Previewing NC State’s Opponent: Pitt

NC State (15-7/7-4) will host Pitt (14-8/5-6) this evening, and the Panthers should not be taken lightly. After starting ACC play 1-5, they have won 4 of their last 5. Two of those wins are against Wake Forest and at Duke

Pitt’s last 5 games

@ Duke: 80-76

@ Georgia Tech: 72-64

@ Miami: 72-68

Wake Forest: 77-72

Notre Dame: 70-60

The Panthers are one of the better defensive teams in the conference, holding opponents to 66.8 points per game, which ranks 3rd in the ACC. They hold their opponents to 41.5% shooting from the field, which ranks 4th. Teams seemingly can’t hit three’s against the Panthers, with opponents shooting 30.1% from beyond the arc, which is tied for first in the conference.

Pitt also is punishing people on the glass, ranking 2nd in the ACC in rebounding margin (+4.7). They rank 2nd in the conference in offensive rebounds (12.1).

They also rank 6th in turnover margin (1.91) and 4th in assist/turnover ratio (1.4).

Be careful attacking the rim against Pitt. They lead the conference in blocked shots per game (5.05).

Senior Forward Blake Hinson is the leading scorer for the Panthers, averaging 18.0 points per game, which ranks 4th in the ACC. He’s 6’8″, and is shooting 42% from three, which ranks 4th in the ACC. No one is hitting more three’s than Hinson, who makes 3.4 per game, which leads the conference.

Freshman Carlton Carrington is Pitt’s point guard who leads the squad in assists (4.2), which ranks 6th in the ACC. He also is 2nd on the team in scoring (13.7). Carrington is a point guard with size (6’5″) who uses it to his advantage, averaging 5.1 rebounds per game, which is 2nd on the team.

Junior Guard Ishmael Leggett is the 3rd Panther player scoring in double digits, averaging 12.3 points per game and 5.4 rebounds, which leads the team.

A couple of miscellaneous stats on the Panthers:

• They rank 19th in the nation at preventing their opponents from grabbing offensive boards.
• They rank 33rd in not turning the ball over on offense.
• They rank 25th nationally in three point defense.
• They rank 9th nationally in blocks.