My wife the Pitt alum has dragged me to a couple of their games this year.  Pitt can't match us in talent, but under the new coach, they play really hard for 40 minutes.  We'll need to match their intensity to come away with a win.

The season is now officially an utter disaster.

No leadership on this team. 

No confidence.

No rhythm.

No chance.

I hate losing to Pitt. Hate it. Hate it. So, after calming down, here are some things I think I think.

1. The starting five is not a good unit. The last two home games they were pummeled at the start of the games. They gave away the lead and faltered down the stretch. Omogrosso, Lass should start. Lass needs the ball more. If Bazelak is not going to handle the ball, then she is miscast as a three. Richardson got more minutes today. She probably should work that spot as a starter. Or Kalin. Cannon is a great kid and a hard worker but frankly she is not a good defensive player and Pitt went right at her every chance they got. Sole got 12 minutes today and Cannon 23. That should be reversed. Kuttor provided some good minutes today but she looks thin after her illness. We have really missed her. Vojinovic has shown that if she doesn’t start, she does not get into the game. Her shot does not have the same arc as last year and she is rushing. As Coach has stated, you live with her game. Coach shows loyalty to his kids, but a couple of changes are necessary for this group.
2. 27 three balls today with 18% scoring. 20 of them launched by the two guards. In the first half, there was some effort to get the ball inside, but in the 4th quarter at crunch time, Cannon was at the top of the key as a facilitator. SMH. Lass needs the ball. It is time to develop Sole. 3 minute stretches and getting pulled quickly is not beneficial. And, Staffelino, who contributed her first two years, gets no run? SMH.
3. Kalin shows hustle and some grit. She needs more time because she adds offensively. But, both she and Bazelak need to look to shoot the ball more.
4. Lass needs help inside. A dozen rebounds, at least six blocks and a few rebounds that went to teammates when she fought to get her hands on things. Boxing out is a taught skill. Help her that way.
5. Didn’t get to as many loose balls as possible today. Aggressiveness can be taught. We did push the ball up the floor on offense pretty well. We did not get back on D quite as well.
6. At the end of two quarters, we cleared out for Omogrosso and she went to the hoop but couldn’t get a shot to the rim. Went with 7 seconds left on the clock. How about going a little earlier with a potential kick out and possible rebound?

One more game to go, then the real games start.  Even though this is not a glowing post, the A10 looks down, so I am hoping for a 13-3 record and a first or second seed in the tourney. Let’s get after it Dukes! You can do this!

Couldn't agree MORE with Hook Shot's 6 points.  

The coaches have to take stock of the team and be bold enough to go in a different direction.

Hook shot is right on the money.  They need to invest in developing Sole (who Dan has said is the best offensive player he has ever coached).  She needs to be in the starting lineup with Lass and the offensive schemes must be adjusted to get both of them more touches.  

Make no mistake, This is a great mid-major program but at this point in the season, the wheels have come off.

Dan Burt has become Jim Ferry jr. Shape up or ship out dude.

Respectfully, Stew, I will disagree with your assessment of the Coach. I have been watching the women play since the 70s and Dan Burt is easily the best coach we have ever had. He has earned respect. He knows the game and he knows what is happening to his team. There is no cancer on the team. If anything, his women are way too nice! Just great kids from the few I have met. Don’t forget this team is a consistent winner. 10 straight postseasons. That is good coaching. Dan Burt believes in his women. They deserved a chance to right the ship. They have not lived up to expectations. So, it is time to change. Coach will. I think Coach Burt is a tremendous man, a good leader and just what Duquesne needs. Watch the A10 play. I bet, we will be there at the end based on the fact that Dan Burt will lead. I hope he is our coach for at least the next decade.

Love you to death Stew, but your assessment of Dan Burt is the equivalent of laying big money on Marvin Lewis to win a playoff game. Everyone around you is shaking their heads and saying "what the duck?"

You're talking about a guy who took a program farther than Susie McConnell-Serio could. A guy who until this season beat Pitt like a dusty throw rug every year.

Just throwing out something that people can feed on.All I know is defense was horrible and this year was
supposed to be a NCAA tourney year.I don't get it.





 

Most of your posts are spot-on.  Leadership, or lack thereof is a theme many of you are pointing out.  Couldn't agree more.  An April Robinson would not allow this to happen and I would venture to say, nor would a Venessa Able from an earlier era.

Which brings up the challenge of spotting leadership in recruiting.  It's one thing to be a top-dog and leader in HS, but as we have seen with this team, that leadership is just not there.  Chass (bless her heart), has made great strides - at least up until this season - to become a legit scorer as well as the excellent ball-handler she always was.  But she lacks the physical and mental tools to elevate to a true leadership level.  Many of you have pointed out these deficiencies (i.e. not looking and passing to an open post player on the block, or dribbling to the basket to attempt a difficult shot, but not passing to an open player who has a much easier shot).

Frankly, I do not see anyone on the current roster, nor in the class of 2019, who has the tools to take the helm and guide the team.  

What do you think?