PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – What had wowed many Pitt fans, especially against West Virginia, was part of the team struggles again in a 70-57 loss to number eight North Carolina Tuesday night.
"Offensively we weren't able to ever get in any sort of rhythm," said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel. "I thought early in the game in the first half, we got some great looks, wide-open, naked looks. We missed them. I thought as the game went on we allowed those misses and our inability to make shots, it turned us inward. Where we've been so connected, I thought we put pressure on ourselves with every shot."
For the second time in three games the Panthers struggled from beyond the three-point line, shooting 5-29 (17%). Overall from the floor, the Panthers shot 31% (worst of the season), only 9-34 in the second half (26.5%).
Blake Hinson particularly in a funk:
· UNC 4-16 FG 2-11 3s 1-3 FT 11 points
· Syr 3-12 FG 1-7 3s 4-7 FT 11 points
· PFW 2-10 FG 0-4 3s 1-2 FT 5 points
"I thought in the first half he got some good looks," Capel said on Hinson. "I thought we generated some good looks for him. They just didn't go in."
"You just can't give him an open look, you just can't," said North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis. "When he has an open look from three, more times than not it's going to go in. Not only is he a great shooter, but it ignites their team. When he starts hitting threes, it gets them going. We had to do a really good job with him."
"I felt our guards fought him down low in the post and made every catch, every shot tough for him. He had to work for it. I thought all of us as a team did a really good job defending him."
He's not the only one who has struggled as Ishmael Leggett has nine total points in his last two games.
Physicality
It was something that came up from both coaches after the game, North Carolina was the more physical team.
"Their physicality wore us out in the second half," said Pitt head coach Jeff Capel, "In saying that, I'm really proud of my team for how we fought. I thought we fought for 40 minutes and put ourselves in position to win that game."
Carolina dominated in second chance opportunities 15 points to 1. Tar Heels also won the battle on the glass (+10) after Pitt came into the game with the best rebounding margin in the conference.
"It's the best we've attacked the offensive glass," Davis said. "We were very active. We were tough. We were physical. Because of that physicality in the trenches, we were able to outrebound a really good Pitt team. I think that was the number one determining factor in being able to get a road win."
Panthers would get as close as six with 4:25 to play, but Carolina quickly kicked that up to an 11-point lead 44 seconds later sealing Pitt's 0-3 start to ACC play.
Freshman guard Bub Carrington did set a new career-high with 20 points on 6-17 shooting (2-8 from 3).
Guillermo Diaz Graham had his third consecutive game with double-figure points finishing with 10, freshman Jaland Lowe with an ACC high of 10 points.
Not sharing
A couple of times this season the Panthers have had 21 or more assists in a game. Against North Carolina, just six assists. Previously the season low was eight in a loss to Missouri.
Up Next
Panthers on the road Saturday at noon at Louisville with pregame at 11:30a on 93.7 The Fan before home games against Duke and Syracuse.
