Who knew the lowest-scoring NCAA title game in more than six decades not only ended one season but also foreshadowed this one?
Eight months after Connecticut beat Butler, 53-41, in the lowest-scoring championship game since 1949, Division I teams are on pace to set a record for the lowest-scoring season of the shot-clock era.
A statistical analysis by CBSsportsline.com had teams averaging 67.6 points per game (as of earlier this week), which would be the lowest since 1982. The shot clock era began in 1985-86.
Pitt coach Jamie Dixon blamed the lower scores on teams having to play so many non-conference games in a tight window. The Panthers played 13 non-conference games in 42 days, or one about every three days.
Compounding the problem, the Big East's expanded 18-game schedule has forced teams to play conference games the week after Christmas this season and last. The change in the schedule has forced teams in the league to fill their non-conference schedules a week earlier than previous seasons.
Before the Big East schedule was revamped, the Panthers typically played two non-conference games the week after Christmas before the Big East schedule started.
"It's a lot of games early," Dixon said. "That's something that is occurring. Less time to practice, more games. We've definitely been in that situation. We have not practiced as much as we would like. Throw in the injuries. It hasn't been what we would prefer.
"This is a short calendar. You had to fit more games in fewer days. That definitely hasn't helped scoring. You can understand why. That may have something to do with it. It's been interesting watching it."
Pitt has done its part in recent games to contribute to the trend. The Panthers still rank among the highest-scoring teams in the Big East, averaging 74.9 points per game, but they have scored 61 or fewer in three of the past seven games and posted their two lowest-scoring games this season in their past two games.
Pitt lost to Wagner, 59-54, Dec. 23 and lost its Big East opener to Notre Dame, 72-59, Tuesday night. It was the first time the Panthers failed to reach 60 points in consecutive games since February of 2006.
For Pitt, the reasons for the scoring slump appear to be simple. The Panthers have been missing more from the 3-point line than they were earlier in the season. Some high turnover games and some inefficient post play have contributed as well, but bad shooting performances are at the root of the problem.
Pitt is shooting 15.8 percent from 3-point range the past four games after shooting 46.4 percent in the first 10 games.
"We have to shoot the ball better," Dixon said. "There's no question about that. It's been quite a dramatic change in what we were shooting and what we've shot the past four games. The shot selection has been good for the most part. We just have to do a better job."
Sophomore Lamar Patterson does not believe Pitt's offensive problems will linger.
"I think it's just something that happens," he said of the team's shooting slump. "The past few days in practice we've been hitting a bunch of shots. We've been rushing shots in games. Once we get that fixed, our shots will start falling again."
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NOTES -- Junior point guard Tray Woodall, who played for the first time in a month Tuesday night at Notre Dame, has not practiced the past few days, and his status for the game Sunday against Cincinnati is questionable. "He's not recovering well from the other day," Dixon said. "You guys could see he wasn't at top speed." Dixon said he will see how Woodall, recovering from an abdominal tear, feels today and Sunday before making a decision about Sunday. ... Dixon also said leading scorer Ashton Gibbs did not practice Friday because of an ankle injury. When asked whether Gibbs would play, Dixon said, "We'll see."... Gibbs has been playing through this ankle injury since getting hurt Nov. 30 against Duquense.
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First published on December 31, 2011 at 12:03 am
Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11365/1200473-175-0.stm?cmpid=sports.xml
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