Panthers pass toughness test
-
Pitt's DeJuan Blair is attended to after colliding with Oklahoma State's Byron Eaton in the first half.
Share with others:
DAYTON, Ohio -- It might have been a minute -- 90 seconds, tops -- but it seemed like forever that Pitt's Naismith Player of the Year Award finalist DeJuan Blair was on the hard floor yesterday, clutching his left knee after Oklahoma State's Byron Eaton took a tumble and barreled into Blair's leg shoulder-first. There hasn't been such a tense moment in Pittsburgh sports since Ben Roethlisberger's neck injury in the Steelers' final regular-season game. Pitt needs Blair to make it to the Final Four. Heck, it needed him to beat Oklahoma State in a second-round NCAA tournament game.
So, of course, Blair jumped up, briefly went to the locker room for treatment and stretching, and was back in the game midway through the first half after missing just 1:31 of action. He turned out to be huge in Pitt's 84-76 win on a day when he didn't have his best offensive game.
In the second half, it was point guard Levance Fields who went down after a nasty collision with Oklahoma State's Marshall Moses. Fields jokingly said he embellished the hit to make sure a foul was called on Moses, but Pitt coach Jamie Dixon didn't believe it. "Levance asked to come out of the game, and he never asks to come out."
But, of course, Fields was back on the court after missing just 1:35 of the game. Down the stretch, he made three consecutive big plays to help Pitt survive and advance to Boston for a third-round game Thursday night against Xavier.
"We gutted it out and found a way to win," Dixon said. "We did it with our toughness."
Sure, senior Sam Young's 32 points were a big part of it. In the first half, when Oklahoma State made 10 of 16 3-point shots, he kept Pitt in the game with 23 points. "It seemed like Sam was playing one against five," Fields marveled.
Sure, Pitt's 41-21 rebounding edge was critical. Blair, as usual, was the horse with 12.
And sure, the way Pitt tightened its defense in the second half was important. Oklahoma State made only 2 of 12 3s.
But it's that toughness that Dixon mentioned that stood out.
Blair admitted he was scared silly when the pain shot through his left leg. "I jumped up to show everybody I was OK, but then I went back to the locker room and collapsed." Still, Blair said he never doubted he would come back and play. "I'd have come out on crutches if I had to." His rebound and layup gave Pitt an 81-76 lead and started its 5-0 run to end the game.
But as valuable as Blair is to Pitt, Fields might be more important. It's not too simplistic to say Pitt goes as he goes. He played poorly against West Virginia in the Big East Conference tournament and Pitt lost. He played poorly in the first-round NCAA game Friday against East Tennessee State and Pitt barely won.
That's why it was so encouraging for Pitt that Fields had a big game. He hasn't been himself since his left groin was strained in the Marquette game March 4. Dixon said he just now is getting healthy again. "He didn't practice for two weeks. He just started practicing again last week. Practice is important ...
"This was a big game for Levance. He needed this, needed it for his confidence. We're a different team when he plays like that."
Fields had nine assists and just two turnovers. He set up Young for a 3-pointer that gave Pitt a 74-72 lead, then made a layup and a killer 3 to make the score 79-74.
"My coaches and teammates really believe in me and want me to have the ball with the game on the line," Fields said. "There's no greater feeling than knowing that. "
Field's performance at the end highlighted another Pitt strength -- mental toughness. That showed some in the first half when Pitt -- these are Dixon's words -- "survived their barrage of 3-point shots. A lot of teams would have buckled there." But it really showed late after Pitt blew a 64-53 lead and trailed, 72-71, with 3 1/2 minutes left.
It's a bit troubling that Pitt wasted the big lead. "We just kind of relaxed," Fields said. Against a better team that could be costly. So could the turnovers. At one point during Oklahoma State's run, Pitt had three consecutive turnovers. It finished with 14 after having 18 against East Tennessee State.
But the resiliency Pitt showed at the end was impressive. Fields, Young and Blair clearly weren't ready for the season to end.
Blair sounded as if he can't wait to get to Boston.
"I did it in the first game [against East Tennessee State with 27 points and 16 rebounds]. [Fields and Young] did it today. When we start clicking all together, we're going to be tough for anyone to beat."
That's a little easier to believe now than it was after the East Tennessee State fiasco. Actually, it's a lot easier to believe because Fields looked like the Fields of old. If he's right again, Pitt really will be a tough out against Xavier and against Villanova or Duke in a potential East regional final Saturday.
"I keep telling you we're going to Detroit," Blair said, grinning.
The Final Four.
It's a tough road ahead. Only the toughest of teams survive the journey.
For that reason alone, Pitt has a chance, a real chance.
Correction/Clarification: (Published Mar. 24, 2009) If the Pitt Panthers win their Sweet 16 game Thursday, Mar. 26, 2009 against Xavier, they will play an Elite Eight game Saturday, Mar. 28, 2009. The day of the regional final was incorrect in this column as originally published Mar. 23, 2009.
First Published March 23, 2009 12:00 am
