Credit Brown of Pitt for his defensive play on Lazar

[79Warrior]

He completely took Zar out of his game. No question this may have been one of the worst games Zar has played in a very long time. Brown really was giving him fits. Nothing at all in the paint. The kid played a super game to shut down Lazar.

[karavotsos]

Completely disagree with this statement.  Zar had several opportunities on smaller players in the post because Pitt was switching ball screens without fail.  After missing some open shots close to the basket early and not getting a couple of calls he thought he should get Zar got frustrated and took himself out of the game a bit.  He seemed to be playing on tilt for quite a bit of the game.  This had more to do with Zar than Gilbert Brown.  Zar had his opportunities.  As did others.  When the ball didn't go in, and they didn't get calls, they lost their composure a bit and began to rush.  Again, I give no credit to Gilbert Brown. 

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Well, SOMEONE took Lazar out of the game - that's for sure!

[79Warrior]

Completely disagree with this statement.  Zar had several opportunities on smaller players in the post because Pitt was switching ball screens without fail.  After missing some open shots close to the basket early and not getting a couple of calls he thought he should get Zar got frustrated and took himself out of the game a bit.  He seemed to be playing on tilt for quite a bit of the game.  This had more to do with Zar than Gilbert Brown.  Zar had his opportunities.  As did others.  When the ball didn't go in, and they didn't get calls, they lost their composure a bit and began to rush.  Again, I give no credit to Gilbert Brown. 

Yeah. you are right. Zar sucked all by himself.

[schubert33]

Zar missed a lot of makeable shots tonight.  I didn't think the defense was different then what he usually sees.  He still got blocked his normal 5 times a game.

[karavotsos]

I'm never going to say Zar just sucked; he always gives great effort.  I just don't think MU was patient or focused enough on offense as a whole.  I understand there wasn't a lot easy out there, but I think Zar got opportunities, they got the defense moving, and instead of keeping the team spinning they took the first available one-on-one shot most of the time. 

Part of it was they only took 9 foul shots, I think, and when there was contact and they didn't get calls they got frustrated.  I don't know how it looked on TV, but at the game it looked like guys, especially McGhee, consistently brought their arms down and broke the vertical plane, and it was consistently not called a foul.  Things like that can be frustrating, and I don't think that MU played through that kind of stuff very well tonight. 

I guess I will say Pitt plays physical defense, and that can be frustrating.  But if MU would have played through it and done what they do, they could have won.  I would like another shot at Pitt.