Teammates Call Out Pitt Freshman's ACC Awards Snub
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers earned plenty of recognition from the ACC in their postseason awards list, landing a player on the all-conference First-Team and the All-Rookie team. What's more, a Panther was named the Sixth Man of the Year and an all-conference honorable mention.
But the Panthers believed that their team deserved more recognition after another 20-win season. Both Blake Hinson and Ishmael Leggett were surprised that freshman point guard Jaland Lowe deserved to join fellow freshman Bub Carrintgon on the All-Rookie team.
“That was very surprising to me. I saw the impact he had on our team and, not to speak on other guys but, I saw some of the other guys on that list and it’s my bias but I also speak very highly of JLowe and I think he deserves to be on that list.”
Lowe came off the bench for the first 14 games of his college career and averaged 4.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 16 minutes per game.
The Panthers were sitting at 9-5 overall and 0-3 in conference play when an injury to Leggett forced Lowe into the starting lineup for a road game at Louisville. Ever since, Lowe's steady hand as the lead point guard has helped Pitt turn their season around.
In the 17 games since, Lowe has started every single one and averaged 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4 assists to just 1.8 turnovers per appearance while shooting 43% from 3-point range and 86% from the free throw line.
"I respect the committee of who makes these votes and the coaches but Jaland Lowe has a lot to do with the turnaround this season has had," Hinson said. "His fingerprints are all over that. So, they could have done it. I don’t know why they didn’t do it but he did deserve a spot in there. He didn’t get it but it happens like that sometimes.”
Lowe and the Panthers will have to move on quickly from awards season, however. They have arrived in Washington, D.C. for the start of the ACC Tournament and will need to stack as many wins as possible in order to shore up their NCAA Tournament resume.
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