(Three of the best players in Pitt history, and the scapegoat)I've officially had enough time to digest the premature end to Pitt's season. It hurt. It stung. It sucked. But I have to move forward. The comments sections are getting nasty...and demanding my thoughts and opinions on the Panther's heart-breaking loss to Villanova last Saturday. To appease the masses, and to help the healing process, here are a few of my thoughts about the demise of the best Pitt basketball team I've ever witnessed.
- There were two moments when I thought Pitt "had" the game won: 1) When they were up by 4 and had the ball with 3:05 to play, and 2) When Villanova turned the ball over on the home-run inbound pass, Levance Fields got fouled, and with ice in his veins...sunk the two clutch free throws that tied the game. As I told Phil during our halftime phone call, I was never 100% confident in Pitt winning the game. But during those two moments, my mind wandered on the hope that Pitt was about to reach the Final Four for the first time in their history. As we know, it wasn't meant to be. This is the epitome of why Panther fans dream of the best, but constantly prepare (emotionally) for the worst.
- I discovered that...when one is emotionally invested in a particular team...it is nearly impossible to realize THAT team is in the midst of a "classic" game. I have the awareness to realize I'm watching a "great" or "classic" game when my team isn't involved. (Such as the Memphis/Kansas title game last year, or the UNC/Michigan title game in 1993) But I do NOT have the awareness (or composure) to notice this when Pitt is playing. At no point during the Villanova game did I think to myself, "Wow...this is a great game! It's probably the best game of the tournament to date! The deciding bucket will be shown during One Shining Moment and haunt me for years!" To me...it was just a game where Pitt was battling their hearts out to achieve something the program had never achieved before. I believe that emotional investments prohibit one to exist outside themselves and realize the magnitude of what's going on in the present...and it's lasting imprint on the future.
- Jermain Dixon had a really good year for the Panthers. He was Pitt's best on-the-ball defender and will be a crucial part of their success next season. With that being said, I need to throw him under the bus for a moment. If Dixon hadn't made 2 mistakes (one mistake actually having four parts), I wonder if we'd be talking about Pitt's first trip to the Final Four this week. First...when Pitt was up 4 with three minutes left, Dixon and Fields were playing catch in the back court to advance on the Villanova press. For reasons that defy logic, Dixon: 1) took the ball across the timeline (center court), 2) picked up his dribble, 3) turned the ball over, and 4) fouled Dwayne Anderson as he was in the midst of making a layup. Ug. A basketball player is taught IN SEVENTH GRADE to NOT take the ball over the timeline and pick up their dribble! The errors after that were the wonderful snowball effect of frustration. His second mistake occurred on the last play of the game. Dixon's responsibility on the play we've all seen 1,000 times by now was to 1) Deny Scottie Reynolds the ball, and if he couldn't do that, 2) Deny Scottie Reynolds from running north/south up the court. Unfortunately, Dixon allowed Reynolds to receive the ball cleanly (and with full momentum) on a classic triangle-based soccer play. Reynolds streaked up the court and the rest was Pitt and Villanova history. I like you Jermain. I just need to get this out. It's therapeutic.
- What makes college basketball great is the same thing that makes it suck. If you're lucky, you get to watch your team's players for 4 years. You get to watch these kids come in as flawed freshmen and develop into players with specific skills and endearing personalities. Sometimes...we have to be happy watching a player for just a season or two. College basketball is permanent and temporary...endearing and disappointing...familiar and brand new all at the same time. This is what makes it so great. This is what makes it suck. I'm going to miss the hell out of Sam Young and Levance Fields. It seems like those two have been starting on Pitt's squad forever. I can't envision watching a Pitt game next season where I don't have Young's ridiculous pump-fake to look forward to. You're telling me I can no longer watching Fields move around the court like a bowling ball dishing out sweet passes and taking ballsey 3-pointers at the end of a close game? Sigh. And let's PLEASE not bring up the fact that Dejuan Blair might jump ship and declare for the NBA draft. I can't deal with that right now. I've started to love his passion, his intensity, his Hines Ward'esque smiling, his rebounding dominance, and Bill Raftery's references to his derriere. This was the best Pitt team I've ever had the privilege of watching. College basketball is a cruel mistress. It giveth...and it taketh away.
- I have to give credit to the Villanova Wildcats and I have to give credit to Matt. They won. His team won. That team is both skilled and scrappy. They were physical and demonstrated finesse at the same time. They made a TON of difficult/clutch shots. Pitt tried to punch them in the mouth over and over again and they never wavered. If these teams played a 10-game series, I believe each would win 5 times. This was a classic Great Eight game. Jamie Dixon and Jay Wright's squads provided an outstanding match-up. Someone had to win, someone had to lose. These kinds of cliches could only come from someone on the losing end. Props to you Matt. It's right here in writing...for the world (or at least 10 people you don't really know) to see.
- Hey...at least Gary McGhee didn't enter the game.
- I took no notice of what the coaches were wearing during this game. Perhaps their attire had something to do with the outcome. (Annie...I'm opening a window for you here!)
- After a sloppy performance in the Pitt/Xavier game, I thought that Verne Lundquist acquitted himself nicely in this one. Bill Raftery, of course, remains the consummate professional.
- Just to say it before they're gone: Dejuan Blair - 20 points (9-9 from the field!) and 10 rebounds, Sam Young - 28 points and 7 rebounds, Levance Fields - 6 assists and 0 turnovers. Like I said, I'm gonna miss these guys.
- I think that about does it. This is my Pitt/Villanova recap. Please feel free to contribue comments concerning this "classic" Great Eight game. Pitt had an oustanding season. Villanova prevailed on this night and reached the Final Four. It hurt. It stung. It sucked. But this is what being a fan is all about.
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