Pitt at Virginia: Panthers Seek Statement Win
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are hot - winners of five of their last six games - heading into their biggest game of the season so far.
The Panthers have played their way back into contention for the NCAA Tournament and can take a massive step forward in making their postseason resume legitimate with a victory over one of the hottest teams in the ACC and college basketball at large.
Game Info
Opponent: No. 21 Virginia (19-5 overall, 10-3 ACC)
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Location: John Paul Jones Arena; Charlottesville, Virginia
Broadcast: ACC Network and 93.7 The Fan
Odds
Pitt is a 6.5-point underdog to the Cavaliers, according to Action Network. The point total line has been set at 123.
Three Storylines
Virginia's Fortress
The Cavaliers own the country's seventh-longest win streak at eight games and Division I's longest home winning streak at 23 games. The Panthers have been road warriors, particularly in ACC play. After knocking off N.C. State in Raleigh, North Carolina last week, Pitt is tied with Duke and Wake Forest for the second-best road record in the ACC.
Something has to give when two of the hottest teams in the league - one that has been steady at home for years and another that's found a niche playing the role of spoiler on the road - clash in Charlottesville.
Improving Frontcourt Minutes
Pitt head coach Jeff Capel was complimentary of junior center Federiko Federiko ahead of a matchup with Virginia. After a slow start to the season, he's been steadily improving and is averaging 7.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while making 54.2% of his field goals over his last seven contests.
"He’s been good. It hasn’t equated to points, so to speak, but when you look at those rebounding numbers and the blocked shots and what he’s done with our defense," Capel said. "I think we’ve been better defensively over the last six games and I think he’s the main reason for that. His ball-screen defense, he’s protecting the basket, and he’s rebounding, offensive rebounding for us. I think he’s played really, really well over these past six games or so."
He's battled D.J. Burns, Kyle Filipowski, Efton Reid, Norchad Omeir and Baye Ndongo - some of the premier big men in the ACC - and another tall task awaits in Virginia's Ryan Dunn and Jordan Minor, two undersized but skilled defenders that play efficiently in an offense centered around play-making guards.
Big-Time Matchup
Pitt's win over Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium was massive in the moment but the leadup to that game did not come with the kind of hype this one does. These are two of the hottest teams in the league and with the Cavaliers having vaulted up to a No. 21 ranking in the AP poll and second place in the ACC standings, the Panthers have a chance to notch a rare marquee win.
Pitt owns a paltry 3-6 record in Quad 1 and 2 games according to the NCAA NET rankings. A road trip to John Paul Jones Arena represents a Quad 1 opportunity and not many of those remain on the schedule, so if the Panthers want a shot at the postseason, this is a must-win game.
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