Pitt's Blake Hinson Takes Blame for UNC Loss

Pitt Panthers star Blake Hinson shouldered responsibility for a tight loss to North Carolina.
Pitt's Blake Hinson Takes Blame for UNC Loss
Pitt's Blake Hinson Takes Blame for UNC Loss /
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WASHINGTON, DC -- Blake Hinson has been brilliant for the Pitt Panthers for this season, leading them to a second half surge that earned them a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament. 

But the semifinal round of the 2024 ACC Tournament, where the Panthers lost,  72-65 to top-seeded North Carolina, did not feature one of Hinson's finest performances. In fact, it was one of the worst of his career. He scored just 5 points, shot 2-12 from the field and 0-5 from 3-point range. He was a concerted focus for North Carolina's defense and they completely shut him down. 

“Just like I said, I got to do my job. I got to do my job better, regardless of what the hell is going in as far as defensively," Hinson said. "They could have eight people on me. It’s my job to do my job. I do my job, we win this game.”

Hinson was hounded by Tar Heel forward Harrison Ingram, one of the best wing defenders in all of college basketball for the entire night he credited the Tar Heels for excellent team defense, but added that he needed to only play up to his standards for Pitt to win. 

“I know my team. My team can beat that team," Hinson said. "If I do my job, if I get the 20 points I average, we win that game.”

It was just the fifth time in 69 games as a Panther that he failed to make a 3-pointer and tied for the third-lowest scoring output of his time at Pitt. The Panthers had been 3-1 in games where Hinson did not make a 3-pointer entering the semifinals against North Carolina. But with Ishmael Leggett struggling to score as well, Pitt didn't have enough firepower. 

Freshman guard Bub Carrington wanted Hinson to take some of the pressure off of himself. He said the Panthers win as a team and lose as a team.

“I knew he was going to put this loss on himself but it’s not his fault at all," Carrington said. "We turned the ball over, we didn’t rebound, we didn’t do the little things to win. That’s what happens, you’re going to lose when you don’t do the little things.”

The Panthers are chasing an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament but will have to wait two days before learning their postseason fate. An NIT bid could await them if they don't make the big dance and Hinson said he'll spend the next two days preparing for whatever lies ahead. 

“Working, working," Hinson said about how he'll spend the next two days. "Just getting ready for my next opponent.”

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

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Pitt's NCAA Tournament Hopes Shrink After Bubble Wins

Jerry Palm: Pitt's NCAA Tournament Hopes Still Alive

Pitt's Bub Carrington Will Return for Sophomore Season

Pitt Falls in ACC Semifinals to North Carolina

Mississippi State Upset Helps Pitt's NCAA Tournament Odds


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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work: