MBB vs Pitt - 1/14

[GTJacket Fan]

These were two teams desperate for a win with only one of them actually coming out desperately.

They just aren't good enough to come out soft and expect to exchange baskets and win the game. I can stand them missing shots, but not that they are constantly out of position for rebounds and constantly let their opponents shoot uncontested threes. Their defensive posture needs to improve and force more turnovers to help negate the fact that they continue to turn the ball over at an alarming rate.

I didn't think that Pitt was that good tonight, but they were the more desperate team, and it paid off for them.

 

[Ramblingon]

I'm afraid we hit rock bottom tonight. This isn't the team that played Duke a few weeks ago. There's a problem that seems to be lack of coaching on defense and offense. Spotting a team 10 points like we have in the beginning of the last two games keeps us climbing uphill. It's like we haven't scouted the opponents and we keep trying to adjust, trying any combination of players. There is a lot of talent on the court for Tech, but it's a little late to be finding the right combination. I like these guys and it's difficult to watch them struggle as a team. I hope we can adjust before the end of the season.

 

[GTJacket Fan]

I'm afraid we hit rock bottom tonight. This isn't the team that played Duke a few weeks ago. There's a problem that seems to be lack of coaching on defense and offense. Spotting a team 10 points like we have in the beginning of the last two games keeps us climbing uphill. It's like we haven't scouted the opponents and we keep trying to adjust, trying any combination of players. There is a lot of talent on the court for Tech, but it's a little late to be finding the right combination. I like these guys and it's difficult to watch them struggle as a team. I hope we can adjust before the end of the season.

Let's hope this is rock bottom!

To be fair, they still look much better than they did in November. Their worst performance IMO was against UMES in the season opener. This performance reminded me of the way they played in Florida over Thanksgiving. Two teams that were probably peers in talent that outhussled them. Jim Boheim said Pitt is a better team. Although probably true, not enough to smoke them in the first half. They wanted it more.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

I haven’t read all the comments so I may be speaking to things already covered.

Ndongo is mostly lifeless anymore and all of our bigs, which were supposed to be a strength, have digressed. We have occasional flashes with our guard play but several of our players disappeared tonight. Overall, the team looked like it didn’t want to be here and was just going through the motions. The lack of energy was so evident that you almost wondered whether they were in the midst of finals, fatigued from a long flight, battling the flu, their best friend died, were injured, or received a death threat if they won.

Play tonight was so bad that it didn’t even make sense.

Pittsburg looked like the best team in the ACC.

I’m mystified.

 

[AUFC]

I had a thought recently and it was coincidentally the same time someone went viral for the same idea for college football:

Let everyone walk, spend $0 in NIL the next two seasons to build up a coffer, then drop it all on the 2028-29 team. There’s nobody on this team from a coaching or playing perspective that belongs on an “NC2A” Tournament team. Just blow it up until there are enough funds to field a competitive roster.

 

[BuzzBy]

I had a thought recently and it was coincidentally the same time someone went viral for the same idea for college football:

Let everyone walk, spend $0 in NIL the next two seasons to build up a coffer, then drop it all on the 2028-29 team. There’s nobody on this team from a coaching or playing perspective that belongs on an “NC2A” Tournament team. Just blow it up until there are enough funds to field a competitive roster.

 

[GTJacket Fan]

I haven’t read all the comments so I may be speaking to things already covered.

Ndongo is mostly lifeless anymore and all of our bigs, which were supposed to be a strength, have digressed. We have occasional flashes with our guard play but several of our players disappeared tonight. Overall, the team looked like it didn’t want to be here and was just going through the motions. The lack of energy was so evident that you almost wondered whether they were in the midst of finals, fatigued from a long flight, battling the flu, their best friend died, were injured, or received a death threat if they won.

Play tonight was so bad that it didn’t even make sense.

Pittsburg looked like the best team in the ACC.

I’m mystified.

You pretty much summed it up. Pittsburgh looked better than they really are. I was wondering if maybe the guys are sick with the flu. Their three best guys Ndongo, Reeves, and Washington didn't look like they had their normal edge. Noticed CDS put Remagen in earlier and longer than normal. Also Kelly and Craft played and scored more than their averages. The last three games they were smoked early and then staged comebacks, with the exception of this game. Really critical that they get healthier and don't quit on the season.

 

[tdb]

I was there tonight. The only good thing about the game was the student turnout. Student sections were packed for the first time this season. Unfortunately and not surprisingly, they started clearing out at halftime.

Our guys simply didn't come to play. Disappointing. Easy to give up on Damon after what we saw tonight, but I'm not just yet. If he doesn't figure it out this season, I say give him another season where the guys might gel like end of last season. With all the roster turnover these days, things can change fast. You never know.

 

[tdb]

This guy on Pitt’s team whose name sounds like a contagious skin condition and hasn’t scored a single basket in ACC play is of course the leading scorer in the 1st half. That is so GT.

Which era was it where it seemed like we consistently allowed a player on the other team to score a career-high against us? I think Hewitt, maybe. Was kind of funny at the time.

 

[ChristoGT]

I only watched the last 7-8 minutes of the first half when I got home from work. I don't know who the ACCN announcers were but the one was being brutally honest with his commentary about "street ball play" and he was just "watching a pick up game". Most of it pointed at CDS and the lack of offensive set up. Sigh.

Wife had switched the TV over to Hallmark when I got out of shower after halftime and I didn't bother to turn on another TV and decided to get some work done instead. Sad when I'd rather work than "enjoy" a diversion.

 

[AUFC]

I only watched the last 7-8 minutes of the first half when I got home from work. I don't know who the ACCN announcers were but the one was being brutally honest with his commentary about "street ball play" and he was just "watching a pick up game". Most of it pointed at CDS and the lack of offensive set up. Sigh.

Wife had switched the TV over to Hallmark when I got out of shower after halftime and I didn't bother to turn on another TV and decided to get some work done instead. Sad when I'd rather work than "enjoy" a diversion.

There’s no measurement on “quality shots” AFAIK but it’s easy to see game to game via the eye test that opponents get a lot of shots up that are catch and shoot, in rhythm, with no contest from the defense. It’s a huge difference from our offensive possessions which usually turn into 2v2 games on 1 side of the court where our shooter will hoist up a sloppy shot off the bounce, leaning or fading to a side to try and find a good angle to shoot over/around his defender.

 

[IMissNateGeorge]

Anyone miss Pastner yet?

If he had a competitive budget and had been a tad better recruiter I think he would still be here. I dunno know if he's winning the ACC or anything, but at least his guys could play D and run an offensive set.

 

[GTNavyNuke]

View attachment 20601

While I think Hall stayed 10 years too long, I don't think this is funny. Tex doesn't run the GTAA except in baseball where he has given scads of money. The two programs are largely independent with baseball having gotten negligible funding outside of Tex. Baseball regularly recruited in top 10 (hitting and fielding but not pitching) but we haven't won regionals (top 16) since the 2006 Regionals. We have played caveman baseball during the season and bludgeon our way to wins and then can't stand the heat of elite pitching in the post season. This year may be different.

Basketball is a basket case on even being relevant.

 

[IronJacket7]

We have made the NCAA tournament 1 time in the last 15 years... Is that correct?

 

[Ramble1885]

We have made the NCAA tournament 1 time in the last 15 years... Is that correct?

Yes, it is sad.

 

[GT33]

Tex doesn't run the GTAA except in baseball where he has given scads of money.

Where’s our basketball Sugar Daddy? It isn’t Marbury or Anderson or Salley or Bosh or ……. I guess I’ve indirectly funded basketball thru AT, Roll Call, etc but I don’t see anyone slapping down $25M to buy us a coach and a team.

 

[Sheboygan]

IMHO, CDS and staff are not “ACC ready” coaches. It’s a tough league, but you MUST win your home games against equal or lesser foes. CDS may be a great guy and a great NBA assistant coach, but his head coaching career should have started with a mid major program to gain more experience.
Also , sometimes great players do not make good coaches. Let him finish the year, then replace him.

 

[MtnWasp]

It's got nothing to do with money !

You lost me at 'hello'

 

[IronJacket7]

I know many of you may disagree with me on this but going forward with HCs I would rather have a Xs and Os mid major type than the "good recruiter" hire. Again this is just my opinion. That way even if we lose with an Xs and Os coach at least it looks like an organized strategic approach at winning.

 

[Vinotx]

You lost me at 'hello'

We have "enough" money , our problem is coaching and talent evaluation. There are more than enough good players to field a highly competitive and competing team with our budget. We just have bad players and a bad coach. Pretty simple