Pitt Take 5: Panthers aim to end current 3-game skid as well as 12-game streak vs. Clemson

Pitt’s current three-game slump could be seen as a harbinger of a season on the verge of running off the rails, with margin for error having decreased significantly.

After all, the Panthers have not lost this many ACC games in a row since 2021-22, en route to an 11-21 overall finish in coach Jeff Capel’s fourth year at the helm.

There are 14 conference games remaining for the Panthers (12-5, 3-3).

Further putting Pitt’s skid into perspective is a 9-5 finish to league play would have the Panthers at 21-10 (12-8) heading into the ACC Tournament.

Last season, Pitt was excluded from the NCAA Tournament despite going 22-11, with its fate being partly determined by a league tournament semifinals loss to North Carolina that neutralized a potential late-season push into the March Madness field.

Needing to get back in the win column, Pitt returns home to Petersen Events Center on Saturday for a showdown with Clemson (14-4, 6-1), third in the conference.

Here are five storylines ahead of that matchup:

1. Solving the Tigers

If historical precedent counts for anything, Clemson is among the worst opponents Pitt could have drawn for an important midseason game.

Heading into tipoff at noon Saturday, the Panthers ride a 12-game losing streak against the Tigers that dates to January 2015.

Not since March 8, 2014, has Pitt beaten Clemson.

Granted, since 2022-23, when Capel turned around the Panthers program and led it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016, Pitt has played Clemson more competitively.

But the overall effort hasn’t been sufficient to end a losing streak that long predates Capel’s arrival in Oakland.

2. Beware of the 3

If Saturday’s game comes down to one battle, it may be Pitt’s perimeter defense vs. Clemson’s 3-point shooters.

The Tigers feature the best 3-point-shooting offense in the ACC, with a 38.1% conversion rate.

In terms of neutralizing opponents from beyond the arc, Pitt ranks seventh leaguewide with a 32.0% team defense.

Sixth-year senior guard Chase Hunter leads Clemson with 17.4 points per game.

 

His 3-point percentage of 44.6% (107 of 216) also paces the Tigers and ranks first in the ACC.

Part of limiting Clemson’s 3-point attack will come down low in preventing second-chance opportunities.

In that department, Pitt could use a reset, as the Panthers are two games removed from allowing a season-high 17 offensive boards to Louisville on Jan 11.

Eager to snag missed shots off the glass will be Clemson’s Ian Schieffelin; the 6-foot-8 senior forward ranks second in the ACC with 10.0 boards per game.

3. Success at the line

Pitt leads the ACC in free-throw percentage at 79.0%.

Clemson is second at 78.4%.

Hunter has been the Tigers’ sharpest shooter at the charity stripe, as he’s hitting 90.2% (55 of 61) of his tries.

The Panthers’ Jaland Lowe (86 of 95) has made 90.5% of his free throws, and big man Zack Austin is at 89.5% (34 of 38).

 

While it wasn’t enough to lift them to wins over Florida State and Louisville recently, the Panthers posted identical 90.9% make rates (20 of 22) from the free-throw line in their last two contests.

4. Limiting turnovers

So far, Lowe has enjoyed a solid sophomore campaign, stepping into the starting point guard’s shoes and shouldering a large load.

No Pitt player averages more minutes (35.1), and Lowe also leads the team in points (17.5).

Against Florida State, Lowe shot 50% from the floor and scored 22 points. But he also committed a career-high eight turnovers.

Lowe’s ball-security woes were emblematic of the team’s, evidenced by a season-high 17 turnovers against the Seminoles.

Pitt is averaging 10.6 turnovers on the season.

5. Eyes on the NET

Clemson arrives in Oakland in a slightly inferior position to Pitt looking at the NET rankings.

The Tigers are ranked 36th, with Pitt coming in 31st.

Thus, for Clemson, Saturday represents a chance at a Quad 1 victory. If Pitt manages to snap its 12-game, decade-long losing streak vs. the Tigers, a Quad 2 win would be part of the reward.

Heading into this weekend, Pitt’s NET ranking is third among all ACC programs, behind only Duke (No. 2) and Louisville (No. 28).