Pitt vs Mississippi State: Game Info, Odds, Three Storylines

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years. Their reward for 22 wins and a top-five finish in the ACC standings was an 11 seed and a trip to Dayton, Ohio to play Mississippi State in the First Four.

Game Info

Opponent: Mississippi State (21-12 overall, 8-10 SEC)
Time: 9:10 PM EST
Location: UD Arena; Dayton, Ohio
Broadcast: truTV and 93.7 The Fan

Odds

The Panthers are a 2.5-point underdog. The Bulldogs are -140 on the moneyline and Pitt is at +120. The point total line has been set at 133.

Three Storylines

Defensive Juggernaut

The Bulldogs are one of the best defensive teams in America and they are red hot. This team, which has won nine of their last 13 games, is allowing just 61 points per game, the 10th-best mark in the country. Mississippi State also owns Division I's 20th-best effective field goal defense, force turnovers at the 23rd-best rate in America and allow makes on just 30.8% of opposing 3-point shots.

Expect the Bulldogs to try and take away the 3-point line. That makes Jamarius Burton and Nelly Cummings, who can either score on the inside or penetrate with the dribble and pass to open shooters, extremely important.

Federiko's Status

Pitt's starting center is still dealing with a knee injury suffered in the ACC Tournament game against Georgia Tech. He tested that knee in practice when the team arrived in Dayton and he will continue to do so right up until game time, according to head coach Jeff Capel.

Should he not be able to play, expect some smaller lineups and a healthy dose of Guillermo Diaz Graham. Against the Bulldogs' 6'11 leading scorer, Tolu Smith, that could be a problem. But since they have few shooters around him, some double teams should be able to address the issue.

Opposite Momentum

The Panthers enter this game having lost four of their last seven, while Mississippi State arrives having won nine of their last 13 games. Pitt will be trying to halt a skid while their opponents try to keep the good times rolling.

All season, Pitt has done well responding to adversity and this is certainly some adversity. The 96-69 beatdown at Duke's hands is still fresh in their minds and time away from competition will only let that sour feeling stew longer. The Panthers will have to show their trademark resolve and experience in this game.

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