Column: Pitt sophomores shining the light

Eh. I'm not a big fan of excessively crediting digging out of self-dug holes.

They're a young team and have been getting better as the season progresses.
I see them as a tourney team this year.

Do you really think it's "self-dug" vs. guys figuring things out and improving?

The odd reality is that in today's big-time college basketball, this team is not that young, so as great as it is that they're improving, most of the teams that have been winning all year are just as young. Therefore, per DK's comment, it's tough to give the same amount of credit for shaping a "young" team as we have in the past.

This team is very young, even by today's standards. Kentucky skews the national debate, but it's still highly unusual to have a team made up almost entirely of sophomores. Check out kenpom's youngest team rankings. All of the top teams in the country (save Kentucky) have multiple juniors and seniors playing key roles. We have Robinson.

"Eh. I'm not a big fan of excessively crediting digging out of self-dug holes."

Seems a weird comment, especially in light of your focus on Dixon being a good coach who needs some time, but always seems to come through. They may still not make the Dance this year, but the improvement has been very surprising, and a cause for some optimism, even for this year.

Reading, need you to log in, man. That's why your comments are going through moderation. Thanks.

Thanks DK and Mrs. DK! Back on track now.

You left out the part where I predicted the Steelers would go 11-5. Before the season started.

I purposely left that out.

DJ adds the shooting and 1 on 1 skills that the backcourt lacks. Dixon has to recruit a big man as I am not sold on this JC recruit from Florida.

Lol, oh yeah Chet. Nix weighed nearly 400lbs in HS. I heard he dropped a lot, in JC with Ontario Lett as his coach,

But its more of an up and down game than ever at the ACC level. His first year will probably be conditioning. Likely RS unless Dixon gets another body.

Like I said, no predicting rosters year to year. Freshmen, JC especially.

Good points, bpn8pitt. We might not agree on everything, but I definitely respect your thoughts and passion for the program.

It's all good JR...I think they have a good shot to take down Virginia too. They miss Justin Anderson terribly.

Good point about UVA. Would be a huge, huge win if we can get it. You're 100% right about Anderson.

Again JR, I'm happy with the program. But despite all of the success of the last 12 years, they have only advanced to the Elite 8 once, 2009. And they haven't been to Sweet Sixteen since. Going on 6 years now.

The most frustrating thing to me is, I think Dixon has taken Pitt to the tourney 10 times. But 8 times he was eliminated by a lower seed. And a few of those were inexcusable.

I think Jamie's a good coach. But I think it's fair to criticize the programs shortcomings and wonder about the direction in the here and now.

As I said before, I do like the current roster but there is no telling what it looks like a year from now. Let alone two.

I'm a Duke alum. We lost to Mercer and Lehigh two of the last three years. There's inexcusable!

My instinct, having watched the Big East and the ACC very closely for 30+ years, is that switching coaches almost always leads to mediocrity and worse. Ask all the middling teams in those conferences (Seton Hall, Georgia Tech, Florida State, BC, Virginia Tech, etc.) how they feel about their coaching carousel over the last 20 years or so. Unless Coach K or Bill Self or Sean Miller is available, I like Jamie just fine.

I'm not blaming Jamie...yet. But it maybe fair to question Brandin Knights recruiting abilities compared to Rohrssen, Herion and some of the past assistants. Remember how this team was loaded with NYC recruits? Only Randall now.

Fair to say Dixon is a good coach and not a great coach?

I think so, bulky. That's where I'm at.

The defenders were out today when the team shot 65% and never trailed. There nowhere to be found when he calls a questionable timeout. That was an issue last year too in conference play.

But the detractors are wrong with Jeter. I think he's handled that well.

It's just amazing what Sean Miller has done in roughly the same period at Xavier/Arizona. 3 Elite 8s. Sick recruiting classes.

Probably one of the few teams equipped to beat Kentucky.

Interesting when thinking about the Pitt program when compared to others and their success. Miller and his work at Arizona. Always seems to be picking up great classes and doing well. VCU was mentioned. The made that Cinderella run to the final four and have been kinda riding that for a bit. Injuries make a big difference too. VCU lost the heart of their Havoc defense when Briante Weber blew out his knee and have been reeling a bit.

Think Anderson being out bodes well for Pitt when they visit the Hoos this week. Should be fun to watch.

Tucson in the winter > Oakland in the winter, that's for sure.

Upon a second glance, what you've actually got is an NBA court instead of an NCAA one, which in your eyes is probably even worse than the soccer field. :)