Pitt vs Georgia Tech Takeaways: Panthers Embrace Grit and Grind

It was never pretty, but knocking off Georgia Tech in the way they did felt good for the Pitt Panthers.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers likely didn't want to get dragged down into a close against ACC cellar-dweller Georgia Tech, but that's what they got. The Panthers were tested against an improving, scrappy team and came out the other side perhaps a little worse for the wear but victorious. 

Pitt was energized by the fight, so much so that after the game, players and coaches said they preferred to have to grind out a win like that instead of cruise through a blowout. With the postseason nearing, Pitt is embracing challenges that will harden and prepare them for the battles to come. 

Grit and Grind

Trailing by four to a team that entered the night 13th in the ACC standings with 12 minutes remaining, Pitt looked tired and lackadaisical. A step slow on defense and desperate for the easy way out on offense, it looked like that team didn't have enough gas to get to the finish. 

Then Federiko Federiko made two free throws. Then the defense forced a shot clock violation. Two more Federiko free throws and a jumper from Jamarius Burton put Pitt back out in front. Over just 7:14 the Panthers, sparked by their defensive pressure, flipped a four-point deficit into a six-point lead, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 17-7 over that span.

It wasn't easy and the Panthers wouldn't have had it any other way. They made the little things significant - limiting turnovers, defending with intensity and making foul shots. This marked 20th win of Pitt's season, a milestone that this program hadn't reached in seven seasons and Jeff Capel believes his team did it in admirable fashion.  

"We don’t take winning for granted," Capel said.  "It’s hard. ... And it’s hard this time of month because February is the grind and everyone’s banged up, everyone is hurt, you can’t practice as much now with the games coming at a quicker pace. So to be able to get off the mat after losing at Virginia Tech - we hadn’t had that feeling in a while - and to do it in the way we did - I think is good for us.”

The Good, The Bad and The Nelly

Speaking of Cummings, his first half performance against Georgia Tech was simultaneously masterful and maddening before giving way to a dazzling second half during which he played a leading role in righting the ship and icing the win. 

Cummings scored eight points in the first half - all before the midway point of the period - dished four assists and grabbed four rebounds, but also committed three turnovers. Like the basketball embodiment of Newton's Third Law, Cummings' positive action was met with an equal and opposite reaction later. He was as much of a reason why the Panthers jumped out to an early lead as he was a cause for limiting that lead and ultimately surrendering it. 

But in the second half, Cummings was much sharper. He scored and facilitated without rushing into turnovers and rebounded but his biggest contributions came in the clutch. While the Panthers were working on separating from Georgia Tech, he hit a pair of massive 3-pointers and made all six attempts from the free throw line, each of which came inside the three-minute mark with Pitt nursing a two-possession lead.  

Hinson Finds His Mojo

When Blake Hinson is on and shooting with confidence, it is almost like there is no one else in the gym. To him, no amount of distance or coverage can make a bad shot. If he sees the rim, he will fire and Capel will have to live with that. Capel said last week that he often has to live with Hinson taking bad shots because he can often make them and more often than not that will spark a hot streak. 

Hinson proved Capel right against Georgia Tech. He took nine 3-pointers and made five of them, which accounted for most of his 19 points. Because of his height and deep range, there is little defenders can do to give the shot a good enough contest and Hinson takes advantage of that. The shooting was complemented by six rebounds, all part of a terrific rebound for Hinson from his 1-8 shooting performance against Virginia Tech. 

Making Most of the Free Throw Line

Ask Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner what he believed the difference in the game was and he'll tell you it was at the free throw line. The Panthers shot 20 free throws and made 19 of them. Pastner didn't think the foul shot disparity was a sign of any conspiracy against his team, but instead gave credit to the Panthers for converting their opportunities at the charity stripe. 

Burton and Cummings combined to make all eight attempts the Panthers took in the final 2:33. Pitt led by just three at that moment, making every bucket crucial. Pastner also gave credit to Federiko Federiko's perfect night from the line. The career 59.7% foul shooter made all eight of his free throw line against Georgia Tech. 

“Federiko … came into the game shooting 50-somthing percent from and he went eight for eight," Pastner said. "It’s just one of those deals.”

No Time to Savor

Pitt has won 20 games in a season, surpassing what is generally thought of as college basketball's unofficial line between "okay" and "good" for the first time since 2016, which is also the last time this program has tasted the NCAA Tournament. Capel said he appreciates what that achievement means, but that his team cannot afford to dwell on it.

“I think what this team has done all year has been really good and it’s something that I certainly don’t take for granted, something we don’t take for granted but, we’re in the moment right now, man and it’s hard to kind of reflect on those type of things right now," Capel said.

The Panthers will close their regular season out with a home contest against Syracuse and two more on the road at Notre Dame and No. 13 Miami. Locking down a top-four seed in the ACC tournament and solidifying their spot in the NCAA Tournament picture won't be easy so Pitt doesn't want to rest on their laurels.

“I think it definitely means something but we’re in the grind right now," Nelly Cummings said. "So we’re focused on the next opportunity we’re going to have. So yeah, 20 wins is special but we’re not done.”

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