Pitt-Pocket

The Pittsburgh Panthers stole a win against undefeated Connecticut Monday night in Petersen Events Center. The sixth ranked Panthers topped fourth ranked UConn 78-63 in a Big East battle of supremacy. Both teams have been ranked in the Big East’s top two for the past decade and another chapter was added to the rivalry last night. The Panthers improved to 13-1 in beating the Huskies for the fourth consecutive time in the series between the teams. Kemba Walker stole the show for the Huskies with 31 points, but it was the Panthers who were too much for Uconn’s defense. Walker added five steals and four rebounds. Junior Ashton Gibbs led Pitt with 21 points and senior Brad Wanamaker turned in 14 as the Panthers won their third straight game. Pittsburgh held the previously unbeaten Huskies to 32 percent shooting. Connecticut is now 10-1 on the season.
The Panthers showed last night why they remain an unblemished 8-0 against top five teams since 2002. Four players scored in double digits for Jamie Dixon’s Panthers. Pitt marched to a 37-28 halftime lead as the efficient offense and transition defense finally showed up on the same night for the home team. Nasir Robinson logged 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Pitt. Panthers’ center, Gary McGhee, also contributed 11 points while snagging 11 rebounds in the victory. McGhee and Robinson recorded double-doubles as Pitt held a commanding and comfortable lead throughout the conference’s first matchup of top ten teams.
The steamrolling Panthers shot 52 percent from the field and Gibbs was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Pittsburgh never trailed during the contest and even carried a 17 point lead at one point during the second half. The Huskies attempted a late comeback but Pitt’s balance and depth were too much to overcome. Connecticut shot the ball poorly and was clearly outplayed. Walker was a one-man wrecking crew, putting up nearly half of Connecticut’s 63 points. Walker finished with a game high in buckets, but he needed 27 shots to do so. The Connecticut junior shot just 10-for-27 from the field. Connecticut has lost five of their last six conference openers. Jim Calhoun is just 1-for-5 at Pitt’s arena.

Parting Points: Jerry Jones is searching for the next Cowboys’ coach. Dallas is 4-3 under interim coach, Jason Garrett. The “boys genius” seems to make the most sense for me (unless Bill Cowher suddenly becomes available).

The Saints clipped the Falcons in a meeting between two of the NFC’s best teams.

How good is Dustin Brown? I love this Ithaca, NY native for the Los Angeles Kings. If you take anything from the plus/minus statistic, Brown is in the top three. (Personally, I don’t think that’s a great measure of individual performance)

This is post #700 and the final one of 2010! Have a Happy New Year.