PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – You might think it hasn't been this way recently, but Pitt has won two of its last three against North Carolina. Wednesday night at 8p, the Panthers will be going for two straight at the Dean Dome.
"I envision Wednesday being a great game," said North Carolina native Jamarius Burton. "I feel like the energy will be there from both ballclubs. I'm not going into it with any extra emphasis, just to compete and have fun and hopefully end up on the right side of things."
Burton is a big reason the Panthers have a two-game winning streak and are one from matching their most conference wins under Jeff Capel. The senior guard leads the Panthers with 14.3 points a game in ACC play shooting 46% from the floor and 42% from three.
He's also hit some really big shots including multiple in the win at Florida State.
"I can create for myself or other teammates," Burton said. "I have experience doing so at Wichita State. I feel real comfortable in those situations."
"I put the work in, I trust my ability to get to a spot and elevate. For me in those pressure moments, key moments, I'm playing free and confident at all times."
Burton believes the team is growing and part of it is to the increased attention being paid to the scouting reports. He says the younger players are really understanding the importance of learning that information so they know what to expect from their opponent on both ends of the court.
In the scouting report for the Panthers is sophomore center John Hugley dealing with double-teams. Almost every team has done it to him in conference play and his numbers reflect it. His per-game average is a couple of points lower in ACC games and before dropping 21 against NC State, had only 11 points combined in the previous three games.
"Just making the appropriate passes, not trying to make the perfect pass," Hugley said of dealing with multiple defenders. "Making the right pass, seeing the open play, the open cutter. It's all a learning process."
Hugley faces a candidate, if not front-runner, for ACC Player of the Year in Tar Heels junior Armando Bacot. The 6'10" forward is far-and-away the ACC rebounding leader with 12.2 a game while averaging 16.6 points and second in the league with a .581 field goal percentage. He also has a pair of six block games this season.
Bacot has 41 points in his last two games (at Clemson, Florida St.) making 15 of 19 field goals and 11 of 15 free throws with 24 rebounds.
"I embrace it a lot," Hugley said of the challenge. "Opportunities like this don't come too often, show to the world what I can do against the best guys in this conference. He's a pretty good post-player, a pretty good player. I'm a pretty good player. We are going to see what the outcome is on Wednesday."
"The energy is definitely up, but there is no sense of complacency within our group," Burton said. "We have not been able to put together more than two games in a row all season. That's the next step, just trying to get better each and every day and lock in on the next scouting report. That's the most important thing."
