SB Nation Pittsburgh - Long Beach State Vs. Pitt: Panthers Ripped For Second Ever Non-Conference Loss At The Pete, 86-76https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2011-11-17T00:12:02-05:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23320152011-11-17T00:12:02-05:002011-11-17T00:12:02-05:00Long Beach State Vs. Pitt Score: Transition Game Doomed Panthers
<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>During the game, it seemed like Long Beach State had layup after layup.<a target="_blank" href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/playbyplay?gameId=313200221"> ESPN’s play-by-play of the game</a> showed that was pretty accurate.</p>
<p>The 49ers had an astounding 23 of 32 made shots come via layup, dunk, or tip in. That comes out to more than 70% and giving up that many easy shots shows that Pitt simply didn’t get back in transition and didn’t play great defense. This was evident in watching the game and the numbers back that up.</p>
<p>The Panthers, on the other hand, scored only 41% of their points by those methods. Approximately 60% of Pitt’s made shots were jumpers or three-pointers. Pitt shot a pedestrian 46% from the field and that was partially due to the fact that they settled for longer shots rather than trying to get the ball inside as Long Beach State did.</p>
<p>This clearly wasn’t the only factor in Pitt’s defeat, but it was a big one. Pitt lost the rebounding battle and had absolutely no support from the bench as well, but allowing so many easy shots definitely gives the other team a clear advantage. By working less on offense, they were able to conserve energy to play better defense and … force Pitt into jump shots.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cardiachill.com" target="new">For more on Pitt and the game, check out SB Nation Pitt blog Cardiac Hill</a>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-panthers/2011/11/17/2568106/long-beach-state-vs-pitt-score-panthers-pittsburgh-casper-ware-ashton-gibbsAnson Whaley2011-11-16T23:04:08-05:002011-11-16T23:04:08-05:00Long Beach State Vs. Pitt: Panthers Stunned By 49ers
<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>No, this isn’t a typo – Pitt was ripped at home for only their second ever non-conference loss at The Pete by the 49ers, 86 to 76. Seriously, raise your hand if you knew Long Beach State’s nickname was the 49ers. The Panthers apparently didn’t, either, as they were wholly unprepared for this matchup.</p>
<p>Pitt fell behind early and, surprisingly, could never recover. Long Beach State repeatedly made big shots every time Pitt managed to cut the lead down and were not even slightly rattled by the Oakland Zoo.</p>
<p>Over at Cardiac Hill, I ripped the Zoo a bit after the Albany win for leaving early. Truth be told, though, they did a great job in this game, cheering loudly for Pitt even when they fell behind in double digits. But in the end, the 49ers, a senior-led team, were too tough.</p>
<p>The Panthers played the poorest transition defense I can remember and clearly were not the better team on the court tonight. Long Beach State had six players score at least eight points, but the star of the game was Casper Ware, who had a career-high 28 points. Pitt got good production from its starters, but the bench was non-existent, scoring only two points.</p>
<p>The other problem for Pitt is that they not only failed to produce their trademark big margin on the boards, but they lost the rebounding battle 26-25.</p>
<p>The Panthers did make a final push at the end, getting to within six points, but it was too little too late. It will be interesting to see where Pitt goes from here. I expect Long Beach State to have a good season, but to lose at home in the manner they did was unexpected to say the least.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cardiachill.com" target="new">For more post-game reaction, check out SB Nation’s Pitt blog, Cardiac Hill</a>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-panthers/2011/11/16/2568011/long-beach-state-vs-pitt-panthers-basketball-pittsburgh-49ers-upset-score-2011Anson Whaley2011-11-16T08:00:33-05:002011-11-16T08:00:33-05:00Long Beach State Vs. Pitt: After Scare Against Rider, Panthers May Get Another Test On Wednesday
<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>Pitt wasn't expecting to get the test they got from Rider over the weekend, but on Wednesday, they could be facing another one from Long Beach State.</p>
<p>The 49ers were nearly an NCAA tournament team last year and won 22 games before heading to the NIT. Along the way, Long Beach State beat Iowa and fell by only five to North Carolina on the road. They also faced Clemson, Arizona State, and a 30-win Utah State team, so they aren't likely to be rattled by playing the Pete this season. And talk about tough schedules - in addition to Pitt, the 49ers will square off against North Carolina, Louisville, Kansas, and Xavier this year ... all top 15 squads.</p>
<p>Long Beach State is led by 5-foot-10 dynamo <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52634/casper-ware" class="sbn-auto-link">Casper Ware</a>, who averaged just over 17 points per game last year. And in the 49ers' opener against Idaho this season, he dropped 20 on the Vandals.</p>
<p>One area Pitt should have an advantage is down low. Long Beach State has no regular taller than 6-foot-8 and not much depth as far as big men go. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100021/dante-taylor" class="sbn-auto-link">Dante Taylor</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100024/talib-zanna" class="sbn-auto-link">Talib Zanna</a>, and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145934/khem-birch" class="sbn-auto-link">Khem Birch</a> (all of whom are 6-foot-9 or taller) could wear them down as the game goes on. There's also the 6-foot-11 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145935/malcolm-gilbert" class="sbn-auto-link">Malcolm Gilbert</a>, who could play after missing the first two games with a fractured hand.</p>
<p>Speaking of Birch, he's off to a bit of a slow start. Through two games, he's only averaged two points and three rebounds per contest. Still, look for him to make a bigger impact as the season goes on and he gets more comfortable with the offense.</p>
<p>A main storyline to follow this season will continue to be the offensive development of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52465/tray-woodall" class="sbn-auto-link">Tray Woodall</a>. Woodall has been one of the team's better players so far this season, but he's unlikely to keep this scoring pace up. But if he's able to even play moderately well, that would give Pitt one of the best backcourts in the country with All-American candidate <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52467/ashton-gibbs" class="sbn-auto-link">Ashton Gibbs</a> playing shooting guard.</p>
<p>Playing at home, the Panthers are nearly unbeatable so it's difficult to see them losing this game. But as Sunday's game against Rider proved, Pitt is capable of being tested by mid-major teams.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cardiachill.com/" target="_blank">For more on the game, check out SB Nation Pitt blog Cardiac Hill</a>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-panthers/2011/11/16/2563078/long-beach-state-vs-pitt-basketball-pittsburgh-panthers-prediction-spread-score-ashton-gibbsAnson Whaley