Pittsburgh 2010 Preview & Predictions

Pittsburgh Panthers Basketball 2010-2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks & Odds

With the College Basketball 2010-2011 Season just around the corner, we are providing season previews & predictions for all NCAA basketball teams to give you the betting edge this year. Follow the best College Basketball Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2010-2011 basketball season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Basketball in our recommend online sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2010-2011 NCAA Basketball Season Previews here.

Pittsburgh Preview Picks, & Odds.

Pittsburgh 2009-2010 Record: 25-9 overall; 13-5 Big East (Tie/2nd)

Pittsburgh Coach: Jamie Dixon – At Pittsburgh and overall: 188-54, 7 years

Pittsburgh Players to Watch: Ashton Gibbs delivered on his promise as a big-time scorer as a sophomore, earning second team All-Big East honors. He has the potential to average 20-plus.

Pittsburgh Key Losses: Jermaine Dixon, G, 6-3, 200 (10.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg)

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2010-2011 Pittsburgh Season Preview

According to the Panthers’ publicity folks, Pitt returns 86 percent of its scoring and 91 percent of its rebounding from a team that went 25-9 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. Translation: This could be the school’s long-awaited Final Four team. Coach Jamie Dixon’s biggest challenge will be dispensing minutes – a task made more difficult because a trio of talented freshmen who will want their share. With junior guard Ashton Gibbs blossoming into a star last season, Pitt seems to have all of the requisite ingredients for a Final Four contender: Senior leadership, game-tested veterans, depth and a winning mindset. The latter is due in part to nine straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Oh, and Pitt can defend as the day is long. It’s one of the trademarks Dixon has relied upon to compile a dazzling 188-54 record for his first seven seasons.

Pittsburgh Backcourt

Gibbs went from averaging 4.3 points as a freshman to 15.7 last year with 11 games of 20 points or more. He also connected on 39 percent of his 200 attempted 3-pointers. His perimeter-oriented game is a perfect complement to Travon Woodall, a pass-first point guard who started 11 games last season. The addition of freshman Isaiah Epps gives Pitt depth and a change of pace behind Woodall. Senior guard and returning starter Brad Wanamaker holds a unique place in Pitt history. He is one of only six players ever to average 10 points, four assists and four rebounds for a career. He averaged 12.3 points a year ago. Swingman Lamar Patterson, limited last year by an ankle injury, and Top-100 recruit Cameron Wright, a physical freshman who can slash and defend, give Dixon plenty to work with when he mixes and matches in the backcourt. Gibbs, though, is the one constant: He averaged a team-leading 34.6 minutes per game last season.

Pittsburgh Frontcourt

The improved play of 6-10 Gary McGhee (he boosted his scoring average from 1.2 to 6.9 and his rebounding average from 1.5 to 6.8) and the expected improvement of Dante Taylor, a McDonald’s All-American who disappointed as a freshman, give the Panthers two solid big men on the blocks. Taylor, a 6-9, 240-pounder, should benefit from his first tour through the Big East to be more effective. Senior Gilbert Brown, who had three games of 20 or more points last season, averaged 10.7 points off the bench. He averaged nearly as many minutes as starter Nasir Robinson, who was a liability at times because of his freethrow shooting (41.9 percent). Reserve help will come from freshman J.J. Moore, a streaky shooter who plays beyond 6-6 because of his jumping ability. He spent last year at South Kent (Conn.) Prep, averaging 29 points and 12 rebounds.

2010-2011 Pittsburgh Predictions

The heartbreak inflicted on Pitt fans by Scottie Reynolds in the 2009 Elite Eight won’t end until the school returns to the Final Four for the first time since 1941. Several recent Pitt teams have had Final Four potential, but until 2009, none could get past the Sweet 16. Guess what? This, finally, may be the team. The biggest key is the players must have short memories when the Panthers do make the NCAA Tournament – which Pitt will do easily for a 10th consecutive season. But anything short of the Elite Eight will be a disappointment.

Pittsburgh Finish in the Big East: 1st

Pittsburgh Betting Odds

Pittsburgh Odds to Win 2010-2011 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament: +1800
Pittsburgh Odds to Win the Big East: +250

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Pittsburgh Basketball Handicapping Picks

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