Long break needed as Pitt preps for Bulls

The eight-day break for Pitt basketball will be used to practice, practice and practice some… The eight-day break for Pitt basketball will be used to practice, practice and practice some more.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon wants to use the time to improve his younger players, namely junior transfer Cassin Diggs, redshirt freshman Gilbert Brown and freshmen DeJuan Blair, Gary McGhee and Brad Wanamaker.

The Panthers will have plenty of time to prepare for Buffalo. Last year, Buffalo’s Yassin Idbihi inspired a pesky squad that nearly stunned then No. 2-ranked Pitt. Aaron Gray and company needed a late surge to stave off the upset and win 70-67. Don’t expect that to happen this year.

Two things have changed: The game will be at the Petersen Events Center, and Idbihi is gone. The Bulls have nice guard play with Greg Gamble and Andy Robinson, among others, but no one really poses an interior threat. Expect Pitt to bruise and punish Buffalo inside and win. Let’s get to your questions.

Q: How serious was DeJuan Blair’s tailbone injury in Thursday’s win over Mississippi Valley State?

A: Not serious at all. They had precautionary X-rays on Blair’s tailbone on Friday, and they were negative.

Q: What about Levance Fields’ twisted ankle and Gilbert Brown’s banged knee?

A: I haven’t heard anything else about those guys since the post-game press conference on Thursday.

Q: Why did Pitt play in that weak tournament?

A: Pitt played in the Hispanic College Fund Challenge because there is a monetary benefit. By hosting four games in the tournament, Pitt pays the price of hosting one game. Four games for the price of one is nice for any team.

While it seems silly that Pitt wouldn’t use three of those four chances to test its young squad against better opponents, it was safer and cheaper to just play three cupcakes and Saint Louis. Plus, with 18 games in the Big East, Pitt has to win some games, right?

Q: Alan, from way down in Masontown, Pa., mentioned that Pitt’s bench, outside of senior Keith Benjamin and junior Tyrell Biggs, lacks experience. He asked: “What do you expect to see out of Diggs, McGhee, Wanamaker and Brown as the season progresses?”

A: It’s hard to say at this juncture in the season, but Brown looks like the best of the bunch. He is a silky smooth scorer. He has the ability to get to the basket whenever he wants, but he hasn’t shown that lately. Expect that to emerge as the season rolls on.

Wanamaker is a tough kid who can provide some solid perimeter defense. He’s a formidable scorer in transition. I don’t like him playing point guard, but maybe Dixon sees something I don’t. Wanamaker appears uncomfortable, at least right now, handling the ball against smaller guards.

McGhee is a scrappy kid. He has provided some punch off the bench so far, but there isn’t really much expected. He is a project, and Biggs can handle most of the post production.

Diggs looks lost, but in fairness, the big guy had some injury problems when he first arrived at Pitt, and it will take him some time to catch up. He will improve, but again, Biggs is the main post presence off the bench.

Q: Matt from South Oakland asked: When will DeJuan Blair’s first interior test come?

A: Boston University’s Scott Brittain, a 6-foot-8-inch sophomore, is a tough interior defender. In three games this season, Brittain averaged 11 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. Between Blair and Sam Young, Brittain is manageable.

It’s the dynamic duo from Duquesne – Kieron Achara and Shawn James – that will give Pitt fits on Dec. 5. It’s hard to believe, but Achara stretches defenses with his shooting, and James is the nation’s top shot blocker.

To combat James’ leaping and shot-blocking ability, Blair will use plenty of shot fakes and his quickness to escape James. If Blair can get out in front of James, look for Pitt’s freshman sensation to use his long arms to avoid having his shots blocked.