The Pitt Panthers have always been a team known for playing defense and this 2012-13 version of the Panthers is no exception to that rule.
After holding the Providence Friars to 64 points in Pitt’s 68-64 victory on Tuesday, the Panthers have held 19 of their 20 opponents on the season under 70 points.
But while defense is still the backbone of Jamie Dixon’s program, they still need a potent enough offense to win games.
When it comes to scoring the basketball, Pitt’s biggest strength is their depth. Dixon is one of the few coaches in the country that can go 10 deep on a nightly basis and really anyone wearing a Pitt uniform can contribute offensively on any given night.
But despite Pitt’s extraordinary depth, one thing that usually holds them back is the lack of a go-to-scorer, a role that junior Lamar Patterson is starting to fill rather nicely.
Coming off of a very nice end to last season, many expected Patterson to pick right up where he left off, but that isn’t how things played out this season. Paterson scored a grand total of 10 points in Pitt’s first four games this season and made only 3-of-16 shots from the floor.
But since then, Patterson has been exactly what the Panthers need from an offensive perspective; including Tuesday night against Providence where he scored 11-of his team-high 17 points in the first half to help Pitt get out to a lead that they held for the entire game. But while Patterson has been looking to score more than he was early in the season, the rest of his game hasn’t suffered as he also pulled down seven rebounds and recorded three steals against the Friars.
Even when he wasn’t scoring during the early season, Patterson was always the first guy Dixon praised after games for everything else he does on the floor.
But it is his ability to score the basketball which could be his greatest value to the panthers.
Patterson is averaging 10.0 points per game on the season, but beginning with Pitt’s fifth game of the season (Michigan); the junior is averaging closer to 12 points per game and has scored in double-figures in 11 of Pitt’s last 16 games. He has also scored in double-figures in three of his last four games, including a career-high 22 points against Marquette.
He has improved greatly because the panthers have the guard play to get him the ball in good spots on the floor, but has also shown the ability to create for himself when he has to. Patterson is shooting 48.6 percent from the floor and has improved as a three-point shooter as well, knocking down 39.4 percent of his attempts from behind the arc.
Pitt will still win with defense, but they also need a scorer to be able to go to when they need instant offense.
Lucky for them, Patterson is becoming that guy right before their eyes.
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