Ray Fittipaldo covers the Panthers for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. You can find his work at:
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pitt/
http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports-town/pitt
Baltimore Sports and Life thanks Mr. Fittipaldo for answering a few questions about the Panthers prior to Maryland’s match-up with Pittsburgh at the Semi-Final of the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament this Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Panthers are ranked 4th Nationally, and were picked as the Pre-Season favorite to win the Big East. Pretty easy to see why, with 4 returning starters, and 7 ofthe top 8 scorers back from a team that was 25-9 overall,and 13-5 in conference play last-year.Where if anywhere, do you believe the Panthers are vulnerable?”
Ray Fittipaldo: “Pitt’s two best players -Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker- are guards. If an opponent can take one or both of them out of a game the Panthers will struggle to score.Jamie Dixon has a solid front line with Gary McGhee and Talib Zanna, but neither are natural postscorers and do most of their damage through offensive rebounding. So I would say if an opponent can keep the Panthers off the boards and force a bad shooting performances from their guards they’ll have a good chance to win.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “In the past 5 years, the Panthers have won at-least 25 games each year. So obviously this is a program used to winning. Has there been an opposing style ofplay that has traditionally given the Panthers trouble during Coach Jamie Dixon’s 7 previous yearsat Pitt?”
Ray Fittipaldo: “Guard-oriented teams usually give Jamie Dixon’s teams the most problems.Marquette had a lot of success against Pitt when Tom Crean was there and he hadDominic James, Jerel McNeal and Co. Georgetown gave them some problems last season with Chris Wright and Austin Freeman. Generally, teams that can break down the defense off the dribble and penetrate tothe hoop create problems for Dixon’s defense.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Maryland and Pitt programs share a few connections. Juan Dixon’s brother Jermaine played a lot of minutes for the Panthers the last two seasons. Ashton Gibbs littlebrother Sterling will join Maryland next-season. How aggressive was Pittsburgh in the recruitmentof Sterling? Any comments from Ashton about how good he believes his brother can be?”
Ray Fittipaldo: “I know Pitt was on Sterling a little bit early in the recruiting process, but Pitt recruited another guardby the name of John Johnson, who signed a letter of intent this week…I haven’t asked Ashton about Sterling choosing Maryland yet.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “Before Gibbs, the Panthers had beat out Maryland for several recruits in recent years including Sophomore Forward Dante Taylor, and Freshman Guard Isiah Epps.Taylor appeared to have struggled a bit adjusting to the College game, but there have been lots ofreports of his growth as player over the Summer. What maturation have you seen out of him? Anyearly thoughts on Epps?”
Ray Fittipaldo: “It appears Epps will redshirt. He had some problems qualifying and was not able to enroll until August. He missed three important months during the summer. Pitt went on aforeign tour to Ireland and got to practice 10 times as a team before that trip, so he missed a lot ofvaluable learning opportunities.Taylor finally seems to be getting it. The light seems to be going on for him. He was weak and out of shape when he reported last summer and never really made a big impact. He got in the weight room and appears to be making some strides. He’ll play backup center to Gary McGhee this season with the hope that he develops enough that he’llbe someone they can build around next season. He is still a very raw offensive player.He has a hard time finishing around the basket for some reason.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “Senior Guard Brad Wanamaker is off to a strong start, averaging19.3 ppg, 6.3 assists, 5 boards, and shooting 82% from the foul-line.What can you tell usabout him?”
Ray Fittipaldo: “He’s a guy who has improved a ton since his freshman year. He used to be a turnover machine.Now he is cool, calm and collected. He can get to the hoop and he can shootfrom 3-point range. He is a tough match-up for opposing teams.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “Going back to Gibbs, he was named the Big East’s Most Improved Player last-year.So far this year, he is also averaging 19.3ppg, and shooting 46% from 3.Clearly he is a capable shooter. Is he able to put it on the floor? Is he a good defender?”
Ray Fittipaldo: “Gibbs worked hard over the summer to become a better athlete. Dixon wanted him to become a better defender and a better penetrator. He is not someone who isgoing to make a living going to the hoop, but at least has that as a threat now. I wouldcategorize him as a solid defender.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “Freshman Forward J.J. Moore did not play against Rhode Island,but scored 9 against Illinois-Chicago, and dropped 19 on North Florida. Is Nasir Robinson in danger of losing minutes to the Freshman, when he returns from his knee injury?”
Ray Fittipaldo: “Nasir Robinson started all 34 games last season at power forward, so it is likelythat Robinson and Talib Zanna will split time when Robinson returns from his knee injury.Moore plays small forward, which is the deepest position on the team. Gilbert Brown is the starter there and Lamar Patterson is his backup. Brown can play shooting guard and Patterson can play power forward, so if Moore shows he can be a capable defender I think therewill be minutes for him. But he’s a freshman and freshmen sometimes have a hard time earning minutes under Dixon. But I would say from the looks of it that Dixon might be forced to use Moore even if he is still lagging behind defensively because he has the potential to besuch a dynamic scorer.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “Maryland’s best player is Center Jordan Williams. What can you tell usabout Pitt’s Senior Center Gary McGhee?”
Ray Fittipaldo: “Dixon keeps touting McGhee as a Big East Defensive Player of the Year candidate.He is 6-10, 260 and as strong as an ox. He doesn’t block a lot of shots, but he eats up a lotof space and makes opposing centers earn their points. He is not much of an offensive player.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Sporting News picked SF Gilbert Brown as the most athletic player in the Big East. How is the transition from 6 man to starter going for the Senior?”
Ray Fittipaldo: “He has struggled some in the early going. He injured a hamstring and missed two weeks of practice during the preseason. He was a very up and down playerlast season, scoring 20 points one game and two the next. He would follow up a bad gamewith a great game. There wasn’t much in between last season. He worked hard over theoff-season to be more consistent. He is a good outside shooter and can get to the hoop.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “I see that Baltimore’s Aron Nwonkwo (City College) has walked-on to Pitt. For Dixon to accept him as a walk-on, he must like the practice contributions he is receiving from Nwonkwo. Nwonkow is already on a full Academic scholarship, so he does not need an athletic scholarship. Any chance his playing-time increases during his career with the Panthers?”
Ray Fittipaldo: “I don’t think so. Pitt is so deep, I don’t see how a walk-on will earn any minutes on this team unless there are several injuries.”
Baltimore Sports and Life: “To beat Pittsburgh on a neutral-court, what will Maryland have to do? Predictions on the game?”
Ray Fittipaldo: “Rhode Island did a good job of defending the 3-point line against Pitt,forcing a 3-for-16 performance from behind the arc. If Maryland can do the same I think the Terps will have a chance to win. If they let Gibbs and Wanamaker shoot open shots it will be a long night.”
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.