Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Pittsburgh junior guard Ashton Gibbs says he’s “questionable” for Saturday’s game at No. 9 Villanova (9 p.m., ESPN).
A team spokesman listed Gibbs as “doubtful.”
The New Jersey native injured his left MCL during a rebound in a Feb. 5 win over Cincinnati.
Without their leading scorer, No. 4 Pitt downed No. 25 West Virginia, 71-66, Monday in Morgantown, W.V.
Four players reached double-figures in scoring, led by Nasir Robinson’s 15. Paterson, N.J. native Travon Woodall, subbing for Gibbs, had 12 points, 3 assists and 2 turnovers.
“What’s so impressive about them is the guys in this game learned from the group in 2009 that we played in the final eight,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said.
“We said it back then and we still believe it now, that group was a Final Four team. Either one of us could have won that game. I think this team might be better just because of the depth. Depth and they have a little bit more skill level overall. That’s kind of hard to say because both of them were great teams. [Brad] Wanamaker is incredible, [Gilbert] Brown’s becoming incredible. I love [Gary] McGhee. You can argue that McGhee is as good as anybody they’ve had in that spot. They’re just an outstanding team and I definitely think they’re Final Four caliber.”
Pitt (22-2, 10-1) has won six straight road games, 12 of its last 13 overall and 13 of its last 14 Big East regular season contests.
Villanova is 19-5 overall, 7-4 in the league.
The Wildcats are coming off a stunning last-second loss to Rutgers Wednesday on Jonathan Mitchell’s 4-point play, and have lost three of five overall.
“You obviously have to coach it one game at a time,” Wright said. “Within our program, we always feel like where we finish the regular season in the Big East speaks to how good of a team we are.
“Not how we do in the Big East tournament. Not how we do in the NCAA tournament. Even though we understand that everyone else evaluates us that way. I just believe that what you do over the course of a season within your conference really shows where you are as a program and as a team. The regular season is very important. The team that wins it, I think, really is the best team.”
Click here to read the full epic at SNY.
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Pittsburgh junior guard Ashton Gibbs says he’s “questionable” for Saturday’s game at No. 9 Villanova (9 p.m., ESPN).
A team spokesman listed Gibbs as “doubtful.”
The New Jersey native injured his left MCL during a rebound in a Feb. 5 win over Cincinnati.
Without their leading scorer, No. 4 Pitt downed No. 25 West Virginia, 71-66, Monday in Morgantown, W.V.
Four players reached double-figures in scoring, led by Nasir Robinson’s 15. Paterson, N.J. native Travon Woodall, subbing for Gibbs, had 12 points, 3 assists and 2 turnovers.
“What’s so impressive about them is the guys in this game learned from the group in 2009 that we played in the final eight,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said.
“We said it back then and we still believe it now, that group was a Final Four team. Either one of us could have won that game. I think this team might be better just because of the depth. Depth and they have a little bit more skill level overall. That’s kind of hard to say because both of them were great teams. [Brad] Wanamaker is incredible, [Gilbert] Brown’s becoming incredible. I love [Gary] McGhee. You can argue that McGhee is as good as anybody they’ve had in that spot. They’re just an outstanding team and I definitely think they’re Final Four caliber.”
Pitt (22-2, 10-1) has won six straight road games, 12 of its last 13 overall and 13 of its last 14 Big East regular season contests.
Villanova is 19-5 overall, 7-4 in the league.
The Wildcats are coming off a stunning last-second loss to Rutgers Wednesday on Jonathan Mitchell’s 4-point play, and have lost three of five overall.
“You obviously have to coach it one game at a time,” Wright said. “Within our program, we always feel like where we finish the regular season in the Big East speaks to how good of a team we are.
“Not how we do in the Big East tournament. Not how we do in the NCAA tournament. Even though we understand that everyone else evaluates us that way. I just believe that what you do over the course of a season within your conference really shows where you are as a program and as a team. The regular season is very important. The team that wins it, I think, really is the best team.”
Click here to read the full epic at SNY.
