NR/NR PITTSBURGH PANTHERS 8 – 20 (1 – 14, 17th)
NCAA NET 256 (UNC 19), Massey rating 215 (UNC 17), RPI 297 (Nolan) (UNC 27); Torvik 250 (UNC 17)
Last season 13 - 19 (5 – 13, 15th), 0-1 ACCT, No postseason
UNC will continue ACC play Sunday afternoon against the Pitt Panthers at Carmichael. Pitt and UNC have played 15 times; the series stands 10 - 5 in UNC’s favor. Last year’s road win 75-58 at the Petersen Events Center was led by Lexi Donarski with 15 points (5 of 12 3P) and one of Indya Nivar’s best games with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. UNC with Pitt has won six straight, all under the direction of Courtney Banghart.
For this game, Carolina is a 33 point favorite according to Massey, 38 points by Nolan and 39 points according to Torvik.
Pitt has played a softer schedule, rated #176 by the Nolan. Carolina’s is #56. After an exhibition game with Pitt-Johnstown (106-37) they opened non-conference play by going 5-3 with wins over Lock Haven (98-58), Mount St. Mary’s (66-52), Cornell (56-54), Le Moyne (87-65) and Robert Morris (63-54). The losses were to Drexel (60-68), Scranton (63-69), and Lafayette (59-76). Every one of those games was played at Petersen.
Pitt accepted an invitation to the Florida Gulf Classic in Naples and split games, a 41-55 loss to Ball State and a 67-53 win over Chicago State. Back home, the Panthers picked off Central Connecticut 68-43, but were less fortunate in the ACC/SEC game, losing on the road to Miss. State 44-79. Their December ACC game was at Clemson and was a 41-73 loss. Pitt lured Saint Francis into the Pete and got a big win 98-46. But then in what locals call the “City Game” at cross-town archrival Duquesne, Pitt lost 69-84.
For Pitt, ACC play has been tough, to say the least. The Panthers started at Notre Dame (L 59-94) and home with Wake (L 55-74). A visit to BC produced a 64-61 win with one of the two teams competing with Pitt for the honor of last place in the ACC. SMU is the other one. After BC the Panthers went on an 11-game losing streak that continues now. Some of the losses were reasonably competitive: FSU by 4, SMU by 7 and by 1 (SMU is their two-fer). All the other losses were by double-digits including a 38-point loss to Virginia, a 54-point loss to dook, and 33 points to Syracuse.
Pitt wasn’t decimated by player losses, returning two starters and two reserves. Starting is 6-1 redshirt junior G Mikayla Johnson (12.9/5.2). She is joined by Canadian Lauren Rust, a 6-0 redshirt sophomore F (5.3/6.7). Rust was a starter last year until sidelined by an injury. Amiya Jenkins, a 5-10 redshirt junior G (3.9 ppg) and Kentucky transfer, played just 3 games last year (as did Rust) and has managed 19 games and four starts this year; she has spent the last seven games out of action.
Otherwise, a large freshman class (6 players) and transfers make up the roster. Freshman Theresa Hagans Jr. (yes that is her name) starts. She is a 5-9 G (12.0 ppg) and will shoot threes (.312, 24 of 77). Size is provided by transfer Fatima Diakhate, a 6-5 redshirt junior F from Georgia. She adds 9.2 ppg and is the leading rebounder (8.6 rpg). Two other freshmen have 22 starts between them: 5-10 G Jayda Queeley (2 ppg) and Megan Hollingsworth, a 6-0 G (4.2). The final starter is usually FSU transfer Carla Viegas, a 5-9 junior G (8.2 and the most accurate of the outside shooters [.365 on 57 of 156]. Along with Jenkins, Angela Le Faou, a 6-5 freshman C, is used sparingly as a reserve. Angel Jones, a well-regarded 5-4 PG from Coppin State was averaging 9.1 ppg over the first 8 games before being lost to an injury.
Pitt’s statistics are generally shifting toward the lower end of the conference, as would be expected for a 1-14 team. One might also expect UNC to have a significant statistical advantage, for whatever that would be worth, but the fact is that many of Carolina’s numbers are decidedly middle-of-the-pack. UNC defends better, 59.3 (#2 ACC) vs. 80.9 (#17). Any team giving up 80 points per game has a huge problem. Carolina can brag about the fact that FG defense (.351, 1st) they are better than Pitt (45.3%, 16th). Pitt can brag about being better at the line as they are #2 ACC at .806 vs. Carolina’s .739 (10th).
It is probably fair to say that Pitt is a poor team; their numbers say so – 17th in scoring, 17th in scoring margin (-21.9), 14th in offensive rebounds with a rebound margin of -7.7 (16th) and so on. The ratings say so as well: 256 in NET. All the predictions say so: 36+ point UNC win. None of those factors decide the game – just the numbers beside each team’s name on the scoreboard.
The Virginia Tech win was huge for Carolina. They now control their own destiny in terms of ACCT seeding. Beat Pitt Sunday and Virginia next Thursday – double bye as #3 seed is a done deal.
Head Coach Tory Verdi is in his third, and likely last, year. Formerly the HC at UMass, his teams there were 53-14 with two post-season appearances in his final two years there. At Pitt he is 29-63 (4-35). He is coach N° 10 hired in 2023 for the Panthers; Carolina has had four in that same time period. Right now, Verdi is the target in a lawsuit filed by six former players alleging a psychologically abusive environment where there was retaliation against any player that complained. It is this sort of thing that gets a pink slip, particularly when combined with a record of losing 90% of the ACC Conference games.
For 4th place North Carolina at 22-6 (11-4 though tied with Syracuse for third), the pathway is clear. Carolina MUST win against Pitt (17th). A loss to this club is unthinkable and would be inexcusable.
The game is 12 PM Noon EST. ACCN will have the game live and there will be audio on GoHeels.
NOTE: The weather forecast for the Chapel Hill area Sunday is for 46° and rain, but the "National" forecast is for Cyclones, several feet of snow, softball-sized hail, massive power loss, and other such things. We will see Sunday who is right.
NCAA NET 256 (UNC 19), Massey rating 215 (UNC 17), RPI 297 (Nolan) (UNC 27); Torvik 250 (UNC 17)
Last season 13 - 19 (5 – 13, 15th), 0-1 ACCT, No postseason
UNC will continue ACC play Sunday afternoon against the Pitt Panthers at Carmichael. Pitt and UNC have played 15 times; the series stands 10 - 5 in UNC’s favor. Last year’s road win 75-58 at the Petersen Events Center was led by Lexi Donarski with 15 points (5 of 12 3P) and one of Indya Nivar’s best games with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. UNC with Pitt has won six straight, all under the direction of Courtney Banghart.
For this game, Carolina is a 33 point favorite according to Massey, 38 points by Nolan and 39 points according to Torvik.
Pitt has played a softer schedule, rated #176 by the Nolan. Carolina’s is #56. After an exhibition game with Pitt-Johnstown (106-37) they opened non-conference play by going 5-3 with wins over Lock Haven (98-58), Mount St. Mary’s (66-52), Cornell (56-54), Le Moyne (87-65) and Robert Morris (63-54). The losses were to Drexel (60-68), Scranton (63-69), and Lafayette (59-76). Every one of those games was played at Petersen.
Pitt accepted an invitation to the Florida Gulf Classic in Naples and split games, a 41-55 loss to Ball State and a 67-53 win over Chicago State. Back home, the Panthers picked off Central Connecticut 68-43, but were less fortunate in the ACC/SEC game, losing on the road to Miss. State 44-79. Their December ACC game was at Clemson and was a 41-73 loss. Pitt lured Saint Francis into the Pete and got a big win 98-46. But then in what locals call the “City Game” at cross-town archrival Duquesne, Pitt lost 69-84.
For Pitt, ACC play has been tough, to say the least. The Panthers started at Notre Dame (L 59-94) and home with Wake (L 55-74). A visit to BC produced a 64-61 win with one of the two teams competing with Pitt for the honor of last place in the ACC. SMU is the other one. After BC the Panthers went on an 11-game losing streak that continues now. Some of the losses were reasonably competitive: FSU by 4, SMU by 7 and by 1 (SMU is their two-fer). All the other losses were by double-digits including a 38-point loss to Virginia, a 54-point loss to dook, and 33 points to Syracuse.
Pitt wasn’t decimated by player losses, returning two starters and two reserves. Starting is 6-1 redshirt junior G Mikayla Johnson (12.9/5.2). She is joined by Canadian Lauren Rust, a 6-0 redshirt sophomore F (5.3/6.7). Rust was a starter last year until sidelined by an injury. Amiya Jenkins, a 5-10 redshirt junior G (3.9 ppg) and Kentucky transfer, played just 3 games last year (as did Rust) and has managed 19 games and four starts this year; she has spent the last seven games out of action.
Otherwise, a large freshman class (6 players) and transfers make up the roster. Freshman Theresa Hagans Jr. (yes that is her name) starts. She is a 5-9 G (12.0 ppg) and will shoot threes (.312, 24 of 77). Size is provided by transfer Fatima Diakhate, a 6-5 redshirt junior F from Georgia. She adds 9.2 ppg and is the leading rebounder (8.6 rpg). Two other freshmen have 22 starts between them: 5-10 G Jayda Queeley (2 ppg) and Megan Hollingsworth, a 6-0 G (4.2). The final starter is usually FSU transfer Carla Viegas, a 5-9 junior G (8.2 and the most accurate of the outside shooters [.365 on 57 of 156]. Along with Jenkins, Angela Le Faou, a 6-5 freshman C, is used sparingly as a reserve. Angel Jones, a well-regarded 5-4 PG from Coppin State was averaging 9.1 ppg over the first 8 games before being lost to an injury.
Pitt’s statistics are generally shifting toward the lower end of the conference, as would be expected for a 1-14 team. One might also expect UNC to have a significant statistical advantage, for whatever that would be worth, but the fact is that many of Carolina’s numbers are decidedly middle-of-the-pack. UNC defends better, 59.3 (#2 ACC) vs. 80.9 (#17). Any team giving up 80 points per game has a huge problem. Carolina can brag about the fact that FG defense (.351, 1st) they are better than Pitt (45.3%, 16th). Pitt can brag about being better at the line as they are #2 ACC at .806 vs. Carolina’s .739 (10th).
It is probably fair to say that Pitt is a poor team; their numbers say so – 17th in scoring, 17th in scoring margin (-21.9), 14th in offensive rebounds with a rebound margin of -7.7 (16th) and so on. The ratings say so as well: 256 in NET. All the predictions say so: 36+ point UNC win. None of those factors decide the game – just the numbers beside each team’s name on the scoreboard.
The Virginia Tech win was huge for Carolina. They now control their own destiny in terms of ACCT seeding. Beat Pitt Sunday and Virginia next Thursday – double bye as #3 seed is a done deal.
Head Coach Tory Verdi is in his third, and likely last, year. Formerly the HC at UMass, his teams there were 53-14 with two post-season appearances in his final two years there. At Pitt he is 29-63 (4-35). He is coach N° 10 hired in 2023 for the Panthers; Carolina has had four in that same time period. Right now, Verdi is the target in a lawsuit filed by six former players alleging a psychologically abusive environment where there was retaliation against any player that complained. It is this sort of thing that gets a pink slip, particularly when combined with a record of losing 90% of the ACC Conference games.
For 4th place North Carolina at 22-6 (11-4 though tied with Syracuse for third), the pathway is clear. Carolina MUST win against Pitt (17th). A loss to this club is unthinkable and would be inexcusable.
The game is 12 PM Noon EST. ACCN will have the game live and there will be audio on GoHeels.
NOTE: The weather forecast for the Chapel Hill area Sunday is for 46° and rain, but the "National" forecast is for Cyclones, several feet of snow, softball-sized hail, massive power loss, and other such things. We will see Sunday who is right.
