Pitt F Zack Austin Breaks Out in Brooklyn

Pitt Panthers forward Zack Austin broke through offensively during the trip to Brooklyn over Thanksgiving.
Pitt F Zack Austin Breaks Out in Brooklyn
Pitt F Zack Austin Breaks Out in Brooklyn /
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PITTSBURGH -- It had been tough sledding for Zack Austin, the ultra-athletic transfer from High Point that had been one of the Pitt Panthers' biggest additions of the offseason. Entering the NIT Season Tip-Off this week, Austin had started all four games but averaged just 5.5 points on 36% shooting from the field and a 15% mark from 3-point range. 

But when the Panthers traveled to Brooklyn, New York for the NIT Season Tip-Off, Austin began to find an offensive groove. He got going in the first game against Florida, truly came alive in the second contest against Oregon State and left the Big Apple having averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 53% from the field and 33% from 3-point range. 

"It felt great. You know, the start of the season wasn’t the best for me shooting the ball, but my coaches and my teammates have the ultimate confidence in me making shots," Austin said after scoring a team-high 19 points against Oregon State. "I just decided to keep shooting and they went in."

Austin set a season-high in points against the Beavers and made more 3-pointers in that one game (three) than he had all season to that point (two). His first two double-figure scoring games of the 2023-24 campaign came in these two contests at the Barclays Center. 

Through his offensive struggles, Austin had earned his consistent spot in the starting lineup with his defense and rebounding, which were immensely valuable to the Panthers' 4-0 start. He came into the final game of the NIT Season Tip-Off averaging two blocks per game and owning an outstanding defensive rating of 85.5. 

"When he's not scoring, he affects the game in many ways that sometimes don't show up on the stat sheet," starting guard Ishmael Leggett said after the Panthers beat Jacksonville a week ago. "Sometimes they do but he's just a ball player. If he's not on on offense, he's definitely going to be on on defense and vice versa."

And despite the shots not falling originally, the Panthers kept the faith in Austin. They trusted his track record as a strong shooter at High Point and Austin rewarded that faith with a breakout week in Brooklyn. 

"He's a great threat that we have and the shots are going to fall for him," Leggett said. "He's a lab rat so I'm not worried about that at all."

As Pitt marches out of New York and onto a stretch of three more games in a row against Power 5 opponents, it's a comfort for Austin to have found his shot again and they hope that he can continue to heat up as the competition does. 

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

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work: