Pitt Falls At Home Against Miami In A Crucial ACC Game; Likely NIT Bound
By Brett Tunno
Mar 4, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Miami (Fl) Hurricanes center Tonye Jekiri (L) is fouled by Pittsburgh Panthers guard James Robinson (0) as he passes the ball to guard Sheldon McClellan (R) during the second half at the Petersen Events Center. Miami won 67-63. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
With so much on the line, Jamie Dixon’s Pitt Panthers could not capitalize against another ACC Bubble team tonight.
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Pitt couldn’t make the stops on defense, and the guard play was abysmal, as Miami knocked off Pitt 67-63, likely eliminating Pitt from the NCAA Tournament.
The Hurricanes defeated Pitt without their second-leading scorer, as Angel Rodriguez sat out with a wrist injury.
At this point, I think Pitt has to win the ACC Tournament to make the Big Dance, and this does not look promising. (Did you see the Duke / Wake Forest score?)
Sophomore forwards Jamel Artis and Michael Young can only do so much, and Pitt could not afford to lose this one on its home court.
For Pitt (19-12, 8-9 ACC), Young scored 22 points and hauled in 7 rebounds, while Artis scored 14 points and sophomore forward Jamel Artis came off the bench to chip in 11 points.
Miami simply wanted this one more. The Hurricanes had more steals, forced more turnovers, and scored 9 points off Pitt turnovers, as well as scored more points in the paint.
Pitt shot 6 of 21 from the three-point line, and the Panthers are not a three-point shooting team.
For Miami (19-11, 9-8 ACC), junior guard Sheldon McClellan scored 20 points and sophomore guard Davon Reed added 19 points on 7 of 8 shooting. Junior center Tonye Jekiri had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Hurricanes made 15 of 18 free throws, where Pitt was only 7 of 8. Miami showed more aggressiveness, while Pitt was passive and complacent.
The tone of the game was set by Miami, as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Pitt fought back and lead by 6 points multiple times.
A questionable foul call occurred at the end of the first half, giving Miami two free throws to cut the Pitt lead to 33-29.
With under 14 minutes remaining, a Cameron Wright jumper made it 47-43 Pitt, but the Panthers only scored one basket in the next five minutes.
Scoring drought s have killed Pitt all season, and even though Miami did not score either, Pitt had the opportunity to pull away multiple times but failed to do so.
Pitt had trouble stopping the penetration from Miami, as the Hurricanes drove it to the basket and Pitt settled for missed jump shots.
With 2:37 remaining in the game, Artis hit a three-pointer to cut the Miami lead to 57-56, but McClellan responded with a three-pointer.
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Young then made a jumper, but McClellan countered with a jumper of his own.
Artis missed a three-pointer, and Jekiri made both free throws to extend the Miami lead to 64-58 with 50 seconds left.
With 26 seconds left, Jeter made a three-pointer to give Pitt some hope, and the Panthers forced a turnover. Artis had a wide open look to tie the game, but he missed the biggest shot of the game.
Pitt would go on to lose 67-63 in the most disappointing game of the season.
This team is not nearly as good as previous squads, but you have to question Jamie Dixon. This Pitt team did not show urgency and was out-hustled on Senior Night. In crucial games, Pitt always seems flat, offensively challenged, and unable to defend.
Since falling to Villanova in the 2009 Elite Eight, Dixon has failed to win the most important games in tournaments, and now his team failed on improving its NCAA Tourney hopes with a rare loss at the Peterson Events Center.
It is looking like this team may be in the NIT in a few weeks, which I would consider a disappointment.
Pitt will finish out the regular season at Florida State this weekend and battle for ACC Tournament seeding.
It has been a rough past two games for us Pitt fans.