Men's Basketball Hosts Youngstown State on Saturday
12/11/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 11, 2013
DIGITAL GAME PROGRAM: Jimmy V Classic (Loyola Marymount, Youngstown State, Cincinnati at MSG) |
Game Notes | Game Day Central | ESPN3 Live Game Watch | ACC Network Affiliates | | 2013-14 Media Guide | Youngstown State Basketball |
GAME 10: YOUNGSTOWN STATE (7-4, 0-0 Horizon League) at PITT (9-0, 0-0 ACC)
Saturday, December 14, 2013 • Noon ET
Petersen Events Center (12,508) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
MEDIA INFORMATION
Television: ACC Regional Sports Network (Wes Durham and Dan Bonner; Producer: Joe Vencius).
Pitt Radio: Pitt IMG Sports Network (Bill Hillgrove, Dick Groat and Curtis Aiken). 93.7 The Fan, 93.7 FM; Satellite Radio: Sirius-Channel 108 (Pitt feed), XM-193 (Pitt feed).
Internet Radio Broadcast/Live Stats: www.pittsburghpanthers.com.
Pitt Coach: Pitt: Jamie Dixon, 15th year at Pitt, 11th year as head coach (271-86); Youngstown State: Jerry Slocum, 9th year at YSU (99-156); 39th year overall (680-480).
Rankings: Pitt: AP-ARV; USA Today-ARV; YSU: AP-NR; USA Today-NR.
Series: Pitt and Youngstown State meet for the eighth time in series history. Pitt holds a 6-1 advantage in the series which began on Feb. 29, 1972. Pitt has won each of the last three meetings in the series by an average of 25.7 points per game, including the last meeting, a 72-56 Pitt win on Nov. 28, 2009. The two schools are separated by a mere 72 miles. Pitt and YSU players are familiar with each other as they both participate in Pittsburgh's Pro-Am Summer Basketball League.
GAME PREVIEW
PITTSBURGH--Following a week off for final exams, Pitt (9-0) gets back into action when it hosts Youngstown State (7-4) for a Saturday, Dec. 14 contest at the Petersen Events Center. Tipoff is set for noon.
The game will be televised by the ACC Regional Sports Network and locally on Root Sports in Southwestern Pennsylvania with Wes Durham (play-by-play) and Dan Bonner (color commentary) making the call. Joe Vencius will handle production.
On a nine-game win streak, Pitt enters its 10th game with a perfect 9-0 record for the ninth time in the last 13 seasons. One of only 15 undefeated teams nationally, Pitt has won its nine games by an average plus-21.3 points per game margin and eight of its nine by 17 points or more. Offensively, the Panthers are averaging 81.7 points per game, converting 49.2 percent (256-520) of its field goals, 35.0 percent (50-143) of its 3-point field goals and an amazing 75.2 percent (173-230) of its free throw attempts. Pitt is also outrebounding its opponents by a sizable plus-10.7 margin. Defensively, Pitt is holding its opponents to 60.3 points per game and yielding a 39.5 percent (189-478) field goal percentage. All nine Pitt opponents have been held to 70 points or less.
A victory on Saturday will give Pitt 10 or more non-conference wins for the 13th consecutive season. Pitt enters its game against Youngstown State on an eight-game home win streak and 16-game consecutive win streak against non-conference opponents at home. Pitt also owns a 107-3 record vs. non-conference opponents at the Petersen Events Center and has won 128 of its last 132 home games against regular season non-conference opponents. Since the Petersen Events Center opened in 2002, Pitt owns a 54-2 record in November non-conference games and a 51-2 record in December games.
Pitt is coming off an 85-68 win over Loyola Marymount which saw the Panthers place five players in double figures led by Cameron Wright's 14 points (7-9 FG). Despite leading by 11 points at halftime (40-29), Pitt used a 12-4 run to take a commanding 55-35 lead with 13:50 to go.
On Dec. 3, Pitt registered a 78-69 victory over Penn State in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Pitt bounced back from a poor shooting first half (28 percent, 7-25) to convert 17-29 of its field goals and score 50 second half points. Talib Zanna registered his ninth career double-double (16 points/10 rebounds), Lamar Patterson finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while James Robinson added 10 points. All three made key plays down the stretch that saw Pitt go on a late rally after Penn State tied the game at 59-59 with 5:04 left.
Youngstown State enters Saturday's game with a 7-4 overall record. Coached by Jerry Slocum, the Penguins last dropped an 88-80 decision at Missouri-Kansas City. YSU has registered wins over Robert Morris (84-76), Florida International (74-72 in OT), Eastern Kentucky (75-67) and lost to Kent State (83-79) and nationally ranked Massachusetts (85-69). YSU is led by high-scoring guard Kendrick Perry (20.7 ppg.), Kamren Belin (12.9 ppg.), Ryan Weber (10.2 ppg.) and Bobby Hain (10.2 ppg.).
SATURDAY'S TOP STORYLINES
•Pitt is off to its ninth 9-0 start to a season in the last 13 years. Pitt is one of 15 undefeated teams at the NCAA Division I level.
•On an eight-game home win streak, Pitt is in its 12th season at the Petersen Events Center and carries a 186-22 record (.894) in the arena. The Panthers have won 92 of their last 104 home games and 38 of their last 48 conference home games.
•Pitt owns a 107-3 record and .972 winning percentage vs. non-conference opponents in the PEC. On a 16-game non-conference home win streak, the Panthers have also won 128 of their last 132 home games against regular season non-conference home opponents.
•When comparing ACC basketball programs over the last 12 years, Pitt ranks second among league programs in overall winning percentage (328-96, .774), league winning percentage (141-63, .691), homecourt winning percentage (.894) and NCAA Tournament appearances (11).
