WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. — “I thought we handled all the adversity well,” Pitt head coach Jeff Capel said after losing to Wisconsin. “I thought all of that. What we didn’t handle was Tonje.”
Wisconsin’s star guard, who already had a game of 41 points this season, dominated the Panthers in the second half specifically, dropping 25 points in the half on 9-for-11 shooting.
Tonje repeatedly got into the paint and finished at the rim, oftentimes through contact. The veteran guard made all ten of his free-throw tries.
“That’s what we didn’t handle,” he continued. “And he’s a really, really good player. Watching him on tape is one thing — and I thought he was outstanding on tape — you look at his performances this year, especially that one at Arizona, you look at his percentages. When you play against him, it’s even more impressive with how efficient, how relentless he is. He seems like he’s in really good shape, and that’s allowed him to get off to an incredible start to his last year.”
Tonje was the story. Pitt fans may not have agreed with some of the fouls drawn by the star, but like it or not, that’s the kind of player he is. A hard-nosed guard who gets to the free-throw line. He has already taken 63 free throws this year, and has hit 60. For reference, Pitt’s leader in free throws is Jaland Lowe, who has shot 33 and made 29. And he didn’t just get to the line on Sunday, Tonje made the Panthers pay at the rim. He made each of his last six field-goal tries in the game, completely taking over.
BASKETBALL IN THE BALLROOM
The Greenbrier was not built for basketball.
From start to finish, the venue had issues. In the first half, one of the shot clocks did not work, so the referees decided to turn off the other one. With no active shot clocks for the players to see during the entire first half, the gym’s PA announcer would shout out “15!” or “10!” to signal to players how much time was left on the clock.
Then, the lights. The gym’s lights at half-court began flickering during a break in the action in the second half. Later in the game, the lights flickered during several possessions of play. Not ideal.
Lastly — and I would assume this may be the case with many of these Feast Week MTE around the world this week — the shooting numbers for all four teams involved in The Greenbrier event were worse than average.
Pitt:
Before The Greenbrier: 47 out of 127 (37%) from three.
This week at The Greenbrier: 12 out of 47 (26%) from three.
UCF
Before The Greenbrier: 32 out of 97 (33%) from three.
This week at The Greenbrier: 12 out of 51 (24%) from three.
Wisconsin
Before The Greenbrier: 50 out of 128 (39%) from three.
This week at The Greenbrier: 15 out of 51 (29%) from three.
LSU
Before The Greenbrier: 29 out of 93 (31%) from three.
This week at The Greenbrier: 17 out of 57 (30%) from three.
EAGERLY AWAITING A TIMELINE FOR DUNN
Damian Dunn battled foul trouble in Pitt’s first game of the weekend. Then, on Sunday night, just two minutes into the game against Wisconsin, he sprained his ankle and dislocated his thumb at the same time.
Pitt is a different team without Damian Dunn. Let’s make that much clear. The Panthers will miss him dearly for however long he is indeed out. The veteran guard got off to a tremendous start to the season, shooting the ball extremely well (49% FG, 53% 3FG) and taking care of the ball (only four turnovers on the year). However, now the Panthers will have to pivot without him like they did on Sunday.
“We’ll see the hand specialist when we get back and figure that out,” Capel said.
PLEASED WITH PITT’S ROLE PLAYERS
Zack Austin added two more three pointers to his season total on Sunday night, while also earning one highlight dunk, one steal, and one rebound.
Amsal Delalic played his best game of the year. The Bosnian wing was thrown into the game early as Dunn left with his injuries. Delalic, the 21-year-old, stepped right up to the plate. Delalic went 4 for 4 from the field, including a confident, no hesitation look from three-point range. He also had one rebound and an assist, that, if Pitt had come back to win the game, I may have argued was the most important play of the game. Driving to the right side without much time on the shot clock late in the game, Delalic whipped a fastball underneath the basket to the opposite corner, finding Austin for one of his three pointers. Check out what Capel had to say about Delalic’s performance below.
WATCH: Jeff Capel’s Postgame Comments from The Greenbrier
“Beebah, Beebah, Beebah,” the Pitt fans chanted after Beebah Cummings dove onto the floor to grab a loose ball in the first half of Pitt’s game against Wisconsin.
He’s been doing it all year. Cummings is the type of player that becomes a fan favorite very quickly. The younger brother of former Panther Nelly Cummings, Brandin, a.k.a. “Beebah,” has burst onto the scene by diving on the floor, making timely shots, and defending well. With Dunn sidelined, Cummings will have to grow up quickly. So far, he looks like he is up to the task.
tough loss. was it just tonje or did most of the wisc squad play physical against us ? if the latter, that might be the formula for beating us. lowe, and others, seemed really slight out there. perhaps dunn would have added some toughness. may be too late for this season but we look like we need a lot of weight room work.