2009–10 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team

This article is about 2009–10 Pitt men's basketball. For 2009–10 Pitt women's basketball, see 2009–10 Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball team.

2009–10 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Round of 32
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 20
APNo. 18
Record25–9 (13–5 Big East)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaPetersen Events Center
(Capacity: 12,508)
Seasons
2009–10 Big East men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 4 Syracuse 15 – 3   .833 30 – 5   .857
No. 6 West Virginia † 13 – 5   .722 31 – 7   .816
No. 9 Villanova 13 – 5   .722 25 – 8   .758
No. 18 Pittsburgh 13 – 5   .722 25 – 9   .735
Marquette 11 – 7   .611 22 – 12   .647
Louisville 11 – 7   .611 20 – 13   .606
No. 14 Georgetown 10 – 8   .556 23 – 11   .676
Notre Dame 10 – 8   .556 23 – 12   .657
South Florida 9 – 9   .500 20 – 13   .606
Seton Hall 9 – 9   .500 19 – 13   .594
Cincinnati 7 – 11   .389 19 – 16   .543
Connecticut 7 – 11   .389 18 – 16   .529
St. John's 6 – 12   .333 17 – 16   .515
Rutgers 5 – 13   .278 15 – 17   .469
Providence 4 – 14   .222 12 – 19   .387
DePaul 1 – 17   .056 8 – 23   .258
† 2010 Big East tournament winner
As of April 3, 2010[1]
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2009–10 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their head coach was Jamie Dixon, who was in his 7th year as head coach at Pittsburgh and 11th overall at the University. The team played its home games in the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and were members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 25–9, 13–5 in Big East play and lost in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Big East men's basketball tournament. They received an at–large bid to the 2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, earning a 3 seed in the West Region. They defeated 14 seed Oakland in the first round before losing to 6 seed and AP No. 25 Xavier in the second round.

Outlook

The Pittsburgh Panthers advanced to last season's NCAA Elite Eight. The team lost four starters, including NBA draft selections Sam Young and DeJuan Blair, along with point guard Levance Fields and forward/center Tyrell Biggs. Guard Jermaine Dixon was the only returning starter from last season's squad while projected starter Gilbert Brown was suspended for the fall semester for academic reasons, although he reenrolled and returned to the team in December.[2] Four freshman joined the Panthers, including McDonald's High School All-American Dante Taylor. Also new to the team was senior guard Chase Adams, a transfer from Centenary College of Louisiana. The Panthers' roster was the most inexperienced in the Big East, with six freshmen, two sophomores and only two seniors, and when Dixon went down with a foot injury in the offseason, ruling him out until well into December, the remaining roster had a total of one career start.[3]

The Panthers were selected to finish 9th in the Big East by the Big East coaches during their conference media day.[4]

Coaching staff

Name[5] Position Year at
Pittsburgh		 Alma Mater (Year)
Jamie Dixon Head coach 11th (7th as head coach) TCU (1987)
Tom Herrion Associate head coach 3rd Merrimack (1989)
Pat Sandle Assistant coach 9th San Francisco State (1987)
Brandin Knight Assistant coach 4th University of Pittsburgh (2005)
Brian Regan Director of Operations 3rd Saint Vincent (1988)
Rasheen Davis Video Coordinator 2nd St. Thomas Aquinas (2005)

Recruiting

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Lamar Patterson
small forward 		Lancaster, Pennsylvania St. Benedict's Prep/J.P. McCaskey H.S. 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Dec 28, 2007 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 91
J. J. Richardson
center/power forward 		Missouri City, Texas Fort Bend Hightower HS 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 232.5 lb (105.5 kg) Sep 16, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 89
Dante Taylor
power forward 		Greenburgh, New York National Christian Academy, MD 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 222.5 lb (100.9 kg) Jul 14, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 97
Talib Zanna
center/power forward 		Kaduna, Nigeria Bishop McNamara HS, MD 6 ft 8.5 in (2.04 m) 222.5 lb (100.9 kg) Sep 29, 2008 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 90


Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 15   Rivals: 25
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Pittsburgh Commit List for 2009". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  • "Men's Basketball Recruiting". Scout.com. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  • "Pittsburgh Basketball Recruiting 2009". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  • "2009 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 2, 2009.

Roster

[6]

Name # Position Height Weight (lb.) Year Hometown Previous School
Chase Adams 3 Guard 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 190 2Senior Baltimore, MD Centenary/Mount Saint Joseph HS
Gilbert Brown* 5 Guard/Forward 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 2Junior (RS) Harrisburg, PA South Kent School
Jermaine Dixon 24 Guard 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 3Senior, Transfer Baltimore, MD Tallahassee CC/Maine Central Inst/Blake HS
Tim Frye 44 Guard 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 2Junior Mars, PA Mars Area HS
Ashton Gibbs 12 Guard 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 1Sophomore Scotch Plains, NJ Seton Hall Prep
Gary McGhee 52 Center 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 250 2Junior Anderson, IN Highland HS
Dwight Miller 25 Forward 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 1Freshman (RS) Nassau, Bahamas St. Pius X HS
Lamar Patterson 21 Guard/Forward 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 1Freshman Lancaster, PA St. Benedict's Prep/J.P. McCaskey H.S.
J. J. Richardson 55 Forward 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 1Freshman Missouri City, TX Fort Bend Hightower HS
Nick Rivers 14 Guard 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 1Junior Phoenix, AZ Brophy College Prep
Nasir Robinson 35 Forward 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 1Sophomore Chester, PA Chester HS
Dante Taylor 11 Forward 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 1Freshman Greenburgh, NY National Christian Academy (MD)
Brad Wanamaker 22 Guard 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 2Junior Philadelphia, PA Roman Catholic HS
Travon Woodall 1 Guard 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 190 1Freshman (RS) Brooklyn, NY St. Anthony HS
Talib Zanna 42 Forward 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 1Freshman Kaduna, Nigeria Bishop McNamara HS (MD)

*Suspended for the fall semester for academic reasons, but re-enrolled and returned to the team in December.[2]

Schedule

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
Sun. Nov. 1*
4:00 pm 		Slippery Rock W 75–64  —
 Petersen Events Center (5,815)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sun. Nov. 8*
4:00 pm 		Coker W 83–40  —
 Petersen Events Center (6,103)
Pittsburgh, PA
Regular season
Fri. Nov. 13*
8:10 pm 		Wofford W 63–60  1–0
 Petersen Events Center (10,112)
Pittsburgh, PA
Tue. Nov. 17*
5:30 pm, ESPN2 		Binghamton
CBE Classic 		W 71–46  2–0
 Petersen Events Center (7,677)
Pittsburgh, PA
Thu. Nov. 19*
7:00 pm 		Eastern Kentucky
CBE Classic 		W 71–60  3–0
 Petersen Events Center (9,148)
Pittsburgh, PA
Mon. Nov. 23*
7:37 pm, ESPN2 		vs. Wichita State
CBE Classic Semifinal 		W 68–55  4–0
 Sprint Center 
Kansas City, MO
Tue. Nov. 24*
10:25 pm, ESPN2 		vs. No. 3 Texas
CBE Classic Championship 		L 62–78  4–1
 Sprint Center (8,076)
Kansas City, MO
Sat. Nov. 28*
12:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh 		Youngstown State W 72–56  5–1
 Petersen Events Center (10,135)
Pittsburgh, PA
Wed. Dec. 2*
7:00 pm, CBS College Sports 		vs. Duquesne
The City Game 		W 67–58  6–1
 Mellon Arena (12,336)
Pittsburgh, PA
Fri. Dec. 4*
7:00 pm 		New Hampshire W 47–32  7–1
 Petersen Events Center (8,856)
Pittsburgh, PA
Tue. Dec. 8*
9:00 pm, ESPN 		vs. Indiana
Jimmy V Classic 		L 64–74  7–2
 Madison Square Garden (8,975)
New York, NY
Sat. Dec. 12*
2:00 pm, ESPNU 		Kent State W 71–59  8–2
 Petersen Events Center (9,468)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Dec. 19*
4:00 pm 		Mount St. Mary's W 66–48  9–2
 Petersen Events Center (7,039)
Pittsburgh, PA
Tue. Dec. 22*
7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh 		Ohio W 74–49  10–2
 Petersen Events Center (9,261)
Pittsburgh, PA
Mon. Dec. 28
7:00 pm, ESPNU 		DePaul W 65–52  11–2
(1–0) 		Petersen Events Center (10,811)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Jan. 2
12:00 pm, ESPN Regional/WTAE-TV 		at No. 5 Syracuse W 82–72  12–2
(2–0) 		Carrier Dome (24,969)
Syracuse, NY
Mon. Jan. 4
7:00 pm, ESPN Big Monday 		No. 23 at Cincinnati W 74–71  13–2
(3–0) 		Fifth Third Arena (8,699)
Cincinnati, OH
Wed. Jan. 13
7:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 16 at No. 15 Connecticut W 67–57  14–2
(4–0) 		XL Center (15,290)
Hartford, CT
Sat. Jan. 16
12:00 pm, ESPN Regional/WTAE-TV 		No. 16 Louisville W 82–77 OT 15–2
(5–0) 		Petersen Events Center (12,781)
Pittsburgh, PA
Wed. Jan. 20
7:00 pm, ESPNU 		No. 9 No. 12 Georgetown L 66–74  15–3
(5–1) 		Petersen Events Center (12,677)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sun. Jan. 24
2:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh 		No. 9 at Seton Hall L 61–64  15–4
(5–2) 		Prudential Center (8,043)
Newark, NJ
Thu. Jan. 28
7:00 pm, ESPNU 		No. 17 St. John's W 63–53  16–4
(6–2) 		Petersen Events Center (12,511)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sun. Jan. 31
1:00 pm, ESPNU 		No. 17 at South Florida L 61–70  16–5
(6–3) 		USF Sun Dome (5,370)
Tampa, FL
Wed. Feb. 3
7:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh 		No. 22 at No. 6 West Virginia
Backyard Brawl 		L 51–70  16–6
(6–4) 		WVU Coliseum (15,419)
Morgantown, WV
Sat. Feb. 6
6:00 pm 		No. 22 Seton Hall W 83–58  17–6
(7–4) 		Petersen Events Center (6,681)
Pittsburgh, PA
Mon. Feb. 8*
8:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh 		No. 25 Robert Morris W 77–53  18–6
 Petersen Events Center (7,211)
Pittsburgh, PA
Fri. Feb. 12
9:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 25 No. 5 West Virginia
Backyard Brawl 		W 98–95 3OT 19–6
(8–4) 		Petersen Events Center (12,902)
Pittsburgh, PA
Thu. Feb. 18
9:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 19 at Marquette W 58–51  20–6
(9–4) 		Bradley Center (16,486)
Milwaukee, WI
Sun. Feb. 21
12:00 pm, CBS 		No. 19 No. 3 Villanova W 70–65  21–6
(10–4) 		Petersen Events Center (12,920)
Pittsburgh, PA
Wed. Feb. 24
7:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 12 at Notre Dame L 53–68  21–7
(10–5) 		Edmund P. Joyce Center (8,581)
Notre Dame, IN
Sat. Feb. 27
12:00 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh 		No. 12 at St. John's W 71–64  22–7
(11–5) 		Madison Square Garden (6,892)
New York, NY
Thu. Mar. 4
9:00 pm, ESPN2 		No. 17 Providence W 73–71  23–7
(12–5) 		Petersen Events Center (12,511)
Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Mar. 6
4:30 pm, ESPN Regional/FSN Pittsburgh 		No. 17 Rutgers W 83–54  24–7
(13–5) 		Petersen Events Center (12,508)
Pittsburgh, PA
Big East tournament
Thu. Mar. 11
7:00 pm, ESPN 		(2) No. 16 vs. (7) Notre Dame
Big East Quarterfinals 		L 45–50  24–8
 Madison Square Garden (19,375)
New York, NY
NCAA tournament
Fri. Mar. 19
3:05 pm, CBS 		(3 W) No. 18 vs. (14 W) Oakland
NCAA First Round 		W 89–66  25–8
 Bradley Center (17,847)
Milwaukee, WI
Sun. Mar. 21
4:50 pm, CBS 		(3 W) No. 18 vs. (6 W) No. 25 Xavier
NCAA Second Round 		L 68–71  25–9
 Bradley Center (18,031)
Milwaukee, WI
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
W=NCAA West Regional.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Rankings

Main article: 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking Movement
Legend: ██ Improvement in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ██ Not ranked the previous week. rv=Others receiving votes.
Poll Pre Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Wk 15 Wk 16 WK 17 Wk 18 Final
AP rv rv rv rv rv rv rv -- 23 16 9 17 22 25 19 12 17 16 18 n/a
Coaches rv rv rv rv -- -- -- -- rv 20 11 17 21 23 21 16 18 16 16 20

Accomplishments

  • Pitt achieved a school record ninth straight 20-win season and a school record ninth straight season with 10 wins in the Big East Conference.
  • Sophomore guard Ashton Gibbs was named Second-Team All-Big East.[7]
  • Ashton Gibbs was named the Big East's most improved player.[8]
  • Ninth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

References

  1. ^ "Big East Conference Standings - 2009-10." ESPN.com. Retrieved 03-25-10.
  2. ^ a b Gorman, Kevin (August 28, 2009). "Pitt suspends Gilbert Brown for fall semester". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  3. ^ O'Neil, Dana (January 13, 2010). "Gritty Panthers modeled after Pittsburgh". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  4. ^ Grupp, John (October 21, 2009). "Pitt picked to finish 9th in Big East by coaches". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  5. ^ Hotchkiss, pg 66–74
  6. ^ "PITTSBURGH OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE - Men's Basketball". Archived from the original on December 3, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
  7. ^ Fittipaldo, Ray (March 7, 2010). "Pitt's Gibbs named second-team all-Big East". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  8. ^ Fittipaldo, Ray (March 9, 2010). "Pitt's Gibbs named most improved in Big East". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. Retrieved March 9, 2010.