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Posts tagged Bracketology
Bracket Watch: 2/15/10 – 2/21/10
Feb 16th
Today marks the birth of a new weekly column called Bracket Watch where we will update you, our readers, on where Pitt lies in the rankings, where they are in the Big East standings, and where they are in Bracketology. Not only that, but we will give our own thoughts and where they lie and preview the week’s games.
The new rankings came out yesterday and Pitt is 19 in the AP Poll, up from 25, and 21 in the ESPN/USA Today Poll, up from 23. Granted played an easy non-conference game early in the week against Robert Morris, I personally feel like Pitt was disrespected in the ESPN/USA Today Poll even after their triple overtime victory against rival West Virginia. Just looking at teams that jumped Pitt are Temple and Vanderbilt. Temple beat Rhode Island, and Vanderbilt beat then 12 Tennessee at home. One would think beating WVU is a more quality win then beating Rhode Island, but I guess the voters didn’t see it that way. I can see Vanderbilt jumping Pitt more then I can see Temple jumping them, Vandy pounded Tennessee the whole game, Pitt required triple OT to put away WVU. I figured Pitt would be about 18-19 in both polls and higher in ESPN/USA Today poll.
Joe Lunardi has Pitt listed as a 5 seed in Midwest Region this week in his Bracketology. This would put Pitt in Kansas’ bracket and a possible round two game against Gonzaga in Spokane. This seed feels right for me, right now I would call Pitt a low 5/high 6 seed. Going by Lunardi’s bracket, this would put Pitt as the 4th 5 seed. No complaints here, nice job Joe. For those wondering, Pitt has a RPI of 14 and a strength of schedule of 9.
Pitt is currently tied with West Virginia for third in the Big East, but loses in the tiebreaker and is currently 4th in the Big East. The two have two shared games in Providence and Villanova. I give a slight edge in favorable schedule to WVU for now and especially this week with their two games coming at Providence and against Seton Hall. What’s really important for Pitt is staying in the top 4 of the Big East and getting the double bye, because unless a miracle occurs, Pitt isn’t winning the regular season Big East championship.
Pitt isn’t too fortunate in scheduling this week as they have two very tough matchups in at Marquette on Thursday at 9:00 and against Villanova on Sunday at 12:00. Pitt can never seem to top Marquette no matter who is playing for Marquette or how good or bad they are. Marquette is nipping at Pitt’s heels for the 4th seed in the Big East and a win here gives Pitt a little breathing room. Sunday is all about revenge and what could have been for Pitt after last year’s Elite Eight showdown with Villanova and seeing Scottie Reynold run down the court to send Nova to the Final Four. While Pitt is not as good as last year, you know the video will be running for the players who remember the heart break.
It should be a fun week for the Panthers and Panther fans this week.
Hail To Pitt!
Moving on Up
Jan 19th
The newest polls were released today for college basketball and Pitt just keeps moving up. Pitt is ranked inside the Top 10 in the AP Poll, 9th, and on the brink of the Top 10 in the ESPN/USA Today Poll, 11th. Joe Lunardi released his latest Bracketology on ESPN.com today, and the Panthers were a 2 seed.
Editors Note: It’s my fault this showed up today. Mike_B had submitted this article yesterday, but I’m responsible for the delay.
Game 16: #16 Pitt at #15 UConn
Jan 13th
Well Panther fans, it’s finally time for another Pitt game. It feels like it’s been forever since the last game, and the way Pitt was playing, that’s a bad thing. You can say what you want about momentum carrying over, but Pitt definitely had momentum on their side after beating Syracuse and Cincinnati on the road. Tonight, Pitt (13-2, 3-0) looks to finish the road trip sweep against #15 UConn (11-4, 2-2) at 7:00 PM on ESPN2.
Pitt has looked more and more like a Big East contender these past couple of games and it can be seen in the polls and Bracketology. Pitt went from being unranked two weeks ago to being ranked 15 in the AP Poll and 16 in the ESPN/USA Today Poll. In Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology on ESPN.com, Pitt went from being out of the tournament two weeks ago to being a 4 seed in the latest Bracketology.
This is a game between the two winningest Big East teams of the decade and they renew their rivalry tonight. Once again, Pitt looks to end an opponent’s undefeated record at home as UConn is 11-0 at home, while Pitt is 3-0 on the road. It will be a hostile environment for the relatively young Panthers.
UConn coming off of a loss where they blew a 19 point half time lead is not good for the Panthers. Look for Jim Calhoun to have his Huskies back in line when they play the Panthers tonight. Pitt is going to need a little luck and be hot from the outside to win tonight. It’s going to be a game of UConn’s height versus Pitt’s perimeter game and speed. The only height Pitt has is in Gary McGhee at 6’10” and unless he has become or channels the spirit of DeJuan Blair tonight, there isn’t much McGhee will do. Jamie Dixon should look towards a faster lineup tonight against UConn’s tremendous transition game. Ashton Gibbs needs to stay hot tonight. The 5 men who need to get the majority of the minutes tonight have to be Gibbs, Jermaine Dixon, Gilbert Brown, Brad Wanamaker, and Travon Woodall. Tonight would be a perfect place for a breakout game from Dante Taylor.
Pitt needs to follow these keys to victory for any chance to win tonight:
1. Gibbs stays hot
2. Slow down UConn’s transition game
3. Contain Jermaine Dyson
4. Hit the makeable shots (Free Throws, the bunnies, high percentage)
5. Be aggressive
This will be another brutal test for the Panthers, a win makes them a perfect 4-0 in the conference and would make UConn 2-3 and really set them back in the conference.
Maybe I’m being a homer, but I sense another upset for the Panthers, so fans get your Colhoun Crying Towel out.
Prediction: 74-69 Pitt
Game 15: #23 Pitt at Cincinnati
Jan 4th
Pitt returns to the court just 2 days after their shocking upset of the then #5 Syracuse Orange inside the Carrier Dome handing the Orange their first loss. Pitt (12-2, 2-0) is in the middle of their 3 game road trip as they pay a visit to the Cincinnati Bearcats (10-3, 2-0). The Bearcats are 7-0 at home, while the Panthers are 2-0 on the road, something has to give. The game is a part of ESPN’s Big Monday broadcast and tipoff is at 7:00 on ESPN.
The Panthers have looked much better since the return of Jermaine Dixon (foot) and Gilbert Brown (academic suspension). And thanks to Ashton Gibbs, averaging 23.5 points the past two games, Pitt is once again a force to be reckoned with it seems like. In ESPN.com’s Weekly Watch, Gibbs was named their player of the week due to his performances against DePaul and Syracuse. Gibbs has done a tremendous job in replacing Levance Fields this year and is a top contender for the Big East Most Improved Player Award. Speaking of the Weekly Watch, Pitt was amongst the top teams of the week and this was stated about the Panthers.
Pitt: The Panthers didn’t have Gilbert Brown (academics) or Jermaine Dixon (broken foot) in practice for months. Now that they’re healthy and whole, the Panthers have found their offense, beating DePaul as expected and then shocking Syracuse at the Carrier Dome to end the Orange’s undefeated season. Pitt is 2-0, and if the Panthers win eight more Big East games, assuming a few are against the upper echelon, Pitt is once again an NCAA tournament team. Never doubt coach Jamie Dixon and pick him ninth again, Big East coaches. Never.
In the newest Bracketology by Joe Lunardi on ESPN.com, Pitt is a 7 seed and looking at what is stated above, Pitt has a very good chance of making the Big Dance once again. They figure Pitt needs 8 wins and still have winnable games against St. Johns (twice), Seton Hall (twice), South Florida, Providence, and Rutgers. Pitt also has one more non-conference game against Robert Morris. And figure into that the games at The Pete and Pitt should hit that 8 wins number and make the Big Dance once again. The one thing scary about this time and that could kill them this year is that it seems like it is only one player taking care of business each game; what happens if that one player goes cold?
Taking a look at the Bearcats, Pitt has to keep F Lance Stephenson and G Deonta Vaughn in check. Stephenson is a freshman and leading the Bearcats with 13 points per game and 5 boards per game. Vaughn is a senior with 10.9 points per game, 3.9 assists per game, and 4.4 boards per game. It will be up to Gibbs and Dixon to keep Vaughn in check.
Overall, I expect Pitt to ride their momentum into Cincinnati and I see Pitt winning a closer then looks appear game. This will be huge, because I feel Pitt needs to at least split the remaining two games of this road trip to make it a success, weird I know after beating Syracuse.
Prediction: 73-65 Pitt
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