Comments on: Pittsburgh Panthers http://www.bracketography.com/teams/pittsburgh-panthers/ NCAA Tournament Predictions and Projections Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:40:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Andrew Force http://www.bracketography.com/teams/pittsburgh-panthers/#comment-2048 Andrew Force Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:57:54 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/teams/pittsburgh-panthers/#comment-2048 @ robert Carola Pitt's season should be broken up into three parts when analyzing it. Pre-injuries to Mike Cook and Levance Fields During Levance's injury Post-injury (to Levance) I completed this article between the second and third stages. There was a time when Pitt heard unfamiliar talk about bubbleness. I always believed they were in, as did most analysts, but NO ONE projected Pitt as an Elite 8 team. Now they might. Even the exceptional beat writer of the Pittsburgh Post Gazzette, Ray Fittipaldo suggested the Panthers were susceptible to an early exit from the Big Dance. This is the Pitt team I witnessed... On Notre Dame "They just played smarter than we did," Blair said. "They made smarter plays at the end. We fought hard, but we didn't play smart. We had a couple of dumb plays." On Notre Dame "We didn't make any winning plays," Benjamin said. "We didn't do anything right in the second half when the game was on the line. When you do that, that's usually how you lose." I will eagerly agree Levance is back at the helm, leading the Panthers to the Big Dance. After beating Marquette in Big East Tournament COACH DIXON: "Yeah, obviously, it was night and day. It was something that we anticipated. A lot of people thought it was going to be easy to come back and be ready to go right away. Even probably Levance thought it would be easier than it was. We talked about it, but still I don't think you're ever prepared for it. Usually guys are out for the season when they're out that long." After seeing Levance perform so poorly at Marquette and at Notre Dame, I did not believe he would recover completely this season. I was wrong, foolish perhaps. Ignorant? On Pitt I rarely differed from the norm. @ robert Carola
Pitt’s season should be broken up into three parts when analyzing it.

Pre-injuries to Mike Cook and Levance Fields

During Levance’s injury

Post-injury (to Levance)

I completed this article between the second and third stages. There was a time when Pitt heard unfamiliar talk about bubbleness. I always believed they were in, as did most analysts, but NO ONE projected Pitt as an Elite 8 team. Now they might. Even the exceptional beat writer of the Pittsburgh Post Gazzette, Ray Fittipaldo suggested the Panthers were susceptible to an early exit from the Big Dance.

This is the Pitt team I witnessed…

On Notre Dame
“They just played smarter than we did,” Blair said. “They made smarter plays at the end. We fought hard, but we didn’t play smart. We had a couple of dumb plays.”
On Notre Dame
“We didn’t make any winning plays,” Benjamin said. “We didn’t do anything right in the second half when the game was on the line. When you do that, that’s usually how you lose.”

I will eagerly agree Levance is back at the helm, leading the Panthers to the Big Dance.

After beating Marquette in Big East Tournament COACH DIXON: “Yeah, obviously, it was night and day. It was something that we anticipated. A lot of people thought it was going to be easy to come back and be ready to go right away. Even probably Levance thought it would be easier than it was. We talked about it, but still I don’t think you’re ever prepared for it. Usually guys are out for the season when they’re out that long.”

After seeing Levance perform so poorly at Marquette and at Notre Dame, I did not believe he would recover completely this season. I was wrong, foolish perhaps.

Ignorant? On Pitt I rarely differed from the norm.

]]> By: heather http://www.bracketography.com/teams/pittsburgh-panthers/#comment-2021 heather Mon, 17 Mar 2008 06:11:02 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/teams/pittsburgh-panthers/#comment-2021 I think the aside to this article was a bit more spot on - Pitt suffered two major player losses later in the season corresponding to late season struggles. When they were healthy - they were top 10 for consecutive weeks (I think making it to 6 at one point), able to beat Duke and even without Fields they beat Georgetown by a wide margin in the regular season. Pitt does struggle in the NCAA tournament - but are positioned to do well in terms of how the brackets worked out. I think because they are hot right now, Ramon will be spot on and they will make at least to the elite eight. This analysis was sort of disappointing and did not seem to provide an unbiased assessment compared to some of the other writers. I think the aside to this article was a bit more spot on - Pitt suffered two major player losses later in the season corresponding to late season struggles. When they were healthy - they were top 10 for consecutive weeks (I think making it to 6 at one point), able to beat Duke and even without Fields they beat Georgetown by a wide margin in the regular season. Pitt does struggle in the NCAA tournament - but are positioned to do well in terms of how the brackets worked out. I think because they are hot right now, Ramon will be spot on and they will make at least to the elite eight. This analysis was sort of disappointing and did not seem to provide an unbiased assessment compared to some of the other writers.

]]> By: robert carola http://www.bracketography.com/teams/pittsburgh-panthers/#comment-1967 robert carola Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:14:39 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/teams/pittsburgh-panthers/#comment-1967 your comments about Pitt basketball are ignorant and foolish, to suggest one and done in NCAA Tourney, do you know how clumsy of a prediction that was? First, Pitt had only two returning starters from last year and they missed all of January and February and only one returned. 2) Pitt could only play 7 scholarship players during that time frame and lets not forget Ramon had to learn a new position in his Senior year. 3) Pitt just won the Big East Tourney enough said... you have proven your way out of your depth...maybe waterpolo you should report on? your comments about Pitt basketball are ignorant and foolish, to suggest one and done in NCAA Tourney, do you know how clumsy of a prediction that was? First, Pitt had only two returning starters from last year and they missed all of January and February and only one returned. 2) Pitt could only play 7 scholarship players during that time frame and lets not forget Ramon had to learn a new position in his Senior year. 3) Pitt just won the Big East Tourney enough said… you have proven your way out of your depth…maybe waterpolo you should report on?

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