Freshman guard fills in with a new role
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Brad Wanamaker is earning playing time for Pitt as a backup to point guard Levance Fields.
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Bradley Wanamaker came to Pitt with a scorer's mentality. Ever since he could remember, Wanamaker played shooting guard, including his days at nationally ranked Philadelphia Roman Catholic High School, where he averaged 18 points per game.
But with seniors Ronald Ramon and Keith Benjamin dividing most of the minutes at shooting guard, Wanamaker is being asked by coach Jamie Dixon to play a new role as backup to Levance Fields at point guard.
"I've never been a point guard," said Wanamaker, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound freshman. "But I have confidence in myself that I can be good at the point-guard position. Coach told me I might play there some, but I didn't expect it. He told me sometimes. Now, he wants my main focus to be point guard."
- Matchup: No. 17 Pitt (4-0) vs. Buffalo (2-2), 7:30 p.m. today, Petersen Events Center.
- Radio, Internet: WWSW-FM (94.5), WBGG-AM (970), www.pittsburghpanthers.com.
- Pitt: Has not played since beating Mississippi Valley State, 78-45, Nov. 15. ... Looking to start 5-0 for an eighth consecutive season. ... Junior F Sam Young (18.8 ppg, 9.8 rpg) has two double-doubles in the first four games. ... Freshman C DeJuan Blair (12.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg) is 22 for 36 from the field (61 percent). ... Senior G Ronald Ramon has made 6 of 18 3-point attempts.
- Buffalo: Coming off 80-63 loss at Niagara. ... Has victories against Ohio Valley and South Florida. ... Other loss came at Connecticut. ... Led by Greg Gamble (12.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg), Sean Smiley (8.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg) and Andy Robinson (8.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg). ... Coach Reggie Witherspoon is in his ninth season and has a 97-141 record with the Bulls.
- Hidden stat: Pitt beat its first four opponents by an average of 28 points per game.
Being Fields' backup means spot playing time, but Wanamaker has made the most of his opportunity through four games. He is averaging almost 13 minutes and has an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio heading into tonight's non-conference game against Buffalo at the Petersen Events Center.
And while scoring is no longer his singular focus, he has shown the ability to drive to the basket and make an outside shot or two. He is averaging 4.3 points while making 7 of 17 shots from the field. In high school, it would not be out of character for Wanamaker to take 17 shots in a game.
"When I first came here, I was looking for my shot," Wanamaker said. "Coach had to calm me down and show me the way he wanted me to play, and now I'm more comfortable with it."
Dixon said he is pleased with the way Wanamaker is making the transition. By playing Wanamaker at point guard, Dixon can play Ramon, his best outside shooter, at shooting guard. Ramon served as Fields' backup last season.
"He's a tough kid," Dixon said of Wanamaker. "He's getting better. We want our freshmen to be seniors halfway through November in terms of our execution. We ask for a lot. But we knew he was going to be a good player. There have been no surprises. He's a great passer. He has a great feel and he gets to the basket."
Wanamaker's biggest adjustment has been on defense, and he is still getting used to Dixon's demanding principles.
"He thinks he's a really good defender," Dixon said. "A lot of freshmen feel like a steal counts for 12 points and the one you gave up doesn't count as any. That's the thing you have to get used to and understand."
Other than center DeJuan Blair, Wanamaker is seeing more playing time than any of the other first-year players. Wanamaker has quickly established the trust of Dixon and his staff and looks forward to making bigger contributions as the season goes on.
Wanamaker said he could play shooting guard next season after Ramon and Benjamin graduate but fully expects to play strictly point guard the rest of this season.
And that's fine with him.
"I feel like it's going great so far," Wanamaker said. "I've been watching Levance and Ron. I just try to come in and play with the same intensity they do. Maybe next year I'll play more [shooting guard]. But I don't know. It will depend on how the season goes."
First Published November 23, 2007 12:00 am
