DAYTON, Ohio — Pitt’s Guillermo Diaz-Graham had the chance of a lifetime on Tuesday evening, and the younger Spaniard definitely made probably the most of it.

The Panthers have been with out their beginning 5 man Federiko Federiko (knee) and have been going through one of the vital feared bigs within the school recreation in Tolu Smith. Diaz-Graham, weighing simply over 200 kilos, stepped as much as the plate and had the sport of his life in opposition to Smith.

After constructing its result in a game-high six late, Pitt let Mississippi State again into the sport because the Bulldogs finally took a one-point lead with 30 seconds on the clock. With time ticking down, Jamarius Burton — the group’s chief — hit maybe the most important shot of his life.

JAMARIUS BURTON FOR THE LEAD WITH 10 SECONDS TO PLAY ❄️#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/LBH3vkjHXi

— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 15, 2023

Burton drained a mid-range jumper with lower than 10 seconds remaining, sending the ball again to the Bulldogs.

It was then that Diaz-Graham’s identify was known as as soon as once more. After a timeout, Mississippi State’s Smith drove to the rack. Certainly he would hit the game-winner and break the hearts of Pitt followers, proper? Fallacious.

The fearless, highly effective large had struggled to interrupt via all evening, however was nonetheless a first-team All-SEC inside presence going up in opposition to the rookie Diaz-Graham. Triumphantly, Diaz-Graham swatted away Smith’s shot on the rim, letting all of his feelings out after the block with simply seconds remaining.

“Simply all of the power popping out of my physique,” Diaz-Graham stated after the sport. “I did a block, I don’t even understand how, with my left hand. I often don’t use my left hand. And I blocked it, and I knew it was an enormous play, so I simply let the power exit. It’s not that good, however I acquired it locked in again to the 2 seconds left, however I simply couldn’t include it inside me.”

After Burton performed hero with 10 seconds to go on the offensive finish, Diaz-Graham stepped up in his second, swatting away the chance of a lifetime for Smith to take his Bulldogs to the Spherical of 64.

Diaz-Graham completed the battle with Smith with three factors, 5 rebounds, and two blocks. Smith, who got here in averaging greater than 15 factors and eight rebounds per recreation, was restricted to 13 factors and eight boards by the rookie.

“Man, I’m exhausted,” Diaz-Graham added. “That was a hell of a battle. He’s a extremely good participant, and he was attempting to assault me each time. After all he’s greater than me. Simply preventing, he’s greater than me however I’m going to battle greater than you. It’s exhausting, however we gained, so it was price it.

“For a freshman to step up on this stage and to play like he did, 5 rebounds, two blocks, his ball display protection on the finish, for the final, I’d say, about eight minutes, we tried to lure each ball display with the 5,” Jeff Capel stated about Diaz-Graham. “And for him to have the ability to do this and get again in there and to battle and to battle, that is probably the most minutes he’s performed all 12 months, and simply actually, actually glad for him.”

Pitt’s first NCAA Match recreation in seven years was a memorable one, and the Panthers confirmed the nation that they have been certainly a match crew.

Regardless of not having their beginning heart resulting from an damage and their first-team All-ACC participant who was in foul hassle for many of the recreation, Pitt hung in there with a troublesome, bodily Mississippi State crew and made all of the clutch performs down the stretch to tug out a 60-59 win.

Pitt’s senior class of Greg Elliott, Nike Sibande, Nelly Cummings and Jamarius Burton have been clutch as Pitt wins their first match recreation since 2013-14.

Subsequent up, Iowa State on Friday!

THIS IS MARCH!!!!! THIS IS PITT. MOVING ON!!!

— Pitt Panthers Fanatics (@PittFanaticsFB) March 15, 2023

We had em all the best way H2P

— Dave Yazz (@dyarksky) March 15, 2023

J.B. 😤 pic.twitter.com/LpLMdwHPVc

— Pitt Panthers (@Pitt_ATHLETICS) March 15, 2023

My coronary heart is pounding.

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) March 15, 2023

To not be misplaced within the midst of Pitt’s first NCAA Event sport since 2016, and sure, the play-in sport counts as a event sport, spring ball kicks off early Tuesday morning.

It’s a transition for the second season in a row, however as an alternative of trying to substitute Kenny Pickett, it’s shifting on from Kedon Slovis, Israel Abanikanda, Jared Wayne and a handful of offensive linemen. It’s virtually a recent begin for Frank Cignetti Jr. — virtually.

There are just a few place battles, some newcomers — each freshmen and switch arrivals — trying to make an affect and fairly just a few storylines to observe.

It’s thrilling to be right here on this second, to have all the offseason forward and numerous potentialities on the horizon. Nevertheless it’s additionally an essential section we’re coming into now, so what am I watching?