Graves’ improvements make Panthers better

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — With the departure of Jaron Brown, some say that what Pitt’s basketball… STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — With the departure of Jaron Brown, some say that what Pitt’s basketball team lacks this season is a senior who sort of “does it all.”

He’s there; he’s just a bit younger.

Sophomore guard Antonio Graves has taken on that role for the Panthers, a role never more prevalent than in Pitt’s 84-71 victory over Penn State Saturday afternoon. Graves turned in a balanced performance, scoring 18 points, pulling down two rebounds, handing out one assist, collecting one steal and blocking a shot.

That could be a season for some sophomores in the Big East.

The emergence of Graves has helped address a problem Pitt had last season: outside shooting. He has shown that not only can he shoot from behind the three-point arc, but he can also drive strong to the basket, a threat head coach Jamie Dixon says benefits his team.

“He’s been pretty good his whole career, and he played very well throughout [the game] with a great all-around game,” he said.

Graves started out the afternoon Saturday by hitting his first shot, a three-pointer from the top of the key on Pitt’s opening possession. On the Panthers’ next offensive series, he drove left around a Penn State defender and dished the ball off to fellow sophomore Chris Taft, who hit the shot.

“He only had one assist today, but I thought he also did a great job of getting the ball into the post today,” Dixon said.

A native of Cincinnati, Graves scored again less than three minutes later when he grabbed a loose ball, drove the length of the court and put a spin move on a Nittany Lion defender. The move cleared the way to the basket as he banked the shot in for an early 9-2 Panther lead.

“He did a great job offensively,” Dixon said. “He had patience on offense — once he got the ball — in making decisions driving or shooting the three.”

One of his two three-pointers, at the 10:59 mark, gave Pitt a 27-15 lead. The rest of the first half, he made his presence felt on the defensive end. He stole a behind-the-back pass to create a Panther fast-break opportunity with only minutes remaining in the half. The steal came four minutes after he elevated to block a Nittany Lion shot.

“I think he did a great job defensively, making them take tough shots,” Dixon said.

His defensive effort carried over to the beginning of the second half, where he forced Penn State to throw the ball out of bounds on its opening possession. He reasserted himself offensively later in the half when he helped Pitt regain a double-digit advantage by hitting a drive-in layup with only five seconds left on the shot clock.

The ability to drive also created opportunities for Graves at the free-throw line. Twice in the second half, he drove around two Nittany Lions and drew contact on a shot. He hit six of his eight free throws, including the front-end of a one-and-one down the stretch.

Arguably his biggest contribution came in the game’s final minutes, however, when he helped Pitt seal the victory. With his team ahead, 72-61, and Penn State threatening to rally, he took an outlet pass from a teammate, pushed the ball up the length of the court, and hit senior Chevon Troutman on his left. The streaking Troutman hit the layup while being fouled. The ensuing free throw gave Pitt a 75-61 lead with just over five minutes to go, dampening the chances of a Penn State comeback.

“Graves, we thought we could contain [him, but] we didn’t do a good job of that,” Penn State head coach Ed DeChellis said after the game. “I think we were so concerned about some of the other guys and the post that he got loose a few times.”

He was quick to add, though: “He is much improved from last year and was really key for them [today.]”

Point guard Carl Krauser, a junior who has played the role of mentor to Pitt’s young guards like Graves, also spoke highly of his protege after the game.

“Antonio has been doing a great job in practice and doing everything the coaches ask him to do,” he said. “He’s been playing hard, competing every day and working on his shot after practice.”

He added, “He’s just being a good kid, a good learner and a good teammate. He’s coming out playing aggressive every time. I try to help him out with every little thing I can, and he’s coming out executing plays and playing awesome.”