Snatched from the Jaws of the Enemy: A Conversation with Pittsburgh Panther blog Cardiac Hill

The hometown police of UAlbany sniper Logan Aronhalt were forced into serious hunting dutiese recently -- and perhaps Logan and co. will be participating in some big game hunting themselves as they take on the Pittsburgh Panthers. It's 11/11/11 and your Albany Great Danes squares off against the #11 team in the country... destiny is just waiting to be made.

And luckily, we won't be caught off guard as our new friends at Cardiac Hill (presumably named for any hill after a lifetime of eating fries and cole slaw mashed on a sandwich) decided to sit down and have a nice, informative Q&A with us. Also, be sure to check Unranked responses to their questions. 

What's the outlook for this season for Pitt? How many newcomers to the starting line-up (i.e. any chance of slow start)?

Pitt will actually feature three new starters. The Panthers return Ashton Gibbs and Nasir Robinson to starting roles, but gone are center Gary McGhee, forward Gilbert Brown, and guard Brad Wanamaker. In their place will be guard Tray (Travon) Woodall, forward J.J. Moore or Lamar Patterson, and center Dante Taylor. As of now, the small forward position hasn't been decided, but Moore started in the last exhibition game and I expect him to get the nod. The good thing for Pitt is that two of those new guys, Taylor and Woodall, were two of the first guys off the bench last year and have significant experience. Patterson and Moore both also played last season and while Pitt is losing some experience with three seniors gone, the guys taking their spots have had plenty of playing time. I don't expect the team to start slowly - partially due to a somewhat weak non-conference schedule this year.

Ashton Gibbs is a lights out shooter, ok. Does he really deserve All-American consideration?

Having watched him the past three years, I think I can honestly say yes. Last year, he shot an amazing 49% from three-point range and has a great mid-range jumper. He started to show signs of being able to drive to the basket last year as well and is more of a complete player (though his defense could still use some work). He's one of the top returning guards in my opinion and based on the production that Pitt lost, should definitely have plenty of scoring opportunities. The thing that separates him, in my opinion, is his quick release. Even when blanketed, he still manages to get open just enough. And even when he's not open, he can still shoot over defenders because of that release.

If we manage to slow Gibbs, who are the second and third options?

Jump!

That's what we're all anxious to find out, honestly. Last year it would have been the aforementioned Wanamaker or Brown. But no one really knows who that will be this season. It's quite possible that Pitt doesn't have a great second scorer, but they've been without that luxury before. The team thrives on their balance and ability to have different guys step up every night. I wrote a short piece last year about Pitt's scoring and at some point in the season last year, I think the Panthers had something like seven or eight different guys lead the team in scoring in a given game. That probably won't happen again with the losses the team has had, but I do think we'll see a different No. 2 scorer many nights. Capable No. 2 scorers include just about anyone that will play significant minutes. If you twist my arm for a name, I'd probably go with Nasir Robinson. Robinson is an undersized power forward, but because of that, gets mismatches. He averaged nearly ten points a game last season and shot about 55% from the field.

Will every game feel like a non-conference game for the next two years?

It will be strange for sure, but I'd say no. Pitt's developed some incredible rivalry games with teams like UConn, Syracuse, Georgetown, Louisville, and West Virginia, and having been through so many battles with those squads, they'll feel like conference games to me. Heck, I think they'll still feel like conference games if they play after Pitt goes to the ACC.

Pitt's a hard-nosed, All-American town. Can you handle the international flavor Albany brings to the table? We've got three Aussie's and a Dominican.

Pitt's had some international players of our own and we've seen plenty of guys in the Big East as well. We have a Canadian (freshman Khem Birch) and Nigerian (Dante Taylor) so Pitt has a few this season as well.

Albany's weakness is inside. We can't score or defend particularly well from the 4-5 spot. Will that be a problem?

I'm guessing it will be, partially because Pitt thrives on rebounding and is very good on the glass. In addition, they've also got some good size on this year's team. As I mentioned, Nasir Robinson is undersized for a power forward (6'5"), but Pitt has four guys that are 6'9" or taller that should all get minutes.

How is your perimeter D? Any chance it's susceptible to a hot shooting 3pt mid-major squad?

Pitt has definitely been susceptible to hot three-point shooting in the past, particularly because they play man-to-man most of the time. That generally works just fine, but there have been rare games when Pitt has struggled with it - sometimes so much that they have to switch to a zone, which Jamie Dixon doesn't really like doing. And as good offensively as Gibbs is, he does need to improve defensively. If Albany comes out hitting some early shots, they could definitely have some success.

We have UnrankedAE reps heading into town, where should they grab pre-game food? And post-game celebratory beers?

Pre-game food? Primanti's is usually the establishment of choice. Personally, though, I don't like fries and cole slaw mashed on a sandwich - to each their own. If you want to stay close in Oakland, the Original Hot Dog shop (The 'O') is a must if you've never been there, just to experience the greasiest food you may ever have in your life. It's not the greatest food, but it's different. Lots of local watering holes in Oakland as well that you can try after the game ... probably a dozen or so within a few blocks walk so check them all out.

Prediction?

Pitt had some trouble in its last exhibition game, winning by only nine on Monday night against D-II Kentucky Wesleyan. But the team is just so unbeatable at the Pete, having lost like a dozen games or something like that in the history of the building, which is about ten years old. Hard to see them having much trouble with Albany, though nothing's impossible with a fairly young team. I think Pitt probably wins this one by about 20.

Well, there you have it.