PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was dubbed by many bracketologists not as much of a ‘play-in’ game as a ‘play-out’ game, the Panthers are still in it after beating Wake Forest 81-69 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in Washington DC.
The thoughts by the national experts is not that the winner becomes a lock to get in the NCAA Tournament, but the loser is out. Pitt now faces fourth-ranked North Carolina Friday night at 7:00 on 93.7 The Fan. A win against the Tar Heels would most certainly ensure the Panthers make the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season.
Thursday, Pitt avenged their most lopsided loss, 91-58 at Winston-Salem on February 20. It’s the first time in three meetings that Pitt won the rebounding battle (plus six), they also had a secret, hometown weapon.
Ishmael Leggett joked before the game that he knew the rims at the arena because as a 12-year-old he played in a youth exhibition at halftime of an NBA Washington Wizards game.
He said he scored five points that day.
Upon his return on Thursday, a career-high 30 points. He was 11-18 from the floor, 6-6 from the foul line with eight rebounds. Blake Hinson was 4-6 from three for 20 points. Freshmen Jaland Lowe had 11 points and five assists and Bub Carrington nine points, four rebounds and two assists.
Panthers pregame begins at 6p on Friday before joining Bill Hillgrove and Curtis Aiken from Washington DC at 6:30p leading up to tipoff.