ESPNU
After being left out of the ACC-B1G Challenge last year (wisely, it seems safe to say), Pitt returns to the cross-conference melee. They face a surprisingly good Iowa team.
At the time of the dividing of opponents, the expectation was that Iowa was going to be in the lower-half of the Big Ten. Not in the basement, but somewhere in that 6th to 11th range. They still might end up there by the end of the year, but at the moment they are the third highest ranked Big Ten team (behind Michigan and Michigan State).
Iowa is ranked 14th in the AP and 15th in the Coaches. 32d per KenPom — but that comes with the caveat that stats driven rankings are not very good in the first month or so of the college basketball season. The Hawkeyes have a strong national ranking thanks to upsetting Oregon in the 2K Classic and then taking out UConn (who upset Syracuse) to win the non-con tournament.
This seems strange when discussing anything related to Iowa sports, but this team is very up-tempo and runs a very efficient offense. They do this, despite being led by a strong frontcourt in Luka Garza and Tyler Cook. The two average over 32 points a game along with 11 rebounds. I would have expected more rebounds, but when you are shooting and making a lot more high percentage shots the number of opportunities for offensive rebounds really drops.
As we very well know, the frontcourt is Pitt’s big, glaring weakness. Pitt is going to have to be very efficient. And frankly, will likely have to have a big shooting game from beyond the arc.
There’s a certain awareness in the Pitt game notes about unlikelihood of getting a win tonight.
By the Numbers
• Pitt has dropped 13 consecutive road contests dating back to an 83-72 win at Boston College Feb. 8, 2017.
• The Panthers have lost 14 consecutive road games against ranked opponents. Pitt’s last road win against a ranked opponent was a 62-52 decision at No. 17 Cincinnati Feb. 9, 2013.
• Pitt is 2-15 all-time against teams ranked 14th in the AP Poll. The Panthers have dropped 10 straight games against the No. 14 team in the poll.
• The Panthers have dropped 10 consecutive games against ranked opponents dating back to an 80-66 win over No. 17 Florida State Feb. 18, 2017.
It kind of makes me laugh. The notes start turning much more positive, but it’s almost like they want to temper expectations (or at least let anyone reading it know they aren’t going to be delusional).
Xavier Johnson is the best player on the court.
But, when conference play starts, he may not be.
But, only 6 in the paint.
It’s amazing what good ball pressure can do to off-set size.
Great.
This one will not underachieve.
Some of the calls are positively puzzling.
Proud of our guys hanging in
H2P!!!
See you all at the “Civic Arena”, Friday night.
The 3 freshmen (especially Johnson), N’Dir, and the coaching change, are the difference.
The talent that Dixon was getting in his last few years and the mistake (Stallings) would not have been able to compete in that environment.
This team fights. The last few years we were subjected to watching teams fold.
Heather Lyke needs to be praised for her decision to go after Capel, and get him!
Now, Jeff, go get post players who can catch passes and finish!
I wonder when Capel will close on a “big”.
Lost one to Kevin Willard at Seton Hall, earlier today.