Well Pitt made it in the NCAA Tournament and based on the fact that Syracuse has the same seed they must have been in for awhile. Now the Panthers face seven seed Wisconsin for the right to advance and most likely play two seed Xavier.
The Wisconsin Badgers started the season in the top 25 of the AP Poll, but soon started free falling. The worst came when, with a 9-9 overall and 1-4 in Big Ten record, longtime head coach Bo Ryan retired. The team could have let that deter them, but instead they went on a tear finishing 20-12 overall and big wins against Michigan State home, Indiana home, at Maryland and at Iowa. They did get bounced out of the Big Ten Tournament early losing to Nebraska. This is a team has two starters from last year’s National Championship runner-up looking to make another run.
The Pittsburgh Panthers had the exact opposite start and finish to the season as Wisconsin did. They started out 14-1 overall and 3-0 in the ACC, but from there went a horrendous 7-10 to finish. Much of the blame can be put on Pitt’s offense, as they go through spurts of looking like world-beaters and then moments where they look like a basketball is a foreign object to them. The close win versus Syracuse in the ACC Tournament cemented Pitt into March Madness, but are they simply in it to attend or are they looking to make some noise?
Keys to Victory:
Make Threes- This Pitt team shot roughly 34% from three on the season, but too often they would go games at a time without hitting a shot. At one point through a three game stretch they made three of their 34 long-range attempts. The Badgers do not have the best perimeter defense, but if the Panthers give them no reason to respect the outside shot it will not matter how bad of perimeter defense Wisconsin plays.
Attack Ethan Happ- The freshman forward has a variety of different post moves, which can lose defenders. The positive news is that Wisconsin, like Pitt, is not an elite shooting team. Forcing Happ to kick it out to perimeter players gives the advantage to the Panthers. Letting Happ go to work down low would surely doom Pitt.
Push the Tempo- This Badger team plays slightly more up-tempo than Bo Ryan teams ever did, but they still are not a fast paced team. Pitt really is not one either, but due to their small lineups with Sheldon Jeter or Ryan Luther playing the four or five spots they should be able to take advantage when running the floor. As well, Pitt’s half court offense can be brutal so easy buckets will only help.
Match-Up to Watch:
Jamel Artis vs. Nigel Hayes- Hayes elected not to enter the NBA draft after last season because he felt unprepared. This year’s edition has the strength and skillset to take over games by himself. Artis will be his counterpart for Pitt, and when he is on they are a completely different team. Just look at the Duke game for a reference. If Artis wants any hope of showing NBA scouts his ability, going out and performing well against a guy like Hayes would do it.
Prediction:
Pitt may have lost back-to-back games to close the regular season, but in the ACC Tournament they appeared to have found themselves a little bit. That does not mean this is a no brainer win, I just feel like the athletic bigs Pitt plays will throw off the Badgers just a little bit.
Final Score: Pitt-65 Wisconsin-63