SB Nation Pittsburgh - West Virginia Vs. Pittsburgh: Panthers' Balanced Attack Turns Back Mountaineers, 71-58https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2011-02-25T00:45:30-05:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17769062011-02-25T00:45:30-05:002011-02-25T00:45:30-05:00West Virginia Vs. Pitt: Panthers Defeat West Virginia 71-58
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>After a close first-half, Pitt proved too much for West Virginia as the Panthers won 71-58 at the Pete. The Panthers and Mountaineers played to a virtual tie with West Virginia holding a slim 31-30 lead at halftime.</p>
<p>West Virginia struggled through a tough shooting night, hitting only 33% of their shots. Pitt, meanwhile, was red hot, shooting nearly 60% from the field. It was a typical Panther win as no one player was the offensive star. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52470/nasir-robinson">Nasir Robinson</a> led the team in scoring with 15 points, but three others (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26099/brad-wanamaker">Brad Wanamaker</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26097/gilbert-brown">Gilbert Brown</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100023/lamar-patterson">Lamar Patterson</a>) each contributed 11. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52467/ashton-gibbs">Ashton Gibbs</a> also added nine.</p>
<p>But the best player on the court may have been Mountaineer senior guard, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101435/casey-mitchell">Casey Mitchell</a>. Mitchell, who was just returning from a suspension, didn’t have a great game against Pitt a few weeks back in their first meeting. But tonight, he shot 5-11 from the field (4-6 from three-point range) and was a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line, leading all scorers with 22 points.</p>
<p>While a win would have likely cemented West Virginia’s <span class="caps">NCAA</span> tournament hopes, a loss doesn’t kill them. The Mountaineers are 17-10 overall and 8-7 in the conference. If they can manage to win one game over their final three (at Rutgers and home against Louisville and UConn), they would finish .500 in the conference and with 18 wins. West Virginia also already owns wins against Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Purdue. One more win should do it for the Mountaineers.</p>
<p>For Pitt, it’s all about trying to secure a No. 1 seed. Pitt holds a two game lead (which is essentially a 1.5 game lead because second-place Big East team, Notre Dame, holds a tiebreaker) with three games left against South Florida, Louisville, and Villanova. Winning the regular season Big East title would go a long way in locking down a No. 1 seed in the <span class="caps">NCAA</span> Tournament.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/west-virginia-mountaineers/2011/2/25/2014263/west-virginia-vs-pitt-basketball-pittsburgh-mountaineers-panthers-wvu-big-east-ncaa-tournamentAnson Whaley2011-02-24T18:04:57-05:002011-02-24T18:04:57-05:00West Virginia Vs. Pitt: ESPN's Fran Fraschilla Breaks Down Game With SB Nation Pitt Blog Cardiac Hill
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>ESPN’s communications department reached out to me over at SB Nation Pitt blog Cardiac Hill to provide another host for a Q&A – this time about tonight’s Backyard Brawl. Their excellent analyst and former coach Fran Fraschilla was the willing participant and he talked about the game, coaching, and what Pitt needs to do to win:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Cardiac Hill: Give us your keys to victory for Pitt for the game.</strong><br>Fran Fraschilla: Create scoring opportunities off the offensive glass. They are rebounding 44% of their own misses, so even if their outside shooting has been off a little recently they can still score around the rim. Get <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26097/gilbert-brown" class="sbn-auto-link">Gilbert Brown</a> and Brad Wannamaker going again offensively. Though Pitt is not known as a transition team, they were averaging almost 80 points a game early in conference play. Contain <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26352/joe-mazzulla" class="sbn-auto-link">Joe Mazzulla</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101435/casey-mitchell" class="sbn-auto-link">Casey Mitchell</a> from attacking the paint off the dribble. When they are effective at getting into the lane, Kevin Jones and Casey Mitchell get easier scoring opportunities.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a target="new" href="http://www.cardiachill.com/2011/2/24/2013045/pitt-basketball-west-virginia-panthers-mountaineers-espn-big-east-fran-fraschilla#storyjump">For the rest of Fran’s Analysis, check out the full Q&A over at Cardiac Hill.</a></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/west-virginia-mountaineers/2011/2/24/2013569/west-virginia-vs-pitt-basketball-wvu-panthers-mountaineers-fran-fraschilla-espn-big-eastAnson Whaley2011-02-24T14:04:51-05:002011-02-24T14:04:51-05:00West Virginia Vs. Pittsburgh: 'Eers And Panthers Brawl At The Pete
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>It's backyard brawl time as the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/west-virginia-mountaineers" class="sbn-auto-link">West Virginia Mountaineers</a> head north to battle their arch-rival Pitt Panthers at the Peterson Events Center. Pittsburgh escaped Morgantown with a five point win three weeks ago, and the Mountaineers hope to return the favor tonight. Here's what on the line from the West Virginia point of view:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<b>Sealing up the seeding</b>. I'm going to go out on a very short limb and say the 'Eers don't have to worry about missing the big dance. They're in. The way they can make some noise would be by being seeded somewhere in the 4-7 range. Right now, to get there, they need to pick up another quality win or two. Tonight's match-up is a great opportunity to pick up a road win against a top ten team. Win this, and WVU can relax until the Big East tournament. Lose, and the 'Eers have work to do at home next week against UConn and Louisville.</li>
<li>
<b>The Turk, for better or for worse.</b> In the last meeting, the Turk exploded for 19 points, and it looked like the hook couldn't miss. Problem was, on defense, Pitt's bigs had him turned around and out of position all night long. Tonight, on offense, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101439/deniz-kilicli" class="sbn-auto-link">Deniz Kilicli</a> has to be aware that he'll be double teamed, and has to be able to dump the ball to whomever is open. If he can do that with sucess, it will buy him room to move in the paint AND create open looks for his teammates. On defense, he absolutely has to stand his ground against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52470/nasir-robinson" class="sbn-auto-link">Nasir Robinson</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26106/gary-mcghee" class="sbn-auto-link">Gary McGhee</a> to be effective. If he can use his feet and stay in front of his man, he can stop them. If he slips out of position, he just doesn't have the quickness to recover.</li>
<li>
<b>The guards have to produce. </b> It doesn't have to be points, but the end result has to be offense. Truck Bryant snapped out of his shooting slump on Saturday, which was great. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26352/joe-mazzulla" class="sbn-auto-link">Joe Mazzulla</a> found the path to the rack, which was great. What was better, however, was that this created more offensive opportunities for the rest of their teammates. Kevin Jones had his best day offensively, and for one glorious afternoon you could see how West Virginia's offense is <i>supposed </i>to run. If Truck, Joe and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/101435/casey-mitchell" class="sbn-auto-link">Casey Mitchell</a> can find some success with a balanced attack of deep shooting and driving into the paint, the Mountaineers could escape the Steel City with a win.</li>
<li>
<b>Defending the paint. </b> The Mountaineers are a little undersized to handle Pitt's bodies. Two men who will draw that duty, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26363/john-flowers" class="sbn-auto-link">John Flowers</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26351/cam-thoroughman" class="sbn-auto-link">Cam Thoroughman</a>, are a little under-sized but make up for it with tenacity. Deniz Kilicli has had his problems, mentioned above, and Kevin Jones seems to shy away from physicality under bucket. They will have their hands full trying to keep Pitt's big men off of the glass. Success on the boards will go a long way towards keeping this game competitive and played at the grinding pace the Mountaineers prefer.</li>
</ul>
<p>I'm off for my first foray into enemy territory at the Peterson Events Center. If I don't post a recap in the morning, call Pittsburgh Police and have them on the lookout for a distraught Mountaineer fan wandering the streets of the 'burgh crying into a coonskin cap.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2011/2/24/2330323/west-virginia-vs-pittsburgh-eers-and-panthers-brawl-at-the-peteAaron Hawley