Alright folks, it's a new year for Jamie Dixons Panthers, and this year, their is a whole different kind of excitement surrounding this team. Not only did Pitt go out and get a top 15 recruiting class in the nation, but they went out and caused a buzz by becoming one of the first teams to jump ship on their current conference and accept a bid in a so-called "super conference". Now with the scent of the ACC looming around the program, we will see if Pitt can forget about the future for the time being and focus on there wicked Big East schedule.
Recruiting wise, this is by FAR Pitt's best class they have ever had. 
Jamie Dixon and his staff have really done an amazing job stepping up their recruiting in years past and this year is the just the beginning for top classes as next year the Panthers have Steven Adams coming in, who by signing day, may be the number 1 player in the world. But I digress, headlining this class, Pitt has top recruit Khem Birch, ESPN top ranked center (number 12 overall), who chose Pitt out of what seemed like every top school in the nation.The 6'9 center will most likely end up playing PF, which he is a bit undersized listed on the official roster at 220 pounds, but most likely he wont see a lot of time until later in the season because Dixon isn't big on playing Freshman. But I will say that when he gets in the game he will be a beast, in the McDonalds All-American game he was one of only 2 players to get a double-double (15-10) and had 6 blocks to go along with that.
Jamie Dixon and his staff have really done an amazing job stepping up their recruiting in years past and this year is the just the beginning for top classes as next year the Panthers have Steven Adams coming in, who by signing day, may be the number 1 player in the world. But I digress, headlining this class, Pitt has top recruit Khem Birch, ESPN top ranked center (number 12 overall), who chose Pitt out of what seemed like every top school in the nation.The 6'9 center will most likely end up playing PF, which he is a bit undersized listed on the official roster at 220 pounds, but most likely he wont see a lot of time until later in the season because Dixon isn't big on playing Freshman. But I will say that when he gets in the game he will be a beast, in the McDonalds All-American game he was one of only 2 players to get a double-double (15-10) and had 6 blocks to go along with that.To go along with Birch, the Panthers locked up another top 100 (number 58) recruit Malcolm Gilbert, a seven-foot center with a huge upside (also a potentially dominant future low post combo of him and Birch). Along with the big men, the Panthers locked up shooting guards Durand and John Johnson (no relation). Durand, a 4 star recruit, is a typical Pitt guard recruit, hard-nosed, fast paced and full of grit. John Johnson, a 3 star recruit, I think is highly underrated. He has a lot of potential. He is a high flyer who reminds me a lot of Gilbert Brown in terms of being able to get to the hoop. Hopefully these rooks can get acclimated to Pitts style of play quickly so they will be able to make an impact by the time the Big East schedule rolls around.
Now in terms of returning players, the Panthers are returning alot of key players. Gone this year is Gilbert Brown, Brad Wannamaker, and Gary "Broken Ankles" McGhee. While all of them were good players their own ways, none are irreplaceable, although Wannamaker will definitely be missed. More importantly than who left, returning is G Ashton Gibbs, who early on declared for the draft, but pulled out before it was too late.
Gibbs return was especially important, as he was the teams leading scorer and best player in 2010-2011.He is the Big East pre-season player of the year and everyone, including himself, is expecting big things from him.
Other notable players coming back along with Gibbs are; J.J. Moore, Lamar Patterson, Nasir Robinson, Dante Taylor, Tray Woodall and Talib Zanna. Woodall, Gibbs, Nas, Zanna and Taylor are expected to make up the starting lineup. Tray Woodall has the biggest shoes to fill by stepping into Brad Wannamakers PG spot, where last year he averaged 10 points and 5 assists. Woodall, a redshirt Junior, should be fine, as last year he showed plenty of flashes of greatness, while being a top candidate for Big East 6th man of the year. Zanna and Taylor form a low post which may not be the best, but is very capable. More than likely, Khem Birch will get some time, possibly turning the C, PF positions into a 3 man rotation by the end of the year.
Gibbs return was especially important, as he was the teams leading scorer and best player in 2010-2011.He is the Big East pre-season player of the year and everyone, including himself, is expecting big things from him.Other notable players coming back along with Gibbs are; J.J. Moore, Lamar Patterson, Nasir Robinson, Dante Taylor, Tray Woodall and Talib Zanna. Woodall, Gibbs, Nas, Zanna and Taylor are expected to make up the starting lineup. Tray Woodall has the biggest shoes to fill by stepping into Brad Wannamakers PG spot, where last year he averaged 10 points and 5 assists. Woodall, a redshirt Junior, should be fine, as last year he showed plenty of flashes of greatness, while being a top candidate for Big East 6th man of the year. Zanna and Taylor form a low post which may not be the best, but is very capable. More than likely, Khem Birch will get some time, possibly turning the C, PF positions into a 3 man rotation by the end of the year.
Now in Nasir Robinsons case, he is the player on Pitts squad who I think is really going to break through this year. Undersized at 6'5, Nas may be the most hard-nosed player in the conference. He does everything, score, pass, rebound, and also he plays the best defense on the team. Expect a big year, with evidence in the fact that he scored in double figures in 8 of Pitts final 11 games.
Schedule wise, the Panthers start off with a bunch of cupcake non-conference games. The first 13 games feature only 2 big name conference teams, Tennessee and Oklahoma St., who both finished last year 19-14. Now both of these games are away, but at the same time, Pitt should have no problem with them. Now after the non conference schedule, Pitt begins its Big East marathon with an away game at Notre Dame, which will be the teams first big test. After that they are at home against AP #22 Cincy, away at DePaul, then back at home for Rutgers.
After that is when the schedule gets brutal. The next three games are away at #21 Marquette, away at #5 Syracuse, and then home vs #8 Louisville all in the span of 1 week. Then we go onto home vs Providence, home vs Georgetown, then the first Backyard Brawl, this one taking place in Morgantown on January 30th. Then Dixons' Panthers have home vs Villanova, and away games at South Florida and Seton Hall. In the final 5 games of the schedule Pitt brings West Virginia back home on February 16th, then USF on the 19th. Then we finish out a home and home at #8 Louisville, a home game vs St Johns, and finish the season with the National Champions on the road, at UConn on the 3rd of March.
After that is when the schedule gets brutal. The next three games are away at #21 Marquette, away at #5 Syracuse, and then home vs #8 Louisville all in the span of 1 week. Then we go onto home vs Providence, home vs Georgetown, then the first Backyard Brawl, this one taking place in Morgantown on January 30th. Then Dixons' Panthers have home vs Villanova, and away games at South Florida and Seton Hall. In the final 5 games of the schedule Pitt brings West Virginia back home on February 16th, then USF on the 19th. Then we finish out a home and home at #8 Louisville, a home game vs St Johns, and finish the season with the National Champions on the road, at UConn on the 3rd of March.
There are a few stretches in the schedule that will really prove how good this Pitt team is, most notably the week span in which they play 3 ranked teams, 2 on the road, and 2 of them in the top 10. Also, I'm really looking forward to the last 3 games, in which Pitt will get 1 final test before entering the BE tournament.
Will this be the year Pitt will be able to get past the Elite 8? Will they finally prove to the world they are more than a regular season team? I can't answer that, but what I do know is that this Pitt team is for real, and they will be able to compete with the best in the country. My prediction, 26-5 regular season, BE finals, and a sweet 16 finish. While Gibbs and Nas will star, I'm worried that our big men wont be able to keep up with the best in the league. While I think Birch and Gilbert will show flashes of greatness, it wont be enough, lets hope I'm wrong. Hail To Pitt
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