Pitt vs Binghamton: Game Info, Odds, Three Storylines
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers got off to a fast start in the 2023-24 season, knocking off North Carolina A&T by 48 at the Petersen Events Center.
Now the competition moves up a level as an experienced and confident Binghamton team visits Pittsburgh. The Panthers are heavy favorites, but will face a serious challenge from the Bearcats.
Game Info
Opponent: Binghamton (0-1 overall, 0-0 America East)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Petersen Events Center; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Broadcast: ACC Network Extra and 93.7 The Fan
Odds
The Panthers are 16.5-point favorites over Binghamton. They are favored at -3,200 on the moneyline to +1,400 for the Bearcats. The point total line has been set at 143.5.
Three Storylines
Does Carrington Carry Over?
For as spectacular as Bub Carrington's freshman debut was - 18 points on 7-12 shooting from the field and a 4-7 mark from 3-point range, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and the fifth triple-double in program history - it was one game against a team that was completely overwhelmed. Carrington's advantage in talent and size translated exactly how you might think it would.
It was a fun night, but there are many more nights to follow and a simple look down the schedule will yell you those nights will not be as fun as his first. Carrington still has immense talent and is perfectly capable of being a star for this team right away, but how he follows up the debut, especially against a Binghamton with experience and depth at the guard position.
Beat the Pace
Pitt played with a furious pace against North Carolina A&T, turning defense into offense with ease. Against the Bearcats, the Panthers could get a taste of their own medicine.
Binghamton has a deep group of guards to play with and they use that depth expertly, running in transition to find easy buckets and neutralize whatever advantage the opponents might have in size. That's a big reason why they held a halftime lead over Northwestern on the road earlier this week.
This is an interesting test for the Panthers, who are proud of the length they added in the offseason. Will they be quick enough to make that length matter? And can they communicate well enough with some new faces in the lineup to combat a team that will try to send them into a frenzy? We'll find out at the Petersen Events Center when the clock strikes 7:00 p.m.
Leveling Up
In their season opener on Monday, the Panthers took on and trounced one of the worst teams in college basketball, one that is rebuilding its roster while also dealing with some devastating injuries. They did what they were supposed to do, but the Panthers really were not seriously challenged.
That'll start to change soon as the competition starts to take significant steps up over the coming days and weeks. After facing KenPom's No. 357-ranked team earlier this week, Pitt faces No. 285 in Binghamton tonight. No. 134 Florida Gulf Coast awaits the following Monday and a home game against Jacksonville is the last hurdle between a stretch of five straight against Power 5 teams, all ranked in KenPom's top-65.
If the Panthers have any more tuning up to do, they should work it out now, because the sledding will get significantly tougher very soon.
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