Incorrect call in Virginia-Duke game forces Pitt to share ACC lead with Cavaliers

Given the evolution of Pitt’s basketball season, it makes sense that the only negative development of the weekend happened hundreds of miles away and was one coaches and players could not prevent.

And, by the way, it was wrong.

Six games from the regular-season finish line, Pitt (18-7, 11-3) is tied for first place in the ACC with No. 8 Virginia (19-4, 11-3). But the Cavaliers kept pace with the Panthers only after a controversial call — later judged incorrect by the conference — led to their overtime victory against Duke.

During the final play of the second half of a tied game, Duke’s Kyle Filipowski was fouled by Virginia’s Ryan Dunn while attempting a dunk. After video review, on-court officials ruled the foul occurred after the clock reached 0.0. Thus, Filipowski did not shoot foul shots that could have won the game for Duke before overtime.

The ACC issued a statement late Saturday night announcing “an incorrect adjudication of the playing rules.” Filipowski should have been awarded foul shots because he released his shot before the expiration of time, and the ball was in flight at the time of the foul.

Upon further review: Duke got hosed on the road at UVA. Kyle Filipowski should have had a chance to win it at the free throw line in regulation. Not sure how you overturn this foul call. pic.twitter.com/YQSSKpZwtw

— Kyle Boone (@Kyle__Boone) February 11, 2023

Of course, such technicalities do not matter to Jeff Capel. Pitt would be the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament (if it started now), but Capel is consumed with Boston College, the next test Tuesday night at Petersen Events Center. Never mind that BC (12-14, 6-9) is coming off a 92-62 loss to No. 22 N.C. State, the Wolfpack’s first 30-point ACC victory in 11 years.

The Panthers have done a good job of narrowing their focus to the immediate challenge and not getting deterred by what others do, a 1-3 start to the season or the loss of three scholarship players. Pitt is 17-4 since leaving the Legends Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Nov. 17 after back-to-back losses to Michigan and VCU.

Who would have guessed Pitt could win without center John Hugley, a 2022 All-ACC honorable mention center? Hugley has played in only eight games (one in the ACC) and is out for the season.

But sophomore junior college transfer Federiko Federiko (6-foot-11) and freshman Guillermo Diaz Graham (7-foot) have been capable replacements while the team transitioned to a lineup more geared toward the guards.

Federiko and Diaz Graham combined for 14 points, 18 rebounds (10 offensive) and three blocks (all from Federiko) in Saturday’s victory against Florida State. They did it by paying attention to the scouting report.

“They did a nice job of screening, rolling, understanding (Florida State’s) switch is going to be there so you’re going to have a guard on you,” Pitt assistant coach Jason Capel said on 93.7 FM. “Being a high target, catching, finishing, but also being active on the offensive glass as well as defensively protecting our rim.

“Those guys have grown, game by game, day by day. They work really hard, just really proud of the maturation they’re showing, along with everybody on this basketball team.”

Another reason Pitt is winning is the composition of the roster. Jeff Capel found good, experienced players in the transfer portal, not just kids with potential.

Among the top nine players, only the Diaz Graham twins (Guillermo and Jorge) are in their teens (19 years, 8 months). Nelly Cummings and Greg Elliott are 24; Nike Sibande and Blake Hinson are 23.

Jamarius Burton, two months shy of his 23rd birthday, keeps it all together, with his steely focus (watch his face at the foul line) and all-around solid play.

Burton is in the top 10 in the ACC in four statistical categories:

• Scoring, 16.0 points, 10th.

• Field goal percentage, 50.7, eighth.

• Assists, 4.6, seventh

• Free throw percentage, 83.7, seventh.

Barring a monumental collapse, Pitt will play in the NCAA Tournament. Four of the six remaining opponents have losing conference records. Win all four, plus at least one in the ACC Tournament, and it’s hard to imagine a 23-victory team getting left out of the 68-team field.

No one inside the Pitt locker room is surprised by what these transfers — strangers to each other not long ago — have accomplished.

“It’s just what we expected,” Hinson said. “When we got this team together … we all agreed to make something special out of this year.”