University of Pittsburgh Basketball Update (12/2/06)

The University of Pittsburgh has been one of the most successful college basketball programs over the last five years. This season, they sit at the number two spot in the AP Poll. Former Pitt coach, Ben Howland, leads the number one team, UCLA. This article breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of Pitt’s basketball team, position by position.

Point Guard

With Carl Krauser graduating, sophomore Levance Fields takes over at the point. In seven games, Fields’ scoring is down a notch from last season, at 6.1 points per game. Fortunately, his assists have shot up now that he is running the offense. Fields has recorded 6.3 assists per game and, more impressively, 4.4 assists per turnover. All of his shooting percentages have reversed themselves from last season. His field goal percentage has dropped from 49% to 33.3% and his 3-pt% from 43.2% to 28.6%, while his free throw percentage has jumped from 66.7% to 90%. Fields has a nice shot, so his percentages should head back to where they were last season. While Krauser was the face of team since the departure of Brandin Knight, Pitt should feel much more comfortable with the less-erratic Fields leading the championship contenders.

Behind Fields sits junior Ronald Ramon. Fields is the only true point guard on the team, so Ramon is forced to run the offense when Fields hits the bench. While Fields’ shooting has declined this season, Ramon remains as hot as ever. His 3pt% has risen from 33.6% to 41.5% to 57.1% this season. Hopefully, Ramon keeps his success rate up come Big East time. If the game is on the line and Pitt needs a three, there is nowhere else to look but to Ramon.

Shooting Guard

Senior guard Antonio Graves may not be as good of a shooter as Ramon, but he always finds a way to put the ball in the hoop. For years, Pitt coaches and players talked about how great a shot Graves had in practice, but he failed to put this on display come game time. This season, Graves has hit 45% from three point range and from the field, while averaging ten points per game. This is his last chance to prove he can be the best shooter on the team.

Junior Keith Benjamin always awes the crowd with his athletic ability, much like former Pitt player and fellow #1 Julius Page. Benjamin does not have the shooting range of the other guards, but he does have a nice pull-up jumper, which he displayed versus Robert Morris on Wednesday.

Small Forward

East Carolina transfer Mike Cook took the starting spot from sophomore Sam Young and has not disappointed. Cook carries the scoring load outside of Aaron Gray, with 12 points per game. When he gets the ball near the hoop, there is no stopping him. Cook is the best player Pitt has at driving the ball to the hoop and finishing strong. While he does not shoot the three often, but has had success when he does (4/7). He does not bring much to the team outside of his scoring, but a team like Pitt that has had a history of offensive struggles can afford to carry a man with such natural scoring ability.

As for the man who lost time to Cook, Sam Young possesses the most raw talent on the roster. A member of the Big East All-Rookie Team, Young shot 52.1% from the field last season and played stellar defense. Young still gets called too often for traveling when making his first step with the ball. Coach Dixon will have to work with Young to fix the problem, but he has shown improvement this season.

Power Forward

Senior Levon Kendall always blows away the competition… during the offseason. One year, he posted a 40 point game against a team of U.S. college stars, including J.J. Redick. Then, come the Pitt season, he refuses to shoot. Jamie Dixon has publicly said he wants Kendall to shoot more. After those comments, Dixon attempted a season high eight field goals, making four of them. Hopefully this is a new, more offensive-minded Kendall. The 6’10’’ Canadian has a knack for SportsCenter-worthy blocks, usually coming on fast breaks. As the best defender on the team, Kendall could become the most valuable player to the team if he became an offensive threat.

Sophomore forward Tyrell Biggs looks skinnier than last season (although that could just be my imagination). So far this season, Biggs has either shown up big, or been a non-factor, but noting in between. Three times, he has scored 11 points and four times he has scored two or less. His best game of the season came against UMass. Biggs shot 5 of 7 from the field and grabbed 8 boards. Biggs is the only other player on the team with enough weight to play center when Gray sits.

Center

Senior center Aaron Gray is the most popular person on Pitt’s campus. Last season, his sporadic touch around the hoop was frustrating. This year Gray does not miss a shot (69.3%). Against the competition so far, Gray looks like a man playing against midgets. With 17 ppg, 10 rbg, and 1.3 bpg, Aaron Gray gives Pitt an NBA-caliber center. Thank you Chris Taft for leaving for the NBA.