Pitt notebook: Black uniforms suit Pitt just fine
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Fans have expressed plenty of angst this week after Pitt’s players decided to wear their black uniforms instead of the royal blue that has been so popular for football and basketball.
Guess what. Greg Elliott said you can stop complaining.
In his mind, black uniforms have helped fuel the team in its two NCAA Tournament victories this week against Mississippi State and Iowa State.
MOVING. ON. pic.twitter.com/dplFblv0SY
— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) March 17, 2023
“Honestly, we picked black because we think about it as we’re coming out here to take over something,” he said in the Pitt locker room Friday after the 59-41 victory against Iowa State. “Majority of the time, when you see a team that’s taking over something or a bank robbery … they got on all black, right? We came in with all black. That’s what we own.
“We’re not robbing a bank or nothing, but we’re out here trying to come in and take something. Because everybody said we weren’t supposed to be here. So, we’re going to continue to take wins.”
Told that Pitt is 5-0 in the black uniforms — Syracuse, Georgia Tech and Florida State during the regular season, plus two in the tournament — he had a quick answer.
“Let’s keep wearing ‘em.”
Pitt, the No. 11 seed in the Midwest Region, will play No. 3 Xavier in the second round Sunday. When Jamarius Burton was asked if the Panthers will wear black again, he made their choice clear.
“If we’re the lower seed, of course,” he said.
Gutting it out
Federiko Federiko didn’t start, but he played 11 minutes on an injured knee. After the game, he said he was feeling no pain, but he wasn’t so sure about what was to come later in the evening.
“I’m not feeling it right now, but I know later I might feel it,” he said. “I’ve been working out with the trainers. They got me right. I feel good.”
Federiko, who had been a starter all season, scored only one point, but he played an important reserve role on a team that has gone through most of the season without three scholarship players.
“Shout out to Fede,” Blake Hinson said. “You know he’s fighting through an injury. It just shows his character. He’s a dog. He gave himself to the team. That’s who he is. He’s a selfless guy.”
ACC vs. Big 12
ACC teams are 3-2 in their first five games of the tournament, with Pitt, Miami and Duke winning and N.C. State and Virginia losing.
Nike Sibande said he was pleased to hold the banner for his team’s conference.
“They said Big 12 was the best conference,” Sibande said. “You all see what happened. You all got to put some respect on the ACC. The media, they slammed the ACC. They act like it’s just weak, man. We’re coming out and showing people what it is.”
Meanwhile, the Big 12 started the tournament 5-2. Texas, TCU, Kansas, Kansas State and Baylor won. West Virgnia and Iowa State lost.
On the level
The start of the game was delayed several minutes when Iowa State asked the NCAA to check if one rim was level.
“Building personnel checked it and made a minor adjustment,” the NCAA said in a statement. “We offered (Iowa State) additional warmup time but they declined.”