Pitt Needs Change in Backcourt

The Pitt Panthers need to consider benching Bub Carrington to give the offense a different look.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are in a desperate place right now, mired in a 1-5 start to ACC play that, if it hasn’t already sunk them from consideration from even the furthest reaches of college basketball’s postseason and their offense, led by a young point guard that is not only struggling but pressing mightily to pull his team out of a slump on his own. 

It’s been a while since Pitt frehsman Bub Carrington elevated this team and made a positive impact on a win that wasn’t already surely in hand. He’s making poor decisions, shooting erratically, and hunting poor-quality isolation shots. Meanwhile, the passing instincts that had made him so dangerous earlier this season have disappeared, leaving little option besides relegating him to the bench. 

Carrington posted far and away the worst stat line of his young career against the Orange, missing all 10 of his shots - seven of which came from 3-point range - and dealing just two assists to one turnover. As the competition ramps up, he's regressed. Carrington averages just 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.3 turnovers per game while making just 37.2% of his field goals and 23.8% of his 3-pointers. While his rebounding improves against the best in the sport, everything else gets worse from his overall season averages. 

"He’s obviously down, because he’s a talented player and he’s a good player and he’s had an outstanding season thus far. But he’s struggling," Pitt head coach Jeff Capel said. "Bub is a confident kid, but look, when you’re 18 years old and you’re a freshman and you’re struggling, at times you can feel like you’re letting your team down." 

Capel has been willing to bench underperforming starters at other points this season. Zack Austin had to play his way back into the starting five and Federiko Federiko still completing that process now. But even as Carrington has shot himself deeper and deeper into a hole, Capel has yet to pull the trigger on another lineup change. Part of that has to do with their depth - Ishmael Leggett and Jaland Lowe have dealt with nagging injuries that have kept them both from reaching their ceiling just yet. 

But both Lowe and Leggett are getting healthier and playing better while Carrington hits a freshman wall. Capel has noble instincts - he doesn't want to bury a young player and kill his confidence because of a cold streak. But this is high-level college basketball and Capel has to trust that Carrington won't let a step back become permanent. 

Despite the way it looks right now, Pitt is not a completely hopeless team. They still do lots of things well. Against Syracuse, they led 10-6 in second-chance points, 15-3 in fastbreak points and won rebounding 40-36. But the offense has been a glaring issue and its catalyst, Carrington, has been as well. 

As Austin and Federiko proved, one or two games starting on the bench doesn't have to sink a player if he doesn't let it. But at some point, Capel has to consider a change and subout a player who hasn't been helping the team win recently. 

"I’m trying to figure out the buttons to push," Capel said. "Obviously, what I’ve done has not worked. I’m going to continue to try."

There's a button he hasn't pushed yet and it's forcing Carrington to step back for a moment while hotter players take over. 

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Cold Shooting Leads Pitt to Loss Against Syracuse

Former Pitt RB Declares for NFL Draft

Pitt Introduces Three New Assistant Coaches

Former Pitt Defender Works Out for Packers

Pitt's Calijah Kancey Dominates NFL Playoff Debut

Report: Pitt Hires New Special Teams Coordinator

• Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt