For years, you could turn on any NBA game on television and you would be guaranteed not to see one thing- a Pitt Panther on the court contributing at the next level. But while the NBA still isn’t littered with former Panthers, Jamie Dixon has gotten a pair of players to the NBA in recent seasons as both Lamar Patterson and Steven Adams are starting to carve out a nice niche on their respective NBA teams. The more success guys like Patterson and Adams have at the next level, the better it ... Read More
Pitt cracks rankings; Jamel Artis honored
As the Pitt Panthers basketball team prepares for its first ACC game of the season against Syracuse, they will do so as a ranked team for the first time this season. The 10-1 Panthers checked in at No. 25 in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll announced Monday afternoon. Pitt is ranked in the Coaches Poll first time since week 15 (Feb. 10) of the 2013-14 season. There were more honors to go around as junior Jamel Artis was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week. Artis ... Read More
Pitt getting it done from the free-throw line
If there seems like one major problem that has plagued the Pitt Panthers throughout the Jamie Dixon era, it likely has been poor free-throw shooting. On more than one occasion the Panthers inability to knock down big free throws during crunch time has cost them in a major way. That's not the case any longer. One of this Pitt teams biggest strengths is being able to go to the line and knock down free throws. It hasn't just been one guy either as the entire roster is built with very good ... Read More
Pitt wraps up Gotham Classic with win over Western Carolina
For a change this season the Pitt Panthers had a fight on their hands. While most of their non-conference schedule has resulted in blowout wins, the Panthers needed all 40 minutes to take care of visiting Western Carolina 79-73 in the final game of the Gotham Classic Wednesday night at the Petersen Events Center. Pitt trailed with just over two minutes remaining, but a Chris Jones three-pointer with 2:20 remaining gave the Panthers a 68-66 lead. Sheldon Jeter followed with a monster dunk ... Read More
Jamel Artis big second half leads Pitt past Morehead State
Jamel Artis scored a game-high 22 points- 17 in the second half- to lead Pitt past visiting Morehead State 72-62 Sunday at the Petersen Events Center. The game was Pitt's second contest as part of the Gotham Classic. The 22 points for Artis was a season high and was his second 20-point game of the season and the ninth of his career Pitt (8-1) leaned on its dynamic duo of Artis and Michael Young in the win. Young finished with 20 points on the afternoon, 16 coming in the first half. The ... Read More
Pitt starts fast, blows out Eastern Washington
Three Pitt players scored in double figures as the Pitt Panthers basketball team improved to 7-1 on the season with a convincing 84-51 victory over Eastern Washington in the Panthers first game of the Gotham Classic Friday night at the Petersen Events Center. Michael Young led all scorers with 21 points while Jamel Artis (14) and Chris Jones (11) also finished in double figures for the Panthers. Pitt got off to a quick start and led throughout, leading by as much as 37 at one ... Read More
Pitt could boast best offensive team of Jamie Dixon era
As the Pitt Panthers prepare to take on Eastern Washington Friday night in one of their four games as part of the Gotham Classic, Panthers’ head coach Jamie Dixon has to be all smiles. That’s basically due to the fact that through seven games the Pitt offense has performed at a level unlike anything Dixon has seen the past few years. “We are certainly skilled,” Dixon said. ‘We have guys up and down the roster who are skilled offensively. We just have to keep doing what we are doing and ... Read More
Pitt offense clicking in blowout win over Central Arkansas
The Pitt Panthers had an early tilt Sunday afternoon against Central Arkansas and the Panthers looked from the opening tip like they wanted to get this one over with. Freshman point guard Damon Wilson led three Pitt players in double figures with a career-high 20 points as the Panthers dominated the Bears from the opening tip in a 100-47 victory. Jamel Artis finished with 17 and Chris Jones added 13 in the Pitt win. The Pitt (6-1) offense continues to roll as they shot 54 percent ... Read More
Pitt suffers first loss of season to No. 11 Purdue
The competition was much better than it had been during their first four victories of the season and although the Pitt Panthers competed, ultimately they fell short for the first time this season in a 72-59 loss to No. 11 Purdue in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Purdue (7-0) seven footer A. J. Hammons was unstoppable in the second half, scoring 17 of his game-high 24 points during the second 20 minutes to help lead the Boilermakers to the victory. Hammons also added 12 rebounds in the ... Read More
Pitt leans on experience to beat Kent State
The Pitt basketball team had a fight on their hands for much of the afternoon against Kent State, but Pitt leaned on its experience to come away with a win. Michael Young (23), Jamel Artis (19) and James Robinson (18) combined to score 60 points as Pitt defeated the Golden Flashes 85-76 to remain unbeaten on the season. ”Those three guys were terrific,” said Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon. “The numbers speak to that. I like the passing and the shot selection was as good as you can get. The ... Read More