When Pitt took over at No. 1 in Monday's polls, all seemed right in the college basketball world: The Panthers had earned it with their giant-flipping invasion of Hartford one week earlier, and two lesser-deserving teams who might have assumed the top spot instead, North Carolina and Oklahoma, were bumped out of line by upset losses on Saturday. The Tar Heels, Sooners and Huskies were all playing at less than full strength, while Pitt was the lone contender with all of its resources available, from the Ultimate Rebounder, DeJuan Blair, all the way down to the grunts at the end of its rotation, Gary McGhee and Nasir Robinson. The Panthers had a more clearly defined identity than any of the elites, too: They were the toughest team in the country, unable to be beaten in any Big East dogfights. In a season in which the No. 1 team had changed five times in the past eight polls, it seemed that Pitt could bring some stability to the situation.
And then we turned on our TVs on Tuesday night.
And saw Pitt remind us, from Providence, that the last thing we're going to get is stability at the top. It's been a wide-open season since North Carolina first lost the No. 1 ranking on Jan. 5, and it'll remain that way through the Final Four.
There were weird things about the Panthers' 81-73 loss on Tuesday: Actor James Woods, of all people, was there, wearing a string of Mardi Gras beads and being interviewed by a sideline reporter. The Rhode Island native (who's not a Providence alum) did not sound like he was well-versed in Friars hoops. But he did mention that he is a Catholic and was once an altar boy, and that Father Brian J. Shanley, Providence's president, had told Woods that if the Friars won, he'd have to come back for every game the rest of the year. I assume he isn't going to make good on that request; and besides, Dr. Harvey Mandrake from Any Given Sunday wouldn't be much of a good-luck charm anyway.
The setting for the upset was a court most casual fans had only seen on YouTube this season -- when Jeff Xavier's brother walked onto it, from the stands, to protest a call. When Providence students stormed the court in proper fashion after this game, one kid was holding a giant cutout of senior center Randall Hanke's head, which bobbed up and down a couple of times before being swallowed into the frenzied mob. The giant head was in honor of Hanke's Senior Night, which, because the Big East schedule-makers had put the Friars on the road from here on out, was being held in February.
What wasn't strange was the way Pitt was beaten: Despite the fact that Providence coach Keno Davis had said before the game, "I don't see any way to be able to stop [Blair]," his team knew exactly how to do it -- by getting him into foul trouble, the same way Louisville did when it beat the then-No. 1 Panthers on Jan. 17, and the same way Villanova did when it beat the Panthers on Jan. 28. He picked up two early fouls, was robbed of much of his impact on defense and on the glass, and eventually fouled out with 17 points and eight boards in 30 minutes -- decent numbers for most post players, but not for Blair. Every contender has an Achilles' Heel, and for Pitt, it's Blair Power getting neutralized by the refs. If the officials in the NCAA tournament call games tighter than they do in the Big East -- where more bruising interior play is allowed than in any other league -- then this could be an issue in March.
Is it a bigger problem, though, than those faced by the other No. 1 candidates?
North Carolina's defense is at the same level Pitt's is -- ranked in the top 30 nationally in efficiency, but not truly elite -- but the Heels seem to be prone to major meltdowns on the perimeter. Their past two games, in which they let NC State and Maryland look like offensive juggernauts, serve as fine examples of this issue. And the answer to their problems, senior lockdown artist Marcus Ginyard, isn't coming back: He's opted to take a medical redshirt.
UConn is missing the guy who took its highest percentage of shots on offense, Jerome Dyson, who had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and is out for the season. Dyson was the Huskies' biggest guard, best slasher and best perimeter defender, and they haven't made up for his absence by merely upping the minutes of Kemba Walker and Craig Austrie. They might be the next team to take over the No. 1 spot, if they can beat Marquette and Notre Dame this week. But the Huskies, who once looked like a Final Four lock, are no longer a sure thing.
Oklahoma was set to be No. 1 on Monday -- but all-everything forward Blake Griffin suffered a nasty concussion in the first half against Texas on Saturday, they lost that game, and then lost again on Monday to Kansas with Griffin still on the bench. The Sooners' issues go deeper than just missing Griffin, though: Even with him they were playing the worst defense of any team in the top 10 of the polls. As of Tuesday they ranked 55th in adjusted defensive efficiency and were behind Missouri and Kansas in the Pomeroy efficiency ratings.
Two darkhorses to jump up to No. 1, Memphis and Louisville, aren't perfect either: The Tigers didn't win a single big game before Conference USA play started, losing to Xavier, Syracuse and (most troublingly) Georgetown, so they don't really have No. 1 credentials.
And while Louisville's offense has been peaking in the past week and it may be the favorite to win the Big East regular season, the Cardinals did lose to Notre Dame -- which might not even be an NCAA tournament team -- by 33 points just two weeks ago. At the season's outset, nearly everyone thought there was a perfect team. It was supposed to be North Carolina. Now there are none, and when brackets are filled in a few weeks, you'll be forced to choose a champ whose flaws are the least troubling. Only if you worry most about whistles, you worry most about Pitt.
Bar Refaeli
Abbey Clancy
Arizona Rattlers Cheerleaders
Biggest Retirements of 2010
Comments (17) Add A Comment
Interesting take, after attending the OU vs. KU game last night, there are issues with defense, but there was hope. And that came out of Cade Davis. When he's hot, he's hot.
NuthinToHoldBack
Norman , OK
Total Comments (4)
Pitt didn't beat Hartford. They beat UConn IN Hartford.
Mark Lopa
Newington , CT
Total Comments (1)
Seem to recall Pitt being number one earlier -but did loss in one of those Big East battles to Louisville...
tdwaltonCards
Louisville, KY
Total Comments (1)
I'm confused by the writers statement near the end of the first paragraph that Pitt was "unable to be beaten in any Big East dogfights." They had already lost two Big East games before they beat UConn, as the writer notes later on in the same article. How can Pitt be both unable to be beaten in any Big East dogfights, and have lost two Big East games? Am I missing some sort of metaphor or attempt at hyperbole here?
TeeJayCT
Vernon Rockville , CT
Total Comments (1)
I love individuals like this person who provide input on teams that they really have only analyzed on paper without ever watching a minute of play. Did Luke Winn, who looks young enough to still be eating Life cereal with Mikey and I challenge knows very little about the game or a coaches mindset, really watch the Louisville-Notre Dame game? Probably not. So his OPINION aside, take a closer look at Louisville or any other team at that.
techma12
Louisville , KY
Total Comments (2)
boo... if you watch, then you know all of this.
Mr. Atlanta
Ellabell , GA
Total Comments (393)
Just further proof that the Big East is, by a landslide, the toughest conference in NCAA basketball. As a Mountaineer I am thrilled to see Pitt fall, even if it wasn't our doing.
Tech, you are correct -- some Big East play may look a certain way on paper, but if you watch the game, you see exactly why the Big East will run deep into the NCAA Tournament if not win it. It may not be pretty, but it's college ball at its finest. Smash-mouth football? Try smash-mouth HOOPS! Bring on March Madness baby!
WVUmiss
Washington, DC
Total Comments (1)
Pitt is very dominating, but most of that comes from their big man. If you can take him out of contention the rest of the team seems to colapse. UNC has extreme talent on their team, but watching their last few games it seems that keeping Hansburough in check and playing a GOOD outside game will get you a win over them. OU doesn't appear to have defense, and without some type of good defense other teams will just run all over you. UCONN has severe issues with turning the ball over, especially early in a game. If they do that to a good team who can capitolize on it and make them pay then they will be doomed from tip off. However I still like their chances because they seem to be well balanced. When Dyson was playing they had 4 guys averaging in double figures and on any night any one of them can light it up (Adrian, Thabeet, Price). It's also just a metter of time before Kemba Walker puts it all together and tears up the court, my hope are this happens in the NCAA Tournament.....GO HUSKIES!!!!
Cncreds2000
Hamden, CT
Total Comments (13)
What's wrong with you people??? His take is 100 percent accurate, there is no truly complete team in college basketball this year, which means it figures to be a crazy tournament. Go to a Louisville fan site for some glowing portrait of the Cardinals that conveniently overlooks their own flaws.
George Mason
New York , NY
Total Comments (1)
I think he was trying to say that in "any Big East dogfights" -- physical, bruising basketball games -- Pitt was going to outmuscle anyone; no one is going to out-tough the Panthers. Winn may be spot on there, but Pitt's tough, physical style of play has come back to bite them in past NCAA tournaments. I, for one, hope that this is not one of those years.
JohnnyPolo24
Pittsburgh , PA
Total Comments (77)
Here are few comments regarding the tourny and some teams:
1. Pitt- great team, a contender for the title. However, they bruising style of play could doom them. One game against a small, quick team with refs calling it close could spell the end for Pitt's run.
2. Connecticut-Two weeks ago, I really liked the Huskies' chances to cut down the nets. I thought they had distanced themselves from the pack (but not by much). Now they're just another team with a shot. I think Dyon's absence is bothering Calhoun more than he'd like to admit.
3. North Carolina-they've been spectacular at times but I feel they've been inconsistent more this year than last. I'm not as comfortable placing them in the Final Four as I was a year ago.
4. Memphis- I don't think Memphis deserves being placed so high in the polls. They're conference os so weak. Memphis fans will read this and say it was the same situation last year-however, the Tigers had Douglas-Roberts & Rose last year.
5. Oklahoma- this is a team I think looks better on paper with a gaudy record and a Player of the Year candidate than they really are. I can see a flame-out against an LSU or Butler in a second or third round game.
6. Louisville- what they do well (defense and hustle) they probably do better than anyone. If they shoot reasonably well, they can end up in the title game. If they struggle, I can see no further success than a regional final.
7. Duke- they're fundamentally sound and smart but I don't think they have the horses to last six games.
8. Marquette- great-shooting, fast team. I just don't care for multiple-guard lineups. They need a solid big man to complement their outside abilities.
9. Michigan State- boy, what an anomaly here. The jury is still out for me because I don't know how truly good the Big Ten is. My gut instinct tells me that a Big Ten championship (this year) is not something to write home about.
10.Wake-too much of a roller coaster ride the last four weeks.
My Final Four- Pitt, Louisville, North Carolina & Connecticut.
JoeFD
Louisville , KY
Total Comments (3)
The guy covers games for the site all the time. I'm sure since you're a louisville fan you may have seen them more than him. But I'm sure he sees and knows more about teams in general than you do. Read more than one article of his maybe... his knowledge of ball is obvious.
I'm really not sure how you could argue with any of his statements... it's not like it was the most outlandish article... would you honestly feel comfortable putting money with normal odds on ANY ONE team making the final 4? I wouldn't...
And if you don't think Louisville has serious flaws than youre obviously just biased... cuz there are some... just ask Pitino
McI
Fort Mc Murray, AB
Total Comments (562)
Thank you McI. You are correct and have some good thoughts. Although my comments seem biased and slanted toward Louisville, I am a fan of multiple teams. Writers need to understand that within a game there may be a game where score isn't the only factor. To say that Louisville was blown out by Notre Dame to the tune of 33 points certainly didn't reflect what Louisville did to Notre Dame when they played in Louisville weeks before. Perhaps during the latter game Pitino recognized that his players were tired, spent, had nothing to beat Notre Dame so decided to play his bench for experience. These things need to be factored in before making broad statements about a team. No, I wouldn't bet on any team for the final four at this point, Louisville included, but I would make darn sure I researched everything before providing an opinion. As I said in the first posting, analyzing based on numbers isn't the best approach. Nothing more, nothing less.
techma12
Louisville , KY
Total Comments (2)
I would love to see Louisville be moved to the No 1 spot, so when they come to Morgantown on March 7th, the Mountaineers can knock them off their post. Talk about couches burning in MoTown, Lets Go Mountaineers.
wvumounties8
Total Comments (4)
Hey Luke, I'm Mike, the "kid" holding the giant cutout of Randall Hanke's head. HOWEVER, it was not Randall Hanke's head.. it was senior walk-on Connor Heine's. Thanks.
MJCL
Providence , RI
Total Comments (1)
@ Techma: a 33-point loss is a 33-point loss. It shouldn't matter if Pitino emptied his bench for experience. The Cards were blown out. And, that game you talk about against ND a few weeks before, it was a 14-point OT win in which ND couldn't hit a shot in the last 5 minutes of regulation or in OT... that should have been another loss for 'Ville.
cmackinder
Saint Clair, MI
Total Comments (14)
cma-if you are of the opinion that you can't qualify games ("...a 33 point loss is a 33 point loss. It shouldn't matter if Pitino emptied his bench...") then you can't say Louisville should've lost (when they won) because ND couldn't hit a shot in the last 5 minutes. It's one way or the other.
JoeFD
Louisville , KY
Total Comments (3)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.