Pitt Take 5: Panthers’ road less rocky away from The Pete
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Home games are supposed to generate comfort and confidence.
Players sleep in their own beds. There’s no need for 7-foot centers to fold themselves into airplane seats. Students looking to get on TV don’t hurl insults at foul shooters.
None of that has been enough to deter the Panthers, who are 4-1 on the road — the second-best record in the ACC — while averaging 11.2 3-pointers per game.
The road brings Pitt (12-7, 3-5) into Coral Gables, Fla., on Saturday afternoon to play Miami (13-6, 4-4). It’s the third game in a row away from Petersen Events Center. Before victories at Duke and Georgia Tech, Pitt had lost four of five games, three of them at home.
Counting the Louisville game Jan. 6, Pitt has won three consecutive ACC road games for the second season in a row. Before that, Pitt hadn’t done it since 2013-2014, its inaugural season in the conference.
What has led to Pitt’s enviable road record? Here’s one answer, and a few more thoughts before the 2:15 p.m. tipoff against the Hurricanes.
1. Bonding with NBA2K
Pitt forward Zack Austin said he enjoys going on the road and winning games in a hostile environment.
But how does it happen? Before the lights-out command from coach Jeff Capel, players amuse themselves by playing NBA2K, a popular video game. Austin said it creates “team bonding.”
“It’s cool to be on the road with these guys,” he said.
One of the keys to Pitt’s success over the past two seasons (36-19 overall, compared to 21-34 in the previous 55 games) is how well players get along with each other.
Let’s not get go overboard and predict team harmony will carry Pitt into the upper reaches of the ACC standings by the end of the season. But, as Capel is a witness, it’s better than the alternative.
2. Award nice, wins better
Jaland Lowe’s ACC Rookie of the Week honor is the fifth this season for a Pitt guard. Bub Carrington has won it four times.
When a reporter brought up the subject to Lowe this week, he all but shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s cool,” he said. But he added, “We can forget that. We’re trying to win right now. I’m grateful for it; hopefully there’s more in the future. But at the same time, it doesn’t really matter to me.”
Lowe is averaging 16.3 points and 4 assists over the past three games. Carrington is the only freshman in the nation averaging at least 13.5 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for the season. His actual numbers are 13.5, 5.2 and 4.4.
If Lowe and Carrington can maintain those numbers into March, that might give Pitt a fighting chance to win 20 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2012-2013 and 2013-2014.
3. Almost healed
Lowe didn’t get specific about the injury that slowed him down before the season, but he did label it “ongoing.”
“It’s just a matter of getting everything back together,” he said. “I’m almost 100% now.”
He said adapting to the rigors of ACC basketball wasn’t a problem for him mentally. Early in the season, though, the injury held him back physically.
“I always felt comfortable in my head. It was just about being comfortable in my body,” he said. “I’m feeling healthier, and that helps my comfortability on the floor and allows me to play my game.”
4. Some numbers
Lowe and Carrington’s success is rooted largely in their talent, hard work and how carefully they handle the basketball.
The following stat is almost hard to believe. Carrington is averaging 35 minutes per game in the past six; Lowe is on the court for 29.8 minutes. Both have committed 10 turnovers in that time (1.6 per game each).
Pitt is only 3-3, however, with losses to No. 3 North Carolina, No. 12 Duke and Syracuse.
5. Hinson, Leggett set example
What fans can’t see are contributions Blake Hinson and Ishmael Leggett are making off the court.
On the court, it’s clear. Hinson leads the ACC with 64 3-pointers. Leggett is Pitt’s best foul shooter at 84.5%.
But the guidance they show others has helped younger players survive the grind.
“He challenges us every day, no matter what we’re doing, on and off the court,” Lowe said of Hinson. “He doesn’t see us as freshman guards. He sees us as ACC guards, and he wants us to rise to that level of play. He pushes us in everything we do. He is the most vocal leader, and he leads by example so we try to follow him.”
Leggett shares the team lead in steals with Guillermo Diaz Graham (21) and is first in rebounding at 6-foot-3 (5.5) and third in assists (4.2). Lowe said Leggett also offers a shoulder for others to lean on, when necessary.
“Ish will do whatever is needed,” Lowe said. “He knows what it takes at this level, and he wants to win as bad as everybody else does, even more just from his past experiences.”
Leggett played on a 9-22 Rhode Island team last season. No questioning the root of his incentive.