http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/20214 Recent articles about Ronald Ramon en-us The Syracuse Orange finished 19-12 in the 2007-08 season, which was actually an unexpected achievement, considering it was the team's first year without its much-beloved, graduated guard Gerry McNamara. A flashy playmaker named Jonny Flynn strolled into town with his work cut out for him. In his rookie campaign, the heir to the McNamara... www.rawsportsblog.com Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:21:12 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301922 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301922 Real bummer of a Pitt game, as they played great for the first 30-some minutes, only to completely fall apart with 5 minutes to go in a 82-70 loss at #21 Notre Dame. Pitt looked in control, ready to end ND's big home streak (Pitt was up double digits twice in the middle of the 2nd half), but the Irish closed out the game on a 21-10 run. I'm really too frustrated with this loss to give you a detailed recap of the ballgame. Like I said, I was very impressed with Pitt's play for the first 33 minutes of the game. They held an 11 point lead over the Irish and were in cruise control. Although Harangody was scoring, Blair had him frustrated with his patented charge-taking skills. Benjamin was red-hot from outside. Sam Young was scoring at will. Pitt looked ready to take home a signature road win and virtually lock up an NCAA berth, getting back into the fight on the Big East and national scene. Instead, Pitt self-destructed in the final few minutes, and was outscored, 42-19 to end the game. Give Notre Dame credit, as they nailed insanely deep three-balls, and Tory Jackson (the point guard) played his heart out, grabbing 13 boards (he's 5-10!). Still, Pitt fueled the fire by turning the ball over three times in one minute, missing an easy dunk, and taking low-percentage shots. Many fans are also blaming the loss on Ronald Ramon's 0-8 night shooting, and the teams pathetic performance at the foul line (11-18). Pitt is now tied for 7th in the Big East and will remain unranked regardless of what happens Sunday vs. #23 Louisville. I still have confidence in the Panthers though. They played great basketball for most of the game against a very good team in a tough place to win. Fields is back and Pitt always seems to hit a wall in February and get hot for the Big East Tourney. This year, let's hope they are just prolonging that a bit, so we can get some momentum going into the NCAA's. I like the Panthers to beat Louisville on Sunday, Cincy after that, and win two out of their last three. That should be enough to get into the Dance regardless of what happens in NYC (where Pitt always plays well). I still like what I'm seeing from this club, they just need to avoid the collapse at the end of the game. Marquette was a 3/4-game long collapse. ND was only a 1/4-game long collapse. It's an improvement, and I think Pitt will put it together and get hot. They always seem to at this time of year, and they are definitely still close (if they weren't close, they'd be getting blown out). If Louisville is a repeat of this game, then I'll start to worry. But this is the first time all year Pitt has lost 2 in a row and I think they won't let that last, especially on its home floor. The Panthers will be ready come Sunday. Duquesne was crushed at #10 Xavier, 75-48. The Pens did hold on to win..but more on that later. Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:21:24 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/161902 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/161902 Nothing out of the ordinary to report from the Pete last night, as Pitt dominated a poor Providence team, coming away with a 82-63 win that simply helped Pitt keep pace in the Big East. The Panthers are sitting in 5th place, a half-game behind UConn (who beat Pitt) and a half game ahead of Marquette (who Pitt will play on the road, Friday night). The top 4 teams get a bye in the Big East Tournament. After some back-and-forth play seen in the first half of most college b-ball games, Pitt grabbed the lead for good with 5:34 to play in the first half. From there, Pitt simply dominated the inferior Friars. Providence only scored 6 points in the first 11 minutes of the second half. The Panthers also played well on the offensive end of the floor. Gilbert Brown, Sam Young, and DeJuan Blair each jammed home a highlight-reel worthy dunk. Young broke out of a month-long slump with a game-high 22 points. He simply started to hustle after loose balls, drive straight past players for layups at will, and took some fade-away shots that looked ill-advised, but he nailed every one. Afterwards Jamie Dixon said Pitt was running sets for Young all night. Blair had 15 points and Benjamin had 10. Ronald Ramon, coming off the awesome shot to beat WVU, went 5 for 7 from beyond the arc, scoring 15 points. Wanamaker played another solid game off the bench with 6, and McGhee chipped in with 4 as did Biggs. Levance Fields, contrary to prior speculation, did not even suit up for the game. Pitt didn't need him, but they will in two days at Marquette. Even if he does play in that game, his minutes will be extremely limited. It's a good thing Ramon and Benjamin have really adjusted to sharing PG duties with Fields out. Dixon said Fields is still practicing and is day-to-day. Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:52:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/140715 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/140715 I'm not sure which man is despised more in Morgantown right now, Ronald Ramon or Rich Rodriguez. Thanks to a clutch three pointer as time expired last night, the former of those two knocked off the WVU basketball team in a game that the Mountaineers needed to, and should have won. Rodriguez, as we all know, was the man responsible for the colossal letdown against Pitt in a WVU's final game of the regular season. The stakes last night weren't nearly as high, but the finish was as exciting as you'll ever see. Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:47:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/134316 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/134316 You all know the basics by now. Pitt beat Georgetown at the Pete on Monday, 69-60. Benjamin and Ramon had 18 each. Blair had 15 and dominated Roy Hibbert (who is 7 inches taller). The Panthers played a phenomenal game and are once again contenders in the Big East. I don't think anyone still thinks they won't manage to make the NCAA Tourney. I could go on, but there's been plenty of coverage in the past few days. I'd simply be repeating the same things over and over again (DeJuan Blair is a beast, it's great to see Ramon on track, Jamie Dixon is brilliant, we'd be unbelievable with Cook/Fields, Georgetown didn't look good) and it's all true. But having been at the game first-hand and not being able to put out a basic recap soon after the game, I just want to focus on one major thing that struck me Monday night. Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:51:36 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/74366 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/74366