Shockwaves

Ray Fittipaldo covers Pitt basketball for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Q: The Panthers appear to improve with each game. What are the biggest strides made from Wofford to Eastern Kentucky?

A: Coach Jamie Dixon wanted his team to concentrate on the offense after the Wofford game because it was bogged down in that game. In the second game vs. Binghamton, the Panthers had 24 assists on 27 field goals. Rebounding was lacking after the first two games, so rebounding was the mission in the third game. And they vastly improved in that area the third game, outrebounding EKU by 22.

Q: Introduce Wichita readers to Panthers leading scorer Ashton Gibbs. What kind of a player is he?

A: Excellent shooter who led the Big East in three-point percentage as a freshman last year. Improved his athleticism over the off-season, so he is a little bit more of a threat as a penetrator this season. Still limited athletically, but he has improved in that area.

Q: How is the injury to guard Jermaine Dixon (Pitt’s lone returning starter) hampering this team?
A: Dixon will not play. He is out another 2-3 weeks with a slow-to-heal foot injury. The injury has forced coach Jamie Dixon to play a redshirt frosh at point guard — Travon Woodall, with Gibbs at shooting guard. Once Dixon is healthy, Gibbs is likely the point guard and Dixon the shooting guard with Woodall’s minutes slashed. Dixon is a good penetrator and one of the team’s best defenders, so he is missed.

Q: Older readers would consider Pitt a football school because of Dorsett and Marino. Younger readers probably know more about Pitt basketball. Is it a football school or a basketball school?

A: It’s the rare occasion in college sports today when it’s both. Pitt has made eight straight NCAA tournaments and Dixon seems to be here for the duration. Wannstedt has turned the program around and has it back in the top 10. Not many schools out there have two programs going as well as Pitt does right now. And both are recruiting very well, so it appears it will be that for a while.