The Pittsburgh Panthers host the No. 20 Miami Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon, as each groups search for their eighth ACC win.

Gameday Information

Tipoff: 4:00 p.m. ET

TV: ESPNU

Unfold: Pitt -1

Complete: 148.5

Miami Group Overview:

File: 16-4 (7-3)

KenPom Rating: thirty fifth (tenth Offense, 116th Protection)

Latest Video games: W 86-63 at Florida State, L 68-66 at Duke, W 82-78 vs Syracuse

Main Scorers:

Jr. G Isaiah Wong (16.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.5 spg)
Sr. G Jordan Miller (14.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 53.3 FG%)
So. F Norchiad Omier (13.7 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 59.7 FG%)

After ripping off 13 wins of their first 14 video games, the Hurricanes have break up their final six matchups. All three of their losses got here away from the Watsco Middle; nonetheless, they have been capable of safe their first street convention win this previous Tuesday over Florida State.

Miami dominated towards their interstate rivals, profitable by 23. Isaiah Wong returned to kind with 18 factors and 9 rebounds after a disappointing efficiency after a disappointing two sport stretch the place he scored a mixed 16. On the heels of Wong’s return to kind, the Hurricanes starters shot at a ridiculous 58% clip whereas capturing above 50% from past the arc. It was the primary time Jim Larranaga’s squad has crushed the Seminoles in over 5 years.

Wong will proceed to deservingly seize the headlines, however the significant narrative with this staff is the event of the gamers round him. On the forefront of this progress are Nijel Pack and Norchad Omier, each large low season acquisitions who’ve began to pay severe dividends. Over Miami’s final three video games, Pack is scoring 17 factors per sport whereas capturing 52% from deep. Omier, the 6-7 large man, has continued to dominate on the inside. His ten double doubles on the season are adequate for twelfth within the nation.

Fifth-year participant Jordan Miller continues to influence profitable in a plethora of how for this staff, and has emerged as a really dependable complimentary scoring choice. He is scored in double figures in 14 straight contests.

Due to their depth and steadiness, the Hurricanes move extraordinarily nicely offensively. The highest 10 KenPom mark in adjusted offensive effectivity places them in elite nationwide firm. They lead the ACC in subject objective proportion whereas capturing at a 47.8% clip, and rank third in scoring at 78.2 factors per sport.

Pitt Group Overview:

File: 14-7 (7-3)

KenPom Rating: sixty fourth (forty seventh Offense, 98th Protection)

Latest Video games: W 81-79 vs Wake Forest, L 71-64 vs Florida State, W 75-54 at Louisville

Main Scorers:

Jr. F Blake Hinson (16.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 37.7 3PT%)
Sr. G Jamarius Burton (15.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.7 apg, 53.4 FG%)
Sr. G Greg Elliott (11 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 41 3PT%)

Preseason ACC polls had Pittsburgh ending as little as 14th however the Panthers have received seven of their first ten ACC matchups on the best way to a high three place within the convention. They’ve proven a formidable capability to hold with the nation’s finest, as three of these seven are quadrant one victories.

Of their final victory, Pittsburgh watched a Tyree Appleby three rim out within the closing seconds to safe a two level victory at dwelling over the Demon Deacons. The Panthers have been pink sizzling from deep, connecting on a program document 18 made three-pointers, One of many shock breakouts within the league this yr, Blake Hinson, was liable for eight of them, one other program program-record.

This result’s a microcosm of Pittsburgh’s offensive strategy this season; they dwell and die from past the three level line. They try an ACC-leading 26.3 threes per sport and make practically 35% of them. Within the win over Wake Forest, they shot it at a 48.6% clip. Hinson and Greg Elliott are each high 10 within the ACC in three-pointers made per sport.

This Pitt staff has a number of guys who can create for themselves and make robust photographs. Jamarius Burton is top-twelve within the league in scoring, and turned in top-of-the-line particular person performances within the ACC this season again on Dec. 30. In a win over North Carolina, Burton scored 31 factors on 14-17 capturing. He is a dynamic offensive participant, rating fifth within the league in assists per sport. 24-year previous Colgate switch Nelly Cummings compliments him nicely, and is seventh within the league in assists.

Jeff Capel’s squad is likely one of the oldest within the nation, because the 5 main scorers on the staff are between 22 and 24 years-old. This veteran group has loads of succesful playmakers, and anchored by 6’11” Fede Federiko (third within the ACC in blocks), they’re stable on the defensive finish as nicely.

Prediction:

Each of those groups are offensively oriented, and boast a number of stars who can put the ball within the basket at an environment friendly clip. 

Final weekend, the Panthers skilled their worst efficiency of the season in a house loss to the Seminoles. They took 28 threes and solely made seven within the defeat, as they clearly go so far as their shooters can take them. They bounced again nicely within the win over Wake Forest, and in one other essential matchup on their dwelling ground towards a subpar Miami protection, I see the Panthers conserving the momentum going.

They’ve already acquired two ranked dwelling victories over the Tar Heels and the Cavaliers in early January and shouldn’t have any downside including one other to the resume on this one. It is a assured Pittsburgh facet that has the requisite expertise to hold with and defeat the very best ACC sides. A win over Miami this Saturday will show as soon as once more that the Panthers are severe convention title contenders this season.

The Choose: Pitt -1

Ultimate Rating: Pitt 79, Miami 74

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