Pitt basketball saw the offense lead the way once again as it spread the wealth in an 83-64 win. At least four Panthers have recorded double-digit points in three straight games.
Pitt started the first half by scoring 14 of the game’s first 16 points. The Panthers knew they couldn’t take their foot off the gas in this matchup, and the offense continued to put up shots. Ishmael Leggett and Damian Dunn found their form in the first half for Pitt until the team hit a scoring drought for the final 4:58. Strong defense kept the Panthers in front by 15, and they took a 38-23 lead into the break.
The Panthers started the second half the way the first half ended: slow and sloppy. However, the offense revived itself as the frame went on and found some momentum. Ishmael Leggett led the charge as he was making plays all over the court. Jeff Capel’s offense didn’t take its foot off the gas and cruised to the 83-64 win.
Takeaway #1: Zack Austin shines as Panthers depth is on full display
Capel wasn’t shy about going deep into his bench Monday night. In addition to regular substitutes of Brandin Cummings, Zack Austin and Jorge Diaz Graham, Capel gave Pitt basketball fans a brief look at Papa Kante and Amsal Delalic.
Austin proved to be a difference maker with a pair of crucial three pointers, one in each half. The Panthers are going to need him and the rest of the bench to contribute down the stretch. As college basketball fans know, the deepest teams are some of the toughest to beat. Austin contributes on both ends of the court and employs a team-first mentality.
“We always got to have our brother’s back,” said Austin. “If I see one of our brothers needs some help, I’m going to come over every time and help.”
A true milestone to know you played well is getting a compliment from the opposing team’s coach. Gardner-Webb head coach Jeremy Luther spoke very highly about Austin and his role for the Panthers.
“They’re (Gardner-Webb) not used to it,” said Luther. “And then they get here and get sped up, it’s like volleyball practice out there [with the blocks].”
Takeaway #2: Guard play becomes more impressive each game offensively
The Panthers knew coming into the season that Leggett and Jaland Lowe would lead the way in the front court. However, Dunn has stepped up in each of his firs three games in the 412. Through three games, he’s averaging 13.3 points per game.
Pitt basketball knew it needed to replace the offensive production of Blake Hinson in the offseason, and Dunn is proving to be a big piece of the puzzle. Sharing the wealth in the back court is going to make it for opposing teams to limit the Panthers offensively.
That will be easier said than done with all of them having a slightly different style of play, but the trio already has chemistry.
“I think we meshed really quick,” said Leggett. “I feel like I know what everyone is going to do on the court just because I’ve played with them for a good minute, and I’ve seen them each and every day make their decisions. I just go off their lead, and I think we definitely mesh well.”
Capel’s team is in a position to be one of the most dynamic in the ACC offensively. The trio of guards, plus Delalic and Brandin Cummings, allows Pitt’s backcourt to compete against anyone in the country.
Takeaway #3: Pitt sees the zone for the first time
Through two full games and most of the first half Monday against Gardner-Webb, the Panthers only saw man-to-man defense. Luther had a trick up his sleeve to slow down Pitt’s offense by turning to a zone.
The zone defense certainly made things difficult for the rest of the first half and well into the second half. However, the Panthers cracked the code. For Pitt, it was a learning experience.
“It was great for us to get some work against the zone,” said Capel. “We didn’t play with the necessary pace that we need to play with against the zone… we have some film that we can talk about it and show.”
Capel knows this won’t be the last time his team sees a zone defense. It’s up to him and his staff to figure out the best ways to attack it moving forward.
Next Game for Pitt (3-0): vs West Virginia (2-0) – Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. EST
Next Game for Gardner-Webb (1-2): vs Elon (1-1) – Nov. 16 at 4 p.m. EST
[…] Monday night’s win over Gardner-Webb was another learning experience as the Panthers got their first look at a zone defense. They take that experience into a heated rivalry with the Mountaineers. […]