Pitt F Blake Hinson Thriving Against Additional Pressure
PITTSBURGH -- As the Pitt Panthers' leading scorer, Blake Hinson has been tasked with handling a multitude of different defensive looks and double teams from opponents all season.
When asked what his thought process was when Notre Dame sent extra help his way in the Panthers' win over the Fighting Irish on Saturday, Hinson stated that his main focus was finding an open teammate instead of forcing the issue and turning the ball over in the process.
"Get rid of it," Hinson said. "Somebody’s open. Just like the general rule of double teams. I mean, sometimes I can get through it, but just trying to get off the ball and not turn it over."
It should come as no surprise that opponents put an emphasis on trying to slow down and eliminate Hinson on any given night. He is averaging 18.0 points per game on 44.0% shooting from the field and 41.2% shooting from behind the arc as one of the ACC's premier scoring threats. The Panthers go as Hinson goes, and he perfectly encapsulates their offensive game plan that is centered around perimeter shooting.
Dealing with supplemental pressure is somewhat of a new challenge for Hinson, who benefitted from playing with a more experienced group last season while also having not appeared in a college basketball game for the previous two seasons. Now, as a proven commodity, Hinson has extra responsibilities on his plate as he navigates the extra attention while also remaining a focal point and the primary scoring option for the Panthers.
Jeff Capel said that playing against double teams simply comes with the territory for Hinson and that he was impressed with how he handled it against Notre Dame.
"He’s got to accept the double and make the play," Capel said. "That’s basketball. I thought he did a really good job of that for the most part today. I thought he had a really efficient 17 points. Blake has seen all kinds of different things with how teams have defended him this year. And again, for him to be able to make those adjustments, to not get frustrated, to not get rushed - I think the first 15 minutes, he didn’t score, and then all of a sudden, the last five minutes, he gets seven points, he hits two three’s, he gets fouled shooting a three, so he has the ability to go on these spurts for us, and that shows growth in him."
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