Pitt makes rebounding adjustments
Entering their battle against Georgia Tech, the Panthers averaged 12.7 turnovers a night and had turned the ball over 10 or more times in 13 different games. Protecting the basketball has clearly been an area of focus as of late for the Panthers, and the numbers show progress is being made. After giving the ball away 10-plus times in its first 11 games, Pitt has kept the turnover count to single digits in five of their past seven contests, including Saturday. The Panthers committed just three turnovers against the Yellow Jackets, which was a season low. Georgia Tech failed to accumulate a single point off any of the three Pitt mistakes, which is perhaps even more impressive.
Unlike what we saw earlier in the year in its losses to West Virginia and VCU, Pitt is no longer beating itself through bad decision making. As the season rolls on, the numbers show the Panthers are playing smarter.
“Today, we moved the basketball a little bit better,” Capel said following Saturday’s win. “We drove it to get off of it, to make plays instead of driving in just to score. I thought that’s why we were able to get some things — we got second and third penetration.”
Bad
Rebounding remains a problem for the Panthers.
For the fourth time in its past five games, Pitt was outrebounded by its opponent. Georgia Tech not only won the battle on the glass 40-35, but used its advantage — the Yellow Jackets tallied 14 offensive rebounds, resulting in 19 second-chance points.
There is, however, a silver lining.
Unlike in its recent losses against Clemson and Duke when the rebounding margin only grew more lopsided as the game went on, Pitt adjusted and made up some ground in the second half against Georgia Tech.
The Panthers out- rebounded the Yellow Jackets 18- 17 in the second half Saturday afternoon, which Capel made sure to note in his postgame news conference.
“I was pleased in the second half, not in the first half,” Capel said. “They had eight offensive rebounds in the first half. I thought we did a little bit better in the second half. We’re not where we need to be, but we took a step in the right direction.”
Ugly
Pitt’s win against Georgia Tech was far from its best, but it was a win nonetheless.
From the early going, it was clear that the Panthers didn’t bring their A-game to Atlanta.
The Panthers shot just 39.4% from the floor in the opening half and allowed Georgia Tech to keep the game closer than it probably should have been.
Yet even without things going according to plan, Pitt found a way to remain in control and escape McCamish Pavilion with another ACC road victory.
“We don’t take winning for granted, especially on the road,” Capel said. “It’s very hard to win — period. We were playing a team that I think is a good team. It’s better than its record.”
With a plethora of experience on the roster, Capel’s group understands that “ugly” wins are part of the process when it comes to piecing together a winning season.
“It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon,” said Nike Sibande, who led Pitt with 21 points against Georgia Tech. “It’s not about who’s first, it’s about who can last the longest. You can learn something from any game.”