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2009-2010 Pittsburgh Preview Picks, & Odds.
Pittsburgh 2008-2009 Record: 31-5, 15-3
Pittsburgh 2008-2009 Post Season: NCAA
Pittsburgh Coach: Jamie Dixon (163-45 at Pittsburgh, 163-45 overall)
Pittsburgh Projected Starters:
- Brad Wanamaker, Junior, Guard, 5.8 points per game
- Ashton Gibbs, Sophomore, Guard, 4.3 points per game
- Jermaine Dixon, Senior, Guard, 8.4 points per game
- Dante Taylor, Freshman, Forward, DNP last season
- Gary McGhee, Junior, Center, 1.2 points per game
Pittsburgh Player to Watch: Dante Taylor
Pittsburgh Key Losses: F Tyrell Biggs, F DeJuan Blair, G Levance Fields, F Sam Young
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2009-2010 Pittsburgh Season Preview
Tell Jamie Dixon he faces the biggest rebuilding job in the Big East – the daunting challenge of trying to replace four starters, two of whom were first-team all-league players – and his response is simple. Been there, done that.
Sure, if 31-5 and a trip to the Sweet 16 is OK.
Four from an Elite Eight team that won 31 games and earned the school’s first-ever No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
That is exactly what it appears the sixth-year coach with a dazzling 162-46 career record has done.
He has just enough veteran guard talent back and will add to it a consensus Top 25 recruiting class headlined by 6-9, 235-pound forward Dante Taylor, a McDonald’s All-American.
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Pittsburgh Backcourt
Levance Fields’ leadership and big-shot ability at point guard won’t be easily replaced, but Dixon is hopeful that Jermaine Dixon and Travon Woodall will help ease the loss.
Jermaine Dixon, the younger brother of former Maryland star Juan Dixon, averaged 8.4 points and is the lone returning starter. He will be expected to provide more leadership and offense now. Woodall was limited to 10 games last year because of a season-ending injury.
There’s also the feeling that the loss of so much scoring will allow sophomore Ashton Gibbs to blossom after he showed flashes of being an explosive offensive player last year. Though Gibbs averaged just 4.3 points in a reserve role, he shot 43.9 percent (36-of-82) on 3-pointers – a figure that led the Big East.
If there was one criticism of the highly regarded recruiting class, it’s that it didn’t bring any additional guard help. Junior Brad Wanamaker will be counted on for continued improvement after playing in all 36 games off the bench and averaging 5.8 points
Pittsburgh Frontcourt
How do you replace first-team All-Big East performers Dejuan Blair (the league’s co-Player of the Year), Sam Young and steady starter Tyrell Biggs? Dixon will try a frontcourt by committee to start.
Taylor, a Top 30 national recruit who averaged 23 points and 13 rebounds in the prep ranks last year, is viewed as the replacement for Blair, a first-team All-American. And athletic junior Gilbert Brown, who saw extensive action a year ago, is in line for an expanded role now.
After that, it will be mix and match. Among the freshmen, swingman Lamar Patterson, burly center J.J. Richardson and 6-9, 225-pound forward Talib Zanna will look to grab as many of the multitude of available frontcourt minutes as possible. Richardson fits the Pitt mold of undersizedÂbut-productive post players.
Dwight Miller, a 6-8, 230-pounder, will also compete for time after red shirting last year.
The two returning frontcourt veterans – Nasir Robinson and Gary McGhee – have to show vast improvement. Both were bit players last season, though the 6-10, 250- pound McGee does give Pitt additional inside bulk.
2009-2010 Pittsburgh Predictions
Go ahead and say it: Pitt lost too much to be taken seriously. But remember one thing: Dixon has averaged 27 wins a year for his six seasons and has never missed the NCAA Tournament. And he has just enough returning talent and a promising recruiting class to work with. The early going may be bumpy, but don’t be surprised to see Pitt in the NCAA’s.
Pittsburgh Finish in the Big East: 7th
Pittsburgh Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA
Pittsburgh Betting Odds
Pittsburgh Odds to Win 2010 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament: +6000
Pittsburgh Odds to Win the Big East: +1200
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Pittsburgh Basketball Handicapping Picks
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A preview of the upcoming 2009-2010 Pittsburgh Basketball Season. Featuring the best College Basketball Picks, Lines, Odds, and NCAA Basketball predictions.
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