GREENSBORO, N.C — Iowa State was one of many high 25 defensive groups within the nation coming into its recreation towards Pitt.

Nonetheless, on Friday, Pitt’s protection was the one which shined.

“What an unbelievable defensive efficiency,” Jeff Capel mentioned after his group’s 59-41 win over the 6-seed Iowa State. “I mentioned on the market and I mentioned to those guys within the locker room, we have been a extremely good defensive group for almost all of the yr aside from the final month of the season, and we’ve actually dialed again in these previous two video games and performed at an elite degree. Actually, actually happy with them.”

The Panthers received off to a 22-2 lead in Greensboro, suffocating Iowa State to the tune of an 0-8 begin from the sector by the Cyclones. Within the second half, Pitt’s defensive depth continued to frustrate Iowa State, which completed the sport taking pictures simply 23% from the sector and simply 9.5% from three-point vary (2 for 23).

Iowa State’s high two three-point shooters, Jaren Holmes and Gabe Kalscheur, mixed to go simply 1-14 from three-point land. The Panthers — in a slow-paced battle — had prevailed with ease on account of their defensive energy.

Offensively, Pitt used its enormous early run and well timed scoring within the second half to dominate TJ Otzelberger’s Cyclones and transfer on to the Spherical of 32.

NELLY’S MONTH

Nelly Cummings as soon as once more got here up enormous in March. 

In a sluggish recreation for each side, Cummings hit among the Panthers’ largest buckets of their win over Iowa State. After scoring simply two factors within the first half, Cummings added 11 within the second. He went on a private 6-2 run, heading off Iowa State’s early run within the half. His buckets included an and-one floater, a deep three early within the half, and a dagger of a 3 with only one minute remaining.

Cummings’ profession stats within the NCAA Match (4 video games):

2020-21: Arkansas: 4-8 3FG, 14 factors, 3 REB, 4 AST

2021-22: Wisconsin: 2-6 3FG, 20 factors, 6 REB, 6 AST

2022-23 Mississippi State: 2-4 3FG, 15 factors, 3 REB, 4 AST

2022-23 Iowa State: 2-5 3FG, 13 factors, 1 REB, 3 AST

Cummings is averaging 15.5 factors and 4.3 assists in his NCAA Match profession and is taking pictures 10-23 (43%) from three-point vary within the Match.

On Friday, Cummings additionally reached the 1,500-point mark for his faculty hoops profession.

ACC TAKES DOWN BIG 12

All through the faculty basketball season, the Large 12 was broadly thought to be the perfect convention in America. Nonetheless, with No. 11 Pitt’s dominant win over No. 6 Iowa State, the Panthers consider that their convention reigns superior.

“Coach, he informed us that we’ve been ready by the kind of opponents we performed in our convention,” Jamarius Burton mentioned after the sport. “If at the moment didn’t present that, then I don’t know what else does.”

Seven Large 12 groups made the match, and 5 ACC groups made the dance.

As of Pitt’s win over Iowa State, the ACC stands at 2-2, whereas the Large 12 stands at 3-2.  Duke received, Pitt received, Virginia misplaced, and NC State misplaced for the ACC to this point, whereas the Large 12’s Texas received, Kansas received, and Baylor received, and West Virginia and Iowa State misplaced.

PANTHERS KEEP DANCING

With the win, Pitt improves to 24-11 on the yr.

The Panthers haven’t received 24 video games in a season because the 2013-14 season, once they made it to the Third Spherical of the NCAA Match and completed with 26 wins.

“Like Coach mentioned, we did have a gamers’ assembly the place we got here in and regrouped with all people and let all people know clearly, we didn’t get the common season journey completed how we wished to, however we had a possibility in March to exit right here and try this,” Cummings mentioned. “So, we knew that it was going to require us to be actually, actually locked in and centered and listening to particulars. That’s type of what we’re doing. We now have an older group who has been right here earlier than, and we perceive what it takes to win in March.”

SEAN MILLER AWAITS

Pitt now strikes on to the Spherical of 32 to tackle acquainted face Sean Miller and his Xavier Musketeers in Greensboro on Sunday.

The Musketeers’ head coach, from Western PA, first performed at Blackhawk highschool after which performed at Pitt from 1987-92, averaging 9+ factors per recreation in every of his 4 collegiate seasons in Pittsburgh. Miller scored greater than 1,200 factors and dished out greater than 740 assists in his Panther profession.

Miller was rumored to have interviewed for the Pitt head teaching job again in 2018, however later denied that he had any curiosity within the job.

His Musketeers are a 3-seed on this yr’s dance. They barely escaped 14-seed Kennesaw State on Friday afternoon, profitable behind a late 15-0 run led by Jerome Hunter, Colby Jones, Souley Boum, and others.