Role Players Get Pitt Rolling in ACC Play

The Pitt Panthers have played critical roles in getting the team back on track in ACC play.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers' last two wins, which have pulled them out of the ACC's cellar and gave them at least some sustained, positive momentum for the first time since mid-December, were headlined by gaudy scoring performances from two of their biggest stars - Blake Hinson and Bub Carrington. 

But those performances would have amounted to little more than empty calories if the Panthers didn't get critical contributions from their role players and the bench, which had been quiet while Pitt scuffled out of the gates in ACC play. 

"We always need something from those guys and those guys produced for us, and all of them," Pitt head coach Jeff Capel said. "I have confidence in all of them, every guy we have on our bench. When their number is called, I think they’ll be ready to step up and give us great minutes."

Capel has routinely reached deep into his bench looking for solutions for some of the Panthers' offensive struggles, giving as many as nine players regular minutes early in ACC play without promising results. In Pitt's five ACC losses, the bench has averaged just 11 points per game and their impact on defense and rebounding was negligible. 

But in victories on the road over Georgia Tech and then-No. 7 Duke, the Panther reserves have chipped in 20.5 points per game, most of them coming from Ishmael Leggett, the former starter relegated to a reserve role after suffering a shoulder injury earlier this month. 

Upon returning to action, Capel rolled with red-hot freshman Jaland Lowe as a starter and brought Leggett off the bench and it's benefited everyone. Lowe has been outstanding scoring and facilitating over the past week and a half while Leggett gives the Panthers instant offense, averaging 12.5 points and 4 rebounds per contest over his last two games, and lockdown perimeter defense off the bench. 

“We believe in him. He’s been a starter most of the season so far so we know what he can do," Lowe said. "He knows what he can do, more importantly, and it’s nothing really for him to come off the bench. He knows what to do and we know what he’s going to do at all times so we don’t worry about that.”

And while Federiko Federiko, making his first start in six weeks against Duke, was one of the brightest stars of the landmark upset, Guillermo Diaz Graham, who had started the previous seven games, thrived even in a reserve role. With Federiko facing foul trouble against Duke, he scored 4 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and blocked a shot in 13 minutes while playing capable defense on All-American Blue Devils forward Kyle Filipowski. 

Diaz Graham followed up that performance by notching 12 points on 4-5 shooting against Georgia Tech. He knocked down two massive 3-pointers in the second half, keying a 22-7 second half run that proved to be the difference in the game. 

“I mean, [Guillermo] is a special player," Carrington said. "Anytime you’ve got a 7-footer that can shoot three’s the way he can, you’re going to value that and it definitely brings a lot to our team."

With Diaz and Graham and Leggett adding a spark off the bench, Pitt also got massive contributions from Zack Austin, a starter for most of the season who has struggled to shoot but still found his niche as "the glue guy." He defends, dives for loose balls, blocks shots and attacks the rim with authority. 

Despite scoring just four points, Austin played one of the better games of his time at Pitt against Georgia Tech. He stole two passes and dished four assists - a season-high - the last of which came as he dove out of bounds chasing an air ball. He saved the ball back to Leggett, who hit a shotclock-beating jumper to give Pitt a three-point lead midway through the second half. 

“Unbelievable plays. Four assists and one turnover," Capel said of Austin's game against the Yellow Jackets. "He had a heck of a play where he saved the ball in the second half and we ended up getting a shot right at the buzzer. Steals, really good defense. Zack’s a guy that his value doesn’t show up necessarily in points, and he can score, but his value shows up in his ability to impact the game in so many different ways and he did a great job of that tonight."

Early against Georgia Tech, Pitt looked like a team that had spent all their energy knocking off the Blue Devils, leaving nothing left for their next game two days later. The stats tell one story of how the role players lifted this Pitt team two a pair of desperately needed wins but accounts of the intangible things Leggett, Diaz Graham and Austin provided give their contributions more depth. 

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

Charlie Partridge's Recruiting Reloads Pitt's Front Seven

Former Pitt QB Interviewing for Raiders OC Job

Former Pitt G Named Finalist for Olympic Team

Bub Carrington Grows, Pitt Prospers

Pitt Escapes With Win Over Georgia Tech

Pitt Gets Special Date for Syracuse Game

• Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt