Many have said that the Pitt Panthers basketball team was a product of a soft schedule and really hasn’t beaten anyone this season.
Those critics can’t say that anymore after Jamie Dixon’s team defeated No. 6 Syracuse 65-55 Saturday in front of a packed house at the Petersen Events Center.
It was an old-school performance from the Panthers, who played as physical of a game as they have had in years, dominating the glass holding a 39-24 rebounding edge.
“I was obviously happy with the way we rebounded,” said Dixon. “We are unique that we run 10 guys out there. Teams just don’t do that and we felt we let one slip away Monday (against Louisville) by not playing our best basketball, but we played very well today. We didn’t panic.”
Pitt never seems to panic when they face top teams at home as they improved to 13-1 against Top 10 teams at the Petersen Events Center.
The Panthers did it their way.
They got after Syracuse on the defensive end of the floor, holding the Orange to only 36.7 percent shooting on the afternoon while shooting 48 percent of their own. It was also a typical unselfish day from Pitt as they assisted on 19 of their 24 field goals. Coincidently, Syracuse assisted on only five of their 18 made shots.
Pitt actually started very slow from the floor, making only four of their first 14 attempts, mostly settling for jump shots, before Dixon inserted Trey Zeigler, who had an outstanding day penetrating the Syracuse zone.
Zeigler finished with six points, four rebounds and four assists on the day, but the combination of he and Cameron Wright did an outstanding job of attacking the zone, making it easier for their teammates to get better looks at the basket.
“Trey and Cam have been a big reason we have started to play better basketball,” said Dixon. “I went with them more because I felt they could penetrate the zone better and both did a fantastic job.”
The game was tied at 35 midway through the second half when Pitt took control for good. Wright hit a three-pointer with the shot clock expiring to put the Panthers in front. Lamar Patterson followed with a pull-up jumper and Steven Adams put back a miss that allowed Pitt to push in front 43-37 at the time their largest lead of the game.
Durand Johnson followed shortly with a three of his own to extend the Pitt lead to 48-39. Syracuse never got closer than five the rest of the way as Pitt made its free-throws after going just 3 of 12 at the line in a loss at No. 12 Louisville on Monday.
“I felt I could make the shot,” Wright said of his clutch three-pointer. “I was actually screaming at J.J. for the ball. It was a big shot but we are 10 people and all 10 of us played a big part in this big win.”
C.J. Fair had a good afternoon for the Orange, but the talented Syracuse backcourt of Michael Carter-Williams and Brandon Triche combined to go only 7-of-26 from the floor, even though they combined for 27 points.
That was mostly due to the Pitt defense as Tray Woodall kept the much larger Carter-Williams out of the lane for most of the game. The combination of Fair, Carter-Williams and Triche had all but eight of the Syracuse points.
“They make you drive and our inside guys just aren’t ready yet,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. “C.J. had a good game but our two guards did not have good offensive games. But we can’t go to Jerami (Grant), we can’t go to Rakeem (Christmas), they’re not going to be a factor.”
Pitt was helped much of the afternoon by the Oakland Zoo, who was as loud as it has even been after thousands of students camped overnight in the lobby of the arena in order to get some prime seats.
The game had a playoff atmosphere to it and the Panthers responded.
“We wanted this one bad,” said Woodall, who was the only Panther player in double-figures with 13 points. “We left it all out on the court. We owe it to our crowd as well. We have the best fan support in the country. If these guys are sleeping in the arena overnight for us, the least we can do is leave it all on the court for them.”
All 10 Pitt players scored on the afternoon and the Panthers bench outscored that of Syracuse 31-3. Talib Zanna led Pitt with 12 rebounds and the combination of Zanna and Adams combined to pull down 10 offensive boards.
The Pitt win left the Hall of Fame coach Boeheim impressed.
“They’re the best team we’ve played, without any question,” Boeheim said. “It’s not even close. They are the best team in our league.”
Photo Credit: Associated Press
