Pitt vs Virginia: Game Info, Odds, Three Storylines

PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers are as sizzling as they’ve been for the reason that Jamie Dixon period all these years in the past. They’ve gained 9 of their final 10 after beginning 1-3 and are undefeated via three video games of ACC play. 

The Panthers will attempt to break a 12-game dropping streak to the Cavaliers and can benefit from home-court benefit. The final time they beat Virginia in 2017, they did it at dwelling and with Kevin Stallings manning the sideline. Loads has modified since then. 

Opponent: No. 13 Virginia (10-2 general, 2-1 ACC)
Time: 9:00 PM EST
Location: Petersen Occasions Middle
Broadcast: ACC Community and 93.7 The Fan

Odds

The Panthers opened as 4.5-point underdogs to the Cavaliers. Pitt is +168 on the moneyline whereas Virginia sits at -205. The over/beneath for complete factors has been set at 129.5. 

These are considerably higher odds than what the Panthers received heading into the North Carolina recreation. The Tar Heels had been 5.5-point favorites on the Petersen Occasions Middle and Pitt was +220 on the moneyline. 

Three Storylines

Classic Virginia

The Cavaliers have turn into synonymous with defensive excellence ever since head coach Tony Bennett took over in 2009. Within the 13 years he is been at Virginia, Bennett’s groups have surrendered greater than 60.5 factors per recreation simply twice and it was throughout his first two years in Charlottesville. 

Virginia is 54th nationally in adjusted defensive effectivity. They contest shooters properly at each stage, drive turnovers at a excessive charge, block pictures continuously and do all of it with out fouling. That mixed with one of many slowest – 361st nationally in adjusted tempo – however best – twenty ninth in Division I in adjusted offensive effectivity – offenses within the county make for a quintessential Virginia staff. 

They’re sluggish, sensible and suffocating all on the similar time. Whereas increasingly more groups desire to overwhelm opponents with velocity and factors, Virginia retains a traditional and routinely efficient look. 

Revenge Recreation

The Panthers suffered two brutally shut losses to the Cavaliers final season – the primary a 57-56 defeat on the highway in early December and the second a 66-61 choice in mid-January on the Petersen Occasions Middle. They had been simply two of the numerous wins Pitt felt that they had inside their grasp however let slip away on the best way to a different dropping season. 

This season has a “revenge tour” component to it for the Panthers, who regardless of going via intensive roster turnover, have taken excessive pleasure in separating this program for its lackluster latest historical past – you can see that within the power they performed with towards North Carolina. On this recreation towards Virginia, Pitt has an opportunity to avenge these losses and show that their improved expertise on paper pays dividends on the courtroom. 

Battle within the Backcourt

Kihei Clark and Nelly Cummings are two of the perfect passers within the convention. Each are within the high 5 of the convention in complete assists and the highest six in assist-to-turnover ratio. Cummings is a greater and extra prolific shooter however Clark is the higher defender and the 2 will likely be matchup on one another for so long as they’re on the ground collectively. 

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