Pitt’s Zack Austin ready to confront the ‘cool people’ of North Carolina A&T

Zack Austin tried not to sound cocky when he was asked about his history with North Carolina A&T. But he couldn’t lie.

I’m undefeated. I’m 2-0,” he said. “I know a couple people on their team. They’re cool people.”

Austin will get a chance to boost his personal winning streak against the Aggies, a mid-major team based in Greensboro, N.C., when they provide the opposition for Pitt in its season opener Monday night at Petersen Events Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Austin, who spent the past two seasons at High Point (N.C.), was correct about his former team’s record against the Aggies. He didn’t recite his statistics in those games from the 2021-2022 season, but they were easy to find. He hit a total of 12 of 21 shots (2 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc), grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked a shot.

North Carolina A&T is rebuilding after losing three starters to the transfer portal from a 13-19 team and welcoming new coach Monte Ross, a former Temple assistant. The Aggies will play in the Coastal (formerly Colonial) Athletic Association this season.

“You can’t take anybody lightly,” Austin said. “Everybody’s going to be a challenge. It’s basketball. You still have to put the thing in the hoop, regardless of how much they think you’re going to win by.

“You can lose to anybody on any given day. The NCAA Tournament is (proof) of that. Sixteen seeds are winning against 1 seeds now.”

The perception of ACC vs. CAA gives an edge to Pitt, but the Panthers, like many teams in November, are a work in progress. By all accounts, Austin, Rhode Island transfer Ishmael Leggett and freshmen guards Bub Carrington and Jaland Lowe are mixing well with their new teammates.

Austin and 7-foot sophomore Guillermo Diaz Graham spoke with reporters last week when it was mentioned to Diaz Graham that there’s word he might expand his game and try more than the 27 3-point shots he attempted in 2022-2023. He laughed, knowing he still has work to do in that area. He was 7 for 27 last season and 0 for 3 last week against Pitt-Johnstown.

Meanwhile, Austin smiled and nodded his head knowingly, indicating he has confidence in his new teammate’s ability to improve in that area.

Actually, both big men will be expected to stretch their efforts beyond the paint.

Austin, a 6-foot-7 junior, has developed an inside and outside game on both ends of the court against mid-major competition. In two seasons at High Point, he averaged 14.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.05 3-point field goals and 2.1 blocks per game. He needs 103 points and 76 rebounds to reach 1,000 and 500 for his career that includes 129 3-pointers and 135 blocks.

Eventually, Austin wanted to test his talents in the ACC, and he was pleased when Pitt coach Jeff Capel showed an interest.

”They showed what they can do last year when they come together,” Austin said. “When I saw that, I jumped to it. I wanted to be a part of it.”

If he has any personal goals this season, he’s reluctant to talk about them.

“Just being the best player I can be,” he said. “I don’t want to put any things out there. I’m going to keep that with me.”

But he isn’t shy about how far he believes the team can go.

”Everybody in this program knows we can win it all (in the ACC) and that’s what we’re going to try and do.”

Improvements in defense and rebounding will be a focus for Capel on Monday and through the nonconference season. The big bodies are on board to facilitate that growth, including Diaz Graham and his 6-11 brother Jorge, 6-11 Federiko Federiko, Austin, 6-8 Blake Hinson and even the 6-5 Carrington.

”The first games allow us to see where we are on defense, what we have to correct,” Guillermo Diaz Graham said. “When we play the bigger teams, we’re ready for them.

“We have real athletic guys and we have a lot of length. If we do the right things, it’s going to be hard to score against us.”