3 Keys to State’s First Round ACC Tourney Matchup with Pitt

State and Pitt have already met this season, however these two teams are very different than they were on January 3rd when the Pack torched the Panthers 68-50. Back then State was poor defensively, struggled with pressure and didn’t know who their point guard was. The loss to NC State began a stretch where Pitt lost 6 of their next 9.

Today you’re looking at a Wolfpack team that has played strong defensively, handles pressure with ease and has Cat Barber, who might be the best PG in the ACC at the moment. The Pack has also won 5 of their last 6 (with wins against Louisville and UNC) all but locking them into the NCAA tournament. Pitt on the other hand is flailing. The Panthers had a dominant mid season stretch but have lost their last 3 games (Wake, Miami, FSU), putting them square on the NCAA bubble.

Tonight the teams meet again in the first round of the ACC Tournament in what should be a very interesting game. The Panthers are in a must win situation if they want to punch their ticket to the big dance, while the Pack is playing for seeding. Here are some keys to todays game:

Stop Jamal Artis
Who? That’s the question many Pack fans are asking after seeing who Pitt’s leading scorer is. Artis is a 6’7 sophomore who has emerged as a go-to scorer for the Panthers. He’s leading the team at 13.8 and has been hot as of late. He’s a guy who can score inside or out and someone who could really give State trouble.

Get Lacey/Turner Going
This comes as no surprise to State fans. If Lacey and Turner are on, NC State is hard to beat. Last time out against Pitt, Lacey dropped 19 and Ralston followed up with 16.

Crush Their Will Early
As we mentioned, Pitt is going to be going hard. They are desperate for a win and need a run to get off the NCAA bubble. State is already likely in but with that good news comes some pause. They have not handled success very well this season. After beating #2 Duke they lost 4 of their next 5. After beating #15 UNC they fell to lowly Boston College. Gottfried’s teams have always played well in the ACC Tournament, but he’s never had a team that already knows their NCAA fate. This one could be interesting.