After completing the regular season with a senior day win over Notre Dame over the weekend, Pitt heads into the ACC Tournament.
The Panthers will face Boston College in the first round on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.
Simply put, not much is expected of the team in terms of threatening to win the conference title. But the Panthers have a good opportunity to come away with at least one victory.
Pitt (13-18) lost their only game against Boston College (14-16) in the regular season. The Panthers lost that game by nine, 66-57, but were in it the entire game. Pitt even had a lead inside of the eight-minute mark in the second half and trailed by only one with 4:30 left in the game.
Keep in mind that Pitt shot terribly in that game, hitting only 29% of their shots. And while Boston College extended their lead in the last few minutes, the reality is the Panthers were right there for 37 minutes or so even shooting terribly.
Oddsmakers are basically calling this one a toss up. The opening line favored neither team and Pitt has since become a slim one-point favorite by some.
What will happen in Tuesday?s game with Boston College is anybody?s guess. Pitt has a young team and you never know how they?ll react in a situation like this. But the Panthers proved they can hang with Boston College in the regular season (on the road, no less).
Pitt would have a tougher test in the second round if they got beyond Boston College as Syracuse would await. The Orange are not only the better team but also would have the benefit of being rested off of a first-round bye. But one game at a time and that starts with Boston College.
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Despite getting everything it could handle from the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Boston College Eagles were able to survive an upset bid and defend their home floor in ACC play. Despite 15 turnovers and Ky Bowman not scoring for the first eight minutes of the second half, the Eagles hit enough shots and got enough stops to come away with its third ACC win.
Jared Hamilton, Jairus Hamilton, and Chris Herren all hit big shots down the stretch in a game when Jordan Chatman barely played in the second half, Nik Popovic was held out, and Wynston Tabbs again sat out. Jairus Hamilton finished with 11 points on only five shots, and Jared Hamilton and Chris Herren hit back to back threes in the final five minutes of regulation, when BC finished the game on a 9-1 run. Steffon Mitchell had one of his best games of the season, registering a career high five blocks and making a handful of other crucial plays down the stretch. After Bowman hit a midrange jumper for his first points of the second half, Mitchell chased down a loose rebound, got on the floor, and pitched it to Ky, who got a fastbreak layup to get going in the second half.
This has been a disappointing season for Jim Christian, but it is encouraging to see the role players step up, especially the young ones. Assuming Ky returns to campus for his senior season, BC should be deep and talented, ready to make a run in the ACC towards the NCAA tournament, for the first time in over a decade. There are positives to look for.
The Panthers will face Boston College in the first round on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.
Simply put, not much is expected of the team in terms of threatening to win the conference title. But the Panthers have a good opportunity to come away with at least one victory.
Pitt (13-18) lost their only game against Boston College (14-16) in the regular season. The Panthers lost that game by nine, 66-57, but were in it the entire game. Pitt even had a lead inside of the eight-minute mark in the second half and trailed by only one with 4:30 left in the game.
Keep in mind that Pitt shot terribly in that game, hitting only 29% of their shots. And while Boston College extended their lead in the last few minutes, the reality is the Panthers were right there for 37 minutes or so even shooting terribly.
Oddsmakers are basically calling this one a toss up. The opening line favored neither team and Pitt has since become a slim one-point favorite by some.
What will happen in Tuesday?s game with Boston College is anybody?s guess. Pitt has a young team and you never know how they?ll react in a situation like this. But the Panthers proved they can hang with Boston College in the regular season (on the road, no less).
Pitt would have a tougher test in the second round if they got beyond Boston College as Syracuse would await. The Orange are not only the better team but also would have the benefit of being rested off of a first-round bye. But one game at a time and that starts with Boston College.
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Despite getting everything it could handle from the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Boston College Eagles were able to survive an upset bid and defend their home floor in ACC play. Despite 15 turnovers and Ky Bowman not scoring for the first eight minutes of the second half, the Eagles hit enough shots and got enough stops to come away with its third ACC win.
Jared Hamilton, Jairus Hamilton, and Chris Herren all hit big shots down the stretch in a game when Jordan Chatman barely played in the second half, Nik Popovic was held out, and Wynston Tabbs again sat out. Jairus Hamilton finished with 11 points on only five shots, and Jared Hamilton and Chris Herren hit back to back threes in the final five minutes of regulation, when BC finished the game on a 9-1 run. Steffon Mitchell had one of his best games of the season, registering a career high five blocks and making a handful of other crucial plays down the stretch. After Bowman hit a midrange jumper for his first points of the second half, Mitchell chased down a loose rebound, got on the floor, and pitched it to Ky, who got a fastbreak layup to get going in the second half.
This has been a disappointing season for Jim Christian, but it is encouraging to see the role players step up, especially the young ones. Assuming Ky returns to campus for his senior season, BC should be deep and talented, ready to make a run in the ACC towards the NCAA tournament, for the first time in over a decade. There are positives to look for.
