PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Maybe since Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson in Brooklyn or North Carolina’s Armando Bacot has Pitt faced a center with this kind of talent. The Panthers will have to try to defend Tolu Smith, the SEC’s best rebounder and one its best scorers, with its best post defender a game-time decision.
Federiko Federiko suffered a knee injury in the ACC Tournament against Georgia Tech. It limited his minutes against Duke and the little practice time they’ve had since. The sophomore, who got a vote to be on the ACC’s All-Defensive team, may not be able to go Tuesday night in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Yeah, he'll be a game-time decision if he'll play,” Capel said Monday. “He's still nursing that knee. He hurt it against Georgia Tech, tried to play against Duke the next day. We didn't like the way that he was moving, which is why we held him once we got down. So he'll be a game-time decision tomorrow.”
“I haven’t seen much,” said forward Blake Hinson of Federiko and dealing with his injury. “Today in practice he was warming up on the side. He’s trying to prepare every day to get better.”
6’11”, 245-pound Smith has faced some of the best defenses in the game, and succeeded this year. Against Auburn, he dropped 20 points and 10 rebounds. Against TCU, 27 points (11-13 FG) and 13 rebounds in an upset win. His last three games of the season, all double-doubles including 27 points and 11 rebounds against Vanderbilt.
“We need everyone to be ready to go, and everyone will be ready to go,” Capel said. “The twins (Jorge and Guillermo Diaz Graham) have gotten better throughout the season every day. They have an infectious spirit, an energy. They love the gym. They've had great teammates this year, guys that have helped
them throughout the season, both on and off the court, to assimilate here in Pittsburgh and college basketball.”
“They've gotten better and better. I've said it all along. I think they have unbelievable futures. They both have had some really big moments for us in big games. They've stepped up and made some big plays, and we anticipate them being ready to do that tomorrow.”