Panthers Host Virginia Tech in Blackout Game Saturday

2/22/2024 4:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Men's Basketball

at Butler

Nov 13, 2026 at TBA

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GAME 27

Pitt (17-9, 8-7 ACC) vs. Virginia Tech (15-11, 7-8 ACC)

Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 • 5:30 PM
Pittsburgh, PA • Petersen Events Center
The CW • 93.7 The Fan

Game Notes

Media Center

PITTSBURGH – Pitt hosts Virginia Tech Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Petersen Events Center. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. with Evan Lepler and Mike Gminski calling the action on The CW.

THE OPENING TIP

The Panthers enter Saturday’s contest tied for fifth in the ACC with an 8-7 league record. Pitt has won seven of its past nine ACC games, including three consecutive conference home wins.
Saturday’s contest is an important Quad 2 matchup with Virginia Tech currently ranked 52nd in the NET. Pitt enters the contest 56th in the NET.
Pitt coaches and staff will wear Autism Speaks puzzle piece pins during Saturday's game in support of Coaches Powering Forward for Autism. More information on the movement, led by former Pitt assistant coach and current Towson head coach Pat Skerry, is available at www.autismspeaks.com.
Pitt leads the ACC in three-point field goals (9.54 3pg.) and have made 10 or more threes in a game 13 times, including seven times in ACC play. The Panthers have made 248 threes this season, fourth most in program history.
Blake Hinson was named ACC Player of the Week for the second time this season after averaging 34.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in wins over No. 21 Virginia and Louisville. He was 25-of-43 (.581) from the field, including 14-of-26 (.538) from three-point range for the week. Hinson was also named ESPN, Naismith, and USBWA National Player of the Week.
Ishmael Leggett has emerged as one of the top sixth men in the ACC averaging 13.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, while going 15-of-34 (.441) from three-point range, off the bench over the past nine contests.
Jaland Lowe has 10 double-figure scoring games and is averaging 11.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in ACC play. He has scored 10+ points in nine of the past 10 games.

PANTHER SPOTLIGHTS

Blake Hinson has scored in double figures in 23 games and topped the 20-point mark 11 times. He ranks among the ACC leaders in scoring, three-pointers, and three-point percentage.
Ishmael Leggett is 18-of-42 (.429) from three-point range in ACC play. He has made two or more threes six times in league play, including five of the past seven games.
Jaland Lowe has scored in double figures in each of the past five games and 10 times overall in ACC play.

BY THE NUMBERS - INDIVIDUAL

Blake Hinson is averaging 20.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while going 36-of-74 (.486) from three-point range over the past nine games. He has scored 20 or more points four times, while making three or more three-pointers in six games during that stretch.
Jaland Lowe is averaging 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while going 18-of-43 (.419) from three-point range, since joining the starting lineup 12 games ago. He has scored in double figures nine times in that stretch and played 30+ minutes in each of the past eight games.
Carlton Carrington has scored in double figures 18 times with five or more assists on 12 occasions. He ranks second among ACC freshmen in rebounds (5.2 rpg.), and assists (4.3 apg.) and third in scoring (12.9 ppg.).
Blake Hinson has made at least one three-pointer in 59 of 62 games as a Panther and is now 189-of-472 (.400) from three-point range in his career at Pitt. He is one of just 12 players in the ACC (since 1992-93) to make 90 or more threes in two or more seasons.
Ishmael Leggett leads the Panthers in rebounding (5.3 rpg.) and steals (31), while ranking third in scoring (12.2 ppg.) and assists (55). He has scored in double figures 19 times including eight of the past nine games.
Federiko Federiko is averaging 6.1 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game over the past eight contests. Pitt is 13-0 over the past two seasons when Federiko leads the team in rebounding.
Zack Austin is one made three-pointer shy of becoming the 14th player in the NCAA since 1994-95 to register 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 150 blocks, and 150 threes in a career. He enters Saturday’s game with 1,068 points, 526 rebounds, 167 blocks, and 149 three-point field goals.
Blake Hinson is averaging 19.2 points per game, while shooting 45.2 percent (52-of-115) from three-point range, in 15 games this season at the Petersen Events Center.

BY THE NUMBERS - TEAM

The Panthers have committed 10 or fewer turnovers 11 times in ACC play. Pitt ranks third in turnovers per game (9.50 topg.).
Pitt has held 11 opponents under 30 percent shooting from three-point range and ranks second in the ACC in three-point defense (.304).
The Panthers are the only team in the ACC with four players averaging 5.0 or more rebounds per game.
Pitt is shooting 46.7 percent from the field, including 38.1 percent from three-point range in its wins, compared to 35.5 percent and 28.7 percent shooting splits from the field and three in losses. The Panthers are 13-0 when posting a better field goal percentage than its opponent.
Pitt is 15-2 when winning the rebounding battle. The Panthers rank among the ACC leaders in offensive rebounds (2nd - 12.1 orpg.), rebounds (2nd - 38.2 rpg.), rebound margin (T-2nd - +4.65), defensive rebound percentage (1st - .765), and offensive rebound percentage (2nd - .324).
The Panthers are 65-12 under Jeff Capel, including a 14-1 mark this season, when leading at the half.
Pitt is 13-1 on the season when scoring more bench points than its opponent. The Panthers have won the bench scoring battle in seven of the past nine contests.