Inside The Panthers

Pitt C Federiko Federiko's Status for Mississippi State Game Unclear

Pitt Panthers head coach Jeff Capel said his starting center is a game-time decision.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt C Federiko Federiko's Status for Mississippi State Game Unclear
Pitt C Federiko Federiko's Status for Mississippi State Game Unclear /
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DAYTON -- The Pitt Panthers are preparing to play their first NCAA Tournament game against one of the nation's best post players and they might have to do it without their own starting center. After Federiko Federiko tweaked his knee in the second round of the ACC Tournament and spent extended minutes on the bench in the quarterfinal loss to Duke, his status for the First Four against Mississippi State. 

Pitt head coach Jeff Capel said that Federiko will test his knee over the 24 hours leading up to tip-off and medical staff, coaches and Federiko himself will come to a decision by game time. As of right now, he has no definitive status. 

"He'll be a game-time decision if he'll play," Capel said. "He's still nursing that knee. He hurt it against Georgia Tech, tried to play against Duke the next day. We didn't like the way that he was moving, which is why we held him once we got down. So he'll be a game-time decision tomorrow."

Federiko did not practice fully with the team the day before their First Four matchup with the Bulldogs. He was in sweatpants and got some shots up but that was all. He said the knee is feeling better, but "we'll see" if he plays. 

Having Federiko, one of the best interior defenders in the ACC this past season, in the middle of the defense will be crucial for Pitt when they take the floor against 6'11 Tolu Smith, the physically imposing Bulldog center averaging 15.4 points and 8.3 rebounds on 58.3% shooting from the field. 

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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:

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