Two teams that have drifted far from their expectations gather in the final week of the regular season when Pitt goes to North Carolina State on Wednesday night in Raleigh, N.C.
Pitt looked like a potential NCAA Tournament team a couple of months ago. NC State is the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference tournament champion.
“They’ve had some ups and downs pretty much like every team does throughout a season,” NC State coach Kevin Keatts said of the Panthers.
Pitt (16-13, 7-11 ACC) could still rise to a ninth-place spot in the conference standings, providing for a first-day bye in the league tournament next week. The Panthers will try to shed a three-game losing streak.
“We just haven’t been able to win,” Pitt coach Jeff Capel said. “We haven’t been able to sustain the level of play that’s required to finish out basketball games.”
Capel said the Panthers have to make the most out of the last week of the regular season.
“Continue to fight and be together,” he said. “And hopefully that leads to us having an opportunity to win.”
The Wolfpack (11-18, 4-14) has lost 14 of their last 17 games. NC State will play in its home finale and won’t likely make the ACC tournament’s field of 15 teams.
Pitt guard Laland Lowe is tied for ninth in ACC scoring at 16.7 points per game, compiling 16 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday’s loss at then-No. 19 Louisville. Teammate Ishmael Leggett is tied for 11th at 16.3.
“Those guards are good,” Keatts said. “We’ve got to try to do a good job of trying to control those guards.”
For NC State, senior guard Breon Pass will be in his final game. He’s a rarity in that he’s in his fourth season with the same team, and the only member of this season’s Wolfpack to be a four-year player.
“A guy who has been around,” Keatts said. “In today’s world when everybody transfers at any given moment to have a young man who has started here, been a part of some NCAAs, been a part of an ACC championship and a Final Four. It’s impressive. He stuck around and has been a part of it. Worked hard every day and had a positive attitude.”
Pass, a reserve, is averaging 4.2 points per game.
–Field Level Media
