Steelers Select Artie Burns 25th Overall

With the twenty five selection in the NFL Draft, the Steelers ended up selecting cornerback Artie Burns out of The University of Miami (The U).  He measures at six feet tall and weighs 197 pounds, along with running a 4.46 in the 40 yard dash at the combine.  He is known to have good hand checking against the wide receiver when the ball is snapped, and he had six interceptions in his junior year.  Furthermore, he was ACC second team on the defensive side of the ball.

My opinion:  I'm neither excited, nor disappointed by this pick by the Steelers.  I did see that most experts did not like the pick and thought it was a reach for the Steelers.  The lowest grade I saw given was a D+.  It is hard to determine whether he will be that much of a bust without seeing him play a single snap in the NFL.  So only time will tell if we made the right selection.

http://www.steelers.com/news/draft/article-1/Getting-excited-about-Artie-Burns/85d96725-21f4-4501-afc5-6622bb7eddf0#479f52e6-69cb-42b0-962c-c1724f80863d

Oshie's Hat Trick Leads Caps Past Pens 4-3; Take 1-0 Series Lead

In a very sloppy game played by both teams, T. J. Oshie was able to shine above the rest of the players on the ice and net a hat trick in a Washington Capitals 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Some observations:

First, Olli Maatta since returning from his injury, has not looked very good.  He has been turning over the puck in crucial times, along with not being able to keep the puck in the offensive zone that led to T. J. Oshie's first goal of the night.  I would definitely consider sitting him down for game 2 and bring in Justin Schultz.

Second, Sidney Crosby was unnoticeable last night as he finished as a -3 and only had a one shot on goal registered.  With how well he has been playing the second half of the season and in the first round of the playoffs, he was due for a bad night, and I can't really blame him.  I don't expect it to be a trend throughout the entire series.

Last, both teams along with their goalies played pretty sloppy for a game of this magnitude.  Both teams would puck watch at certain times allowing other skaters to get open and have great scoring chances.  Also, both goalies each let in some soft goals.  However, the one that really stood out was Matt Murray allowing the second goal on T. J. Oshie, in which the puck was lazily shot five hole and into the net.

The Penguins look to even the series tomorrow night as they battle the Capitals at eight o'clock EST.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/oshie-hat-trick-capitals-beat-penguins-4-3-033459389--nhl.html

Penguins Embarrass Rangers 5-0; Lead Series 3-1

Well, that was easy. In front of a silent and shocked crowed Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, the Penguins were able to easily dispose of the New York Rangers 5-0.  Some observations:

There won't be many when there is a drubbing like this, but Matt Murray was again spectacular as he recorded his first shoutout of his career in the playoffs.  He ended up stopping 31 saves and during that process made some spectacular saves.  The question I guess remaining is, is Marc Andre Fleury done being a Pittsburgh Penguin if the Pens win this series and go deep into the playoffs?  Let's be honest, there is no sense in keeping him around at the price he is making if someone at a much cheaper price can get the job done.

Another aspect of the game the Penguins dominated was their power play.  The Penguins ended up going 3/6 on the power play and were able to distribute the puck at will.  Furthermore, their forechecking bothered the Rangers the entire night and didn't allow them to exit their own zone freely.  

With the speed and the tenacity the Penguins are displaying, they should have no problem ending this series in Pittsburgh tomorrow.  Face-off is set for 3 o'clock EST.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/malkin-stars-penguins-push-rangers-playoff-brink-015930906--nhl.html

Speed Rules The Day; Pens Take 2-1 Series Lead

In baseball, the phrase usually known about pitching is, "You are only as good as your next day starting pitcher."  Well in game 3, the Penguins went to their next starting goaltender in the form of regularly backup goaltender Matt Murray.  What resulted was a 3-1 game 3 win by the Penguins and a 2-1 series lead over the New York Rangers.  Some observations:

The Rangers fell into the trap of trying to play the style the Penguins play which is speed.  Yes, the Rangers were physical at times, but they weren't exactly trying to slow down the pace of play and tried trading scoring opportunities against the Penguins.   Even with them trying to trade scoring opportunities, the Rangers were only able to put 17 shots on net.  For the Rangers to be successful, they have to not fall into the trap of playing the Penguins style of hockey.

Furthermore, both goaltenders last night were superb.  Two out of the four total goals were scored on the breakaway.  I thought for how high pressured the game was that Matt Murray played spectacular, and that the big stage of it being the playoffs and playing at Madison Square Garden didn't really phase him.  I'm not sure if there has ever been a playoff series in which three separate goaltenders have recorded a win for one team.  If Fleury would come back in this series, one it would be interesting to see even if they go to him in net, and two, if he would be able to accomplish that feat.

The Penguins look to put a stranglehold on the series when they face the New York Rangers in game 4 Thursday night at 7:00.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/cullens-third-period-goal-leads-penguins-over-rangers-014948574--nhl.html

Lundqvist Shines as Rangers Tie Series at 1

A lot can happen within a 72 hour span as the Penguins found out on Saturday afternoon against the New York Rangers.  After a game 1 victory by the Penguins 5-2, the Rangers flipped the script and won convincing in game 2, 4-2.  Some observations:

First and foremost, the Penguins had a horrendous second period, which is shocking because for most of the season the second period was their strongest.  The Penguins scored early in the second period as Phil Kessel scored a beautiful goal that was set up by both Trevor Daley and Nick Bonino.  That would be the only bright spot as the Rangers would end up scoring three goals in the period in roughly about four minutes of playing time.

Second, Zatkoff was not good in yesterdays game.  He saved 24/ 28 shots, and he never really looked comfortable in the net.  While he absorbed shots in game 1 and was in good position, that was not the case and he let a lot of juicy rebounds out there for the Rangers to capitalize the entire game.  However, one goal was not his fault as Derick Brassard torched past Oil Maatta with his speed and scored on a breakaway.

Last, it has always been clear of how to beat the Penguins whether it be in the regular season and in the playoffs.  You have to get them frustrated.  The key to any success opposing teams have on the Penguins is to take the lead and watch the Penguins take stupid penalties.  Throughout this game in the third you would see the Penguins cross check and even slash at the Rangers players legs late in the game.  The Penguins must get back to their game of utilizing their speed to neutralize the physicality of the Rangers.  Also, having Fleury back wouldn't hurt the Penguins either.

The Penguins look to regain their advantage in the series as the venue shifts to Madison Square Garden.  Face-off is set for 7:00 on Tuesday.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/rangers-respond-top-penguins-4-2-even-series-221516522--nhl.html

Zatkoff, Hornqvist Shine in Game 1; Take 1-0 Series Lead Against Rangers

In front of a packed house inside the Consol Energy Center for game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, an unlikely hero emerged as third string goaltender Jeff Zatkoff stole the show and helped the Pens come out with a 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers.  Observations:

Zatkoff really held down the fort early on in the first period as the Rangers threw everything but the kitchen sink his way.  Zatkoff was able to be in good position for many of the shots the Rangers took and was able to absorb most of the shots.  Derek Stepan was able to get two behind Zatkoff, but none were his fault as one was a five on three power play, and another one was a beautiful shot top shelf.  Zatkoff definitely stole the show in game 1 stopping 35 out of 37 shots.

Another key aspect of the game was the hat trick by Penguins Patric Hornqvist.  He was able to begin the scoring for the Penguins by crashing the net late in the first period and sneaking it behind an injured Henrik Lundqvist underneath his pads.  Lundqvist would end up leaving after the first period due to an eye injury, and Hornqvist would end up scoring on the power play and an empty net in the third period.

The Penguins look to continue their winning ways as they battle the New York Rangers in game 2 Saturday at 3 PM.

Source: www.penguins.nhl.com

How Sweep It Is! Pirates Move to 3-0 in the Young Baseball Season

The temperature in the steel city may be cold as of late, but things were heating up this week at PNC Park.  Not only did the Pirates sweep the hated rival St. Louis Cardinals, but for two out of the three games they dominated play.  Last night completed the sweep with the Pirates winning 5-1.  Some observations:

It's no secret that Ray Searage does a masterful job in reclamation projects with this pitching staff over the years, and it seems that early on he can add another name to that list.  Juan Nicascio was superb last night going six innings, giving up one earned run, and striking out seven Cardinal batters.   His pitching arsenal was effective, as his fastball would reach on a consistent basis of  97MPH.  The key stat for the night I believe was that Nicasio didn't allow a walk his entire start.  Prior, Nicasio's last time being a starting pitcher for a full season was back in 2013 for the Colorado Rockies were his ERA (earned run average) was 5.14.  I know it's early on, but what I saw was really promising, and I think we owe a lot of that to pitching coach Ray
Searage.

Another person who looks comfortable at the beginning of the season is right fielder Gregory Polanco.  Polanco just signed a five year extension for thirty five million dollars, and so far the money has been well spent.  He is not chasing bad pitches, and is either getting on base with a walk, or tattooing the ball when he puts it into play.  I don't think he can ever reach the numbers Andrew McCutchen will over a season, but the potential to put up healthy numbers is definitely there.  The Pirates outfield is the best in baseball.

So three games are in the books and the Pirates are riding high.  Next they set their sails for a five game road trip in Cincinnati and Detroit.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/nicascio-helps-pirates-beat-cardinals-5-1-3-023728981--mlb.html

Make it Six! Pens Win Again 6-2

Another game, another win, another day.  Every time the Pens are on, I can't help but hum in my head, "All we do is win, win, win, no matter what...", and so on.  The battle for Pennsylvania was a laugher as the Penguins beat the hated Philadelphia Flyers 6-2.  Some observations:

With Fleury on the shelf with a concussion for the second time this year, Matt Murray currently has been holding the fort strong.  Not only did he shutout the Islanders the day before, he was spectacular in shutting down the Flyers by stopping 28/30 shots.  However, with that being said, I would like to see the flower back and healthy for the playoffs.  Not saying I don't have confidence in Murray, just the playoffs are a whole other animal.

The Pens power play once again registered a goal thanks to Sidney Crosby.  It is nice to start seeing the power play gel on a more consistent basis without Malkin in the lineup.  Without Malkin in the beginning of his injury, the Pens struggled to create any momentum or chances on it.  Furthermore, the Pens were able to score a short handed goal for their third straight game, as Eric Fehr found an empty net at the end.

Last, their domination in all phases of the game is apparent.  What really stands out, is that they have 5 or more goals in their last five out of six games.  We aren't just beating teams, we are bludgeoning them.  The Penguins return back to action tomorrow night as they face the Ottawa Senators.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/penguins-build-early-lead-rout-flyers-6-2-000536770--nhl.html

Magic Number is 2 as Pens Beat Predators 5-2

The Penguins currently are playing hotter than a fox in a forest fire.  Last nights win against Nashville gave them their 10th win out of their last 11 games.  The Penguins aren't just winning, they are a team that now seems to register four or more goals on a regular basis, while destroying their competitors.  Some observations:

The Penguins were relentless in their puck pursuit in the offensive end.  If they weren't creating scoring chances, they were badgering the Predators all night trying to leave their defensive zone.  Furthermore, their power play seems to be coming back to life without the presence of Evgeni Malkin, as they went 2/4 with goals from Letang and Hornqvist.

Next, the play of Phil Kessel has seemed to silence the critics for now.  He has five goals and six assists equaling eleven points in his last ten games, while also getting great scoring chances.  Everyone was critical early on, and maybe justified, but I thought it was going to take time to get acclimated to Pittsburgh, and having to deal with two coaches your first year here is no picnic.  Mike Sullivan's style of play has definitely helped Kessel flourish.  We will need the same amount or maybe more production in the playoffs from him.

Last, it is no secret that the best team in the NHL currently resides in the steel city.  The expectations again going into the playoffs are very high, and who would of seen this coming after the way they stumbled out of the gates.  I won't definitively say they will win the Stanley Cup, but I expect a deep run, who knows maybe till the middle/late of June :) 

Source: Yahoo! Images

Pens Rally From Down 3-0 to Beat Sabres 5-4

Not all games are pretty, that's for sure, but the Penguins were able to win again as they scored four times in the second to win 5-4 in a shootout against the Buffalo Sabres.  Some observations:

The game overall was played very sloppy I felt by both teams.  The Sabres were playing on back to back nights, after playing in Detroit the night before.  However, Buffalo was able to score a power play goal, a short handed goal, and a four on four goal, all in the first period to take a 3-0 lead.  Matt Murray was not very sharp in the first period, but who could blame him when Marc-Andre Fleury gets the majority of the starts in the net.  

Then Buffalo returned the favor for the Penguins in the second period by letting four goals in.  The Penguins were able to capitalize by scoring TWO, yes two, short handed goals on the same penalty by Buffalo .  The second one was an atrocious blunder of playing the puck behind the net by goaltender Chad Johnson, in which led to Nick Bonino depositing the puck into a wide open net.  

Lastly, this was a game of special teams as you can tell.  Combined it equaled for three short handed goals, 2 power play goals, a four on four goal, and the game ended in a shootout.  Kris Letang would end up scoring by going five hole in the shootout, and Phil Kessel ripped it past Chad Johnson for the Penguins to come away with two points.

It may not have been pretty at times, but I guess a win, is a win, is a win.  The Penguins return back to action tomorrow night against the Nashville Predators at 7:00.

https://sports.yahoo.com/photos/penguins-rally-top-sabres-5-4-shootout-photo-021319038--nhl.html

Pens Demolish Red Wings 7-2

Watching the Penguins game yesterday made me feel like I was at an Oprah Show with her shouting, "You get a goal, and you get a goal, and you get a goal, EVERYBODY IS GETTING GOALS!"  The Pens put on a superb performance by smothering the Red Wings in all facets of the game as they won 7-2.  Some observations of the game:

I was pleased by the bounce back performance by Marc-Andre Fleury after Thursday's night disappointment against New Jersey.  The two goals he let up were not his fault.  One was due to a bad defensive change with the puck turned over in the neutral zone by the Pens, and Kris Letang was too late to get on the ice and allowed a breakaway score by Red Wings Anthanasiou.  Another goal was given up on the power play where the puck bounced three times before going behind Fleury.  All in all, he played a spectacular game and was not fighting off pucks to make saves like he was against New Jersey.

Another plus for the Penguins was the contribution of Phil Kessel.  Kessel notched 5 points in the game with one goal and four assists.  If Malkin is delayed in his return to the ice, Kessel needs to be one of the key playmakers for the Pens in the playoffs.  Furthermore, it was nice to get depth scoring by Nick Bonino who also had five points in the game.

Lastly, the acquisition of Carl Hagelin can't go unnoticed.  Since he has come to Pittsburgh from Anaheim, he has 7 goals, 13 assists, equaling 20 points in 29 games.  In Anaheim he had 4 goals, 8 assists, equaling 12 points IN 43 GAMES!  He has 80 shots on goal in Pittsburgh, compared to 82 in Anaheim.  This is all with 14 less games played in Pittsburgh.  Stats don't lie, and Hagelin's contributions have been through the roof!

The Pens look to continue on their winning ways as they battle the New York Rangers at 7:30 PM.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/penguins-score-4-2nd-period-7-2-win-205910578--nhl.html

Devils Pitchfork Pens 3-0

The game had just started, and yet the game had just ended.  Kyle Palmeri scored 26 seconds into the game to give the Devils a 1-0 lead, and the rest is history.  The Devils would go on to win 3-0 in front of a silent Consol Energy Center.  This would end up snapping the Penguins six game winning streak and Crosby's twelve game point streak.  Some Observations:

This was not the performance you get from Marc-Andre Fleury night in and night out.  Palmeri's fist goal was a very weak goal to give up, as it was a one on one matchup, and Fleury allowed the puck to trickle beneath his pads and into the back of the goal.  I noticed especially in the first period that Fleury was fighting off pucks instead of absorbing the shots and making easy saves.  That was my first indication that it was going to be a very long night.

Another aspect of the Penguins game that has to be rectified is the power play.  Without Evgeni Malkin, the power play is abysmal.  I don't understand how this can be when the Penguins have tremendous talent, and yet the Devils power play ranks eighth in the NHL.

Lastly, I was pretty dissatisfied with the ability of the Pens to create traffic in front of goaltender Scott Wedgewood.  Yes, the Penguins put up 39 shots on goal, but what made them successful in their six game winning streak was the ability to tip pucks heading towards the front of the net, and being able to screen the goaltender.

The Penguins look to march forward as they battle the Detroit Red Wings tomorrow at two o'clock.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/devils-wedgewood-1st-shutout-3-0-win-over-014729385--nhl.html

Pitt Loses Ugly Game To Wisconsin 47-43

Clink.  Clank.  Clunk.  If you watched the Pitt/Wisconsin game on Friday night, you heard a lot of that noise as the basketball repeatedly hit the rim for both teams.  The number tenth seed in the east region, Pittsburgh, lost to the number seventh seed, Wisconsin, 47-43.

To say this game was awful is an understatement.  Wisconsin shot overall from the field 17-53 (32.1%), while Pitt shot 18-48 (37.5%).  Pitt started off quick, as James Robinson had six quick points in the first few minutes of the game, but fell silent the rest of the game, only scoring one point after.  Only one person scored in double figures for Pitt, Jamel Artis with 13 points.

To give my own viewpoints of this game is very difficult, due to the point that nobody on either team, or a team itself really stood out to me.  This was by far the worst NCAA Tournament basketball game I have watched in awhile.  You expect a 16th seed to not put much of a showing against a number one seed, but you expect a 10/7 game to be entertaining and exciting.  I was never excited when Pitt was up double digits, because I watch too many games of them blowing a double digit lead.  As I sat there, all I could think about was, "So how will Pitt blow the game this time?"  If Pitt could of nailed shots in the first half, they could of easily disposed Wisconsin.  Last, I was surprised that Ryan Luther only played four minutes for Pitt, while not even being in foul trouble.  To me during the season, he was one of the best players down the stretch for Pitt when they were struggling.

All in all, I am grateful that Pitt's basketball season is over.  I could be wrong, but I am expecting more of the same for next year or even worse.  At least we can now focus on the Penguins march to the playoffs, and the hope of the Pirates making a deep run in October.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/no-7-seed-wisconsin-trudges-past-pittsburgh-47-010217425--ncaab.html 

OT: Verdana Font

Well, here it is, my final non sports blog.  I again was messing around on Word to see what font was interesting, and what I could talk about.  I came across the font Verdana created by Matthew Carter.  It is a sans-serif font, and to me Verdana is very legible.  It is easy on the eyes all around, and could be used across multiple platforms.  If I hadn't decided to use Georgia as my main font for my blog, I would definitely had considered using Verdana.  Below are some examples of the text Verdana:

http://idsgn.org/images/apple-switches-to-verdana/apple_before_after__full.png

http://likeithateit.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/verdana-font.gif

https://99designs.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/dominos-pizza_blog.png

OT: Chalkduster Font

I was messing around on my word document to figure out a topic for a typographic post.  I came across a cool font which is called Chalkduster.  Now, I wouldn’t use this type of font for a paper to submit to my professor, but I would definitely consider using it for an InDesign project or Photoshop project.  It is very unique and has a flair to it that many fonts don’t have.  Even though it is a san serif font, to me, it isn't very legible, but to use this font for a brief slogan on a billboard would be very effective.

Credit: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKoB77stvGX0YVC3ZksHWZ3dbU752bTLzJ54jix62MOZAne-AiKBGhjudNJiSdoLJIGGKa9zHTNQ5l6slYViuFgbrT1-4W1VngqzTBFfmObrsc1azxwg8s8zca3alUOjQsWOn7q86t4E/s1600/chalk+duster.jpg

Credit: https://alexrister1.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/chalkduster.jpg

http://www.typographer.org/Resources/2009-aug-chalkduster.jpg

OT: Photography in a Blog

One thing I thought of while putting together my blog, was the desire to incorporate more of my own photos.  While you are able to incorporate them in certain locations, I would prefer to be able to utilize more of my photography in the Blogger background.  While words are obviously important in a blog, photos are able to create depth and uniqueness to one’s blog.  I enjoy photography immensely, and would like to continue my craft in that area after I graduate.  

Photo Credit: Myself

Photo Credit: Myself

Photo Credit: Myself

Photo Credit: Myself

OT: How Black and Gold Represent Pittsburgh's Major Sport Teams

As you can tell from those who have visited my blog, and for people who have known me most of my life, Pittsburgh sports teams play a major impact.  When achieving the outcome of my blog, I wanted to be able to utilize the color scheme of the teams Pittsburgh represents.

How does black and gold achieve inspiration of that goal?

Wherever you go, whether it be in the United States or around the world, most people understand that black and gold are synonymous with Pittsburgh Sports.  I remember one time wearing a Steelers jersey in the Outer Banks, and an employee from our hotel restaurant shouting, "Are you from Pittsburgh?!" By all three major sport teams in Pittsburgh using the same color scheme, it allows the people of Pittsburgh to galvanize with our city and cheer on our teams.

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3d/2a/79/3d2a794c34ebd2ca632e95acaa9f88a1.jpg

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrBT4GmV8tW9UAAeI1XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE0bG82MGM5BGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQTAyMDBfMQRzZWMDcGl2cw--?p=Pittsburgh+skyline+in+black+and+gold&fr=yfp-t-201&fr2=piv-web#id=16&iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2F00%2Fs%2FMTA5NFgxNTk1%2Fz%2F42QAAOSwyQtVquLH%2F%24_35.JPG&action=click

http://www.sports-logos-screensavers.com/user/Pittsburgh_Pirates10.jpg

OT: Georgia Font

I am bombarded with texts in my day-to-day life being a communications major.  So when I was assigned the blog project, I wanted to find a font that wasn't boring or typically used.  I went through the advanced settings of blogger and found the font of Georgia.  I feel that the Georgia font allows for easy readability, and a more unique style compared to something we see everyday like Times New Roman.  Furthermore, I feel that not only does my blog stand out with a non-generic font, but I believe that other designers using this font by creating billboards, magazine ads, the font for a novel, etc., will allow them to stand out from their other competitors.

Credit:McDonalds

http://fontsinuse.com/uses/10160/baker-website

Penguins Storm Past Red Wings 6-3

I personally have never been in a hurricane, let alone a tropical storm, but you see on TV the devastating rain, the tremendous wind, and sometimes debris in the air.  After last night’s hockey game where it was furious action up and down, a total of 77 shots on goal by both teams, and a total of 9 goals by both teams, needless to say it was a whirlwind of a game.

The Penguins were victorious over the Detroit Red Wings 6-3, with the stand out player last night being Phil Kessel who scored twice.  Again, I won't bore you with a game summary, so I will let you know my takes on the game.

Again, I was very impressed by the Penguins being able to transition out of the defensive zone and into the attacking zone.  While under other head coaches, they would dump and chase the puck, it would seem constantly.  Now under Mike Sullivan, the Pens are able to utilize their speed in the neutral zone and carry the puck into the attacking zone instead of just dumping it in and going after it.

It was nice to see Phil Kessel get on the board twice.  We have to give Mike Sullivan a lot of credit mixing up the lines, allowing Sidney Crosby to be the playmaker that he is, and Kessel the finisher.  Furthermore, it was nice to see Scott Wilson get his first career NHL goal.  The line of Wilson-Porter-Sheary have been doing a tremendous job generating scoring chances, and it was nice to see it finally pay off with a goal.

Last, I think that Fleury's performance last night went somewhat unnoticed.  I feel like he had a spectacular game, stopping 35 out of 38 shots put on net.  The save he made in the second period with him inside his own net and stopping the Red Wings from scoring with the paddle of his stick was astounding.  I know the goal would have been disallowed if it did go in because of goaltender interference.  None the less, Fleury shut the door on that opportunity.  I didn't feel like our defense played that well and let Fleury out to dry on numerous occasions.  Detroit would of definitely scored more goals had it not been for Fleury's play last night.

All in all, I'm glad the Pens took two points out of this feverishly paced game against Detroit.  Hopefully they enjoyed the eye of the hurricane today, because a storm of the Tampa Bay Lightning is ready to strike tomorrow at Consol Energy Center!

http://www.post-gazette.com/image/2016/02/19/720x_q90_cMC_a3-2_z/20160218mfpenssports09-2.jpg

Is this the end of Pitt Basketball?

Heartbreaking, devastating, embarrassing, and saddening.  What does this all add up to?  The disaster which is currently Jamie Dixon and the Pitt Basketball Program.  After a humiliating loss to the  #9  ranked team in the country North Carolina Tar Heels 85-64, there are more questions than answers for Pitt basketball fans like myself.

The Panthers are 17-7 overall, but only 6-6 in ACC play (ranks 9th in the league currently).  With only looking at their overall record you may think that they aren't doing as bad as I'm saying, but you would be wrong.  Here are some of their out of conference schedule (not all):

11/20  Detroit 95-79 W

11/29  Cornell 93-49 W

12/6  Central Arkansas 100-47 W

You can check the rest by looking up Pitts basketball schedule, but their out of conference schedule was weak besides playing now ranked #11 Purdue 72-59.

Including that loss to Purdue, Pitt has lost six more games in conference by an average of 14PPG (Points Per Game) in their seven total losses this year.  Where am I heading with all this?

I believe in my own heart that we have seen the better days of Jamie Dixon, and it's time for him to be relieved of his duties at Pitt.  We are no longer recruiting well in New York City and across the country, and that solely falls at the hands of not just Jamie Dixon, but also the entire coaching staff.  Currently, Pitt is even losing the recruiting battle to a team that can't even get their fans to their basketball games.  That team would be Penn State.  Penn State currently ranks #18 on the Rivals website, where Pitt wasn't even in the top 35.  By the way, they ended their rankings at 35.

In conclusion, for Pitt to succeed in the ACC, they must do a better job in executing their recruiting strategy.  In the ACC, you need pure shooters, good guard play, and a big man that can get the job down low on the boards.  Building a tough and rough team in the Big East might of gotten us far, but in the ACC the players are bigger, quicker, and more athletic than what they faced in the past.  Pitt has seen better days in the past, but those days are turning into weeks, months, and years.  They still have time to save the basketball program, but I believe it must start by the firing of Jamie Dixon. 

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/0405/ncw_a_dixonj_300.jpg

Lundqvist Shuts the Door on Pens 3-0

Well, I must admit I'm bored, so I think I'll write a small post from last nights game.  In a season of 82 games, I guess we should expect a couple of these type every year.  I feel like the Pens shot out of a cannon early in the first period and had several great opportunities to jump on the board first.  Connor Sheary had a wide open net, only to clank the puck off the post.  If the Pens got on the board first, I believe we would of had a different game last night.  As most of you know who are reading this, later in the first, Kevin Hayes scored off of a juicy rebound in the slot by Marc-Andre Fleury, and the rest is history.  I won't waste your time with the rest of the game summary, you can find that anywhere.

However, what I did like from last nights game and since Coach Mike Sullivan has taken over, is the Penguins ability to generate speed through the neutral zone and into the attacking zone.  Thus, it has allowed us to enter the zone with the defense on their heels.  Furthermore, it has led to more power plays and scoring opportunities.

Another thing I noticed about last night, which I don't believe benefits Pittsburgh in the long run to the playoffs, is the physicality that the Rangers brought to us.  With us losing to them twice in the playoffs the last two years, I want no part of them come April.  I'd rather face the choke artists of whom are the Washington Capitals.  I feel we just match up better with our speed against their defensemen.  Also, what more can you say about Lundqvist? He was superb against us last night, yet also had some fortunate luck with the Pens hitting the posts twice.

Last, my cousin and I were texting last night about Phil Kessel.  Where I agree with my cousin in that Kessel needs to produce in tallying more goals, his production has been better under Sullivan's regime than in Johnston's.  He has 15 goals as of today and 43 points (which ranks fourth on the team).  I believe we have to give him more time.  Two coaches, two systems to learn, new line mates, first year as a Penguin.  With that being said, would I like to see more production?  Of course, but give him time.

Watch the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow night as they battle the Carolina Hurricanes (24-21-9).  Face-off is set for seven o'clock.

Well, I definitely wrote more than I wanted to.  I'll probably flip on the TV and watch some now (later on the Presidential debate).  Please follow this blog, subscribe, like, leave comments, or whatever.  Have a great night!

Adam 

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