things usually take place after the season when the coaches can recruit. |
| John: | Do you think Pitt is pretty much guaranteed at least a 3 seed if they win tomorrow night? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Yes. If they lose they could drop to a No. 4, though. But I think a No. 3 is the most likely scenario. |
| BIG AL: | Do you forsee any changes on the coaching staff this year? Also who was the bigger coach in the gold suit on sat night? |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Tom Herrion wants to be a head coach again, but he's not going to leave for just any job. But he will leave for the right opportunity. I don't think Brandin Knight is ready for a head coaching job yet. I don't know of which coach you are speaking about in a gold suit. |
| Ray Fittipaldo: | Thanks for participating this week. Look for updates next week for the day and time of my chat. It could be pushed back a day again due to travel for the NCAA tournament. |
Check out Ray Fittipaldo's Pitt B-Ball blog and Paul Zeise's Pitt Stop videos about football exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.
First published on March 10, 2010 at 1:58 pm
