University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Sunday, January 6
Norman, OK
3 p.m.
Pitt
at
Oklahoma
No. 20 Pitt Heads to Oklahoma Sunday
1/5/2019 2:17:00 PM | Wrestling
Panthers Resume Action Following Holiday Break
PITTSBURGH – The 20th-ranked University of Pittsburgh wrestling team is back in action Sunday following the holiday break. The Panthers head to Norman, Okla., to face the Sooners at Tuttle High School Sunday, Jan. 6 at 3 p.m. ET.
HOW TO FOLLOW
LAST TIME OUT
THE SERIES
SCOUTING THE SOONERS
PANTHERS IN THE POLLS
PUTTING UP POINTS
LOOKING AHEAD
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HOW TO FOLLOW
- Live results for the dual can be found on TrackWrestling.
- Follow the team on Twitter for updates throughout the weekend at @Pitt_WRES.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Panthers downed Clarion 39-3 Friday, Dec. 21 in Clarion, Pa.
- For the fourth time this season, Pitt allowed just one win by its opponent.
- Three Panthers pinned their opponents in the win, including seniors LJ Bentley (141) and Robert Lee (149), as well as junior Demetrius Thomas (285).
- Redshirt freshmen Micky Phillippi (133) and Nino Bonaccorsi (184) also contributed bonus points by way of technical fall and major decision, respectively.
THE SERIES
- The Panthers make the trip to Oklahoma for just the second time in program history.
- The Sooners lead all meetings 3-1.
- Pitt captured its first win over Oklahoma a year ago in Pittsburgh, thanks to a pin at heavyweight by 2018 graduate Ryan Solomon. The Sooners led 18-13 entering the final bout.
- All-Time Series
- Jan. 12, 1974 / N / L, 31-1
- Jan. 7, 1980 / H / L, 36-10
- Jan. 12, 2008 / A / L, 17-15
- Jan. 7, 2018 / H / W, 19-18
SCOUTING THE SOONERS
- Oklahoma collected its first Big 12 win of the year Friday, Jan. 4, taking down West Virginia, 26-17.
- With the win, the Sooners improve to 2-1 on the year.
- One Sooner ranks amongst the top 20 in his respective weight class in No. 8 Dom Demas at 141 pounds.
- Demas leads Oklahoma with 17 wins on the year.
- Oklahoma finished the 2017-18 year 9-11 overall with a 2-4 mark against Big 12 foes and placed 12th at the conference championships.
- The Sooners finished tied for 56th at NCAAs in Cleveland and return two qualifiers in Christian Moody (125) and Davion Jeffries (149).
- Oklahoma is led by third year head coach Lou Rosselli. Pitt's current head coach Keith Gavin was an assistant on Rosselli's staff during his first year at the helm.
PANTHERS IN THE POLLS
- Pitt checks in at No. 20 to begin the New Year after being previously ranked 24th for five consecutive weeks.
- Following its notable win over No. 14 UNI Nov. 17, Pitt jumped into the top 25 of the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll at No. 24.
- The Panthers joined the top 25 for the first time since Dec. 5, 2017. Pitt began the 2017-18 season ranked, where they spent five weeks before dropping out.
- Two Panthers joined the NCAA DI Power Rankings in their respective weight classes Monday, Dec. 18 in No. 6 Micky Phillippi at 133 pounds and No. 10 Taleb Rahmani at 157 pounds.
- Individually, four Panthers are ranked inside the top 20 individually by InterMat at their respective weight classes:
- Micky Phillippi / 133 / #6
- Taleb Rahmani / 157 / #10
- Nino Bonaccorsi / 184 / #12
- Demetrius Thomas / 285 / #13
PUTTING UP POINTS
- Pitt's 5-0 record is its best since the 1987-88 season when the team opened the year 6-0.
- The Panthers last opened the season 5-0 in 1976-77.
- Pitt has outscored its last three opponents 110-10 and has allowed just one win by an opponent in four of five duals.
LOOKING AHEAD
- The Panthers continue action on the road, making a weekend trip to North and South Dakota.
- Pitt will clash with its first ranked opponent since Nov. 17 in No. 23 North Dakota State, Saturday, Jan. 12.
- The Panthers will then take on South Dakota State, Sunday, Jan. 13 in Brookings, S.D.
- Pitt then returns home for the first time in 2019 when it hosts No. 3 Oklahoma State at the Fitzgerald Field House Saturday, Jan. 19 at 1 p.m.
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