GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Pitt Panthers return again to Greensboro for the First Spherical of the 2023 NCAA Match using excessive after a First 4 victory towards Mississippi State on Tuesday. No. 11 Pitt is again on the website of the 2023 ACC Match, trying to seize unfinished enterprise in a 6-11 matchup towards No. 6 Iowa State. 

The dance continues…

🆚 Iowa State
📍 Greensboro Coliseum
🕰️ 3:10 p.m.
📺 @truTV
📻 @937theFan

Postseason Central ➡️ https://t.co/sVvJKmkx4Q pic.twitter.com/rUXTCI7uUQ

— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) March 17, 2023

Listed below are 5 issues to know forward of the No. 11 Pitt’s event sport towards the No. 6 Iowa State Cyclones.

Hinson Faces Former Program

Blake Hinson spent components of two seasons within the Iowa State program earlier than transferring to Pitt. He performed his first two seasons at Ole Miss earlier than transferring to the Cyclones previous to the 2020-21 season. Hinson didn’t take part throughout his first 12 months in this system attributable to a non-Covid-19-related medical subject and missed the 2021-22 marketing campaign after leaving the group. He didn’t need to speak about his scenario, didn’t have a response to seeing the Cyclones on the schedule, and “would slightly not say” his reasoning behind departing. 

“I’m simply able to play my subsequent sport in March Insanity, and I’m centered on successful,” Hinson mentioned. “I find it irresistible right here. That is my favourite location I’ve ever been. H2P.”

Shoutout @BarackObama‼️ pic.twitter.com/gGIKDUlRBB

— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) March 16, 2023

“Blake is a terrific younger man, and he signed as much as play for the coach previous to us,” Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger mentioned. “I feel it’s one thing the place he felt prefer it wasn’t the perfect match for him, and I feel each side have carried out proper with it.”

Jeff Capel didn’t handle the previous with Hinson and stays centered on the duty at hand.

“For us, it’s Pitt towards Iowa State. It’s not Blake towards Iowa State or Iowa State towards Blake,” Capel mentioned. “They’ve an excellent group.”

Federiko Day-to-Day

Federiko Federiko didn’t play Tuesday towards Mississippi State with a knee damage. Capel described Federiko’s standing as ‘day-to-day’ main as much as Friday’s Spherical of 64 sport. “I feel he’s doing okay… we are going to do what’s greatest for him long run,” Capel mentioned. 

Jeff Capel described Federiko as day-to-day. He’s in sweats at apply right now however taking some gentle photographs. pic.twitter.com/K5WsndsBJO

— Austin Bechtold (@AustinRBechtold) March 16, 2023

The Panthers had been out-rebounded 49-28 and 18-6 on the offensive boards. Pitt did effectively forcing turnovers (14) and recorded seven steals within the one-point victory. Guillermo Diaz Graham stepped into the beginning lineup, performed 37 minutes, and recorded the most important block of the season late within the sport to assist Pitt transfer on in Dayton. Keep tuned to Pittsburgh Sports activities Now for updates main as much as sport time.

🗣️🗣️🗣️
pic.twitter.com/YVxus75TvF

— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) March 15, 2023

Lockdown Protection

Capel famous Iowa State’s defensive skills, permitting 62.8 factors per sport. The Panthers common 75 factors per sport and should have to grind out a decent victory much like the Mississippi win. 

“They’re excellent defensively,” Capel mentioned. “They’re very bodily. They’re very disciplined. They play with nice vitality. They’re unbelievably linked on that aspect of the basketball. You may inform that’s their id and that’s what they grasp their hat on.”

Pitt defeated the Cyclones 81-65 in 1981, the one different time these two groups have met, whereas Capel is 6-1 all-time towards the Cyclones. 

“They rotate effectively. They defend the basketball effectively,” Capel mentioned. “Their ball display protection, their bigs are athletic. They’re energetic, simply the physicality wherein they play with. That’s what makes them one of many higher defensive groups within the nation.”

Good to be again 👌 pic.twitter.com/k08EGZvZFE

— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) March 16, 2023

Unfold, Over/Underneath

Pitt is favored by 4.5 factors in Friday’s newest odds, in response to DraftKings Sportsbook. 

The Panthers are 21-10-1 ATS this 12 months, in response to Covers.com. Pitt is by far the ACC’s greatest group overlaying the unfold and the second-best general within the county. The Panthers are 2-3 general in impartial website video games. The Cyclones are 16-16 ATS.

The over/below for the sport is about at 131.5 factors. Pitt is +155 on the moneyline whereas Georgia Tech sits at -210. The Panthers are 21-13 in alternatives to hit the over. 

Broadcast, Radio Information

The No. 11 Pitt vs. No. 6 Iowa State matchup will air on truTV starting at roughly 3:10 p.m. Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, and Evan Washburn have the decision from the Greensboro Coliseum. The sport will even be broadcast reside on sports activities radio 93.7 The Fan and Westwood One Radio.

We again @Gbocoliseum ‼️ pic.twitter.com/fUhq7uMpsB

— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_MBB) March 16, 2023

The winner of Friday’s sport will face the winner of No. 3 Xavier vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State on Sunday at a time but to be introduced.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Pitt basketball is again on the nationwide stage.

Earlier this week, Pitt received the largest recreation of the Jeff Capel-era, triumphantly prevailing over a tricky Mississippi State squad within the First 4 for its first NCAA Match win since 2014.

Now, Pitt has the chance to actually shock the nation. The Panthers — who had been picked to complete 14th within the ACC earlier than the season — face 6-seed Iowa State on Friday, as soon as once more in Greensboro, the place they performed twice simply final week within the ACC Match.

“It feels good,” Nelly Cummings instructed PSN about being again in Greensboro. “I believe we’re all actually targeted, locked in on our project. We all know that job in entrance of us is admittedly large. We’re all actually prepared for that.”

Pitt’s season has included a suspension to its high prospect, quite a few accidents, gamers leaving the crew, nice wins, and dangerous losses. Regardless of all the pieces that has occurred since recreation one, this group of Panthers is now formally within the dance with an opportunity to make this run much more particular on Friday. Iowa State and main scorers Jaren Holmes and Gabe Kalsheur stand in the best way of Pitt’s magical run, however the Panthers have solely been targeted on themselves in preparation for the large recreation.”

“Simply be Pitt,” Blake Hinson mentioned on Thursday. “We simply be Pitt, we’re ok to beat any crew at anyplace, any time. We simply be us, and we may be profitable.”

The story of this Pitt basketball crew has been a particular one. Led by veterans gathered from the switch portal, this group has developed a form of chemistry that the Pitt program has not seen because the Jamie Dixon period. The Panthers are bonded by the pursuit of profitable, and have been utilizing that motivation to win every day to proceed their magical run this March.

“I’m simply unbelievably proud, man, to be on this journey with them,” Jeff Capel mentioned after the crew’s win over Mississippi State. “I don’t need it to finish.”

Pitt and Iowa State will tip off at 3:10 p.m. on Tru TV.

Replace (8:52 AM)-
**Norwin 2024 3-star athlete Jackson Pons made an unofficial go to on Thursday to Toledo. At present, Pons (6’2″, 185-pounds) holds provides from Toledo, Bowling Inexperienced, Central Michigan, Jap Michigan, Kent State, Miami (OH), Ohio U., Mississippi State and Penn.

Thanks for having me again on campus for spring follow yesterday! @ToledoFB#ONErocket 🚀🟨⬜️@RickyCiccone@CoachRossWatson@CoachCandle@CoachMBrown1 pic.twitter.com/yENa8dmitv

— Jackson Pons (@jackson_pons) March 17, 2023

Replace (8:42 AM)-
**Kaydon Degraffenreid is a 2024 linebacker from Lake Orion, Michigan. He’s nonetheless ready for his first D-1 provide.

I will likely be on the college of Pittsburgh on March 18th🟡🔵 pic.twitter.com/xhrvzQQj2q

— Kaydon “KD” Degraffenreid (@KaydonDegraffe1) February 19, 2023

Replace (8:18 AM)-
**In accordance with The Portal Report, Duquesne has reached out to Buffalo switch Yazid Powell. The 6’4″ guard averaged 13.0 factors, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 assists this season. Per the Portal Report, Powell has additionally been contacted by St. Bonaventure, Indiana State, TCU, Loyola Chicago, San Diego, LaSalle, SMU, Vermont, UNLV, Rhode Island, Ball State, Fresno State, Weber State, Oregon State and Arkansas.

Duquesne Contacts St. Francis Switch Guard Landon Moore and Pitt Switch John Hugley