Let’s Start it Off Right

Pitt opens a difficult stretch in a difficult conference tonight by heading to Freedom Hall to play no. 20 Louisville.  Louisville has been a team that has given Pitt some problems in the past, and this Louisville team was as high as no. 2 this year (of course that was preseason).  Pitt has to come out  guns ablaze tonight.  Not because the no. 1 ranking is on the line (it will be every game until they lose); but because they have to start this five game stretch on the right foot.

Over the next five games, Pitt has Louisville on the road, Syracuse at home, WVU on the road, Villanova on the road, then back home for Notre Dame.  Most of us as Pitt fans expect at least one loss in that stretch- not because Pitt isn’t the best team in the conference, but because teams lose, and that is a tough stretch of games.  If you are like me, you are hoping that WVU isn’t who hands us our first loss.  Other than that, it is important to beat Louisville tonight because you don’t want to start a stretch of five straight loseable games by losing the first one.  The hope is that we escape 3-2 at worst, with the dream that we go 5-0 during that stretch.  Louisville isn’t the best team we will play during this five game stretch, so they must be handled, and hopefully they can be dispatched in glorious fashion, showing the rest of the league that we aren’t going to roll over for anyone.

After Louisville we get Syracuse.  I have to admit that I am happy that Syracuse destroyed ND today because I don’t like my chances against a Syracuse team that would be on a two game skid.  Syracuse may be the most dangerous team on our schedule, but  they are also the most flaky.  This is a team that can win by 19, or be up by 19 and lose.  Of course this Pitt team will remember the come from behind win at Syracuse last year.  I bet the Orange remember it as well.

As for tonight’s game, it has all the makings of a barn burner.  I am glad to see that North Carolina is the game of the week when playing against an unranked opponent.  I actually am glad- I am not being sarcastic.  As long as this team flies under the radar they will play with something to prove.  I think my biggest fear is that all of a sudden the whole media kneels to worship at the altar of the Panther and then the team loses sight of the game and implodes.  We are on the road for a tough game and we are underdogs.  That is the way this Pitt program has thrived in the Dixon era.  Even if we are the best team in the country, we still need to play like we have something to prove every night; like we are still trying to make our name for ourselves.

The good news for Pitt fans is that Levance Fields seems to be clicking more and more each game and he is playing like a man on a mission.  Likewise, DeJuan Blair is going up against a highly touted freshman in Samardo Samuels.  Is it just me, or is everyone Blair faces more highly touted than him, despite his manhandling them all?  I think that is what motivates him.  Blair absolutely embarrassed Greg Monroe for Georgetown.  Look for him to have a huge game against Samuels tonight.  After all, Blair has had his best games against his best competition.  That is the kind of player that makes this team so good.  Everyone says they want to play against the best.  But Blair actually shows up and plays against the best.  I would love to see him go against Blake Griffin.  The difference between Blair and others like Griffin is that Blair wasn’t blessed with a 7′ body to do what he does.  For him it is all about desire and hard work.  He wills himself to be better than others.

Much has been made about Sam Young’s shooting slump the last two games.  I don’t think it is as big of a deal as people might suggest.  He is Pitt’s go to guy and teams are going to work to shut him down.  But what has that led to?  Tyrell Biggs coming up huge.  As long as the other players on the floor take advantage of their opportunities, let Sam Young be the focal point for any defense.  On the other hand, all of the media coverage the past week or so has been about Blair and Fields, so maybe Young will find himself with a little more room to breathe, which can only be a good thing.  In the end, though, this team is going to go as far as Tyrell Biggs can take them.  Think that is a ridiculous statement?  If any one of our big three gets shutdown by the opposing team, who is going to be the guy who has to step up and make plays?  Tyrell Biggs.  Consider what happens in the NCAA tourney every year.  Our scorers get shut down and no one steps up.  If Biggs can be the guy who fills in for 16 points when someone else is off, this team will be unstoppable.  It means that a star either can’t be double teamed (because you can’t leave Biggs open), or it means that Biggs will have a lot of open shots.  If he can be the step-up guy that this program has lacked the last 8 years, this team can go far.  All indications thus far are that he can be that guy.  Beyond that, the better Biggs plays, the less of Gary McGhee we are seeing when Blair goes to the bench.  Nothing personal against McGhee, but having him on the bench is always better for this team.

Tonight’s game should be a good one.  I would love to see Pitt win this game by at least 15 and make that big statement that they are the best team in the conference- that all success in this league this year passes through Pittsburgh first and foremost.  If Pitt loses, look for lots of glee from the Big East hating analysts (pretty much all of the ESPN analysts).  But who cares.  Analysts don’t win games.  Players do.  And we have some of the best in the country.

Hail to Pitt!!