Lamar Patterson scored the first five points of the second half as the Pitt Panthers easily dispatched the visiting Mountaineers 71-58 last night. The reserve finished with a career high 11 points for fourth ranked Pittsburgh. Patterson replaced the injured Talib Zanna and sparked the Panthers’ second half home comeback against Big East rival, West Virginia. Nasir Robinson led Pitt with 15 points, while Casey Mitchell knocked down 22 for the Mountaineers. Pittsburgh has a two game edge in the conference. West Virginia sits at a three-way tie for ninth place. The Panthers beat WVU for the tenth time in their last 11 tries.
Gilbert Brown poured in 11 points during the first half but the Panthers quickly found themselves in a 7-0 hole. The Panthers stormed back to even the score against the hard charging team from the Mountain State. Pitt fell behind to trail 31-30 at the break but the Mountaineers couldn’t maintain their advantage after halftime. West Virginia’s second half collapse began early. The Mountaineers missed five of their first seven attempts and were crippled by cold shooting. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, shot 65% in the final 20 minutes and finished with 57.4% for the game.
Patterson and the Panthers built a 47-36 lead with just under 12 minutes left. Brad Wanamaker put up 11 points, eight assists and added seven rebounds in the win. Pittsburgh’s transition defense hobbled Bob Huggins’ Mountaineers and WVU never threatened again. Gary McGhee was a force on defense with two blocks as Jamie Dixon won for the 213th time as Pitt’s head coach. Joe Mazzulla scored nine and pulled down six rebounds for the Mountaineers, who were outscored 41-27 in the second half. The Panthers also bested the Mountaineers in rebounding by three. The win pushes Pitt’s record to 25-3 overall, including a staggering 9-2 road record. There are three conference games remaining before the Big East tournament. Pitt looks like a top seeded team who can pummel just about any opponent.
Parting Points: Song of the day- “I’ve Got My Mind Set on You” by George Harrison
Showing posts with label Pittsburgh Panthers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pittsburgh Panthers. Show all posts
Friday, February 25, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Dwight’s Dandy Drama
Dwight Hardy secured a last second lay-in with 1.2 seconds left to lift St. John’s over fourth-ranked Pittsburgh at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Hardy’s winning scoop shot provided the Red Storm a 60-59 clipping of the Panthers before a raucous crowd of over 14,000. Saturday’s victory was the fifth time this season St. John’s has toppled a top ten team. It was only the third loss for the Panthers, who still shine in first place in the Big East at 12-2. The Red Storm, currently unranked, have beaten Duke, UConn and Pitt this season. On Saturday, they thrilled the home fans with a heart-stopping one point win to improve to 17-9 overall.
The Panthers went into halftime ahead 27-26 in Ashton Gibbs’ return to the hardwood after missing two weeks due to an injured knee. Gibbs scored a career and game high 26 in the loss on 8-of-14 from the field. The sixth leading scorer in the Big East, Gibbs tallied 15 points in as many minutes during the opening half. Hardy totaled 19 points and added three steals to lead the Johnnies. St. John’s senior forward, Justin Burrell, contributed a quiet 15 points in the win. Pittsburgh, winners of their last six conference road games, was poised to make it seven in New York. The Red Storm had other plans in attempting to snap their own five game losing streak. There were eight lead changes during the second half until Hardy put an end to it all with a spectacular layup. Pitt led by as many as five after Brad Wanamaker’s jumper with 3:20 remaining. Wanamaker was held to just six points, as only Gibbs scored in double figures for the Panthers.
Pitt had a three point lead and the basketball with less than two minutes to go in the second half. Junior, Travon Woodall committed a turnover on an errant pass that led to a pair of D.J. Kennedy free throws to trim the lead 56-55. Gary McGhee pulled in a pass under the basket but fumbled to give St. John’s the ball back on Pitt’s next possession. Hardy’s jumper was off the mark, but Kennedy grabbed the rebound to keep the ball in the hands of the Red Storm. Following a foul, Hardy tied the game on a basket from the line. He missed his second free throw but the Storm again collected the rebound against one of the best rebounding team in the game. Hardy knocked down a pair of free throws after being fouled again to add to the late game drama. Woodall’s trey gave Pitt a one point edge with 11 seconds left before Hardy dribbled past Gilbert Brown for the deciding bucket.
Parting Points: More college hoops action from Saturday--WVU toppled Notre Dame, Texas fell to Nebraska and Kansas owned Colorado.
The Panthers went into halftime ahead 27-26 in Ashton Gibbs’ return to the hardwood after missing two weeks due to an injured knee. Gibbs scored a career and game high 26 in the loss on 8-of-14 from the field. The sixth leading scorer in the Big East, Gibbs tallied 15 points in as many minutes during the opening half. Hardy totaled 19 points and added three steals to lead the Johnnies. St. John’s senior forward, Justin Burrell, contributed a quiet 15 points in the win. Pittsburgh, winners of their last six conference road games, was poised to make it seven in New York. The Red Storm had other plans in attempting to snap their own five game losing streak. There were eight lead changes during the second half until Hardy put an end to it all with a spectacular layup. Pitt led by as many as five after Brad Wanamaker’s jumper with 3:20 remaining. Wanamaker was held to just six points, as only Gibbs scored in double figures for the Panthers.
Pitt had a three point lead and the basketball with less than two minutes to go in the second half. Junior, Travon Woodall committed a turnover on an errant pass that led to a pair of D.J. Kennedy free throws to trim the lead 56-55. Gary McGhee pulled in a pass under the basket but fumbled to give St. John’s the ball back on Pitt’s next possession. Hardy’s jumper was off the mark, but Kennedy grabbed the rebound to keep the ball in the hands of the Red Storm. Following a foul, Hardy tied the game on a basket from the line. He missed his second free throw but the Storm again collected the rebound against one of the best rebounding team in the game. Hardy knocked down a pair of free throws after being fouled again to add to the late game drama. Woodall’s trey gave Pitt a one point edge with 11 seconds left before Hardy dribbled past Gilbert Brown for the deciding bucket.
Parting Points: More college hoops action from Saturday--WVU toppled Notre Dame, Texas fell to Nebraska and Kansas owned Colorado.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Victory at Villanova
The Panthers are breathing a sigh of relief after an anxious final second play on Saturday. Fourth ranked Pittsburgh escaped The Pavilion in Pennsylvania with a 57-54 victory over the Villanova Wildcats. The Panthers quieted the Cats in snapping Villanova’s 43-game home winning streak. Villanova rallied to make it a one possession game with one minute to go, but Pittsburgh survived down the stretch to squeeze out the three point win in a Big East battle. The Panthers proved they remain the team to beat in the rugged conference. Pittsburgh owns a 23-2 overall record and is 11-1 in the Big East. Pittsburgh has won six consecutive road games and is poised for a riveting run in the conference finals. ‘Nova dropped to 7-5 after falling at home for the first time since January 2007.
Brad Wanamaker, a Philadelphia native playing for Pittsburgh, led all scorers with 21 points. The Panthers played without Ashton Gibbs, but Pitt’s counter-punchers came up with big baskets in his absence. The Wildcats led 27-24 after the low scoring first half. The home team was also playing without their top starter in Corey Stokes. Villanova’s Mouphtaou Yarou collected eight points and five rebounds in the first eight minutes of the game. Yarou blocked four shots and made Pitt think twice about driving the lane. The Panthers went 0-5 beyond the arc to open the game and finished just 10% from the rainbow. Nasir Robinson had a team high seven buckets for Pitt in the first half while Antonio Pena and Corey Fisher paced the Cats with seven points apiece.
Villanova slowed down to begin second half play. The Cats made just three baskets in fourtheen minutes. Wanamaker gave Pitt their first lead midway through the first half with a three point play at 14:23. The Pittsburgh senior guard converted another three point play with 2:46 after the Wildcats scored eight unanswered points. The Panthers’ offense improved after the intermission, shooting 50% from the field. The game also became more physical, as Fisher and Robinson were called for technicals. The Pittsburgh starters carried the bulk of the load. Jamie Dixon’s bench provided just three points in the victory. Pena hit a three-pointer with 58 seconds left to make it a three point affair.
Wanamaker scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half but committed a key turnover with 27 ticks on the clock. Maalik Wayns was stopped on his way to the basket following a ‘Nova timeout and the home team were forced to attempt a three-pointer with four seconds remaining. Dominick Cheek’s trey caromed off the rim and Maurice Sutton hauled in the rebound. Sutton relayed the ball back to Wayns for one last shot. Wayns sank the three but it was after the buzzer as the Panthers held on to win. Wayns finished with 13 points (obviously not including the key three after time expired).
Parting Points: Ohio State has fallen as many suspected. Wisconsin beat the Buckeyes in Madison to hand the last unbeaten college team their first loss of the season.
Brad Wanamaker, a Philadelphia native playing for Pittsburgh, led all scorers with 21 points. The Panthers played without Ashton Gibbs, but Pitt’s counter-punchers came up with big baskets in his absence. The Wildcats led 27-24 after the low scoring first half. The home team was also playing without their top starter in Corey Stokes. Villanova’s Mouphtaou Yarou collected eight points and five rebounds in the first eight minutes of the game. Yarou blocked four shots and made Pitt think twice about driving the lane. The Panthers went 0-5 beyond the arc to open the game and finished just 10% from the rainbow. Nasir Robinson had a team high seven buckets for Pitt in the first half while Antonio Pena and Corey Fisher paced the Cats with seven points apiece.
Villanova slowed down to begin second half play. The Cats made just three baskets in fourtheen minutes. Wanamaker gave Pitt their first lead midway through the first half with a three point play at 14:23. The Pittsburgh senior guard converted another three point play with 2:46 after the Wildcats scored eight unanswered points. The Panthers’ offense improved after the intermission, shooting 50% from the field. The game also became more physical, as Fisher and Robinson were called for technicals. The Pittsburgh starters carried the bulk of the load. Jamie Dixon’s bench provided just three points in the victory. Pena hit a three-pointer with 58 seconds left to make it a three point affair.
Wanamaker scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half but committed a key turnover with 27 ticks on the clock. Maalik Wayns was stopped on his way to the basket following a ‘Nova timeout and the home team were forced to attempt a three-pointer with four seconds remaining. Dominick Cheek’s trey caromed off the rim and Maurice Sutton hauled in the rebound. Sutton relayed the ball back to Wayns for one last shot. Wayns sank the three but it was after the buzzer as the Panthers held on to win. Wayns finished with 13 points (obviously not including the key three after time expired).
Parting Points: Ohio State has fallen as many suspected. Wisconsin beat the Buckeyes in Madison to hand the last unbeaten college team their first loss of the season.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Perfect Panthers Scratch Syracuse
‘Cuse’s Claws Clipped
Jets-Steelers aren’t the only New York-Pittsburgh highlight matchup this week. Two teams with perfect slates converged in the Steel City last night. The zone-busting Pittsburgh Panthers are still undefeated after Monday’s stomping over smooth-sailing Syracuse at Petersen Events Center. The Panthers improved to 19-0 on the season with a 74-66 victory over the third-ranked Orange. Pitt scored the first 19 points of the game during an eight minute opening run against their Big East foes. The Orange missed their first ten shots of the night. Pitt’s Nasir Robinson unloaded nine consecutive points and finished with 21 as the Panthers took sole possession of first place in the conference at 6-0.
The Orange ripped off 17 straight points after the 19-0 Panther run in the first quarter. Pitt followed with seven more points only to be followed by seven from the Orange. Syracuse’s C.J. Fair pocketed 16 points and nine rebounds in the loss. Junior guard, Ashton Gibbs, knocked down a three-pointer with three seconds remaining in the first half to give the Panthers a 31-27 halftime edge. Syracuse had four fewer rebounds than the home team in the first half and the momentum appeared to shift the Orange way after the break. Syracuse tied the score at 41 on James Southerland’s trey but Pitt’s Travon Woodall responded with a downtown bucket as Pitt re-took the lead.
Syracuse’s usually strong shooting from the field stalled in the second half. The Orange had several opportunities to take the lead but failed to score each time. Rick Jackson had ten points to go along with 11 rebounds for the Orange, who played without top scorer, Kris Joseph. The visitors tried to hold their own on the road, but their 18-0 record would fall at the hands of the clawing cats. The Panthers’ defense, ignited by a Talib Zanna block in the second half, was too much for ‘Cuse. The Panthers were able to solve Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense as well. Pittsburgh went on a 9-1 run with 10:49 remaining to take a 53-44 lead. Robinson did not slow down in the second half. He made 8-of-12 shots from the floor and contributed eight rebounds. Senior Gary McGhee helped the Panthers gain the rebounding edge (44-30) against the conference’s best on the boards, Jackson. Brad Wanamaker finished with 15 points and Gilbert Brown added 12 for the fifth ranked Panthers. The 2003 national champion Orange fell for the first time this season and the home Panthers sifted through the second half unscathed.
Parting Points: OSU=number one in the polls
Boston beats Orlando on KG’s defensive heroics. Welcome back, Garnett.
Jets-Steelers aren’t the only New York-Pittsburgh highlight matchup this week. Two teams with perfect slates converged in the Steel City last night. The zone-busting Pittsburgh Panthers are still undefeated after Monday’s stomping over smooth-sailing Syracuse at Petersen Events Center. The Panthers improved to 19-0 on the season with a 74-66 victory over the third-ranked Orange. Pitt scored the first 19 points of the game during an eight minute opening run against their Big East foes. The Orange missed their first ten shots of the night. Pitt’s Nasir Robinson unloaded nine consecutive points and finished with 21 as the Panthers took sole possession of first place in the conference at 6-0.
The Orange ripped off 17 straight points after the 19-0 Panther run in the first quarter. Pitt followed with seven more points only to be followed by seven from the Orange. Syracuse’s C.J. Fair pocketed 16 points and nine rebounds in the loss. Junior guard, Ashton Gibbs, knocked down a three-pointer with three seconds remaining in the first half to give the Panthers a 31-27 halftime edge. Syracuse had four fewer rebounds than the home team in the first half and the momentum appeared to shift the Orange way after the break. Syracuse tied the score at 41 on James Southerland’s trey but Pitt’s Travon Woodall responded with a downtown bucket as Pitt re-took the lead.
Syracuse’s usually strong shooting from the field stalled in the second half. The Orange had several opportunities to take the lead but failed to score each time. Rick Jackson had ten points to go along with 11 rebounds for the Orange, who played without top scorer, Kris Joseph. The visitors tried to hold their own on the road, but their 18-0 record would fall at the hands of the clawing cats. The Panthers’ defense, ignited by a Talib Zanna block in the second half, was too much for ‘Cuse. The Panthers were able to solve Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense as well. Pittsburgh went on a 9-1 run with 10:49 remaining to take a 53-44 lead. Robinson did not slow down in the second half. He made 8-of-12 shots from the floor and contributed eight rebounds. Senior Gary McGhee helped the Panthers gain the rebounding edge (44-30) against the conference’s best on the boards, Jackson. Brad Wanamaker finished with 15 points and Gilbert Brown added 12 for the fifth ranked Panthers. The 2003 national champion Orange fell for the first time this season and the home Panthers sifted through the second half unscathed.
Parting Points: OSU=number one in the polls
Boston beats Orlando on KG’s defensive heroics. Welcome back, Garnett.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Ashton's Acrobatic Answer
Ashton Gibbs sunk a 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left in regulation to lift the Pittsburgh Panthers over Providence at Petersen Events Center Thursday night. The 17th ranked Panthers pulled out a 73-71 victory to improve their Big East record to 12-5 and secure a double bye in next week’s tournament. Gilbert Brown dished an inbound pass to Gibbs, who drilled the game-winning 25 foot shot as time expired. The sophomore guard led all scorers with 25 points, and made six from downtown against the Friars.
Jamine Peterson, at 6’9”, netted 24 points and 18 rebounds for 12-17 Providence. The Friar forward recorded his Big East best 15th double-double of the season. The Friars are losers of nine straight games. The Panthers have won seven of their past eight contests and are 16-1 at home under coach, Jamie Dixon this season. Dixon’s team played a sloppy game throughout the first three quarters but rallied to tie the score in the fourth. The visitors trailed by four points at the half after scoring the last five points of the stanza. Pitt committed 15 turnovers and allowed Providence to shoot 45% from the field in the second half. The Panthers shot just 30% from the free throw line and 42% from long range. Providence executed an impressive 7-0 run in the second half to tie the game at 44-44. Marshon Brooks’ dunk gave the Friars their first lead of the second half with less than 12 minutes to play. The Friars’ Sharaud Curry added 16 points and Brooks chipped in 13. Providence is ranked 15th in the Big East and has one of the worst scoring defenses in the nation. Providence, losers of 18 of their last 21 at Pittsburgh, failed to hold a five point lead with seven minutes remaining.
Twenty-three win Pitt trimmed the lead to twice take over in the final five minutes. The lead changed hands five times in the game’s final four and a half minutes. Brad Wanamaker nipped a bucket from the arc with 4:16 remaining to give the Panthers a 66-65 edge. Wanamaker finished with 13 assists. Providence recaptured the lead they relinquished on a Brian McKenzie jumper. Wanamaker answered with a jumper off his own to vault the Panthers back into the lead, but Peterson tied the game at 68-68 with a free throw at 2:22. Jermaine Dixon scored a career high 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Pitt. Dixon’s basket with 40 seconds remaining gave the Panthers a two point edge. Curry notched two free throws with five ticks on the clock. McKenzie responded to a Jermaine Dixon foul seconds later by hitting one of two from the line. Providence held a 71-70 advantage with 3.5 seconds left. The ball was placed in Gibbs’ hands for the deciding bucket in the nail-biting finish of a game that saw seven ties.
Parting Points: Friday’s artist- Sarah Mclachlan
A complacent day for Pittsburgh sports fans Thursday- Pitt wins at the last second and the Penguins top the Rangers in overtime.
Jamine Peterson, at 6’9”, netted 24 points and 18 rebounds for 12-17 Providence. The Friar forward recorded his Big East best 15th double-double of the season. The Friars are losers of nine straight games. The Panthers have won seven of their past eight contests and are 16-1 at home under coach, Jamie Dixon this season. Dixon’s team played a sloppy game throughout the first three quarters but rallied to tie the score in the fourth. The visitors trailed by four points at the half after scoring the last five points of the stanza. Pitt committed 15 turnovers and allowed Providence to shoot 45% from the field in the second half. The Panthers shot just 30% from the free throw line and 42% from long range. Providence executed an impressive 7-0 run in the second half to tie the game at 44-44. Marshon Brooks’ dunk gave the Friars their first lead of the second half with less than 12 minutes to play. The Friars’ Sharaud Curry added 16 points and Brooks chipped in 13. Providence is ranked 15th in the Big East and has one of the worst scoring defenses in the nation. Providence, losers of 18 of their last 21 at Pittsburgh, failed to hold a five point lead with seven minutes remaining.
Twenty-three win Pitt trimmed the lead to twice take over in the final five minutes. The lead changed hands five times in the game’s final four and a half minutes. Brad Wanamaker nipped a bucket from the arc with 4:16 remaining to give the Panthers a 66-65 edge. Wanamaker finished with 13 assists. Providence recaptured the lead they relinquished on a Brian McKenzie jumper. Wanamaker answered with a jumper off his own to vault the Panthers back into the lead, but Peterson tied the game at 68-68 with a free throw at 2:22. Jermaine Dixon scored a career high 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Pitt. Dixon’s basket with 40 seconds remaining gave the Panthers a two point edge. Curry notched two free throws with five ticks on the clock. McKenzie responded to a Jermaine Dixon foul seconds later by hitting one of two from the line. Providence held a 71-70 advantage with 3.5 seconds left. The ball was placed in Gibbs’ hands for the deciding bucket in the nail-biting finish of a game that saw seven ties.
Parting Points: Friday’s artist- Sarah Mclachlan
A complacent day for Pittsburgh sports fans Thursday- Pitt wins at the last second and the Penguins top the Rangers in overtime.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Three Tallies after Three Times
Pittsburgh pulled off a miraculous comeback in triple overtime Friday night at Petersen Events Center. The 25th ranked Panther upset the nation’s number five, West Virginia, in the second installment of this season’s backyard brawl. The Big East game was completed in three overtimes. Pittsburgh erased a seven point deficit in the final 45 seconds of regulation to send the game into the first extra session, and eventually outlasted the Mountaineers 98-95. The low scoring contest ended with Gilbert Brown snagging two free throws. The Panthers’ junior hit the winning buckets with 28 seconds left in overtime number three to hand West Virginia their fifth loss of the year. Pittsburgh improved to 19-6 overall and 8-4 in the Big East. The triumph ties the Panthers with West Virginia and Georgetown for third place in the conference.
Da’Sean Butler lead all players with 32 for the Mountaineers. Butler added 11 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Darryl Bryant sunk a satisfying 20 points for the visitors and sophomore, Devin Ebanks had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. The Panthers were paced by their two gritty guards, Brad Wanamaker and Ashton Gibbs. Both finished with 24 points. The Panthers improved to 6-0 at home against top five opponents, but it was a back-and-forth battle all night. The game was tied 12 times and had 12 lead changes. The Mountaineers took a 37-32 advantage over their rivals into halftime. Pitt surged back to tie the game before the regulation buzzer. Gibbs drilled the game-tying 3-pointer from the corner on an inbounds pass from Wanamaker with 22 seconds left in the fourth. Gibbs was 6-of-13 from the arc Friday night. West Virginia was error-prone in the second half. They held a seven point lead after dominating the Panthers for 39 minutes, but let it slip through their fingers. Pittsburgh responded to WVU’s missed opportunities and turnovers at the end of regulation. The Mountaineers allowed Tavon Woodall (12 points, 7 rebounds) an open look down the lane before he drove it home to pull Pitt within three points. They failed to make easy layups. Bob Huggins’ squad fumbled the basketball and couldn’t make their shots even when they virtually had the Backyard Brawl won.
The Panthers looked like they had the game won in the first overtime. Gibbs muffed a second foul shot with seven ticks and Bryant drilled one from downtown to keep the Mountaineers in the game. Jamie Dixon’s Panthers led by three points with 20 seconds left in overtime number two when Butler was fouled. The 6’7” WVU senior pocketed three free throws to force the third extra session. In the final overtime, Butler cruised past the Panthers to put West Virginia ahead by one point with 40 seconds left. Brown dropped two foul shots in the basket to recapture the Panther edge, 96-95. Ebanks, 7-of-14 from the field, missed a shot on the next Mountaineer possession. Gary McGhee grabbed the last of his 12 rebounds and swung the ball out to Gibbs, who was fouled. Gibbs made a pair of charity stripe points with 11.8 seconds remaining for the game’s concluding three point margin. The Panthers took out the Mountaineers in triple overtime by posting clutch free throws and smartly using the clock to their advantage. It was a fitting and fantastic finale.
Parting Points: It’s nice to see Wayne Gretzky involved in the opening ceremonies.
Song for Saturday- Eleanor Farjeon’s “Morning Has Broken”
Da’Sean Butler lead all players with 32 for the Mountaineers. Butler added 11 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Darryl Bryant sunk a satisfying 20 points for the visitors and sophomore, Devin Ebanks had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. The Panthers were paced by their two gritty guards, Brad Wanamaker and Ashton Gibbs. Both finished with 24 points. The Panthers improved to 6-0 at home against top five opponents, but it was a back-and-forth battle all night. The game was tied 12 times and had 12 lead changes. The Mountaineers took a 37-32 advantage over their rivals into halftime. Pitt surged back to tie the game before the regulation buzzer. Gibbs drilled the game-tying 3-pointer from the corner on an inbounds pass from Wanamaker with 22 seconds left in the fourth. Gibbs was 6-of-13 from the arc Friday night. West Virginia was error-prone in the second half. They held a seven point lead after dominating the Panthers for 39 minutes, but let it slip through their fingers. Pittsburgh responded to WVU’s missed opportunities and turnovers at the end of regulation. The Mountaineers allowed Tavon Woodall (12 points, 7 rebounds) an open look down the lane before he drove it home to pull Pitt within three points. They failed to make easy layups. Bob Huggins’ squad fumbled the basketball and couldn’t make their shots even when they virtually had the Backyard Brawl won.
The Panthers looked like they had the game won in the first overtime. Gibbs muffed a second foul shot with seven ticks and Bryant drilled one from downtown to keep the Mountaineers in the game. Jamie Dixon’s Panthers led by three points with 20 seconds left in overtime number two when Butler was fouled. The 6’7” WVU senior pocketed three free throws to force the third extra session. In the final overtime, Butler cruised past the Panthers to put West Virginia ahead by one point with 40 seconds left. Brown dropped two foul shots in the basket to recapture the Panther edge, 96-95. Ebanks, 7-of-14 from the field, missed a shot on the next Mountaineer possession. Gary McGhee grabbed the last of his 12 rebounds and swung the ball out to Gibbs, who was fouled. Gibbs made a pair of charity stripe points with 11.8 seconds remaining for the game’s concluding three point margin. The Panthers took out the Mountaineers in triple overtime by posting clutch free throws and smartly using the clock to their advantage. It was a fitting and fantastic finale.
Parting Points: It’s nice to see Wayne Gretzky involved in the opening ceremonies.
Song for Saturday- Eleanor Farjeon’s “Morning Has Broken”
Thursday, February 4, 2010
WVU's Wacky Whipping
An assemblage of fans in Morgantown witnessed something that hasn’t happened in nine years to the Pittsburgh Panthers. They were out in force and at times, too excessive in the stands. The hometown Mountaineers pasted Pittsburgh 70-51 at the WVU Coliseum Wednesday night. The loss marked the Panthers’ fourth straight in five games. Sixth-ranked West Virginia held the usually tenacious 22nd ranked Panthers to 30% shooting from the field. Pittsburgh coasted through their first five Big East games unscathed, but has now lost four against conference opponents. The Panthers are 6-4 in the Big East, while the Mountaineers hang tough at 7-2. West Virginia fans gave a new meaning to the coin flip. During the contest, Pitt assistant coach, Tom Herrion, was pelted in the face by a coin. West Virginia was charged with a technical foul after one of their fans foolishly flicked the object. Wild and wacky West Virginia backers also threw bottles and T-shirts on the court. The unruliness prompted Coach Bob Huggins to address the crowd. The 18-3 Mountaineers have plenty to cheer about this season. The disruptive student section in the Coliseum is not one of them. Play even got physical in the second half. Pitt’s Gary McGhee and two WVU players got into a scuffle under the basket. The referee broke up the fight and charged the players with fouls. It’s too bad the rowdiness didn’t ignite the Panthers’ offense. It’s also a shame the home crowd can’t be as classy as the coach.
Jamie Dixon’s Panthers were outrebounded and outworked by Huggins’ team Wednesday in Morgantown. Da’Sean Butler scored 18 points to lead West Virginia. Butler had a trio of treys in the hardwood version of the Backyard Brawl. Kevin Jones added 16. Turkey native, Deniz Kilicli, had nine points in seven minutes for WVU. The freshman was a factor in the first half, going three of three from the field. The Panthers trailed by six at halftime and trimmed the lead to two following the break. J.J. Richardson, the little-used first year Pitt shooter, tallied five points in the span of one minute. Jermaine Dixon, playing injured, led the Panthers with 13 points, and Ashton Gibbs finished another sluggish night with 11. The visitors gained momentum during the second half but each highlight was halted by West Virginia. The Mountaineers resumed control of the game to take a ten point lead again. The Panthers did not record a field goal in the game’s final four minutes and missed on ten consecutive shots. Pitt wouldn’t get any closer than 43-41 and failed to pick up a rebound in the final 12 minutes. West Virginia went on a 15-4 run after the coin throwing incident to pull ahead 56-43 with six minutes on the clock. The Mountaineers were steady from long range and fed off the energetic home crowd to hand Pitt their sixth loss of the season. WVU was near 74% from the free throw line and had 11 takeaways. The Panthers were outrebounded 45-31. Devin Ebanks had 16 rebounds for West Virginia, more than half the total of the entire visiting team. Stunningly, Pitt’s second leading scorer, Brad Wanamaker, was held without a basket.
Parting Points: Can Kansas please not do this to be anymore? KU squeaks by 11-11 Colorado in overtime and Jayhawks fans are supposed to rejoice?
Thursday’s tune- Foo Fighters’ “Big Me”
Jamie Dixon’s Panthers were outrebounded and outworked by Huggins’ team Wednesday in Morgantown. Da’Sean Butler scored 18 points to lead West Virginia. Butler had a trio of treys in the hardwood version of the Backyard Brawl. Kevin Jones added 16. Turkey native, Deniz Kilicli, had nine points in seven minutes for WVU. The freshman was a factor in the first half, going three of three from the field. The Panthers trailed by six at halftime and trimmed the lead to two following the break. J.J. Richardson, the little-used first year Pitt shooter, tallied five points in the span of one minute. Jermaine Dixon, playing injured, led the Panthers with 13 points, and Ashton Gibbs finished another sluggish night with 11. The visitors gained momentum during the second half but each highlight was halted by West Virginia. The Mountaineers resumed control of the game to take a ten point lead again. The Panthers did not record a field goal in the game’s final four minutes and missed on ten consecutive shots. Pitt wouldn’t get any closer than 43-41 and failed to pick up a rebound in the final 12 minutes. West Virginia went on a 15-4 run after the coin throwing incident to pull ahead 56-43 with six minutes on the clock. The Mountaineers were steady from long range and fed off the energetic home crowd to hand Pitt their sixth loss of the season. WVU was near 74% from the free throw line and had 11 takeaways. The Panthers were outrebounded 45-31. Devin Ebanks had 16 rebounds for West Virginia, more than half the total of the entire visiting team. Stunningly, Pitt’s second leading scorer, Brad Wanamaker, was held without a basket.
Parting Points: Can Kansas please not do this to be anymore? KU squeaks by 11-11 Colorado in overtime and Jayhawks fans are supposed to rejoice?
Thursday’s tune- Foo Fighters’ “Big Me”
Sunday, January 17, 2010
College Cardinals Clipped in Comeback
The Arizona Cardinals weren’t the only team to go down Saturday. Rick Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals were clipped in an overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers at Petersen Events Center. The Big East battle went to the Panthers 82-77, despite the confident Cardinals racking up points throughout the contest. Pittsburgh trailed most of the second half but benefited from a few lucky breaks. The Cardinals watched the Panthers chip away at their fourth quarter lead and caved at the charity stripe. Louisville missed four of five free throws during the game’s final forty seconds as the home team forced overtime.
The Panthers’ Brad Wanamaker made a 3-pointer with sixteen seconds remaining to cut the Cardinals’ lead one point. The edgy junior guard notched a pair of free throws to tie the game with two seconds left. Wanamaker and Jermaine Dixon combined for 13 of Pitt’s 20 assists. The Panthers grabbed the lead on Ashton Gibb’s basket from the arc 53 seconds into the extra session. Gibbs gunned down just one shot in the first half, but Pitt’s top scorer finished with 15 points. He made 3 of 4 from three point range and was perfect from the line in the home overtime win. Nasir Robinson bucketed a career high 26 points and snatched 11 rebounds for 15-2 Pitt. The 6’5” sophomore kept Pitt in the game long enough for the Panthers to take advantage of Louisville’s missed opportunities. Pittsburgh drilled 50% of their 3-point shots and was 80% from the line. The Panthers maintained their undefeated Big East status and won their 31st straight game at home. Only Kansas has a longer streak in all of college basketball. Pitt remains on the top of the conference standings with Villanova.
For Pitino and Louisville, it was a tough loss to take. The visiting 12-6 Cardinals drew a 30-27 lead into the halftime locker room. The Cardinals were less than two seconds from defeating Pittsburgh and snapping their snazzy streak at home. Louisville was the last team to win in Pittsburgh. The victory occurred in 2008, when Jamie Dixon’s Panthers were arguably a more physical and talented team. The Cardinals watched a win whiter away in the winter Pittsburgh afternoon Saturday. The 16th ranked Panthers were down by six points in all four quarters before tying the game. The Cardinals squandered the lead when they needed it most after controlling the road game throughout regulation. Samardo Samuels and Preston Knowles carried their struggling Louisville teammates. Samuels posted 25 points while dominating Pitt’s big men, Dante Taylor and Gary McGhee. Knowles hit his first four shots on route to a 21 point barrage. The battle was all but over when the Cardinals held a comfortable lead and sent their 68% free throw shooter, Edgar Sosa, to the line. Sosa secured 13 points, but was only three of seven from the line during the second half. The clanking and clanging Cardinal free throws were the difference between a win and a loss yesterday. The prominent Panthers were a stellar 24 of 30 from the free throw line and were able to thwart off the Cardinals’ upset bid by overtaking overtime.
Parting Points: A few notable scores from college hoops---Syracuse survived West Virginia 72-71 in another Big East clash. The Big 10 saw Ohio State top 13th ranked Wisconsin 60-51.
Album of the week- “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace” by the Foo Fighters
The Panthers’ Brad Wanamaker made a 3-pointer with sixteen seconds remaining to cut the Cardinals’ lead one point. The edgy junior guard notched a pair of free throws to tie the game with two seconds left. Wanamaker and Jermaine Dixon combined for 13 of Pitt’s 20 assists. The Panthers grabbed the lead on Ashton Gibb’s basket from the arc 53 seconds into the extra session. Gibbs gunned down just one shot in the first half, but Pitt’s top scorer finished with 15 points. He made 3 of 4 from three point range and was perfect from the line in the home overtime win. Nasir Robinson bucketed a career high 26 points and snatched 11 rebounds for 15-2 Pitt. The 6’5” sophomore kept Pitt in the game long enough for the Panthers to take advantage of Louisville’s missed opportunities. Pittsburgh drilled 50% of their 3-point shots and was 80% from the line. The Panthers maintained their undefeated Big East status and won their 31st straight game at home. Only Kansas has a longer streak in all of college basketball. Pitt remains on the top of the conference standings with Villanova.
For Pitino and Louisville, it was a tough loss to take. The visiting 12-6 Cardinals drew a 30-27 lead into the halftime locker room. The Cardinals were less than two seconds from defeating Pittsburgh and snapping their snazzy streak at home. Louisville was the last team to win in Pittsburgh. The victory occurred in 2008, when Jamie Dixon’s Panthers were arguably a more physical and talented team. The Cardinals watched a win whiter away in the winter Pittsburgh afternoon Saturday. The 16th ranked Panthers were down by six points in all four quarters before tying the game. The Cardinals squandered the lead when they needed it most after controlling the road game throughout regulation. Samardo Samuels and Preston Knowles carried their struggling Louisville teammates. Samuels posted 25 points while dominating Pitt’s big men, Dante Taylor and Gary McGhee. Knowles hit his first four shots on route to a 21 point barrage. The battle was all but over when the Cardinals held a comfortable lead and sent their 68% free throw shooter, Edgar Sosa, to the line. Sosa secured 13 points, but was only three of seven from the line during the second half. The clanking and clanging Cardinal free throws were the difference between a win and a loss yesterday. The prominent Panthers were a stellar 24 of 30 from the free throw line and were able to thwart off the Cardinals’ upset bid by overtaking overtime.
Parting Points: A few notable scores from college hoops---Syracuse survived West Virginia 72-71 in another Big East clash. The Big 10 saw Ohio State top 13th ranked Wisconsin 60-51.
Album of the week- “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace” by the Foo Fighters
Sunday, January 3, 2010
‘Cuse Crushed in Conference Clash at Carrier
Pittsburgh’s ten point win Saturday at the Carrier Dome knocked the Orange from the ranks of the unbeaten in college basketball. Number five Syracuse suffered their first loss of the season, and fourth straight at home to the Panthers. Syracuse was stifled by their unranked Big East opponents, 82-72. The Orange couldn’t fend off the best defensive team in the conference, shot under their average 54% from the field, and got into foul trouble throughout the afternoon. Pittsburgh made upstate New York feel like a home arena in handling the Orange and erasing a three point halftime deficit to pick up their second win in conference play. Syracuse dropped to 1-1 in the Big East and 13-1 overall.
The top scoring team in the Big East, Syracuse, was lead by senior Wesley Johnson’s 19 points. The Iowa State transfer was recruited by Panthers coach, Jamie Dixon, two years ago. Johnson failed to register an assist against Dixon’s revamped Pittsburgh roster. The Orange has only 12 assists in the game, nearly ten below their season average. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, came into Saturday’s showdown the second lowest scoring team in the Big East. The physical Panthers went on an uncharacteristic offensive splurge after struggling through the first half. Pitt made just ten of their first 30 shots in the first half. Ashton Gibbs and Jermaine Dixon kept the visitors in the game, excelling on offense and accounting for 23 of the 27 first half points. Pittsburgh came out firing and was efficient in the second half to stop the Orange from their first 14-0 season start in ten years.
Syracuse relied on strong second half defense to win their Big East opener against Seton Hall earlier in the week. The Orange defense wasn’t the problem yesterday. The offense was never able to rally after Pittsburgh ignited a 16-4 run to start the second half. The Orange were also nailed for 19 fouls in the game’s final twenty minutes. Johnson and Rick Jackson were called for four fouls to take whatever Syracuse spunk remained in the final quarter. Pittsburgh capitalized on Syracuse’s miscues and accurately made their free throws in the second half. Gibbs set a school record when he secured his 35th consecutive free throw, and finished the day with 37. The Panthers jumped on Jim Boeheim’s team with just 18 minutes remaining in the game. Brad Wanamaker slated a pair of free throws and the Panthers went on a 9-0 run to make it 43-34 in their favor. The Orange pulled back to within two with 11:18 in the contest. Johnson converted two Scoop Jardine misses and keyed an 8-1 Orange run. Gibbs used his long range accuracy to keep the Panthers in the lead down the stretch. The sophomore guard hit three 3-pointers in tihe span of four minutes for the cats. Pittsburgh resumed control by scoring 15 of their next 20 points, preventing any comeback from the undefeated Orange.
The Panthers were 10 of 24 from the arc. Syracuse’s solo shot from the rainbow was from Andy Rautins, the Orange leader in assists Saturday. Gibbs bucketed six from downtown and scored 24 points to lead the Panthers. Dixon, Wanamaker and freshman, Dante Taylor, all finished in double digits. Gibbs grabbed eight rebounds and Nasir Robinson added seven for the winning Panthers. Kris Joseph tacked on nine rebounds for the Orange. Syracuse came into Saturday’s home game leading the conference in margin of victory. They were beating opponents by an average of 25 points per game. For some reason, the Panthers have the Orange’s number. They seem to hand Syracuse some of their worst defeats and lopsided losses whenever they tip-off. History was on Pitt’s side Saturday. It was on Dixon’s side too. The Panther coach is 7-2 against teams ranked in the top five. The Panthers tenacity and mental toughness in hostile environments is an enduring characteristic of Dixon’s teams. It doesn’t matter who leaves the team for the NBA. Dixon usually finds a way to instill and affirm confidence in his ballclub for significant games. The inexperienced and young Panthers passed their first of three tough road tests. Cincinnati and Connecticut are up next for Pittsburgh. Perhaps upending and upsetting the unbreakable and unblemished Orange was the hardest one.
Parting Points: There are four unbeaten teams left in college basketball. Kansas thumped Temple yesterday and Kentucky held on to survive Louisville. The Texas Longhorns and Purdue Boilermakers are surprisingly still undefeated too.
Can the Cowboys contain DeSean Jackson today to win the NFC East? He had only two receptions in the first game against Dallas. Maybe the ‘Boys will hold the soaring Eagle receiver to one today.
Band of the day- Hootie and the Blowfish
The top scoring team in the Big East, Syracuse, was lead by senior Wesley Johnson’s 19 points. The Iowa State transfer was recruited by Panthers coach, Jamie Dixon, two years ago. Johnson failed to register an assist against Dixon’s revamped Pittsburgh roster. The Orange has only 12 assists in the game, nearly ten below their season average. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, came into Saturday’s showdown the second lowest scoring team in the Big East. The physical Panthers went on an uncharacteristic offensive splurge after struggling through the first half. Pitt made just ten of their first 30 shots in the first half. Ashton Gibbs and Jermaine Dixon kept the visitors in the game, excelling on offense and accounting for 23 of the 27 first half points. Pittsburgh came out firing and was efficient in the second half to stop the Orange from their first 14-0 season start in ten years.
Syracuse relied on strong second half defense to win their Big East opener against Seton Hall earlier in the week. The Orange defense wasn’t the problem yesterday. The offense was never able to rally after Pittsburgh ignited a 16-4 run to start the second half. The Orange were also nailed for 19 fouls in the game’s final twenty minutes. Johnson and Rick Jackson were called for four fouls to take whatever Syracuse spunk remained in the final quarter. Pittsburgh capitalized on Syracuse’s miscues and accurately made their free throws in the second half. Gibbs set a school record when he secured his 35th consecutive free throw, and finished the day with 37. The Panthers jumped on Jim Boeheim’s team with just 18 minutes remaining in the game. Brad Wanamaker slated a pair of free throws and the Panthers went on a 9-0 run to make it 43-34 in their favor. The Orange pulled back to within two with 11:18 in the contest. Johnson converted two Scoop Jardine misses and keyed an 8-1 Orange run. Gibbs used his long range accuracy to keep the Panthers in the lead down the stretch. The sophomore guard hit three 3-pointers in tihe span of four minutes for the cats. Pittsburgh resumed control by scoring 15 of their next 20 points, preventing any comeback from the undefeated Orange.
The Panthers were 10 of 24 from the arc. Syracuse’s solo shot from the rainbow was from Andy Rautins, the Orange leader in assists Saturday. Gibbs bucketed six from downtown and scored 24 points to lead the Panthers. Dixon, Wanamaker and freshman, Dante Taylor, all finished in double digits. Gibbs grabbed eight rebounds and Nasir Robinson added seven for the winning Panthers. Kris Joseph tacked on nine rebounds for the Orange. Syracuse came into Saturday’s home game leading the conference in margin of victory. They were beating opponents by an average of 25 points per game. For some reason, the Panthers have the Orange’s number. They seem to hand Syracuse some of their worst defeats and lopsided losses whenever they tip-off. History was on Pitt’s side Saturday. It was on Dixon’s side too. The Panther coach is 7-2 against teams ranked in the top five. The Panthers tenacity and mental toughness in hostile environments is an enduring characteristic of Dixon’s teams. It doesn’t matter who leaves the team for the NBA. Dixon usually finds a way to instill and affirm confidence in his ballclub for significant games. The inexperienced and young Panthers passed their first of three tough road tests. Cincinnati and Connecticut are up next for Pittsburgh. Perhaps upending and upsetting the unbreakable and unblemished Orange was the hardest one.
Parting Points: There are four unbeaten teams left in college basketball. Kansas thumped Temple yesterday and Kentucky held on to survive Louisville. The Texas Longhorns and Purdue Boilermakers are surprisingly still undefeated too.
Can the Cowboys contain DeSean Jackson today to win the NFC East? He had only two receptions in the first game against Dallas. Maybe the ‘Boys will hold the soaring Eagle receiver to one today.
Band of the day- Hootie and the Blowfish
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Lewis’ Leading Legs Lift Lineup
A 19-17 victory in the Meineke Bowl pushed the Pittsburgh Panthers to their first 10 win season since Dan Marino was behind center in 1981. Seventeenth ranked Pittsburgh overcame a disappointing loss to Cincinnati in the last week of the season to slip past North Carolina in the final seconds. The Panthers are likely to be ranked in the top 15 at year end for the first time since the Marino era. The fantastic finish may not have been possible without the fastest freshmen force on the team all season.
The Panthers were paced by freshmen tailback, Dion Lewis. Lewis carried the ball 13 times and racked up 58 yards on the game-winning drive at Bank of America Stadium Saturday. The MVP finished with 159 yards and a touchdown, and eclipsed Tony Dorsett’s freshmen rushing record of 1,686 yards in the first quarter. Pittsburgh trailed 17-16 as the clock wound down in the fourth quarter. Panthers quarterback, Bill Stull, rallied his team on a 17 play, 79 yard drive to set up Dan Hutchins’ team bowl record fourth field goal to win the game. Lewis carried the ball on the pivotal drive, but wasn’t the only imposing impact. Stull helped his own cause with a quarterback sneak to extend the drive on a fourth down his own 30 yard line. Following an off-sides penalty against the Tar Heels, Lewis pounded out nine more yards to give Hutchins a decent chance at 33 yards. The Pitt kicker’s aim was right on as the Panthers took the lead with .52 seconds left. Hutchins missed his first field goal attempt of the game, but was perfect on the next four to lift the Panthers to prominence.
North Carolina signal caller, T.J.Yates, threw two touchdown passes to Greg Little as the Tar Heels suffered their second straight loss. Yates was picked off and failed to move the 8-5 Tar Heels into field goal territory in the waning seconds. North Carolina marched to midfield with half a minute remaining, but Yates missed his mark four times to end the comeback bid. Dan Mason intercepted Yates at the one yard line four minutes before the break. It was the freshmen linebacker’s first career interception. Casey Barth booted a 37 yard field goal in the second quarter for North Carolina to tie the game at 10-10. Hutchins drilled one from 37 as time expired in the first half to provide the three point Panthers edge. The Panthers endured a somewhat frustrating first half. There were many missed opportunities, including the game’s first drive. This has become a recent trend for the Panthers. Saturday, they extended their streak of scoreless first quarters in bowl games to six. Dorin Dickerson dropped a very catchable pass from Stull in the end zone to stall the Panthers opening possession. The Panthers would have settled for three had Hutchins hit the field goal from 40 yards out. Hutchins kick was wide right and the Panthers turned the ball over without recording a point. Yates then capped off a 77 yard drive with a 15 yard touchdown pass to Little for the 7-0 North Carolina lead. Pitt picked up good field position on the ensuing kickoff, but Lewis coughed up the ball in UNC territory for the Panthers’ only turnover. Additionally, it was Lewis’ first lost fumble of the year.
Lewis danced into the end zone with a ten yard touchdown to atone for his mistake in the second quarter. The first Panthers’ touchdown followed a Hutchins’ first field goal. Dave Wannstedt’s defense was superb in stuffing the Tar Heels throughout the second half. UNC wideout, Mike Shanahan, thumped the Panthers’ defense for five catches. Ryan Houston rushed for 83 yards for UNC and Little grabbed seven passes in the game, but the Tar Heels were held to seven points in the remaining two quarters. The sixth ranked defense in the nation, Carolina, could not contain Lewis. Butch Davis’ team continued to fail in closing out games after they took the lead in the third quarter on Little’s second score. It appeared the Panthers’ missed chances would haunt them after Little made it a Tar Heel lead. Lewis burned the Heels’ timeouts and rushed unscathed before Hutchins split the uprights for the winning kick. The Pitt tailback was named MVP of the Meineke Bowl because he delivered when the game was on the line. The Big East’s offensive player of the year completed an impressive rookie campaign with a phenomenal Pittsburgh bowl performance.
Parting Points: Too bad the NJ Devils couldn’t just beat the Capitals.
What is with Rick Adelmann benching Tracy McGrady for the weekend? Surely TMac can hang some on the Nets and Cavs.
Sad to see Urban Meyer exit the college game. I have the utmost respect for one of the better coaches in this era.
The Panthers were paced by freshmen tailback, Dion Lewis. Lewis carried the ball 13 times and racked up 58 yards on the game-winning drive at Bank of America Stadium Saturday. The MVP finished with 159 yards and a touchdown, and eclipsed Tony Dorsett’s freshmen rushing record of 1,686 yards in the first quarter. Pittsburgh trailed 17-16 as the clock wound down in the fourth quarter. Panthers quarterback, Bill Stull, rallied his team on a 17 play, 79 yard drive to set up Dan Hutchins’ team bowl record fourth field goal to win the game. Lewis carried the ball on the pivotal drive, but wasn’t the only imposing impact. Stull helped his own cause with a quarterback sneak to extend the drive on a fourth down his own 30 yard line. Following an off-sides penalty against the Tar Heels, Lewis pounded out nine more yards to give Hutchins a decent chance at 33 yards. The Pitt kicker’s aim was right on as the Panthers took the lead with .52 seconds left. Hutchins missed his first field goal attempt of the game, but was perfect on the next four to lift the Panthers to prominence.
North Carolina signal caller, T.J.Yates, threw two touchdown passes to Greg Little as the Tar Heels suffered their second straight loss. Yates was picked off and failed to move the 8-5 Tar Heels into field goal territory in the waning seconds. North Carolina marched to midfield with half a minute remaining, but Yates missed his mark four times to end the comeback bid. Dan Mason intercepted Yates at the one yard line four minutes before the break. It was the freshmen linebacker’s first career interception. Casey Barth booted a 37 yard field goal in the second quarter for North Carolina to tie the game at 10-10. Hutchins drilled one from 37 as time expired in the first half to provide the three point Panthers edge. The Panthers endured a somewhat frustrating first half. There were many missed opportunities, including the game’s first drive. This has become a recent trend for the Panthers. Saturday, they extended their streak of scoreless first quarters in bowl games to six. Dorin Dickerson dropped a very catchable pass from Stull in the end zone to stall the Panthers opening possession. The Panthers would have settled for three had Hutchins hit the field goal from 40 yards out. Hutchins kick was wide right and the Panthers turned the ball over without recording a point. Yates then capped off a 77 yard drive with a 15 yard touchdown pass to Little for the 7-0 North Carolina lead. Pitt picked up good field position on the ensuing kickoff, but Lewis coughed up the ball in UNC territory for the Panthers’ only turnover. Additionally, it was Lewis’ first lost fumble of the year.
Lewis danced into the end zone with a ten yard touchdown to atone for his mistake in the second quarter. The first Panthers’ touchdown followed a Hutchins’ first field goal. Dave Wannstedt’s defense was superb in stuffing the Tar Heels throughout the second half. UNC wideout, Mike Shanahan, thumped the Panthers’ defense for five catches. Ryan Houston rushed for 83 yards for UNC and Little grabbed seven passes in the game, but the Tar Heels were held to seven points in the remaining two quarters. The sixth ranked defense in the nation, Carolina, could not contain Lewis. Butch Davis’ team continued to fail in closing out games after they took the lead in the third quarter on Little’s second score. It appeared the Panthers’ missed chances would haunt them after Little made it a Tar Heel lead. Lewis burned the Heels’ timeouts and rushed unscathed before Hutchins split the uprights for the winning kick. The Pitt tailback was named MVP of the Meineke Bowl because he delivered when the game was on the line. The Big East’s offensive player of the year completed an impressive rookie campaign with a phenomenal Pittsburgh bowl performance.
Parting Points: Too bad the NJ Devils couldn’t just beat the Capitals.
What is with Rick Adelmann benching Tracy McGrady for the weekend? Surely TMac can hang some on the Nets and Cavs.
Sad to see Urban Meyer exit the college game. I have the utmost respect for one of the better coaches in this era.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Bearcat Bruising Brushoff
Sophomore holder, Andrew Janocko, mishandled the snap on a Pittsburg point-after attempt with 1:36 remaining after the Panthers scored the go-ahead touchdown. Dan Hutchins never even attempted the kick and the Cincinnati Bearcats got the ball back with a chance to win the game. The Bearcats capped off a 21 point comeback by rallying to beat Pitt 45-44 at Heinz Field in the Big East title game Saturday.
Cincinnati’s perfect season and BCS bowl bid were in danger throughout the game in Pittsburgh. The 9-3 Panthers lead the entire game until the final minute. Tony Pike, the Heisman Trophy candidate Cincinnati quarterback, was intercepted three times. The Panthers defense held the Bearcats to more than 100 yards below their season average while holding the ball nearly twice as long. Pitt dominated for essentially 50 minutes as their freshman running back, Dion Lewis, evoked memories of former Panther, Tony Dorsett. Lewis ran for three scores and 194 yard on a team record 47 carries. The battering, blazing and blistering back was brilliant. Quarterback for Pitt, Bill Stull was stellar in stalling the quick-working Bearcats. The Panthers kept the high-charged Cincinnati offense off the field. Ironically, it was one fast-scoring drive that ultimately did the Panthers in at the end. The Panthers lead 31-24 after a fourth quarter touchdown run on four plays by Lewis. Cincinnati answered with their own four play drive. DJ Woods caught an eight yard pass from Pike to pull the Bearcats within eight points. They tied the game six minutes later on an Isaiah Pead rushing touchdown and successfully completed the two point conversion. Pitt took possession with 5:40 remaining. Instead of running out the clock and kicking a field goal with less than a minute left, the Panthers ended the drive in the end zone. Lewis rushed, with very little attempt at stopping him, from five yards out to lift the Panthers again. Then, the ill-fated hold on the point after flopped, giving the Bearcats a chance to win the game with a touchdown. Pike needed three completions after starting from the Cincinnati 39 yard line before connecting with 6’4” receiver, Armon Binns for the game-winning touchdown. The Panthers’ secondary did a credible job Saturday, but it was nearly impossible for any of them to cover the towering Binns. Pike only had to throw the ball up high for Binns to come down with the Big East title in his hands.
Stull went 13 for 21 with 176 yards and two touchdowns. He also tossed a pair of picks in this mistake-prone title takedown. Both teams got on board with rushing touchdowns in the first quarter. Lewis scored his first seven on a four yard rush to end a 12 play Pittsburgh drive with just under 8:00 in the first. Lewis sliced through Cincinnati’s defense with speed and power. The Bearcats tied the game 7-7 on Jacob Ramsey’s two yard scurry. Jonathan Baldwin, the talented sophomore wideout, caught a 22 yard pass from Stull in the first minute of the second quarter to put Pitt back on top. Jake Rodgers’ 20 yard field goal made it a four point game. The Panthers charged right back and forged ahead 21-10 on a two-play 40 yard touchdown pass from Stull to Baldwin. The duo hooked up for 113 Panther yards during Saturday’s contest. Hutchins booted a 33 yard field goal and Stull found the end zone with his own legs from three yards out with 1:26 before the half. Pitt looked as if they might walk away with a laugher, but kick return terror, Marty Gilyard’s 99 yard touchdown run made it a 31-17 game. That wasn’t all from the Bearcat burner on this snowy December gray Pittsburgh afternoon.
Gilyard scored the only points in the third quarter on 68 yard scoring catch from Pike. Brian Kelly’s Bearcats intercepted the momentum following Gilyard’s magnificent return with 70 seconds before halftime. Kelly is the only Cincinnati coach to have three double-digit win seasons. In fact, there was only one other Bearcats team before Kelly to post a double digit season. After the game-changing play by Gilyard, the visiting team jolted command and seized every opportunity to land a seat in the national BCS spotlight. Pike shook off a rough opening half to complete his final 11 passes and score twice. He threw for 84 yards in the first half but revved up 218 yards and three touchdowns in the second. Binns made five catches, including the game winning receptions, for 104 yards. Gilyard was credited with a whopping 256 yards on seven kickoff returns. He provided numerous momentum-swings for the rallying Bearcats. Big-play Gilyard ran back a 49 yard kickoff early in the fourth quarter to set up Woods’ touchdown. On the final drive, the perky Panthers were silly enough to let Gilyard burn them again. A kick to Gilyard proved costly after the receiver returned the ball to the Bearcats 39 yard line. It took 63 seconds for Pike to find the end zone and break the hearts of Heinz Field fans.
Parting Points: Larry McMurty’s second biography comes out Tuesday and looks interesting.
Florida was downed by Alabama and Texas won in the final seconds over Nebraska. I guess we now know the national title game contenders.
Happy Birthday to R.E.M.’s Peter Buck!
Cincinnati’s perfect season and BCS bowl bid were in danger throughout the game in Pittsburgh. The 9-3 Panthers lead the entire game until the final minute. Tony Pike, the Heisman Trophy candidate Cincinnati quarterback, was intercepted three times. The Panthers defense held the Bearcats to more than 100 yards below their season average while holding the ball nearly twice as long. Pitt dominated for essentially 50 minutes as their freshman running back, Dion Lewis, evoked memories of former Panther, Tony Dorsett. Lewis ran for three scores and 194 yard on a team record 47 carries. The battering, blazing and blistering back was brilliant. Quarterback for Pitt, Bill Stull was stellar in stalling the quick-working Bearcats. The Panthers kept the high-charged Cincinnati offense off the field. Ironically, it was one fast-scoring drive that ultimately did the Panthers in at the end. The Panthers lead 31-24 after a fourth quarter touchdown run on four plays by Lewis. Cincinnati answered with their own four play drive. DJ Woods caught an eight yard pass from Pike to pull the Bearcats within eight points. They tied the game six minutes later on an Isaiah Pead rushing touchdown and successfully completed the two point conversion. Pitt took possession with 5:40 remaining. Instead of running out the clock and kicking a field goal with less than a minute left, the Panthers ended the drive in the end zone. Lewis rushed, with very little attempt at stopping him, from five yards out to lift the Panthers again. Then, the ill-fated hold on the point after flopped, giving the Bearcats a chance to win the game with a touchdown. Pike needed three completions after starting from the Cincinnati 39 yard line before connecting with 6’4” receiver, Armon Binns for the game-winning touchdown. The Panthers’ secondary did a credible job Saturday, but it was nearly impossible for any of them to cover the towering Binns. Pike only had to throw the ball up high for Binns to come down with the Big East title in his hands.
Stull went 13 for 21 with 176 yards and two touchdowns. He also tossed a pair of picks in this mistake-prone title takedown. Both teams got on board with rushing touchdowns in the first quarter. Lewis scored his first seven on a four yard rush to end a 12 play Pittsburgh drive with just under 8:00 in the first. Lewis sliced through Cincinnati’s defense with speed and power. The Bearcats tied the game 7-7 on Jacob Ramsey’s two yard scurry. Jonathan Baldwin, the talented sophomore wideout, caught a 22 yard pass from Stull in the first minute of the second quarter to put Pitt back on top. Jake Rodgers’ 20 yard field goal made it a four point game. The Panthers charged right back and forged ahead 21-10 on a two-play 40 yard touchdown pass from Stull to Baldwin. The duo hooked up for 113 Panther yards during Saturday’s contest. Hutchins booted a 33 yard field goal and Stull found the end zone with his own legs from three yards out with 1:26 before the half. Pitt looked as if they might walk away with a laugher, but kick return terror, Marty Gilyard’s 99 yard touchdown run made it a 31-17 game. That wasn’t all from the Bearcat burner on this snowy December gray Pittsburgh afternoon.
Gilyard scored the only points in the third quarter on 68 yard scoring catch from Pike. Brian Kelly’s Bearcats intercepted the momentum following Gilyard’s magnificent return with 70 seconds before halftime. Kelly is the only Cincinnati coach to have three double-digit win seasons. In fact, there was only one other Bearcats team before Kelly to post a double digit season. After the game-changing play by Gilyard, the visiting team jolted command and seized every opportunity to land a seat in the national BCS spotlight. Pike shook off a rough opening half to complete his final 11 passes and score twice. He threw for 84 yards in the first half but revved up 218 yards and three touchdowns in the second. Binns made five catches, including the game winning receptions, for 104 yards. Gilyard was credited with a whopping 256 yards on seven kickoff returns. He provided numerous momentum-swings for the rallying Bearcats. Big-play Gilyard ran back a 49 yard kickoff early in the fourth quarter to set up Woods’ touchdown. On the final drive, the perky Panthers were silly enough to let Gilyard burn them again. A kick to Gilyard proved costly after the receiver returned the ball to the Bearcats 39 yard line. It took 63 seconds for Pike to find the end zone and break the hearts of Heinz Field fans.
Parting Points: Larry McMurty’s second biography comes out Tuesday and looks interesting.
Florida was downed by Alabama and Texas won in the final seconds over Nebraska. I guess we now know the national title game contenders.
Happy Birthday to R.E.M.’s Peter Buck!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Morgantown Melee
Kickoff is still three days away, but it’s never too soon to begin discussing the annual Backyard Brawl. Morgantown’s Mountaineers host the Pittsburgh Panthers on Black Friday for the 102nd meeting between the Big East neighbors. West Virginia comes in to the game with a 7-3 record. The Panthers are 9-1 overall and boast one of the top offensive lines and strongest defenses in the conference. Pittsburgh is 5-0 in Big East play but will be playing the Backyard Brawl on enemy territory. Anytime the Mountaineers play in Morgantown, they have a chance to win. It will take a very solid West Virginia effort and possibly a few Pitt mistakes for the home team to escape victorious.
Pittsburgh prides itself pillaging yards and pitching their perplexed opponents for losses. The Panthers’ defensive front three account for nearly 75% of the team’s nation-leading sacks. The Mountaineers’ occasionally unyielding offense will be tested Friday. WVU running back, Noel Devine, is expected to be healthy for the game. Devine is capable of steamrolling defenses while leading the Mountaineers in yards. Devine is not at full strength for Bill Stewart’s squad. The Mountaineers will be forced to get by Pitt with their feature back dinged up. If the Panthers contain dashing Devine, the Mountaineers may have a tough time finding ways to score points. Pittsburgh is more powerful up front than any other defense West Virginia has faced this year. Their smash-mouth style has the edge over the inconsistent Mountaineer offensive line. West Virginia needs to be able to protect against the exceptional Pitt pass rush.
Dave Wannstedt built the Panthers around an unconventional power running game. Offensively, the Mountaineers use a spread-option system compared to Wannstedt’s more traditional pro-style. The offense will get a glimpse of WVU’s 3-5-3 defense. The Panthers haven’t seen anything like that defensively, save for Navy. But, it shouldn’t really be an issue for Wannstedt’s winners. Pitt has thrived with their decision to throw a pro-style offensive so far. There have been few low points for the Panthers since employing the flummoxing offense. The 8th ranked Panthers will try to avoid the road upset Friday and add to their two year winning streak against the Mountaineers. In 1997, Pittsburgh kept the then-number two Mountaineers from playing in the national title game. Miami Dolphins quarterback, Pat White and West Virginia suffered a 13-9 defeat in Morgantown that year. This year’s Mountaineer signal caller, Jarrett Brown, was on the sidelines hoping his team would cement a spot in the BCS title game. The underdog Panthers rose up to defend and stuff WVU’s dreams, but not before Brown entered the game. He replaced the injured White and provided a 6 yard touchdown run for the Mountaineers. Brown came into the 2007 Backyard Brawl with few expectations because he was essentially an unproven and unknown passer. Friday he has an opportunity to give the Mountaineers a ten-win season. Brown can create a confident boost to an otherwise disappointing season, where WVU fell short of expectations.
The Panthers have gone 18-5 and been a persistent presence in the top 25 since that turning point contest. Stewart’s squad is unranked this season. The Mountaineers will encounter a new face in freshman running back, Dion Lewis, on Friday. Lewis leads the Big East in rushing yards per game and is 38 yards shy of breaking LeSean McCoy’s rookie rushing mark. The speedy back is currently sixth in the nation in rushing. The game won’t affect the Panthers standing in the Big East. It could help decide how the Panthers finish in the final polls. Pittsburgh can lessen their chances of playing in an upper-tier bowl with a loss to WVU and Cincinnati on December 5th. It could also determine whether the Mountaineers complete an undefeated home record in 2009, however. West Virginia has not lost a game in Morgantown this year. This series demands a loud crowd, and none other than the one Friday in Morgantown will present an emotional atmosphere. The Panthers are equipped with explosive and exquisite athletes. I expect Pitt to take this year’s Black Friday Backyarder.
Parting Points: Kudos to Albert Pujols on claiming yet another NL MVP honor.
Is anyone in the NFL healthy for this week?
Listening to some Rod Stewart on the last Tuesday of November.
Pittsburgh prides itself pillaging yards and pitching their perplexed opponents for losses. The Panthers’ defensive front three account for nearly 75% of the team’s nation-leading sacks. The Mountaineers’ occasionally unyielding offense will be tested Friday. WVU running back, Noel Devine, is expected to be healthy for the game. Devine is capable of steamrolling defenses while leading the Mountaineers in yards. Devine is not at full strength for Bill Stewart’s squad. The Mountaineers will be forced to get by Pitt with their feature back dinged up. If the Panthers contain dashing Devine, the Mountaineers may have a tough time finding ways to score points. Pittsburgh is more powerful up front than any other defense West Virginia has faced this year. Their smash-mouth style has the edge over the inconsistent Mountaineer offensive line. West Virginia needs to be able to protect against the exceptional Pitt pass rush.
Dave Wannstedt built the Panthers around an unconventional power running game. Offensively, the Mountaineers use a spread-option system compared to Wannstedt’s more traditional pro-style. The offense will get a glimpse of WVU’s 3-5-3 defense. The Panthers haven’t seen anything like that defensively, save for Navy. But, it shouldn’t really be an issue for Wannstedt’s winners. Pitt has thrived with their decision to throw a pro-style offensive so far. There have been few low points for the Panthers since employing the flummoxing offense. The 8th ranked Panthers will try to avoid the road upset Friday and add to their two year winning streak against the Mountaineers. In 1997, Pittsburgh kept the then-number two Mountaineers from playing in the national title game. Miami Dolphins quarterback, Pat White and West Virginia suffered a 13-9 defeat in Morgantown that year. This year’s Mountaineer signal caller, Jarrett Brown, was on the sidelines hoping his team would cement a spot in the BCS title game. The underdog Panthers rose up to defend and stuff WVU’s dreams, but not before Brown entered the game. He replaced the injured White and provided a 6 yard touchdown run for the Mountaineers. Brown came into the 2007 Backyard Brawl with few expectations because he was essentially an unproven and unknown passer. Friday he has an opportunity to give the Mountaineers a ten-win season. Brown can create a confident boost to an otherwise disappointing season, where WVU fell short of expectations.
The Panthers have gone 18-5 and been a persistent presence in the top 25 since that turning point contest. Stewart’s squad is unranked this season. The Mountaineers will encounter a new face in freshman running back, Dion Lewis, on Friday. Lewis leads the Big East in rushing yards per game and is 38 yards shy of breaking LeSean McCoy’s rookie rushing mark. The speedy back is currently sixth in the nation in rushing. The game won’t affect the Panthers standing in the Big East. It could help decide how the Panthers finish in the final polls. Pittsburgh can lessen their chances of playing in an upper-tier bowl with a loss to WVU and Cincinnati on December 5th. It could also determine whether the Mountaineers complete an undefeated home record in 2009, however. West Virginia has not lost a game in Morgantown this year. This series demands a loud crowd, and none other than the one Friday in Morgantown will present an emotional atmosphere. The Panthers are equipped with explosive and exquisite athletes. I expect Pitt to take this year’s Black Friday Backyarder.
Parting Points: Kudos to Albert Pujols on claiming yet another NL MVP honor.
Is anyone in the NFL healthy for this week?
Listening to some Rod Stewart on the last Tuesday of November.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Pitt Poised to Plow Past Pretender Position
The Pittsburgh Penguins fell to the New Jersey Devils to end their seven game winning streak Saturday. The Devils broke through for four goals at Mellon Arena to defeat Pittsburgh 4-1. Today, Brett Favre returns to the Steele City for the first time in eleven years. Favre and the flawless Minnesota Vikings hope to continue gridiron perfection against Pittsburgh. Twenty-seven year old, Ben Roethlisberger leads the NFL in passing yards and yards per attempt. The six year Steelers quarterback will ride a 4-2 start against the game’s leader in completions, wins, passing yards and touchdowns 1pm at Heinz Field. It’s one of the premier Sunday football matchups to end the month of October. Speaking of October and Pittsburgh, the Pirates rarely put the two terms in the same sentence. The Bucs are used to early exits from the major league baseball season. The biggest news in Pirates camp is part of the team’s coaching staff choosing not to return for the 2010 season. Infield instructor and first base coach, Perry Hill, declined an offer to return. All other sports aside, the real story coming out of Pittsburgh Saturday was the Panthers’ battering of the Bulls from South Florida. Pittsburgh improved to a 4-0 unblemished record in the Big East. Additionally, the Panthers endorsed the notion of winning the conference over a gaudy Cincinnati club. Pittsburgh, a more physical team, is in position to go 10-0. The Panthers must first consider three tough opponents in the ensuing months. Pittsburgh cannot discount their neighborly rivals, West Virginia. They will be challenged by a re-focused Notre Dame team. The December 5th showdown with number five Cincinnati will be the ultimate test if the Panthers remains undefeated in the conference. They are justifiably one of the more reputed Panthers teams the city has witnessed in years.
Bill Stull isn’t quite Dan Marino yet, but Coach Dave Wannstedt has a real winner at the quarterback slot. The senior was forced to compete for a starting job earlier this year after ending last year on a major sour note. The 2009 Stull already has 16 touchdown passes, one shy of Marino during his senior year. The 7-1 overall record the Panthers have built up is impressive. The defense succeeds in eroding offenses, and Stull has been a delight in dealing with nationally top-ranked foes. Saturday, Stull completed his first 11 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns. The 20th ranked Panthers racked up the yardage against the best defense in the Big East to romp the Bulls 41-14. Pittsburgh scored on all of their first five possessions. The lopsided score makes sense after considering how freshman rusher, Dion Lewis performed. Lewis was a true star and declared himself a legitimate running back in his fifth 100 yard rushing afternoon. He is the fourth Pitt freshman to run for 1,000 yards in one season, joining elite company Tony Dorsett, Curvin Richards and LeSean McCoy. The Bulls offensive line lacked any control and provided Stull with plenty of time to throw. The Big East Bulls repeatedly hurt themselves with penalties. The slips resulted in 71 total yards lost on penalties and 40 in the first quarter alone. That amount just happened to match the total first quarter offensive yards, never a good thing.
The Pitt defense forced four South Florida punts in the first quarter. The secondary breakdown allowed one Bulls touchdown drive early, but not another point until the clock wound down to ten seconds in the fourth. The scorching defense scoured four sacks and three interceptions, and neither side committed a first half penalty for the Panthers. South Florida’s offense was undressed in the first half and the defense resigned 297 yards. Quarterback B.J. Daniels and his backup, Evan Landi, combined for 13 pass attempts. Daniels was lifted after tossing his second pick of the game in the final quarter. South Florida never established the run and finished with a season-low in total yards. The Bulls basically pulled a no-show at Heinz Field a week after their miserable meltdown against Cincinnati. Bull defenders couldn’t get off the field and were beaten and shriveled down the whole game. The defensive calamity was to blame for the loss, but Pitt’s offense was on the mark too. The Panthers didn’t come up dry, even with a marginal lead in the second quarter. Pitt was 6-for¬-6 on third down conversions before the half. They ran the ball well through a spongy South Florida unit, and splurged on deep yard situations. Stull hooked up with tight end, Dorin Dickerson for 20 and 22 yards to set up the first touchdown pass, a two-yarder to backup tight end, Mike Cruz. It was the freshman Cruz’s first college catch. Pitt went ahead 14-0 on Stull’s strapping sling to a snagging Jonathan Baldwin. The 40 yarder sailed to the receiver on an improvised pass route. The wideout hauled in the nifty pass as Bulls cornerback, Jerome Murphy could only watch stunned from afar. Baldwin constantly found himself ahead of the Bull defenders and finished with six receptions for 144 yards. The team’s glaring weakness when Wannstedt took over; Pitt’s strength now lies up front. The lines are making Pittsburgh look like the team to beat in the Big East. Pitt was revamped after coming off a myriad of mistakes last Friday in the triumph over Rutgers. The Panthers are assured at least a bowl appearance when the season concludes. The Panthers can endure the competition and will reap in the dividends if they prevail.
Parting Points: Thank gosh Ohio State rebounded from that ugly loss to Purdue. This roller coaster team is not an easy one to appreciate.
The Yankees are going to wrap it up tonight in New York. That’s a guarantee.
Song of the day: “Under the Boardwalk” by The Drifters
Bill Stull isn’t quite Dan Marino yet, but Coach Dave Wannstedt has a real winner at the quarterback slot. The senior was forced to compete for a starting job earlier this year after ending last year on a major sour note. The 2009 Stull already has 16 touchdown passes, one shy of Marino during his senior year. The 7-1 overall record the Panthers have built up is impressive. The defense succeeds in eroding offenses, and Stull has been a delight in dealing with nationally top-ranked foes. Saturday, Stull completed his first 11 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns. The 20th ranked Panthers racked up the yardage against the best defense in the Big East to romp the Bulls 41-14. Pittsburgh scored on all of their first five possessions. The lopsided score makes sense after considering how freshman rusher, Dion Lewis performed. Lewis was a true star and declared himself a legitimate running back in his fifth 100 yard rushing afternoon. He is the fourth Pitt freshman to run for 1,000 yards in one season, joining elite company Tony Dorsett, Curvin Richards and LeSean McCoy. The Bulls offensive line lacked any control and provided Stull with plenty of time to throw. The Big East Bulls repeatedly hurt themselves with penalties. The slips resulted in 71 total yards lost on penalties and 40 in the first quarter alone. That amount just happened to match the total first quarter offensive yards, never a good thing.
The Pitt defense forced four South Florida punts in the first quarter. The secondary breakdown allowed one Bulls touchdown drive early, but not another point until the clock wound down to ten seconds in the fourth. The scorching defense scoured four sacks and three interceptions, and neither side committed a first half penalty for the Panthers. South Florida’s offense was undressed in the first half and the defense resigned 297 yards. Quarterback B.J. Daniels and his backup, Evan Landi, combined for 13 pass attempts. Daniels was lifted after tossing his second pick of the game in the final quarter. South Florida never established the run and finished with a season-low in total yards. The Bulls basically pulled a no-show at Heinz Field a week after their miserable meltdown against Cincinnati. Bull defenders couldn’t get off the field and were beaten and shriveled down the whole game. The defensive calamity was to blame for the loss, but Pitt’s offense was on the mark too. The Panthers didn’t come up dry, even with a marginal lead in the second quarter. Pitt was 6-for¬-6 on third down conversions before the half. They ran the ball well through a spongy South Florida unit, and splurged on deep yard situations. Stull hooked up with tight end, Dorin Dickerson for 20 and 22 yards to set up the first touchdown pass, a two-yarder to backup tight end, Mike Cruz. It was the freshman Cruz’s first college catch. Pitt went ahead 14-0 on Stull’s strapping sling to a snagging Jonathan Baldwin. The 40 yarder sailed to the receiver on an improvised pass route. The wideout hauled in the nifty pass as Bulls cornerback, Jerome Murphy could only watch stunned from afar. Baldwin constantly found himself ahead of the Bull defenders and finished with six receptions for 144 yards. The team’s glaring weakness when Wannstedt took over; Pitt’s strength now lies up front. The lines are making Pittsburgh look like the team to beat in the Big East. Pitt was revamped after coming off a myriad of mistakes last Friday in the triumph over Rutgers. The Panthers are assured at least a bowl appearance when the season concludes. The Panthers can endure the competition and will reap in the dividends if they prevail.
Parting Points: Thank gosh Ohio State rebounded from that ugly loss to Purdue. This roller coaster team is not an easy one to appreciate.
The Yankees are going to wrap it up tonight in New York. That’s a guarantee.
Song of the day: “Under the Boardwalk” by The Drifters
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Take Two
There will be a Big East football game played tonight between the Bulls of South Florida and Pittsburgh’s Panthers. USF quarterback, Matt Grothe, leads the conference with eight touchdown passes for one of college football’s most versatile offenses. The Bulls like to spread the ball and rely heavily on the pass. A grueling defense is one of the team’s finest features as well. Although the Bulls haven’t faced very competitive teams, their defense has limited opponents to few scoring opportunities.
The Pittsburgh Panthers have won three straight games, topped by last week’s smashing of Syracuse. (Well, they only won by ten points after a late great comeback.) Running back, LeSean McCoy was one of the nation’s best rushers in 2007. He’s yet to take off this season and will be tested against a tough South Florida team. However, the Bulls may be without a few of their key defensive stars due to injury. Leading tackle, George Selvie, was hurt in last week’s win over NC State. Dave Wannstedt’s Panther defense will need to control Grothe and company tonight. If the Pittsburgh defense can regulate the rush and keep the Bull offense off the field, this could be a close game. If USF dominates time of possession, the Panthers could be in for a long night. South Florida is the favorite, ranked number 10 in the country and expected to take the early Big East lead. As it stands today, Pittsburgh is number one in the Big East. Don’t underestimate this Panther team or count them out just yet.
Setting: Saturday, October 4, 2008
Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin at night
The setting says so much. One would think Badgers are nocturnal because the ones who play in Wisconsin thrive during night games. The team has won 21 of 22 night games in school history. They are expecting the 22nd win when Ohio State visits this Saturday evening. Both OSU and Wisconsin are ranked teams so I am looking forward to the game. Big Ten football is enticing enough, but when two defensively-minded teams converge, colossal entertainment ensues.
Last season Ohio State as the victor but that was without top Badger, P.J. Hill. The junior running back is a one man show. I think he will make an excellent NFL back if he can stay healthy. The Badgers are known for their strong defense and no one is better than defensive end, O’Brien Schofield. The OSU wide receiving core needs to find open routes. We all know Terrelle Pryor can run and now that Beanie Wells is back, I can’t wait to see them against a hard hitting Big Ten team. The Buckeyes are starting a freshmen at center in Michael Brewster. Brewster’s play during Saturday night could indicate what kind of ability he has. The pressure of playing on the road, at night during a nationally-televised game will be hard for this entire OSU team. But, Tressell will have them well-prepared.
The Badgers are coming off an ugly loss in Michigan. They only scored once during the second half. Quarterback, Allan Evridge, had trouble finding open men and playing in the Big House. I was surprised they looked so vulnerable against the Wolverines. The team also nearly lost to Fresno State, pulling out a three point win. Head coach, Bret Bielema, would probably like to forget that Michigan loss and start the winning against the Buckeyes. The Ohio State defensive line needs to pressure the run-oriented Badgers. Cameron Heyward can make an instant impact at tackle to slow the hungry Badger boys.
All in all, the game should be fun and intense. Personally, I prefer pulling for OSU but am holding out on a prediction.
Parting points: The Devils shut out the Islanders last night. I am convinced the Cubs are cursed after all. And, I actually think I would rather see Alan Houston than Stephon Marbury playing for the Knicks this year.
The Pittsburgh Panthers have won three straight games, topped by last week’s smashing of Syracuse. (Well, they only won by ten points after a late great comeback.) Running back, LeSean McCoy was one of the nation’s best rushers in 2007. He’s yet to take off this season and will be tested against a tough South Florida team. However, the Bulls may be without a few of their key defensive stars due to injury. Leading tackle, George Selvie, was hurt in last week’s win over NC State. Dave Wannstedt’s Panther defense will need to control Grothe and company tonight. If the Pittsburgh defense can regulate the rush and keep the Bull offense off the field, this could be a close game. If USF dominates time of possession, the Panthers could be in for a long night. South Florida is the favorite, ranked number 10 in the country and expected to take the early Big East lead. As it stands today, Pittsburgh is number one in the Big East. Don’t underestimate this Panther team or count them out just yet.
Setting: Saturday, October 4, 2008
Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin at night
The setting says so much. One would think Badgers are nocturnal because the ones who play in Wisconsin thrive during night games. The team has won 21 of 22 night games in school history. They are expecting the 22nd win when Ohio State visits this Saturday evening. Both OSU and Wisconsin are ranked teams so I am looking forward to the game. Big Ten football is enticing enough, but when two defensively-minded teams converge, colossal entertainment ensues.
Last season Ohio State as the victor but that was without top Badger, P.J. Hill. The junior running back is a one man show. I think he will make an excellent NFL back if he can stay healthy. The Badgers are known for their strong defense and no one is better than defensive end, O’Brien Schofield. The OSU wide receiving core needs to find open routes. We all know Terrelle Pryor can run and now that Beanie Wells is back, I can’t wait to see them against a hard hitting Big Ten team. The Buckeyes are starting a freshmen at center in Michael Brewster. Brewster’s play during Saturday night could indicate what kind of ability he has. The pressure of playing on the road, at night during a nationally-televised game will be hard for this entire OSU team. But, Tressell will have them well-prepared.
The Badgers are coming off an ugly loss in Michigan. They only scored once during the second half. Quarterback, Allan Evridge, had trouble finding open men and playing in the Big House. I was surprised they looked so vulnerable against the Wolverines. The team also nearly lost to Fresno State, pulling out a three point win. Head coach, Bret Bielema, would probably like to forget that Michigan loss and start the winning against the Buckeyes. The Ohio State defensive line needs to pressure the run-oriented Badgers. Cameron Heyward can make an instant impact at tackle to slow the hungry Badger boys.
All in all, the game should be fun and intense. Personally, I prefer pulling for OSU but am holding out on a prediction.
Parting points: The Devils shut out the Islanders last night. I am convinced the Cubs are cursed after all. And, I actually think I would rather see Alan Houston than Stephon Marbury playing for the Knicks this year.
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