Pitt is beatable

[downtown85]

I just looked their schedule and they have played 4 quality teams (Maryland, Texas, Tenn. and UConn).  All of them have been on their home court.  They are 3-1 in those games with the loss to a now slumping Tennessee and a 2pt win over Texas.  Their only road game of the year was at Providence where they squeeked out a 4pt win. 

I know we got schooled by them last year but we are better equiped to stop McGhee this year (with Otule).  Also, I think if we reduce the errors and our "big three" (Butler, DJO and Crowder) have a good game, we will be in this one. 

I think Buzz will have the guys psyched up for this and it will be another 1 possession game.  Time to stock up on my heart medicine. 

[MUfan12]

Have to rebound the ball to have a shot. Three boards in 8 minutes was better out of Otule last night, but it goes beyond him. Everyone has to hit the glass.

[National Champs]

POINTS PER GAME
80.8 17th OVERALL
REBOUNDS PER GAME
37.5 93rd OVERALL
ASSISTS PER GAME
18.1 8th OVERALL
FIELD GOAL PCT
.504 6th OVERALL

Nationally we are performing very well statwise excluding rebounding. If we can get on the glass well in any given game we will have a chance against anyone.

[The Lens]

"...to a now slumping Tennessee"

You obviously missed the Tennessee - Memphis game last night.

[MU B2002]

"...to a now slumping Tennessee"

You obviously missed the Tennessee - Memphis game last night.

UT is an odd team.  Loses by double digits at home to CoC and then pounds Memphis by 20.

It was their last game with Pearl for awhile.  It will be interesting to see how they fare.

[🏀]

UT is an odd team.  Loses by double digits at home to CoC and then pounds Memphis by 20.

It was their last game with Pearl for awhile.  It will be interesting to see how they fare.

Memphis is not good.

[National Champs]

Memphis has talent, but lacks coaching and player experience.

[mikem91288]

Beatable - yes. However I think this might be the toughest road game of our season. The Petersen Center is just a place that's really hard to win at. Other opinions for toughest road game? I know we have G'Town ND and 'Ville on the road. But I think the Petersen is the toughest place to play out of all those.

[🏀]

Beatable - yes. However I think this might be the toughest road game of our season. The Petersen Center is just a place that's really hard to win at. Other opinions for toughest road game? I know we have G'Town ND and 'Ville on the road. But I think the Petersen is the toughest place to play out of all those.

Nova's Pavilion.

[Golden Avalanche]

Memphis is not good.

This. They suck donkey dick.

As for Pittsburgh being beatable, I feel like that is said before every game they play. Then, they win.

[rocky_warrior]

Beatable - yes. However I think this might be the toughest road game of our season.

Mostly agree.  I'd love to get a win there, but we've got to hope we have a good night, and they have a bad one.  The most recent game I saw of theirs was the one against UConn - and Pitt looked great in that game.  Tough team.

[MU B2002]

Memphis has talent, but lacks coaching and player experience.

I thought Pastner was quite highly thought of???

[TheButlerDidIt]

I thought Pastner was quite highly thought of???

He is, but he's only 32/33. He's a hell of a recruiter right now, but I think it's almost impossible to be a great "coach" if someone is that young. In time...

[MarquetteDano]

He is, but he's only 32/33. He's a hell of a recruiter right now, but I think it's almost impossible to be a great "coach" if someone is that young. In time...

Kind of reminds me of O'Neill.  Will be learning on the job at Memphis' expense.  Of course all of the Tigers fans made it seem like they would be in another Final Four (oops... vacated) soon.

[wadesworld]

Kind of reminds me of O'Neill.  Will be learning on the job at Memphis' expense.  Of course all of the Tigers fans made it seem like they would be in another Final Four (oops... vacated) soon.

To be honest I think Pastner is an awful coach at this point. They've had a series on ESPNU "Inside (team name)" and showed a day of practice/preparation for various teams. I've watched all of these including Martin (K State), Pastner (Memphis), Donovan (Florida), Coach K (Duke), Stevens (Butler), and then the Inside Marquette with Buzz and Pastner was BY FAR the least impressive.

For game prep with all of the other teams the head coach would meet with the assistant that was in charge of the scouting report and go over it watching film. It was all well prepared and they basically had the gameplan already set up to go into practice and prepare for it. With Memphis Pastner just met with all of his assistants and it seemed like they were all looking at film of the team for the first time. Nothing written down, just them talking "Umm, I think we can have success doing this." They seemed clueless and completely unprepared.

Then as far as the actual practice goes the different coaches have different coaching styles, but they all have a purpose and get their messages across. Donovan, Marin, Buzz are all intense practices, in your face, a lot of stopping for instruction. Stevens and Coach K are both quieter but also stop for instruction quite a bit and run a lot of drills/half court 5 on 5 1 possession at a time type of things. Coach K's assistants are also a lot more in your face than Coach K himself. With Pastner he sat around laughing with his guys rapping in the locker room and then practice was just scrimmaging and letting them play with very few stops for instructions. When there were stops it was pretty unclear what the coaches were trying to get across and they'd just end up saying "You know what I mean?" After what looked like a sloppy practice the players just started taking half court shots and Pastner just joined in. He was literally just friends with these guys. Definitely looked like amateur hour to me.

[wojosdojo]

I just looked their schedule and they have played 4 quality teams (Maryland, Texas, Tenn. and UConn).  All of them have been on their home court. 

Maryland and Texas was at MSG. Much tougher than being surrounded by the zoo.

[muarmy81]

He is, but he's only 32/33. He's a hell of a recruiter right now, but I think it's almost impossible to be a great "coach" if someone is that young. In time...

Bingo.  He's responsible for landing a lot of talent in the recruiting trail...little no actual coaching experience

[warthog-driver]

Pitt can be beaten

[mviale]

I just looked their schedule and they have played 4 quality teams (Maryland, Texas, Tenn. and UConn).  All of them have been on their home court.  They are 3-1 in those games with the loss to a now slumping Tennessee and a 2pt win over Texas.  Their only road game of the year was at Providence where they squeeked out a 4pt win. 

I know we got schooled by them last year but we are better equiped to stop McGhee this year (with Otule).  Also, I think if we reduce the errors and our "big three" (Butler, DJO and Crowder) have a good game, we will be in this one. 

I think Buzz will have the guys psyched up for this and it will be another 1 possession game.  Time to stock up on my heart medicine. 

we got schooled by 7 points last year?

[Dr. Blackheart]

Beatable - yes. However I think this might be the toughest road game of our season. The Petersen Center is just a place that's really hard to win at. Other opinions for toughest road game? I know we have G'Town ND and 'Ville on the road. But I think the Petersen is the toughest place to play out of all those.

+1.  Pitt has lost one game at The Pete in the last three seasons. Pitt will try to muscle up our guards...if the refs let them get away with that, we are in for a long night. While our small line-up matched-up better vs. RU, we'll need the Double O's to be at it at the 5 to establish an inside-out game. Joe may be our X factor, but it would be nice if Dwight is back 100%.   

[karavotsos]

My guess: Buycks will play.  And he will get kneed in the thigh on at least one occasion.  Welcome to Pittsburgh. 

[wadesworld]

Just watched the Inside Pitt episode on ESPNU and this game is going to be TOUGH. They're stacked and BIG. They'll play very tough defense and force us into turnovers. They looked very good in transition. I have a tough time seeing us walking out of there with a win, and think this could be one of the rare times we get blown out. I think they may be the one team who might have a legitimate shot at beating Duke this year. We don't match up well with them at all, unfortunately.

[downtown85]

we got schooled by 7 points last year?

Yep, that is a blowout by last year's standards.   

[willie warrior]

Where is the Pitt is evil and must be destroyed guy?