Pitt hopes confronting Colgate turns into antidote for 2 'gut punches'

Imagine getting punched in the stomach. You lose your breath, the pain shoots through your entire body and you fall to your knees.

Now, imagine having it happen twice within the same week. By that time, you’re so mad, you want to do something about it.

That’s the feeling Pitt needs to take into its next game Thursday against Colgate at Petersen Events Center.

Coach Jeff Capel called the 54-53 loss to Minnesota on Nov. 30 “a gut punch” after the Golden Gophers won on a putback with 2 seconds left.

Virginia did the same to the Panthers three days later in the ACC opener for both teams. Jayden Gardner hit a fallaway jumper at the buzzer — after Pitt lost a defensive rebounding opportunity — to secure the Cavaliers’ 57-56 victory.

The games marked the first time since the 1932-33 season — 88 years ago — that Pitt lost two one-point decisions in consecutive games. The scores were 25-24 against Duquesne and 28-27 against Georgetown, and Pitt recovered to finish 17-5 and earn a No. 13 national ranking.

It’s not as easy for Pitt these days, but how the Panthers recover from two gut-punches will tell a lot about this team’s character. Senior guard Jamarius Burton said he doesn’t expect any residual effects.

“We’re still with high energy and encouraged,” Burton said. “I think the last game was our best game all season long. We’ve been fighting, coming up short, but I think we’re still growing and learning along the way.”

There was plenty of reason to be encouraged, starting with the fact Pitt almost defeated a formidable conference opponent on the road without one of its best players. Point guard Femi Odukale missed the game with an ankle injury. His availability Thursday is unclear.

“I feel like it’s an experience that’s going to help us,” Burton said. “Regardless of the outcome, we can take some things from the game. Our communication was better, offensively and defensively. We moved the ball a lot better, and we took a lot of good shots.”

Probably the best sign was Pitt’s shooting from beyond the 3-point arc.

After the first five games, Pitt was shooting 21.6% from long range (13 of 60). But in two of the past three games, the Panthers hit 19 of 42 (45.2%), including 8 of 16 against Virginia.

Maybe the biggest shot was walk-on point guard Onyebuchi Ezeakudo’s 3-pointer with 52 seconds left that gave Pitt a 54-52 lead.

“He took a big shot in a big moment,” forward Mouhamadou Gueye. “We all have confidence in him.”

Equally clutch was Mouhamadou Gueye’s tip-in with 2:56 left that trimmed Virginia’s lead to one.

“Two really close games,” he said. “We fought hard the entire game, trading baskets, doing what we can to stay in the game.

“Especially that last one (Virginia), we felt we were there. We felt we had the win. A few mistakes, we kind of let up a little bit toward the end of the game. We need to finish the game.”

Pitt will take a 2-6 record into the game against Colgate (4-5). The Panthers will be Colgate’s third ACC opponent this season after the Raiders’ impressive 100-85 victory against Syracuse at the Carrier Dome and a 77-74 loss to N.C. State. The victory against Syracuse broke the Raiders’ 54-game losing streak against the Orange.

Colgate is led by Lincoln Park graduate Nelly Cummings, who is averaging 17.7 points.

Two close losses to schools from power conferences, plus center John Hugley’s recent efforts, could be a boost for Pitt’s confidence. Hugley has scored 58 points with 24 rebounds in the past three games and leads the team in both categories (15.4/7.5 per game).

Meanwhile, Burton said he is making daily progress in his recovery from knee surgery, and he isn’t concerned about a painful shooting percentage (29.7%, 19 of 64).

“I’m not getting discouraged. This is probably the worst I’ve shot in my career,” he said. “I understand that I’m coming back from a surgery.

“For me, it’s remaining confident, continuing to take good shots and empower my guys to keep taking good shots as well, regardless of make or miss.”