PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pitt had only two days to correct some of the mistakes from the game at Georgia Tech. Here is the Panthers starting five notes before hosting NC State at 4:30p Wednesday on 93.7 The Fan.
They Ain't Free
Pitt is 14th, or next to last, in the ACC shooting .669 percent from the free throw line. They are 226 for 338. Meaning at least 112 points were lost (factoring in some of these were front ends of one-on-ones).
"It's hurt us," head coach Jeff Capel said. "We've been good at it at times. At times we haven't it hasn't been. We've been very inconsistent. Anytime you don't shoot free throws well, you are giving up free points. Especially if you miss the front end of a one-on-one."
No TO Baby
Pitt is coming off a conference high of 18 turnovers against Georgia Tech as Capel said they have to be stronger with the ball and stop being careless.
It will be a challenges on Wednesday as NC State leads the ACC forcing 16 turnovers a game.
Hang 10
A chance for Pitt to get its 10th win. It could move all the way up to 7th in the standings and even its ACC record at 6-6. That would tie last year's mark for conference wins with, hopefully, at least four more games to play.
Keatts on Champagnie
"He's playing at a high level," NC State head coach Kevin Keatts said of ACC leading scorer and rebounder Justin Champagnie. "That says a lot about what Jeff has done with his program. But it says a lot about the kids in our league when we do retain some of these who don't turn to the pros right away. You can see how good the players that we have in the league. He has been one of the bright spots."
"He's a tough matchup. He can score the ball inside and out. It's unbelievable how he is rebounding the basketball. I don't care who you are, if you've had a game where you've got 20 rebounds. You are pretty good."
"It's a tough matchup for us. How do you play him? Do you switch screens like we typically like to do one through four and then chance having a smaller guy where he can shoot the basketball over him?"
"He's become a three level scorer-around the basketball, in transition and has been deadly behind the three point line."
Keatts said it's comparable to the matchup against Duke's Matthew Hurt. Unfortunately for the Wolfpack head coach, he's had to back them in back-to-back games.
Minus Leading Scorer
Adversity has affected all teams, but NC State is without its leading scorer for the season. Starting guard and leading scorer Devon Daniels tore his ACL and has been out since the Wake Forest game on January 27. They have won one of the five games since his injury and that was against Boston College.
Daniels did it all for the Wolfpack—16.5 points per game while shooting 48% FG and 35% from 3. The 6'5" guard also averaged 5.1 rebounds a game and 3 assists and nearly 2 steals a game.
