Preview: WVU vs. #25 Pitt

Getting back to the basketball thing, it’s still PITT WEEK! 

Pitt comes in reeling a bit after being knocked from the top of the conference by Connecticut. The Panthers are on the injury tip right now, with Levance Fields and Mike Cook who have been on the shelf since conference play began, Pitt only goes about seven players deep. Sam Young is by far the Panthers’ leading scorer at 18.1 per. The 6′6″, 215-pound junior has presented matchup problems for WVU in the past, scoring 21 points off the bench in Pitt’s win last year at Morgantown, and hitting a double-double in the Big East tournament two seasons ago with 14 points and 11 boards. He has hit double-digit scoring in four of five career match-ups with the Mountaineers.

Freshman DeJuan Blair, a 6′7″ 250-pound forward is the other key piece of Pitt’s front line. Blair is a more-athletic version of past Pitt bruisers like Chevon Troutman or Ontario Lett. Blair is also a more dynamic scorer, scoring 20 points on three occasions already this season and averaging 12.2 points in conference play along with 10.2 rebounds. Pitt will go as far as Young and Blair can take them, regardless of when Levance Fields returns to the lineup. While against some teams they may be considered undersized, they are more physical and athletic than WVU’s front line tandem. Joe Alexander will have to keep one of the men in check, and will we see Cam Throroughman in the game to try and lock down the other? If not, I feel like Wellington Smith or Jamie Smalligan are pretty much outclassed.

Pitt has experienced guards with seniors Keith Benjamin and Ronald Ramon. Both are great 3-point shooters, especially Ramon although the numbers have not fleshed out for him this season, where he is hitting at a 36.5% rate which is off from the last few seasons where he has been near the conference leaders (45.1% in 2007 for example). One advantage for WVU in the backcourt is taller guards with Ramon listed at 6-feet even and Benjamin at 6′2″ going up against 6′2″ Darris Nichols and 6′6″ Alex Ruoff.

The final starter for Pitt will likely be 6′6″ swing-man Gilbert Brown. At 6′6″ 180 he does not have a banger’s body and takes a more limited role in the offense averaging only 8 points per game despite playing long stretches of minutes for the Panthers in conference play. I like the matchup of Brown on Da’Sean Butler as perhaps the best point of attack for WVU’s offense.

Tyrell Biggs at 6′8″ and 245 pounds is available off the bench to spell Young and Blair. At 6′10″, Cassin Diggs and Gary McGhee are little-used backups in the frontcourt. The other Panther likely to see time is 6′4″ freshman Brad Wanamaker who has contributed 44 points and 34 assists in 19 games on the season.

Plan of attack for WVU? I would try to get Young and/or Blair in foul trouble early. With Blair and Young patrolling the middle of the floor, Nichols and Joe Mazzulla will have to try to penetrate and kick out to open shooters on the perimeter. With the smaller guards in the backcourt as I mentioned, the shooters may have to knock down some looks with the defender in their face. Jamie Smalligan could be used to lure Blair to defend him outside, something the freshman is rather unfamiliar and likely uncomfortable doing. On defense, I expect to see a lot of the zone as we have seen in conference play and if Huggins has any confidence at all to use the press, this may be a good time to open it up as Pitt is without an elite ball-handler.

WVU is 1-3 at Petersen Events Center with the lone win coming in 2005, the famous Pitt vs. Pittsnogle game where Kevin hit 4 treys in the 70-66 victory. Look for the game on ESPN at 7 p.m. as a part of Rivalry Week with Dave Pasch, Len Elmore and Allen Hopkins on the call.