The Confidential

Virginia Tech vs Pitt recap

Just when I thought the Pitt Panthers didn’t have much of a chance to win unless Jamel Artis or Michael Young led the way they proved me wrong. Last night at home against the Virginia Tech Hokies they were led by another junior forward named Sheldon Jeter. Sheldon led Pitt in scoring putting up 23 pts on 9-13 from the field and also added 7 rebounds.  Pitt’s future looked bright last night as their top 2 freshman, Cameron Johnson and Duane Wilson added 9 and 8 pts respectively. Johnson also pitched in with three from the arc and James Robinson dished out 10 assists. The Panthers do have a lot of depth and hopefully last night was a sign of things to come.  Pitt travels to UVA this Saturday to play the 9^th ranked Cavaliers. They will need all the help they can get!

GO PITT!

Pitt basketball season review…

Let’s take a look at Pitt’s basketball season so far in 2015-16. As of today, the Panthers are 16-4(5-3 in ACC) which has them tied for 5^th place in the conference.  They spent a couple weeks in the AP Top 25 poll but losses to Louisville and NC State knocked them out for now. I thought they had a shot to jump back in after their win at Florida St but for some reason the poll Gods thought Notre Dame should be ranked. The Panthers beat the Irish on their home court earlier this year.

Pitt has pretty much relied on their two junior forwards, Jamel Artis and Michael Young. Both are logging over 28 MPG with Young averaging 17.3 PPG and Artis right behind with 15.7 PPG. Young has been huge for the Panthers on the boards this year pulling down almost 7 rebounds per game. They are both shooting over 50% from the field and 78% from the free throw line. Pitt is actually 3^rd in the nation in FT% coming in at 77% per game.  Pitt has good depth and a lot of experience but in reality they will only go as far as their senior PG, James Robinson will take them. They really need him to step up and help out Artis and Young with some outside scoring.

It doesn’t look like things will get any easier for the Panthers. They play VA Tech at home tomorrow which they should win but then Virginia comes to town next Saturday and then they hit the road to go play Miami and UNC. We will see what my boys are made of in the next 2 weeks.

GO PITT!

Introduction!

Hello ACC Confidential world! Dean Olivieri here, my friends call me DeanO. I was born and raised in DaBurgh. Yinz know what I mean??  By now I’m sure you probably figured out which ACC team that I am going to blog about for The Confidential.  That’s right, PITT! I lived a good 21 years or so in Pittsburgh and enjoyed every bit of it. I’m currently living in Charlotte, NC where I have been living now for the past 15 years.  I’m probably showing my age here and more than likely the old man on the site.

As you could imagine I was ecstatic when I heard that PITT would be moving to the ACC. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the good old days and hard-nosed battles of the Big East but it’s very cool having PITT in the ACC.  Anyway my plan is to provide game summaries, player news, opinions, predictions, recruiting news and so on about PITT Panthers basketball and football.

I would like to thank the Commander for giving me a shot on his site to blog about Pitt hoops and football!

I hope you enjoy!! GO PITT!!

Hyperbole Alert, But Duke Win “Saves” Syracuse Season

Greg Robinson? Greg Robinson.

“one can only imagine how much money could be raised for the University if G-Rob agreed to sit in a dunk-tank for $20/3 balls. That would be worth a trip to the ATM, that’s for sure. “

New Year, New (Old) Coach, Same Result: L

“Expect more losses and a colder/longer winter for Orange fans in Central New York.”

Beaten but Better

Two weeks ago today, Louisville and the University of Kentucky locked horns in the annual Dream Game. Normally and as is custom, anyone with a pulse who writes or blogs for a living (or in my case, for fun) would have immediately put their thoughts and opinions onto paper and/or social media for others to read following the end of the game. I, however, decided to take a different route this year. Win or lose, I decided before the game was played that I would wait a few weeks and then revisit the outcome and all things leading up to it. You see, there’s too much emotion and knee jerk reaction involved for me personally to recount a game of this magnitude rationally. But now that the smoke has cleared, the bird has been flipped (no, not Louie the Cardinal mascot) and both teams have since gotten a few more games under their respective belts, I now take to this blog to discuss my FIVE key takeaways from the aforementioned Battle of the Bluegrass.

🏀 Damion Lee is everything UofL fans hoped he would be, and more. After dismantling UK’s defense with a showcase of offensive skills not seen by a UofL player in Rupp since Francisco Garcia, I’d be willing to go on record and say Lee might be the most gifted offensive player Pitino has had during his stint at UofL. And don’t get it twisted, he’s had a good number of guys who could flat ball out with the rock in their hands.

Sure, it was totally deflating to see Lee’s last second game winning 3pt attempt go awry, but his performance left me full of optimism when I think about the Cards in mid to late March.

🏀 Louisville made mistakes against Kentucky, but they didn’t beat themselves. Aside from a mini meltdown to finish the first half, the Cards played within themselves and handled the immense pressure of playing in Rupp Arena quite well.

I certainly felt there were a number of plays that Lee got hit while trying to score and the officials swallowed their whistles.

But to be frank, the zebras played a minimal role in this game down the stretch as UK won this slugfest from behind the arc and it came from from distances (any location to Timbuktu) & individuals that I am positive Rick Pitino was ok with based on his team’s scouting report on the Cats……

🏀 Louisville is a legit Top 20 team. I get the montage that any team on any given night can pull an upset in college basketball – especially given the parity that exists this season. After pushing a top 5 Michigan State team to the brink a month ago, many wanted to believe that UofL was the real deal. But, duplication is key to winning over others and by coming back from a 16 point second half deficit on the road in Lexington, the Cards proved to most naysayers and sceptics alike that they will be a team to watch well into March. Most teams wilt in Rupp Arena. UofL rose to the challenge.

🏀 Kentucky fans’ obsession with all things Rick Pitino has reached an all-time level of immeasurable absurdity. Sure, some of the ire and negative attention was self created w/the Karen Sypher soap opera. Couple that w/the recent allegations of strippers in Minardi Hall & I could actually give BBN a hall pass. But the venom and hatred from the bulk of UK fans focused on Pitino makes one wonder if they ever spend time discussing their own coach and players. The newest topic of discussion: Finger Gate 2015.Did Pitino or did he not “flip off” a heckling UK fan when leaving the floor following the game against the Cats? Video evidence remains inconclusive (unless you have Photoshop).

Inconclusive bird flippage…..

Conclusive bird flippage…..

The only finger(s) I look for…..

Here’s what’s for certain: the debate as to whether Coach P did or did not give the finger to that fan is apparently more important to many UK fans as opposed to how Skal Labissiere could manage to score only two points in the biggest game of the season thus far for KY.

🏀 Chemistry is essential for success, and this Louisville team has it. They are fun to watch, easy to rally behind and incredibly likeable. Players seem to genuinely care about one another and it shows in how unselfish they play. I know, I know….who cares how they interact as long as they win games, right? Well, this Louisville team, amid a nationally recognized ongoing scandal & investigation, is carrying a monkey on it’s back of epic proportions….and they are doing it in a remarkable fashion. No doubt, having the upperclassmen’s leadership via Lee and Lewis is irreplaceable. Check mate for Coach Pitino when it comes to filling the gaps for a young inexperienced team that would be drowning right now w/out the two 5th year seniors.

So following another painful loss to it’s arch nemesis, the Cards have found a way to maintain a high level of play by beating a pesky Wake Forest team and winning a big road game at NC State. You see, losing to Kentucky doesn’t mean your season is over. It simply means that despite being  beaten, you still got better.

GO CARDS – Beat Clemson

A Long Over Due Look Back

So now that the Christmas trees are down, the New Year’s ball has dropped and everyone has begrudgingly gotten back into the swing of that thing called work, the stage is set for the 2016 College Football National Championship game between Clemson and Alabama. And for the sake of the ACC conference’s post season reputation as a whole in 2015, thank goodness Clemson beat favored Oklahoma to gain a spot playing for all the marbles.

Why?

Allow me to be transparent and painfully blunt: the ACC kinda sucked this bowl season. Yes, Virginia Tech sent Frank Beamer out as a winner as they hammered a hapless Tulsa team. Kudos to the Hokies on their win. Also deserving of props would be Duke who edged out a pesky Indiana team and Louisville, who rallied behind an amazing performance by true freshman QB Lamar Jackson to defeat SEC West member Texas A.M.

BUT, as for the rest of the ACC’s performance this past bowl season?

And here is how the dominos of negative on field performances fell: Miami continued to disappoint all those that watched them this past season by getting beat by a less talented Washington State squad. Pittsburgh capped off another lackluster year by virtually laying an egg against Navy (all due respect, the Midshipmen were not too shabby) in route to losing by more than two touchdowns. North Carolina proved yet again that deciding to play virtually no defense for 60 minutes will inevitably always lead to defeat by falling to Baylor by double digits. NC State was simply outmatched against their SEC West opponent, Mississippi State, and ended up getting hammered by 23 points. And lastly, and perhaps most disappointing, Florida State never got on track against Houson in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl In lieu of losing starting QB Everett Golson before the game and lost decidedly.

In a nutshell, it’s been hard to talk much smack the last few weeks if you are an ACC Football backer. Clemson can somewhat right the ship, however, by beating Alabama next Monday. It kinda reminds me of the scene from Star Wars when early in the film R2-D2 plays a video for Skywalker & Kenobi that states “Save us Obi Wan, you’re our only hope.” In this instance, ACC fans should be looking to the Tigers and thinking, “Win this game Clemson, you’re all we have left to protect us from epic SEC trash talk until September.” Question is, can Dabo & Co. actually pull it off? I watched Clemson in person earlier in the 2015 regular season when they dodged OT at Louisville thanks in part to a short missed FG by the Cards late in the 4th quarter. Thus by comparative ways, one might say that Clemson would have little chance against Bama. But after watching the Tigers take down Boomer Sooner and the likes of Notre Dame and FSU, I think they have a great shit at keeping the national title trophy in the ACC. Deshaun Watson’s ability to make plays with his feet & Clemson’s stout defensive line might be enough to put them over the top.

Beating the likes of the Crimson Todd won’t be easy regardless. I would expect Nick Saban to have his team meticulously prepared and it’s no secret that Heisman award winner Derrick Henry is a beast. For entertainment sake, I hope the game is nip and tuck. Unable to ever hide my homeristic nature, I’m going…..

Clemson 27  Alabama 23

Dabbin’

Before ending, I did want to throw in my two cents about Louisville, the school I normally and primarily cover and blog about. I came away really satisfied with the Cards win over A&M in the Music City Bowl. And frankly, I don’t give a damn if UofL’s victory came at the hands of the Aggies’ 10th string quarterback – a win is a win, particularly in the post season. Lamar Jackson had the performance of a lifetime, good enough to make me wish I was already tailgating at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium for the 2016 season opener. And now knowing that the core of the Cards defense is all coming back to school (most notably Devonte Fields & Keith Kelsey), my expectations are pretty damn high. 18 out of 22 starters return for UofL and next season’s schedule is much more manageable than the one that just ended over a month ago. The key for UofL will be finishing off what looks to be a top 20-25 nationally ranked recruiting class. With Bobby Petrino returning 99% of his offensive starters, I especially like the odds of the Cards scoring points like a pinball machine in 2016. For now, Card Nation must impatiently wait, but at least there’s a lot to wait for.

GO CARDS

The Confidential’s Year in Review

It has been an interesting year for the Confidential.  The A.C.C. continues to be extremely interesting, with Florida State and Clemson representing the football interests very well over the past few years, and Duke, Virginia, and Syracuse all doing their share on the basketball court.  North Carolina and Duke are basketball schools with very good football teams now, while Notre Dame dabbles in providing the ACC with reasons to be at least part-time proud.  And all schools are doing a great job hiring new football and basketball coaches.  And that is just the revenue sports.  The non-revenue sports are dominating (see Learfield cup article).

For the Confidential, we are always looking for some additional school correspondents to provide a new flavor and humanize our rivals.  We have had some come and go, but special thanks to all those who contribute as correspondents or commenters.  The fantasy football season was awesome, as it went down to the final week.

It is always interesting to wonder what 2016 will hold for the ACC.  We can expect the usual suspects to dominate their respective sports, such as Duke basketball and Florida State football.  But will Babers or Mendenhall turn Syracuse and Virginia football around?  Will Richt and Fuentes restore Miami and Virginia Tech to their glory years atop the Coastal?  Will Buzz Williams and Danny Manning do wonders for Virginia Tech and Wake Forest hoops?  Nobody knows.  But it will be a fun ride.

Thank you for reading and contributing in 2015.  We look forward to seeing you in 2016.

The Confidential

Dream Game

Tomorrow marks the one day on virtually every Kentuckian’s personal calendar where a college sporting event takes precedence over literally all things excluding life and death. You see tomorrow It’s Louisville vs Kentucky. It’s state school vs city school. It’s ACC vs SEC. It’s Rick Pitino vs John Calapari. It’s good vs evil (depending on which side you support). But more than anything, it’s what people in The Bluegrass State talk about, blog about, argue about and deliberate on almost every day of the year until the actual game is played. Funny thing is, neither school has ever lost out on or solidified a post season NCAA Tournament berth by winning or losing this game. But, that matters not. Sometimes pride and the overall satisfaction of knowing you rule the roost of your own backyard means more than anything. And when a 10-1 Louisville squad invades Rupp Arena tomorrow to face off against a fellow nationally ranked Kentucky squad, that certainly will be the case.

The story lines as usual are endless. Whether it’s how soft UofL’s schedule has been this far, how disappointing UK’s front line has shown to be, or simply whether or not Madame extroardanaire Katina Powell will be in the stands (betting she is not) for the tip, all that will matter throughout and in the end is who owns the final tally. Bragging rights matter if you hadn’t heard.

Even as an adamant UofL fan, I along with other fellow die hard Cardinal faithful have to begrudgingly be transparent by saying that in terms of head to head matchups, John Calapari has placed a strong hold on Rick Pitino and the Louisville program since his arrival in Lexington.

Ironically, that very strong hold has surprisingly not devoured or consumed UofL basketball and it’s recent success on the hard wood. In a strange way, some would argue that Calapri’s overall success and obvious disdain for Louisville has revigorated Pitino late in his coaching career. The last national title to come out of this state, after all, belongs to Louisville and the Cards have managed to hold their own in overall post season performance by reaching the Final Four two of the last four years. Last season they were one made free throw away for going back to another one.  In comparing, UK obviously has set the standard for recent post season success by making the Final Four a practical vacation home.

So what does this game really boil down too after you sift through all the predictions and individual/team numbers? In my opinion, it comes down to the same things it always has: which team gets out of the gate the fastest, which head coach can persuade the whistle most favorably for his team to avoid foul trouble (rarely an issue for UK as of late due to their staggering depth), and which team shoots the ball well from behind the three point line.

Shooting, quite frankly, has often been the nemesis for previous UofL teams in this series. Last year there were stretches of the game where one had to wonder if UofL was ever going to actually score at all. Even some of Rick Pitino’s best Louisville teams over the past decade have labored to shoot the ball well but have conversely been uber successful by playing terrific defense. This year’s UofL team has shown, thus far, to be a team that actually CAN shoot the ball well. Fifth year seniors Trey Lewis (photo above) and Damion Lee bring a bevy of talents to this Cardinal squad, one being the ability to fill it up from behind the arc. UofL will need both of them, along with vastly improving point guard Quentin Snider to find the bottom of the bucket often and early against UK for the Cards to escape with a win.

In summation (I could blog about this rivalry/series/game for days on end) I go into this game, as one who bleeds RED, cautiously optimistic. This game eerily reminds me of the matchup from 2013 when the Cards came to Lexington with a group of seasoned players (Luke Hancock, Russ Smith), a national ranking and a ton of confidence only to succumb to a UK team who appeared to want it just a little more and one that played directly off the energy injected into it by the 23K+ Kentucky fans in attendance that Saturday afternoon.

Often times you will hear coaches tell their players in the most intimidating and daunting of games and atmospheres to “just play”. I think that is exactly what you will see Pitino do in this situation as his team looks to be one of the more impressionable, selfless team-oriented squads he’s assembled since he stepped foot on UofL’s campus back in the early 2000’s. But being cohesive and likable won’t be enough to win on Saturday. Guys simply have to make plays, and they’ll need to make them in the clutch.

So here’s to hoping that Chinanu Onuaku doesn’t collect his second personal foul before the first under 16:00 minute TV timeout, that Ashley Judd wears deodorant for the sake of the cameras, that nobody on either team gets injured and that, most importantly, Louisville beats Kentucky.

GO CARDS!