Pitt Transfers Hitting Stride During Conference Play
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers fought through a slow start in ACC play, but their recent performances suggest that the team is finally settling into a rhythm while embodying all of the traits necessary to compete on a nightly basis.
The Panthers recently embarked on a three-game road trip that allowed the team to temporarily take their minds off of their struggles at home, where they began the year 0-5 against Power Six opponents. Pitt went 2-1 and captured wins over No. 7 Duke and Georgia Tech during that stretch, with the main takeaways for Jeff Capel being the ways in which he saw his group come together and understand what it takes to be successful within the conference.
“I think going on the road at that time was really good for us, just because of the closeness,” Capel said. “Understanding how hard we have to play, how hard we have to compete, the things that are necessary to win that you have to do. We did those the first two games (against Duke and Georgia Tech) and then we did it the last nine-and-a-half minutes against Miami.”
Upon returning home, Pitt was tasked with maintaining the same edge and spirit it showcased on the road against a talented Wake Forest team in the midst of a hot streak. The Panthers fell behind by as many as 12 points in the second half and succumbed to the same shooting struggles they had become accustomed to all season, but dug deep and fought back with a run in the closing minutes that earned them a win and showcased their growth as a team.
“My message to them at halftime was simply: ‘Look, I think you’re playing hard, but it requires more, you have to play harder,'" Capel said. '"I think we’re trying to be physical, but it requires more, we have to be more physical,’ and we went out there and we did it, and so hopefully that’s something, with these habits that we’re trying to create with the new group, that hopefully that’s something we’re able to sustain.”
Another major factor in the Panthers becoming more comfortable and competitive against stiffer competition is the adjustments their newcomers have made as they've gotten more reps. Ishmael Leggett and Zack Austin are both mid-major transfers who have endured cold stretches and lost their starting jobs at certain points, but they've each played their best brand of basketball over the last several weeks and thrived in their individual roles upon developing a feel for what it takes to play in the ACC.
Leggett has continued to be a consistent scorer, averaging 15.3 points per game while knocking down 53.3% of his 3-point shots since recovering fully from a shoulder injury, and a lockdown defender. And Austin has fit well into his role as one of Pitt's glue guys, adding hustle, rebounding, splash plays on defense and the occasional timely bucket.
The same can be said for Bub Carrington and Jaland Lowe, who have dealt with the typical freshman growing pains during their transition to the collegiate level but have also stepped up as two of Pitt's most important pieces.
Leggett discussed the differences he's noticed thus far between playing with Rhode Island in the Atlantic 10 and what he's experienced at Pitt while also listing the ways in which he's molded and adapted his game to better fit the ACC.
“I think knowing that getting to the basket, all the way to the basket, isn’t always the right option for me given that the players are taller, faster, longer,” Leggett said. “Just adjusting, working on my touch, working on my floaters, working on my mid-range, just getting to spots is something that I’ve really tried to put work into.”
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