Prestigious Pittsburgh Panthers Prospectus

The college basketball season officially tipped off this week with an overpowering Duke victory Monday evening. The Blue Devils dart and dash on the hardwood each year but the Big East is easily where it’s at for me. The enticing and elite conference confounds with storied programs. The teams in Big East continue to develop and re-invent themselves year in and year out. My chosen favorites to follow, the Pitt Panthers, highlight today’s topic.
Now that the pathetic Pirates season is in the distant past, Pittsburgh fans have other sports to cheer about. The Steelers and Penguins are noteworthy in their respective leagues and the feel-good Panther basketball players are always a lock to come up big in March. There is no discussion Jamie Dixon’s fierce felines are the Big East darlings. After winning the Big East tournament last season, Pitt went on to the NCAA tournament and lost to Michigan State 54-65 in the second round. The Panthers began 2007 rolling off eleven electrifying consecutive victories. It took the final game of the year in late December for them to lose. The stormed into the new year and finished 2008 with a 27-10 overall record.
Sam Young and Levance Fields were two outstanding anchors for a team many projected making a deep drive into the Final Four. Both players return to Pittsburgh a year older and are joined by forward DeJuan Blair. Blair is only a sophomore, from nearby Schenley High School. In his first college season, Blair was honored the Big East Rookie of the Year. DeJuan ranked in the top 40 for rebounding nationally and showed a flair for grabbing the ball off the rim offensively and defensively. Young is the gifted senior forward who truly stepped into his own last season. The team leader improved so much in 2007, adding a devastating outside jumper to his aggressive style. Young came one point shy of breaking the Big East tournament scoring record. He was on fire during Pitt’s great run. In a way, I enjoy watching the Big East tournament as much as the Final Four. Sam will play a big part in the upcoming season, especially if the Panthers expect a repeat performance for 2009. Fields is also entering his final college season. The tough guy suffered an injury and missed time early last year for Dixon. He still appeared in 25 games for the Panthers, averaging 30 points per game.
Senior, Tyrell Biggs, sophomores Gilbert Brown, Gary McGhee and Brad Wanamaker also return in 2008. Nasir Robinson, Jermaine Dixon and Ashton Gibbs are contributors too. Ronald Ramon was a fun player I enjoyed as he hit big baskets the past few years in Pittsburgh. Ramon is no longer going to be coming off the bench because he graduated. Pitt needs a guy similar to Ramon to fill that role. Perhaps the freshmen Gibbs can fill that void. He is a proven shooter, and is efficient especially from the outside. If he can shoot well in the clutch, he will be the next Ramon. Also gone from last year is Mike Cook. Cook was not a natural talent but used what he had to make things happen. Cook was a great teammate and Wanamaker reminds me a bit of him. I would like to see Wanamaker get more minutes.
The Pittsburgh men are ranked 7 nationally. Connecticut and Louisville are favored over the Panthers, and Notre Dame, Marquette and Georgetown are not far behind. Any of the six teams could take the Big East crown and cannot be neglected in the stacked conference. UConn is due for a breakout season after not winning the championship in a few years. They also bring an athletic and experienced team to the court with Jim Calhoun calling the shots. Look out for Hasheem Thabeet on the defensive end. Rick Pitino’s Cardinals are loaded with strength up front and are definitely well-coached. Louisville has a great prospect in first year recruit Samardo Samuels. Georgetown lost two key players in Roy Hibbert and Patrick Ewing, Jr. so I think they will take a step back as new stars emerge for the Hoyas. Marquette flies under the radar at times but they have plenty of players who know how to score. They have a new coach this season however, and it may take some adjusting time for the Golden Eagles to catch up to the elite teams. Notre Dame may be a surprise contender if they can get the ball to Luke Harangody. The Fighting Irish had a great conference record last year and expect to improve in 2009. Syracuse, West Virginia, Villanova and Cincinnati are of course always going to pose a threat but I cannot see Pitt finishing behind any of them if they are healthy.

Parting points: “I’m a troublemaker, never been a faker”- Weezer
Rangers vs. Devils tonight.