The University of Pittsburgh Panthers
Posts tagged Jermaine Dixon
Game 25: #5 WVU at #25 Pitt – Backyard Brawl Part Deux
Feb 12th
The #25 Panthers (18-6, 7-4) are back on the court tonight against the much hated #5 Mountaineers (19-4, 8-3). In the first meeting between these two teams, Pitt was embarrassed for the last quarter of the game and was left with a sour taste in their mouth, going down 70-51. The game tips off at 9:00 on ESPN. Pitt players and coaches had to dodge garbage being thrown from the fans leading WVU coach Bob Huggins to get on the mic, but Mountaineer fans are too dumb to listen unless there is a couch burning and Pitt assistant coach Tom Herrion was hit below his right eye with what many are thinking was a coin. The players also got in a scrum with Gary McGhee for the Panthers.
Honestly, what is there to preview for this game? Both teams hate each other, the fans hate each other. There is going to be animosity, there is going to be an intensity level that is rarely seen, and there is going to be extra security. I hope Pitt fans are more intelligent then Mountaineer fans and don’t throw things on the court and try and cause a break in the game. Cheer your heart out, boo the hell out of the Mountaineers, but don’t throw anything on the court. Show WVU we are better than they are, especially after we pull the upset and beat WVU.
That’s right, put the upset alert out, because Pitt is sending the Mountaineers home with a loss. McGhee will not miss 8 layups again, Gilbert Brown and Brad Wannamaker will have more than 0 points each and seeing how Brown disappeared in the game against Robert Morris, he is due for one of his big games. Jermaine Dixon and Ashton Gibbs will continue to stay hot and light it up for the Panthers. And finally instead of having to hear the Mountaineer fans, the Oakland Zoo will be rocking tonight on ESPN.
Prediction: 73-61 Pitt
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
Men’s Basketball Preview 2009-2010
Nov 13th
It’s hard to believe Panther fans, but it’s already basketball season again. It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago that we were watching our Panthers move onto the Elite Eight and only to have our hearts broken by Villanova. Last year was a fun year for Panther fans: first time being ranked #1, first time receiving a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament, breaking the Sweet Sixteen ceiling, and seeing two of our players drafted in the NBA.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like this season will be quite as fun. This year, Pitt is a relatively young team compared to last year. The Panthers lost 4 starters in Sam Young (NBA), DeJuan Blair (NBA), Levance Fields (graduated), and Terrell Biggs (graduated). The only returning starter is Jermaine Dixon, and he might be out to start the season due to his broken foot.
Luckily, the Panthers have some younger players with experience. Gary McGee will need to step up this year. Many of you may remember his 3 fouls in 40 seconds against UConn last year. Brad Wanamaker, Gilbert Brown, and Ashton Gibbs look poised to help lead this team this year. Also, look for some help from the incoming freshman, Dante Taylor. While this team is young, you can never discredit a Pitt team with Jamie Dixon as the head coach.
The Panthers start with a relatively weak non-conference schedule with a game against Iowa or Texas, and a game against Indiana. Pitt should be able to walk out of the non-conference schedule with 1 or 2 losses. Once again, the Panthers will play everyone from the Big East once and will play St. Johns, Seton Hall, and WVU twice. St. Johns and Seton Hall finished towards the bottom of the Big East last year. St. Johns could be dangerous this year as they returned all 5 starters and are the only team that can claim such a thing in the Big East. WVU is a preseason darling to the media as they are ranked in the top 10 in both polls. Pitt will struggle a little bit in the Big East. They are predicted to finish 9th. That seems awfully low. Hopefully Dixon and his Panthers will prove the prediction wrong by the end of the year.
I can still see the Panthers making the NCAA tournament, probably as a 7-10 seed, unless they really shatter their preseason predictions.
This year will be a learning year for the Panthers. Stick with them though. Give this team time and they could really be shocking people towards the end of the year.
Season Record Prediction: 23-8
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