Read below for a full Pitt vs Mississippi State prediction and preview in the ACC/SEC Challenge and a rematch of the 2023 First Four matchup.
The Panthers find themselves in the Top 25 after stunning Ohio State on Friday and now look to keep the momentum going as they head south for another tough matchup.
General Information:
Teams: #18 Pitt (7-1) and Mississippi State (6-1)
Tip-Off Time: 9:15 p.m. EST
Watch: SEC Network
Listen: 93.7 The Fan
What to know about Mississippi State:
Mississippi State knows all about being ranked as the Bulldogs were among of the best in the country not too long ago. Chris Jans’ team is looking to bounce back after losing by double digits to Butler in the Arizona Tip-Off.
The Bulldogs might not have the scoring depth like Ohio State, but the three main scorers are lethal. Josh Hubbard averages 19.1 points per game, KeyShawn Murphy averages just under a double-double per game (11 points and nine rebounds) and Riley Kugel sits at an even 10 per game.
This offense runs through Hubbard, so the Panthers are really going to have to focus on slowing him down as much as possible. As always, that is easier said than done, especially when facing a Power 5 team.
Murphy’s size and strength in the post is going to require Cam Corhen and Guillermo Diaz Graham to prevent him from getting rebounds. Murphy stands at 6’10, 230 pounds, meaning the Pitt bigs are going to have to earn every rebound.
Latest on Pitt basketball:
The vibes around the Panthers couldn’t be higher after cracking the AP Poll and also being placed fifth in the NCAA NET Rankings. Non-conference strength of schedule talk doesn’t exist anymore, and Jeff Capel deserves credit for ensuring his squad makes the most of its games outside of the ACC.
Pitt is now going to try and avoid doing what Mississippi State did with climbing into the rankings and then falling out the next week. Amsal Delalic and Zack Austin stepped up big in differing roles against the Buckeyes, but they will be needed again Wednesday night. Delalic slotted into the starting lineup in place of Damian Dunn while Austin continues to thrive as one of the first players off of the bench.
While the Panthers were certainly pleased with their win in Columbus, Jaland Lowe will be the first to admit it was still a teaching moment.
“We want to learn how to be more consistent throughout the whole game,” said Lowe. “They shot 70% in the first half, that’s just so unlike us. We don’t want to be that type of team, so we found ourselves in the second half.”
That same message is one that Capel has echoed over the early part of the season. Pitt has moments of a lapse in concentration, and it’s something that this team is running out of time to figure out. This may sound like a broken record, but the Panthers continue to have this issue.
This matchup with Mississippi State is a chance to finally break away that and hopefully never look back. It won’t be an easy task for Pitt, but it’s a situation this group hasn’t experienced already this season.
Pitt vs Mississippi State Prediction: Pitt wins, 83-79
[…] as the Bulldogs controlled the boards 27-14 in the first half. This was a game that Pitt knew rebounding was going to be key, but the Panthers looked like a JV team going against its varsity counterparts. The sloppiness […]