Read below for a full Pitt vs Eastern Kentucky prediction and preview as the Panthers have their second-to-last non-conference game.
The Panthers aim to try and win two in a row fresh off of narrowly beating Virginia Tech on Saturday for their first conference win of the season.
General Information:
Teams: Pitt (8-2, 1-0) and Eastern Kentucky (5-4, 0-0)
Tip-Off Time: 7 p.m. EST
Watch: ACC Network Extra/ESPN+
Listen: 93.7 The Fan
Latest on Eastern Kentucky basketball:
Eastern Kentucky’s wins so far this season have come against low-major teams and other mid-majors. However, Colonels kept it within reason against Clemson on the road. That matchup with the Tigers is the most notable game in Eastern Kentucky’s schedule to this point.
In the last matchup against Campbellsville Harrodsburg, an NAIA school, the Colonels cruised to a 36-point victory. George Kimble III led the way for Eastern Kentucky with 23 points as one of three players in double digits. The Colonels went deep into their bench, but that was to just give depth guys an opportunity to play.
Devontae Blanton was one point shy of a double-double in that matchup with nine points and 11 rebounds. The senior forward is a bit undersized in comparison to Cam Corhen, Guillermo Diaz Graham and Zack Austin. Despite this, the Panthers can’t take him lightly.
Blanton is the leading scorer for Eastern Kentucky with 16.1 points per game with Kimble right behind him at 14.3 points per game. They are the only two players for the Colonels to average 10+ points per game. Slowing them down is going to be vital for the Panthers to be successful.
Latest on Pitt basketball:
Pitt won its first ACC game of the season on Saturday after coming from behind in the final minutes against Virginia Tech. Jaland Lowe led that effort for the Panthers as he has often done this season and put the team on his back.
Things definitely weren’t perfect for Pitt in that game despite winning. The Hokies shot over 40% from the field, a number that Jeff Capel will certainly want to see drop down into the mid-to-high 30’s. Three-point shooting also hurt the Panthers offensively by shooting just 21% from behind the arc.
The starting lineup definitely looked more cohesive with Austin involved over Amsal Delalic. It’s no slight against Delalic as he’s just a freshman, but the difference between them is certainly noticeable. While Austin can shoot when needed, going with three forwards will put more pressure on Lowe and Ishmael Leggett to lead the team offensively.
Corhen and Diaz Graham are going to need to return to the level of play from earlier in the season. Both of them were nonexistent against Mississippi State and while things improved against Virginia Tech, they were far from the level Capel needs them to be at for this team to compete.
Eastern Kentucky isn’t going to be a pushover, and Pitt is going to have take them seriously like all of the other schools on the schedule. However, the Panthers should find a way to come out on top in the end.
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