Somehow Pitt isn’t ranked, despite a tidy 17-4 record and 6-3 mark in ACC play. Chalk it up to coach Jamie Dixon’s scheduling preferences, perhaps, but still.
The Panthers are coming off a six-day mid-season break following an impressive 90-71 win at home over Virginia Tech on Sunday.
The one notable win on the Pitt ledger was an 86-82 victory at Notre Dame on Jan. 9. The Panthers lost by double-digits at Louisville and at Clemson, and have a string of wins over second-division ACC teams otherwise.
Virginia (18-4, 7-3 ACC) comes into Saturday on a five-game winning streak, and a pair of stellar defensive efforts, holding both Louisville and Boston College to 47 points in wins in the past week.
Inside Pitt
- Pitt teams are usually built on defense, but not so much this season. The Panthers surrender 1.022 points per possession, according to KenPom.com, 146th nationally and 13th in the ACC. Pitt opponents shoot 41.8 percent from the field, sixth-best in the ACC, and 33.5 percent from three-point range, also sixth in the conference.
- Michael Young, a 6’9” junior forward, is a force in the post, scoring 17.0 points per game, seventh in the ACC, shooting 56.8 percent from the floor, third in the ACC, and pulling down 6.8 rebounds per game. Young is also an effective passer out of the post, averaging 2.9 assists per game.
- Jamel Artis is no doubt a familiar name. The 6’7” junior averages 15.5 points per game on 50.6 percent shooting from the field and 37.0 percent from three-point range. His 28.1 Player Efficiency Rating is second in the ACC.
- The Panthers score 1.155 points per possession, 17th in the nation and fifth in the ACC. Pitt shoots 47.8 percent from the floor, sixth in the ACC, and 37.6 percent from three, fourth in the ACC.
- Tempo: 67.7 possessions per game, 252nd nationally and 10th in the ACC.
Inside Virginia
- Virginia is one of two teams nationally (Villanova is the other) ranked in the top 20 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. The Cavs are eight nationally in offense (1.178 points per possession) and 19th nationally on defense (.941 points per possession).
- UVA is shooting an ACC-best 49.6 percent from the floor and 40.4 percent from three-point range.
- Malcolm Brogdon is third in the ACC in scoring (17.8 points per game), shooting 45.5 percent from the floor and 39.8 percent from three. The 6’5” senior is also averaging 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, and is currently fifth in the KenPom.com player of the year rankings.
- Anthony Gill is second in the ACC in field-goal percentage (59.7 percent). Gill is scoring 14.6 points per game, pulling down 6.2 rebounds per game, and is ninth in the ACC in free-throw attempts (122, 5.5 per game), and shooting 71.3 percent from the line.
- London Perrantes leads the ACC in three-point shooting (51.2 percent). LP is scoring 11.3 points and dishing out 4.0 assists per game.
- The Cavs are third in the ACC in turnover margin (+2.55 a game), and one of two ACC teams (Notre Dame is the other) averaging under 10 turnovers per game (9.7).
- Virginia leads the ACC in defensive rebound percentage (75.5 percent). Pitt is third in offensive rebound percentage (37.6 percent).
- Tempo: 62.5 possessions per game, 348th nationally, last in the ACC.
– Preview by Chris Graham
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