Pitt guard Benjamin wants Wright St to 'just quit'
Mar 14, 2007 23:41:45 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Mar 14, 2007 23:41:45 GMT -5
www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_497790.html
Pitt guard Benjamin wants Wright State to 'just quit'
By John Grupp
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, March 15, 2007
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Pitt reserve guard Keith Benjamin got right to the point Wednesday afternoon.
The Panthers, he said, can't come out slow again tonight in their NCAA Tournament opener against Wright State.
"You've got to go out and dominate the lower conferences and get them out of there," he said. "You can't let them gain confidence as the game goes on. That's how you get upset."
Pitt has trailed at halftime in five of its past six games, losing three of them. Three times in the past 12 days, Pitt trailed by double-figures as they jogged off the court for halftime.
Benjamin says the No. 3 seed Panthers (27-7) need to flex their muscles early and often tonight against No. 14 seed Wright State (23-9) at 9:40 p.m. at HSBC Arena in the NCAA Tournament first round.
"Those guys are no different from us," Benjamin said. "They are Division I basketball players. But, sometimes, they see 'Pittsburgh' or something like that, and it scares them a little bit. If after the first 10 minutes of the game, they are not afraid of you anymore, then you are in for a long game.
"But if you come out and do everything that you normally do and get Aaron Gray 10 points in the first 10 minutes of the game -- and he's dominating and we're hitting our 3s -- that fear becomes bigger because they think they can't do anything to win now. They will just quit."
As Pitt prepared for an afternoon shooting session, Benjamin said the Panthers need to provide separation -- both mentally and physically -- from a mid-major team that needed to win its conference to make the NCAA tournament.
Leaving Wright State in the game for the opening half would be courting problems with a Horizon League team that is 11-1 in its past 12 games.
Wright State, led by high-scoring guard DaShaun Wood, has two wins against a team with an RPI better than 98 (Butler, twice).
But the Raiders have gotten healthier since a 3-5 start in which they had to practice with seven or eight players, and "it was hard to get better," coach Brad Brownell said.
"If you want to make a statement in this tournament, then you can't start out slow," Benjamin said. "You've got to come out and jump on people and impose your will. You've got to strike first. We have to strike first, everybody that we play from now on.
"Even though this is college basketball and there are different levels ... when you come from the Big East, there is a certain level of dominance, and you have to sustain that. If they come out and their offense is working against a team like us, they will think 'Well, Pittsburgh is nothing. What were we scared for in the first place. Let's go out there and play.' "
Last season, Pitt witnessed some tough nights in the NCAA Tournament.
The Panthers were at Auburn Hills, Mich., last year when No. 13 seed Bradley stunned No. 4 seed Kansas and No. 14 seed Northwestern State edged No. 3 seed Iowa in two first-round shockers.
Pitt, the fifth seed, beat Kent State before becoming an upset victim itself -- against Bradley of the Missouri Valley Conference in the second round.
"Once you get on the court, it doesn't matter what seed you are," Aaron Gray said. "In this atmosphere and this setting, anybody can lose to anybody."
The Pitt players believe they have regained some swagger since their 65-42 mauling to Georgetown at Madison Square Garden five days ago.
"I don't even know what happened (that game)," Gray said. "It's not even in my mind anymore. I'm fully concentrating on what I have to do to help my team against Wright State and in the NCAA Tournament.
"We still have a chance."
The Panthers say there is no looking ahead to possible matchups with storied programs Duke or UCLA, or possibly Kansas, as they try for the elusive berth past the Sweet 16.
"We just want to play well for 40 minutes," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "That's what we stress. It's hard to do. But you have to go in with that mentality.
"You want to get off to a good start and a good middle and a good finish."
John Grupp can be reached at jgrupp@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7930.
Pitt guard Benjamin wants Wright State to 'just quit'
By John Grupp
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, March 15, 2007
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Pitt reserve guard Keith Benjamin got right to the point Wednesday afternoon.
The Panthers, he said, can't come out slow again tonight in their NCAA Tournament opener against Wright State.
"You've got to go out and dominate the lower conferences and get them out of there," he said. "You can't let them gain confidence as the game goes on. That's how you get upset."
Pitt has trailed at halftime in five of its past six games, losing three of them. Three times in the past 12 days, Pitt trailed by double-figures as they jogged off the court for halftime.
Benjamin says the No. 3 seed Panthers (27-7) need to flex their muscles early and often tonight against No. 14 seed Wright State (23-9) at 9:40 p.m. at HSBC Arena in the NCAA Tournament first round.
"Those guys are no different from us," Benjamin said. "They are Division I basketball players. But, sometimes, they see 'Pittsburgh' or something like that, and it scares them a little bit. If after the first 10 minutes of the game, they are not afraid of you anymore, then you are in for a long game.
"But if you come out and do everything that you normally do and get Aaron Gray 10 points in the first 10 minutes of the game -- and he's dominating and we're hitting our 3s -- that fear becomes bigger because they think they can't do anything to win now. They will just quit."
As Pitt prepared for an afternoon shooting session, Benjamin said the Panthers need to provide separation -- both mentally and physically -- from a mid-major team that needed to win its conference to make the NCAA tournament.
Leaving Wright State in the game for the opening half would be courting problems with a Horizon League team that is 11-1 in its past 12 games.
Wright State, led by high-scoring guard DaShaun Wood, has two wins against a team with an RPI better than 98 (Butler, twice).
But the Raiders have gotten healthier since a 3-5 start in which they had to practice with seven or eight players, and "it was hard to get better," coach Brad Brownell said.
"If you want to make a statement in this tournament, then you can't start out slow," Benjamin said. "You've got to come out and jump on people and impose your will. You've got to strike first. We have to strike first, everybody that we play from now on.
"Even though this is college basketball and there are different levels ... when you come from the Big East, there is a certain level of dominance, and you have to sustain that. If they come out and their offense is working against a team like us, they will think 'Well, Pittsburgh is nothing. What were we scared for in the first place. Let's go out there and play.' "
Last season, Pitt witnessed some tough nights in the NCAA Tournament.
The Panthers were at Auburn Hills, Mich., last year when No. 13 seed Bradley stunned No. 4 seed Kansas and No. 14 seed Northwestern State edged No. 3 seed Iowa in two first-round shockers.
Pitt, the fifth seed, beat Kent State before becoming an upset victim itself -- against Bradley of the Missouri Valley Conference in the second round.
"Once you get on the court, it doesn't matter what seed you are," Aaron Gray said. "In this atmosphere and this setting, anybody can lose to anybody."
The Pitt players believe they have regained some swagger since their 65-42 mauling to Georgetown at Madison Square Garden five days ago.
"I don't even know what happened (that game)," Gray said. "It's not even in my mind anymore. I'm fully concentrating on what I have to do to help my team against Wright State and in the NCAA Tournament.
"We still have a chance."
The Panthers say there is no looking ahead to possible matchups with storied programs Duke or UCLA, or possibly Kansas, as they try for the elusive berth past the Sweet 16.
"We just want to play well for 40 minutes," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "That's what we stress. It's hard to do. But you have to go in with that mentality.
"You want to get off to a good start and a good middle and a good finish."
John Grupp can be reached at jgrupp@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7930.