Pitt Vs. DePaul: Panthers Losers Again, Falling 84-81

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Update

Pitt Vs. DePaul: Season Over? Looking Like It

With its fourth consecutive loss, Pitt’s finding ways to sink to new lows. That’s the case after their latest ‘masterpiece’ as the Panthers lost to DePaul on the road, 84-81.

I don’t even want to pick out the positives. There were some – Talib Zanna looking like a force and John Johnson contributing as a starter, but that’s not what everyone’s going to be talking about.

Jamie Dixon gets a lot of credit, but he’s got to take some of the blame in this one. For some inexplicable reason, Isaiah Epps found himself in the game with Pitt holding a slim two-point lead in the game’s final seconds. Epps was then somehow given the ball and presented with an opportunity to seal the game. Only problem is that he’s played so little that we don’t even know what kind of a free throw shooter he is.

The storybook script played out as he not only flubbed both free throws, but Pitt committed an and-one foul and watched DePaul sink the winning free throw with just over a second left to win the game.

I’m not sure what reason Dixon had for putting Epps in the game at that point. Even if it’s conceded that he is a decent free throw shooter, he’s a redshirt freshman that has played so sparingly that we shouldn’t get the chance to find that out. A game is never won or lost on any one play, but Dixon’s insertion of Epps at that point was unbelievably questionable.

The Panthers had no answer for the duo of Brandon Young and Cleveland Melvin. As I wrote in the preview, the game was really dependent on at least slowing them down and that simply didn’t happen. The two combined for 46 points, ten rebounds, and seven steals.

It’s hard to declare the season over at this point, but now winless in conference play, it’s hard to look at the remaining schedule at this point and pick games that they should win. Jamie Dixon has a lot of work to do.

For more on Pitt basketball, check out SB Nation’s Pitt blog, Cardiac Hill.

Jan 05 9:24p by Anson Whaley

Update

Pitt vs. DePaul: Tray Woodall Out

As Pitt looks to snap its three-game losing streak on Thursday night against DePaul, it will have to do so without its starting point guard, as Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets.

@rayfitt1
ray fittipaldo Tray woodall out for depaul game. #pitt
Jan 05 via Twitter for BlackBerry®FavoriteRetweetReply

Woodall has missed seven the Panthers' last eight games. He played 18 minutes against Notre Dame on Dec. 27, scoring no points on 0-for-5 shooting and notching two assists.

6:15p by Adam Bittner

Original Story

Pitt Vs. DePaul: Panthers Face Perennial Doormat In Blue Demons

Just how down is Pitt this year? That theory could be tested in Thursday night's matchup against perennial doormat, DePaul.

The Panthers have lost three in a row and clearly haven't been they prototypical Pitt team we're used to seeing. Still, there's hope for the season and it's not time to question the team's chances of reaching the NCAAs just yet. But if Pitt can't find a way to win at DePaul on Thursday, there will be all out panic.

DePaul generally isn't a very good team, but are showing improvement this season. They are 9-4 this year and a bit better than normal. The Blue Demons have endured two painful losses to ten-win Minnesota and Mississippi teams by a combined three points. DePaul also beat a couple of major-conference foes in Texas Tech and Arizona State.

Leading the way for DePaul again is sophomore Cleveland Melvin. Melvin set the Big East on fire last year as a freshman and this season is no different. He not only leads the team in scoring with 18.8 points per game, but nearly leads the entire conference. Melvin's 6.6 rebounds lead the Blue Demons as well. Pitt isn't able to focus solely on shutting him down, though. DePaul has one of the best inside/outside threats in the Big East and that's due in part to guard Brandon Young. Young, also a sophomore, averages just over 16 points per game and hits more than 50% of his shots from the field.

Pitt will again likely be without starting point guard Tray Woodall. Woodall missed practice again earlier this week and doesn't yet appear at full strength. He missed Pitt's last game against Cincinnati and it's hard to see him suiting up for this one as well.

For more on Pitt basketball, check out SB Nation's Pitt blog, Cardiac Hill.

3:00p by Anson Whaley