Missed opportunities were the name of the game Wednesday night, as Pitt failed to put away Louisville in the second half. The 67-60 loss drops the Panthers to 0-6 versus ranked opponents, which continues to hurt their tournament chances.
Recap:
Pitt was hot right out of the gate and after Jamel Artis hit a deep three they led 9-2. However, a Rick Pitino timeout got the Cardinals back on track, going on a 12-1 run. From that point on neither team led by more than four points for the rest of the half. The Panthers had Ryan Luther guiding them throughout the first 20 minutes, scoring eight points. But Louisville had the 33-29-halftime advantage.
The second half offense for Pitt was similar to the first, making their first three shots to take the lead back. The nip and tuck of the end of the first and beginning of the second half finally ended when Pitt, trailing by three, went on an 11-0 run, from the 14 to the nine-minute mark. Luther drilled a three and made two free throws during the run. Then everything came crashing down. Louisville’s Damion Lee hit a deep three to cut their deficit to five, and the Cardinals would not miss a field goal for the rest of the game. During Louisville’s 9-9 finish the Panthers were able to keep pace until a three by David Levitch gave the Cardinals a three-point advantage they would not surrender.
Four Panther players were in double figures, but the star of the game had to be Luther with 17 points, five rebounds and two made threes. The other Pitt players in double figures were James Robinson, 12, Michael Young, 10, and Artis, 13.
Positives:
Ryan Luther- Luther may have struggled in the beginning of the season, but now he is playing at an extremely high level. Non-stop hustle and the recent ability to hit threes should see him get even more playing time.
Rebounding- This team has utilized the offensive glass well throughout the season and last night was no different. Pitt has nine offense rebounds compared to Louisville’s four is pretty impressive, especially when you consider how long the Cardinal lineup is.
Negatives:
Defensive Breakdowns- For Louisville to end the game on a run like that it just shows what this team really is. They have some good moments, but in seemingly the worst times it almost as if they are absent minded. The wide-open three by Levitch was the result of two Panther plays guarding one Louisville player.
Turnovers- Artis and Young are the main culprits behind this, they had eight turnovers combined. The rest of the team did not fair much better, giving the ball away a total of 15 times.
Moral Victories- There are no moral victories this late in the season, so proving Pitt can stick with a good team means nothing. Winning is all that matters and a game like this could have solidified their spot in the tournament.
Offensive Grade: D+
Luther was really the only shinning star for the offense. The rest of it was a complete mess after such a strong start to the game. Some of the numbers include 15 turnovers, 4-18 from three, and 14-21 at the line. This team has won games all season due to their free throw shooting, but Wednesday night it killed them. Young, a 78% free throw shooter, was 0-4. The offense had several opportunities to bury Louisville, but they just could not get it done on that end.
Defensive Grade: C-
For much of the game Pitt put the Cardinals in some difficult spots. Then it all came crashing down to the tune of Louisville finishing the game making their last nine shots. The breakdowns were evident all over the court, especially after an 0-6 start from three changed dramatically as they would go on to make seven of their last 10. Good defense is what closes out games, but that is exactly what this team lacks.
Coaching Grade: F
Pitt needed this one badly and it was within reach. Unfortunately, the team crumbled, which falls squarely on the coach’s shoulders. Pitino is down several big men and still found a way to utilize a variety of different lineups. The only credit Dixon gets is for playing Luther, but after the way he started the game that was an obvious decision.
Up Next:
The Peterson Events Center will be rocking when Pitt hosts the Duke Blue Devils on Sunday February 28 at 2:00 P.M.