HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: Virginia Tech (15-11) at Pitt (17-9) 530PM The CW

HOKIES HOOPS CENTRAL: Virginia Tech (15-11) at Pitt (17-9) 530PM The CW

Working on the weekend like usual 💼🆚 Pitt🕠 5:30 PM📺 CW🏟️ Petersen Events Center#StoneByStone x #Hokies pic.twitter.com/2WVK2ONxDN— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) February 24, 2024

Virginia Tech (15-11)
At Pitt (17-9)
February 24, 2024
Petersen Events Center
530 p.m. ET
The CW
Virginia Tech Sports Network

The CW
Play-by-Play:
Analyst:

Local Radio
Virginia Tech Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Zach Mackey
Analyst: Mike Burnop

Current Spread: Pitt -2.5
Over/Under: -142.5

Injuries/Absence:
Pitt: Jorge Diaz Graham (Forward) Ankle - 1/27/24 Out
Papa Amadou Kante (Forward) Knee - 10/13/23 Out
VT: Mekhi Long (Forward) Knee - 2/10/24 Out

Can Hokies win on the road?
The Hokies go on the road in need of a win. After thrashing UVA, the Hokies look to finish strong. Pitt is coming off a blowout loss 91-58 to Wake Forest. This game becomes even more important for ACC tournament seeding after Syracuse won earlier this week. The Hokies currently are in 10th, so would have to play the first day of the tournament.

It's what he does 😏 @lynnkidd20 pic.twitter.com/XI404P6Nwz— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) February 22, 2024

The Panthers are coached by Jeff Capel III, who has been at Pittsburgh since 2018. The Panthers are 92-90 under Capel III, who is now 267-200 as a Head coach with ten years as a head coach at VCU and Oklahoma before spending seven years in the Duke Dungeon as an assistant. The Panthers finally reached the post season under Capel last year. They are poised to extend it to a second season although could find themselves on the bubble.

Pitt started the season winning their first five but stumbled during Thanksgiving and ended up going 8-3 in non-conference play. Before losing to Wake in their last game, the Panthers had won five in a row. They are beatable at home, where they are 10-5 but are 3-4 at home in ACC play.

Hinson, Carrington and Lowe are the starting guards. The two starting forwards are Austin and typically Federiko. Leggett gives the Panthers a huge boost off the bench. The Hokies will only see half of the Graham twins off the bench, as Guillermo will play while his brother Jorge is out with an injury.

Defensively, Pittsburgh's main point of emphasis is their match-up zone. Capel's zone applies pressure on the basketball, takes away the corner drives, covers the elbow and supports help side defense. He uses "41 Hot" press that puts pressure on the teams ball handlers in the full-court, trying to force the ball to a poor ball handler.
Capel's defense, similar to the Pack-Line, is especially focused on denying the baseline. Defenders are taught to position themselves to not allow any baseline penetration, relying on help defense to close an adjusted drives to the center of the lane. The key weakness of this defense is if a team can find open shooters on the perimeter AND hit those shots, the integrity of this defense begins to fall apart.

Offensively, the Panthers run a very up-tempo, attacking offense. Pitt averages 1.5 attempts per minute, or about 60 shots per game. They are very efficient, averaging 1.3 points per attempt. They create offense by stressing the importance of defensive rebounding, where they average pulling down nearly 70% of opponents missed shots.

The Panthers are shooting over 50% from inside the perimeter and 35% outside on 27.5 three-point attempts per game. Thirty points per game from the perimeter is the norm but Hokies typically do a good job running opponents off the perimeter this season.

Panthers Backcourt
Blake Hinson
2 SR G 6-7 235
18.8 Pts, 5.0 Reb, 0.7 Ast

Carlton Carrington
7 FR G 6-4 190
12.9 Pts, 5.2 Reb, 4.3 Ast

Ishmael Leggett
5 JR G 6-2 180
12.2 Pts, 5.3 Reb, 2.2 Ast

Jaland Lowe
15 FR G 6-2 170
8.6 Pts, 2.5 Reb, 2.8 Ast

Panthers Frontcourt
Guillermo Diaz Graham
25 SO F 7-0 205
6.7 Pts, 4.2 Reb, 1.1 Ast

Zack Austin
55 JR F 6-4 175
6.6 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 1.0 Ast

Federiko Federiko
33 JR C 6-11 220
4.8 Pts, 5.2 Reb, 0.9 Ast

What to expect from Pittsburgh?
The Panthers come in with one of the tallest trios in the frontcourt in the ACC but it's the four guards that all come in averaging 11 or more points per game. The guards rely heavily on perimeter shooting with Hinson and Leggett both shooting better than 41%.

One area Pitt excels in is perimeter screening to get open looks. The Hokies have to find a way to stay over the top against screens. Federiko struggles with moving screens so it benefits the Hokies to press that.

Defensively Pitt has allowed opponents to score 67.2 points per game against this defense, third best in the ACC.
The last two games the Panthers have struggled with fouls, especially in the paint. The Hokies could benefit from 20+ free throw attempts by going inside. Pitt seems to struggle with positioning as they sell out to cover the perimeter.

In losses Pitt is averaging 31% from the perimeter and 43% in wins. Only one time in a loss did thy hit the 40% mark.

The Hokies
The Hokies absolutely blew the doors off UVA. They did so by going inside. While Pitt is more formidable in the paint than the Wahoos, the Hokies absolutely must continue to find iso opportunities for Kidd and Poteat. The other positive of getting the ball to Kidd and Poteat is if Pitt slips help defense over it leaves Beran room to work.

Bobby B put on a show 🍿👀 pic.twitter.com/nwiuuzDKHd— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) February 23, 2024

The Hokies continued use of Collins at the point paid dividends and has been a welcome change. Look for the Hokies to keep utilizing the set while getting Pedulla some time on the bench.

The Hokies need a second consecutive game of protecting the ball due to the Panthers defensive play. The Panthers force tough shots so significant turnovers would put the Hokies in a deep hole. Wake managed to shoot 50% from outside and 66% inside the paint. This is the exact recipe the Hokies need to follow.

YOU HAVE TO HIT YOUR FIRST SHOT. Due to the Panthers dominating the defensive boards, there will be very few second chance opportunities.

𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 📈📈 it's what we do#StoneByStone x #Hokies pic.twitter.com/kDlJ0JsUgk— Virginia Tech Men's Basketball (@HokiesMBB) February 22, 2024

In Closing
This game is going to come down to consistent production from all five starters. Finding early opportunities for Kidd to score sets a tone and leaves Pitt to consider whether they can afford to go one on one in the paint or are forced to provide help defense.

Whichever team gets to the rim more consistently with the ball will do one of two things, run up the score on baskets or ramp up the free throw attempts, which could go a long way in deciding this contest.