Pitt vs SC State: Game Info, Odds, Three Storylines

The Pitt Panthers are back in action against South Carolina State after some extended rest.

PITTSBURGH -- Finals week is over and Pitt students are headed home for the holidays but the Panthers will remain on campus to wrap up their 2023 non-conference slate. 

They have two more non-ACC opponents left on the schedule, beginning with a matinee against South Carolina State at the Petersen Events Center. 

Game Info
Opponent: South Carolina State (3-8 overall, 0-0 MEAC)
Time: 2:00 p.m. EST
Location: Petersen Events Center; Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Broadcast: ACC Network and 93.7 The Fan

Odds
Pitt is a 27-point favorite over the Bulldogs, according to Action Network. The point total line has been set at 154. 

Lineup Changes Coming?
Jeff Capel said it in no uncertain terms following the Panthers' win over Canisius at the Petersen Events Center before a finals week break - two starters in the frontcourt aren't giving the team enough in their minutes. And with Federiko Federiko and Zack Austin struggling to make an impact 

Capel was atypically quick to turn to his bench early against the Golden Griffins in an effort to get some better defensive play and rebounding. Will Jeffress and both Jorge and Guillermo Diaz-Graham saw some more time as a result. For both Federiko and Austin, defense is their bread and butter and as tremendous athletes, they should be able to dominate the glass, especially against a mid-major opponent. 

Pitt has rolled with the same starting lineup for all 10 games they've played this season, but that could change quickly as the Panthers near ACC play and the urgency takes a step up. 

Pack It In
Against South Carolina State, Pitt will have to defend an opposite style of play than the one they faced against Canisius in their last game. Instead of having to fly around and run shooters off the 3-point line, Pitt will probably be better served to pack their defense into the paint against a team that scores more than 60% of its points from inside the arc.  

SC State ranks 77th in tempo, so they play with pace, which is necessary because they are an atrocious shooting team. The Bulldogs attempt the 289th-most 3-pointers in America, which is smart because they make just 27% of those attempts, the 345th-best rate in Division I. They have the 336th-best field goal percentage in college basketball overall. For reference, there are 362 teams in all of Division I men's basketball. 

But still manage to score more than 70 points per game because they create as many opportunities as possible with their style of play. The Bulldogs play fast and force turnovers at a high rate (their steal percentage is 76th-best nationally), offensive rebound line maniacs (their offensive rebounding rate is the ninth-best nationally) and end up taking 64.3 field goals per game, 

This isn't necessarily a super talented offensive team - they have just one player averaging 10 or more points per game - but the Bulldogs clearly know what's necessary to cover for that. 

R and R
Before the Panthers broke for finals week, they had played three games in six days, a stretch that had left the team tired, according to Capel. After playing two games over the next four days, they'll get another 10 days off before opening ACC play against Syracuse the day before New Years Eve. They needed this break from game action badly, Capel said. 

With the off week over, Capel will hope Pitt can come out with improved energy that will translate to their defense and rebounding, two things that players and Capel said were lacking in their last game against Canisius. 

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