On Tuesday night, Pitt basketball returns after one week of rest following its loss to No. 11 Duke at home.
The Panthers are in need of a win, sitting at 10-6 on the season and just 1-4 in conference play so far. However, the Orange won’t be an easy victory. Pitt lost to Syracuse back on Dec. 30, 81-73, blowing a double-digit lead to Adrian Autry’s squad.
Let’s dive into the preview for the second edition of Pitt Vs. Syracuse.
SYRACUSE ORANGE (11-5, 2-3 ACC)
HEAD COACH
Adrian Autry (1st season)
The Orange’s former associate head coach replaces Jim Boeheim after his 47-year stint leading the program. After beating Pitt in late December, Syracuse lost to Duke by 20 points, beat Boston College by ten, and then lost to North Carolina by a whopping 36 points.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME?
Pitt turned the ball over a season-high 15 times against Syracuse last time out. The Panthers also hit just 46% of their free-throw attempts in the loss, making 11 of their 24 attempts. Off the bench, Quadir Copeland led the Orange on a ferocious comeback, getting to the free-throw line 15 times in the win for Syracuse.
“I think it was more his performance,” Autry said about the reason for Copeland’s success getting to the free-throw line. “Him being active. The team’s energy level really picked up in the second half, and it was really more just a product of him being active, moving, making the right cuts, and just his activity.”
Bub Carrington finished with a team-high 17 points in the loss, hitting six of his 12 attempts. Aside from Carrington, Guillermo Diaz-Graham added 14 and Blake Hinson had 11. Syracuse’s defense
LEADING SCORERS
#3 Judah Mintz – 6’4 G
The former Pitt commit is averaging 18.6 points per game this season. In the three games since the Orange beat Pitt, Mintz has scored 18, 10, and 21 points, respectively, shooting 34% from the field. He went just 1 for 7 from the field in the win over Boston College.
#4 Chris Bell – 6’7 W
Bell scored just four points against Pitt in round one. However, the talented wing posted 20 points against Boston College (4 for 9 from three) and 13 points against North Carolina (3 for 3 from three) recently.
#2 JJ Starling – 6’4 G
Starling, a Notre Dame transfer, is averaging 10.8 points per game for the Orange. However, he has not scored in double figures in any of the Orange’s past five games.
TEAM STATS
Syracuse has hit 44.4% of its field-goal attempts this year, including 31.5% of its threes. In addition, the Orange are averaging 37 rebounds per game, as well as 13.7 assists, 12.7 turnovers, 9.6 steals, and 5.1 blocks per game.
Pitt is shooting 43.1% from the field, including 33.8% from three. The Panthers are averaging 40.2 rebounds, ten turnovers, 14.6 assists, 7.1 steals, and 4.9 blocks per game as a team.
Pitt is ranked No. 67 (down 22 spots compared to last game against Syracuse) in KenPom. Com’s ratings, and No. 65 in the NCAA’s NET rankings. Syracuse is ranked No. 83 in Kenpom.com’s rankings, and No. 81 in the NCAA NET Rankings.
GAME TIME
Pitt Vs. Syracuse tips off at 7 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Jan. 16.
SPREAD
There is no spread listed yet for this game. Last time out, Syracuse was a one-point favorite prior to tip off, per DraftKings. Check back here for an update Monday night.
TV
You can find Tuesday night’s game on ESPN2.
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