Pitt basketball Take 5: Despite a 6-2 record, questions surround Panthers

Two questions quickly come to mind when pondering Pitt’s game Saturday against Syracuse at Petersen Events Center:

• Will the game be played? Don’t laugh. It would be only Pitt’s third game since before Christmas.

• Does Pitt’s 6-2 record (2-1 ACC) give rise to optimism?

Let’s examine those questions and three others before the noon tipoff.

1. Will there be a game?

While the covid-19 vaccine makes its way across the U.S., college basketball games continue to get postponed or canceled. So far, 11 scheduled for Saturday have been called off, but the vast majority will be played.

Pitt had four of its past five games postponed (not canceled), and it has played the second-fewest games among 15 ACC schools.

Coach Jeff Capel has mentioned the danger inherent in playing a close-contact sport in the midst of a pandemic, but the show must go on, right?

Side note: That cliché originated in 19th century circuses when an animal got loose. “The Dictionary of Cliches” wrote in 1985, “Don’t let calamity interrupt the proceedings; we mustn’t stop what we are doing, even if something unfortunate has happened; it would make us look bad or worry the spectators.”

Kind of rings true today.

2. How good are the Panthers?

The 6-2 record is nice, but past Pitt teams have done as well, or better, over the first eight games.

Jamie Dixon’s 2013-14 and 2015-16 teams were 8-0 and 7-1, and Kevin Stallings’ first team was 6-2. Capel was 7-1 and 6-2 in his first two seasons, so there’s nothing special about what’s happening now.

But Pitt’s performance is noteworthy when viewed in the context of an abbreviated nonconference schedule with fewer sure victories than usual. Pitt is 3-0 in road games against Power 5 schools: Northwestern, Miami and Syracuse, who have a combined 18-14 record. The Orange bring a 7-3 (1-2) record into the Pete.

The other side of the argument is Pitt lost its only game against a ranked team (64-54 to No. 16 Louisville). But there are 17 games left on the schedule, six against Top 20 teams..

Capel’s concern is maintaining a competitive edge with so many breaks in the schedule.

“We have to be on edge. That’s the thing I’ve learned about our team,” he said. “And how do we get that edge back when we haven’t played in a while? That’s really concerning for me.”

3. Does doing it the right way matter?

What’s encouraging about Pitt’s start is it is winning with good defense and rebounding, aspects of the game that can lead to increased scoring.

The Panthers are second in the ACC in field-goal percentage defense (39%), rebounding (42.8) and rebound margin (+7.9) and fourth in scoring defense (64).

Capel attributed the improved defense to an older, wiser, more talented and physically gifted team.

“I think depth helps,” he said. “I think experience helps even more. We’re older, so the guys know the defense. The new guys: They’re talented, they’re long and they’re athletic.”

4. Can Johnson stay out of foul trouble?

Point guard Xavier Johnson is vital to Pitt’s success, but his early foul trouble is an issue.

He picked up two early fouls in the first half against Syracuse on Jan. 6, and Pitt had only one assist and 18 points in those 20 minutes. With Johnson running things after halftime, Pitt rallied for the victory with 12 assists and 45 points.

Capel said Johnson must eliminate those plays where he’s reaching for the man with the ball. Teammate Au’Diese Toney said Johnson has been sliding his feet while defending in practice, a technique good defenders use to avoid fouling.

5. Is it Nike’s time?

This season has been difficult on senior Nike Sibande.

A transfer from Miami (Ohio), he wasn’t declared eligible by the NCAA until 55 minutes before the Miami game on Dec. 16. He played eight minutes that night and tripled his playing time and scored eight points six days later against Louisville.

Capel said contact tracing “because of someone else in a different program” kept him out of the Syracuse game, and he largely has been confined to his apartment.

Though he may not have extensive experience against Syracuse’s 2-3 zone, he’s expected to play Saturday, largely because he’s a proven scorer. He has more career double-digit scoring games (76) than any of his teammates.

“He’ll get an opportunity and he’ll be ready,” Capel said.

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