Article by David Vorp With the ongoing NHL lockout, it has been a while since theConsol Energy Center was used for a sporting event, unfortunately, but it served the 81st edition of The City Game between the Pitt Panthers and Duquesne Dukes quite well. Even Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma - who has nothing better to do - was in attendance to take in this Pittsburgh tradition (wearing Pitt blue and gold, incidentally). The City Game, which both unites and divides the city, has now been ... Read More
Dixon concerned about Panthers’ rebounding
Win or lose, one thing that Pitt Panthers' head coach Jamie Dixon can almost certainly depend on is the fact that his team will crash the boards. Usually always one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, the Panthers can usually be counted on to limit opponents to one shot per possession and usually can create more than a few second shot opportunities for themselves at the offensive end. However that hasn't been the case the past three games as Pitt hasn't done a great job rebounding the ... Read More
Lamar Patterson Starting to Heat Up for Panthers
When the Pitt Panthers closed out the 2011-12 season with a run that led to a CBI championship, one thing was very clear- sophomore Lamar Patterson was the Panthers best player. A lot of the expectations for the Panthers this season were based some on the fact that Patterson would improve off the way he closed the season and possibly become a major scoring threat. However through Pitt's first four games of the season, that was not the case. Patterson was held scoreless in Pitt's opener ... Read More
Panthers use strong second half to cruise past Howard
The Pitt Panthers started a string Tuesday night of seven consecutive home games against lower competition when they hosted the Howard Bison at the Petersen Events Center. It took Pitt a while to get going, but Jamie Dixon’s squad did exactly what they were supposed to do to a team like the Bison- win going away. Pitt tied a season-high with eight three-pointers, including a career-high five from Lamar Patterson as the Panthers cruised to a 70-46 victory to improve to 6-1 on the ... Read More
Trey Zeigler Charged with DUI, Suspended Indefinitely
Through six games, Jamie Dixon's Pitt Panthers have shown great depth en route to a 5-1 start to the season, but junior transfer guard Trey Zeigler will be testing exactly how deep the Panthers really are. Zeigler has been charged with driving under the influence, stemming from an incident over the weekend. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Zeigler will "be charged by mail summons with two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence. Details of the arrest were not immediately ... Read More
Panthers Get First Real Test in No. 4 Michigan
Jamie Dixon's 4-0 Pitt Panthers get their first real test of the season Wednesday night when they hook up with No. 4 Michigan in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT in Madison Square Garden. The Panthers executed well at both ends of the floor in the early going, but doing so against the likes of Mount St. Mary's, Fordham, Lehigh and Oakland is one thing, but doing so against the Wolverines could be a different story altogether. Pitt has won their four games in different ways, but mostly ... Read More
Tray Woodall Becoming the Leader Jamie Dixon is Looking For
Pitt Panthers head coach Jamie Dixon has always been able to lean on his veteran leadership. Usually always blessed with an experienced basketball team, things took a turn in a hurry last season as the Panthers became extremely young almost overnight. His one leader- Ashton Gibbs- turned out to be anything but that and the youth showed up in Pitt’s disappointing record. But things may be back to normal for Dixon and the Panthers, because once again he has that leader on the ... Read More
Pitt Completes Comeback for the Ages in Overtime Win vs. Oakland
The Pitt Panthers men’s basketball team has a date at Madison Square Garden with No. 5 Michigan on Wednesday. Apparently they forgot they had to play Oakland on Saturday. Pitt fell into classic trap game syndrome and failed to come out and execute early and found themselves down as many as 18 in the second half, but a furious comeback from the Panthers forced overtime. Once they got there they dominated the Golden Grizzlies and ultimately came out on top with a 72-62 victory to improve to 4-0 ... Read More
Zanna’s Improved Game a Big Reason for Pitt’s 3-0 Start
A big part of the 3-0 start for the Pitt Panthers has been the improved play of power forward Talib Zanna, who has been nothing short of outstanding through three games. Zanna, who has averaged 5.2 points per game throughout his collegiate career thus far, came out and set a career-high in the Panthers opener against Mount St. Mary’s, dropping 20 on the Mountaineers, a total he matched against Lehigh on Tuesday night. The scoring is great for a Pitt team that many felt could struggle scoring ... Read More
Strong Second half Powers Pitt Past Lehigh
After blowout wins in their opening two games, Jamie Dixon’s Pitt Panthers were sure to be tested more by a very good Lehigh team. And tested they were. For a half. Led by Tray Woodall and Talib Zanna, the Panthers came out of the locker room smoking hot in the second half and turned a close game into a route, defeating the Mountain Hawks 78-53 in Preseason NIT action at the Petersen Events Center. “That’s a very good team,” Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon said. ‘I thought all 10 of us ... Read More