Looking for a road win at the Pete
The Syracuse Orange (11-15, 5-10) head on the road to try and snap this two-game losing skid when they face the Pittsburgh Panthers (15-10. 6-8). Pitt won the first meeting 77-73 in the Dome and are looking to sweep the regular season series. The game will tip off at 7:00 tonight on the ACC Network and here’s what we’re watching for:
Kevin: Create some turnovers
In the first meeting, Syracuse only forced three turnovers as Jaland Lowe controlled the game. We know Pitt will run a lot of pick and rolls for Lowe and the Orange have to do a better job of collapsing on him and forcing him to make outside shots instead of getting into the lane and drawing fouls. Since the Orange have been playing more zone lately, we’ll see if they can mix up their defense and try and force the Panthers into forcing some passes.
Dom: Stop the three
Syracuse is coming off a game where it allowed UNC to shoot 46.4% from three, and that included 46% clips in both halves. The Orange shot just 4/13 from three and have shown they could maybe make a few more, but the volume will never be usually higher than the opponent. Pitt shot just 6/18 from three last time around and could be due for a slight bump, and the Panthers going 4/9 from distance in the second half ended up being the different in what was a four-point loss for the Orange.
Szuba: 18 for Lowe & Leggett
Pittsburgh is 8-1 when Ishmael Leggett scores 18 points or more and 9-3 when Jaland Lowe scores at least 18. Pittsburgh is 5-0 when both score 18 or more in the same game. Both those guys aren’t great shooters from outside so we might see some 2-3 zone mixed in. Lowe missed last game with a concussion but Jeff Capel expects him to play tonight. Any shot at an Orange win will start and end with its perimeter defense, something that’s been a struggle all season.
Max: Lots of blocked shots
If offense wasn’t hard enough for the Orange, they’ll now have to face one of the premier shot-blocking teams in the country. Pitt’s defense rejects 14.8% of opposing shots in conference play (the best rate of any ACC team per KenPom) and racked up six blocks the first time these teams played (to Syracuse’s one). After getting stuffed eight more times against North Carolina last weekend, I’m not expecting much to change against the Panthers.
***********************************************************************************************
What will you be watching for in this one?