Pitt at Clemson: Big Game in Postseason Push

The Pitt Panthers have one last big-time opportunity left in the regular season.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are back in action and it's arguably their biggest game of the season as they hit the home stretch looking to maximize their NCAA Tournament resume. 

They're facing a big opportunity as they travel to face Clemson and the road warrior Panthers will try to snatch another Quad 1 win away from home against one of the ACC's best. 

Game Info
Opponent: Clemson (19-8 overall, 9-7 ACC)
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: Littlejohn Coliseum; Clemson, South Carolina
Broadcast: ACC Network and 93.7 The Fan

Odds
Pitt is a 7.5-point underdog to the Tigers, according to Action Network, with moneyline odds of +240 to -300 for Clemson. The point total line has been set at 142.5. 

MORE: Pitt HC Jeff Capel Discusses Zack Austin, Court Storming, Previews Clemson

A Fresh Start
It's been 85 days since the Panthers and Tigers clashed in their ACC play opener at the Petersen Events Center - a 79-70 win for the Tigers that swung their way early before Pitt rallied to make it a tight game in the second half. It's the same rosters and same coaches but Pitt head coach Jeff Capel believes there will be two different teams to take the floor in Littlejohn Coliseum this week. 

"I’ve gone back and I’ve watched some of it and it was actually really difficult to watch just because I think we’re so much better," Capel said. "I think they’re better. It was so early. They played well, we did not play well. They made us not play well. We still had some opportunities, but I think we’re very, very different now. I think they’re different. I like where we are right now and excited about the opportunity to go down and play a really good team."

That loss to Clemson kicked off a 1-5 start to ACC play for the Panthers, who have won eight of their last 10 since. The Tigers were 11-1 overall and 1-0 in ACC play four weeks after visiting Pittsburgh and proceeded to lose six of their next nine, then won five of their last six games. Both sides have hit reset and meet again riding hot streaks during the home stretch of the regular season. 

One More Marquee Matchup
The Panthers are moving up the NCAA Tournament bubble, even after a tough loss to Wake Forest. They bounced back against Virginia Tech, winning handily behind a dominant second half, and now sit as high as the First Four Out, according to at least one bracketologist. 

Pitt's resume is still lacking behind some other bubble teams and they have one more shot during the regular season to really give themselves a boost as the regular season draws to a close. This game at Clemson represents the last Quad 1 game on Pitt's schedule before the regular season ends. 

A win would give the Panthers a massive boost while a loss would force them to win multiple games in the ACC Tournament if they want to even have a chance of making the field. 

Redemption For Frontcourt?
Rebounding has been one of Pitt's biggest strengths this season but their length wasn't used very effectively the last time out against Clemson. The Panthers lost rebounding by seven, gave up 16 second chance points and lost paint points 28-24. 

"We got dominated in those two areas the last time we played them. Clemson is a really good rebounding team. They’re a very good defensive team and they’re a very physical team and they’re a really good offensive team," Capel said. "We really have to do a better job defensive rebounding, defending in the post, our ball screen defense, transition defense, because we were really bad the last time we played them, in those areas.

But as Capel said, this is a different Pitt team this time around in large part because of the improved play of Federiko Federiko, Guillermo Diaz Graham and Zack Austin. They've settled into their roles and thrived in them, which should give Pitt confidence they'll be able to better contend with P.J. Hall and Ian Schieffelin, who combined for 30 points and 28 rebounds in the first meeting between these two squads. 

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