Mouths bloodied at practice today

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 18:01

Written by Ray Fittipaldo

Jamie Dixon mentioned today how he was not satisfied with his team's rebounding and the way his players were taking care of the ball. So he put the whistle away at practice today in hopes the Panthers would play with more of an edge against DePaul Thursday night.

"Coaches let us play," senior forward Nasir Robinson said. "Today we had a drill where he just let us get after it. Guys were throwing each other around. A couple of guys got their mouths bloodied today. He was letting us play. I think we needed that. I think it's going to help us. It will carry over into the games."

Pitt ourebounded Cincinnati, 44-30, but Dixon was upset about the Panthers not getting their fair share of loose balls in that game. He also was dissatisfied with the 17 turnovers. Another drill in practice had players hacking and slapping at each other when defending.
Robinson is a big fan of the physical practices.

"It was real fun," he said. "Guys would come down and push you and throw you around. You could come back and do it back to them. We don't take it personal. We know we're just trying to get each other better. One guy might not like it, but that's what we'll sacrifice to get better. I think it makes practices more competitive."

Robinson said the practices in recent days reminded him of his freshman year when Sam Young, DeJuan Blair and other used to make life difficult for him.

"Sam, Fella, Levance, Tyrell, those guys threw me around, he said. "But I held my ground and tried to throw them back. It carried over. What those guys did to us we're doing to our young guys."

Good thing Khem Birch wasn't around for these practices.

*Tray Woodall did not practice. He went to see the doctor today, but Dixon did not have an update on his status for the game at DePaul Thursday night.

*Talib Zanna, who missed the second half against Cincinnati because of concussion-like symptoms, went through practice without any problems and is expected to play against the Blue Demons.

*I will resume my weekly chat Thursday at 1 p.m. If you want the chats to be a part of my coverage please participate this week, or we're likely to bag them.