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No. 18 Pitt Aims to Shake Off Lopsided Loss in Clash vs. Virginia Tech
For as much as Pitt worked to secure its highest ranking in 11 seasons, the No. 18 Panthers now face an uphill battle to maintain their spot in the Associated Press Top 25.
Pitt (7-2) visits Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon to open Atlantic Coast Conference play in Blacksburg, Va., aiming to recover from a humbling defeat earlier in the week.
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Pitt Looks to Rebound After Blowout Loss
The Panthers entered the AP rankings on Monday but faltered in dramatic fashion with a 90-57 loss at Mississippi State during the SEC/ACC Challenge on Wednesday.
Pitt trailed by 22 points at halftime and shot a season-low 31.3 percent from the field. The 33-point loss tied the most lopsided defeat under seventh-year coach Jeff Capel.
After winning seven of their first eight games, the Panthers have now dropped two of their last three.
“You gotta go through adversity,” guard Jaland Lowe said Tuesday. “The real season starts when you gotta go through adversity. It’s all about how you bounce back from that.”
Pitt responded to its first loss, against then-No. 19 Wisconsin on Nov. 24, by defeating Ohio State 91-90 in overtime last Friday. Zack Austin hit the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer and tallied a season-high 16 points off the bench in that victory.
Austin managed only eight points against Mississippi State, while Lowe led the team with 19 points despite shooting just 7 of 21. Lowe’s 16.9-point scoring average is second on the team, trailing only Ishmael Leggett (17.0).
Virginia Tech Struggles to Find Offensive Rhythm
Virginia Tech (3-5) is in the midst of a five-game losing streak after starting the season 3-0. All five losses have been by double digits, including an 80-64 defeat to Vanderbilt on Wednesday.
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Despite having a week to prepare, the Hokies were outscored 35-21 over the final 14:39 by Vanderbilt. Offensive struggles have been a recurring theme, as Virginia Tech has shot just 39.2 percent from the field during its skid and has averaged 16 turnovers against 11 assists per game.
“You gotta make routine plays,” Hokies coach Mike Young said. “Turnovers and bad shots, as much as anything, will lead to run-outs from the opposing team.”
Mylyjael Poteat had 14 points against Vanderbilt, tying Toibu Lawal for the team lead in scoring average at 11.4 points per game. Jaden Schutt, who contributes 9.4 points per game, paced the Hokies with 15 points on Wednesday.
Opportunity for a Season-Changing Win
Virginia Tech enters the game with the lowest NET ranking (231) among power five teams, while Pitt sits at No. 12 in the NET as of Thursday. A victory over the Panthers would provide the Hokies with a crucial Quad 1 win and a potential turning point for their season.
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“We’re gonna figure it out,” Young said. “I really like this group. They work really hard. … I believe in this team. I’ve gotta do a better job with them.”
As the Panthers look to shake off their blowout loss and the Hokies aim to end their skid, Saturday’s matchup offers both teams a chance to reset and take a critical step forward in ACC play.
