By Derek DeBurger
Louisville will avoid claiming last place in the ACC when the Pittsburgh Panthers come to town.
While both teams are winless in conference play, Pittsburgh is still ranked 54th in the KenPom rankings.
Statistically, there are a lot of areas where Pitt is fairly pedestrian, but compared to Louisville they look other-worldly. The only major statistical category that Louisville is better than Pitt is free throw percentage.
Pitt has better averages in points, opponent points, two- and three-point shooting percentage, assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, and turnovers. Two very different teams than those that’ve played this season will need to show up on Saturday.
This will prove to be one of the toughest games of the season for Louisville, literally speaking. Since Jeff Capel took over as the Panthers coach, Pitt has been one of the most physical teams in the country. Louisville has become an inside-out team in recent weeks with the emergence of Brandon Huntley-Hatfield’s excellent play, but in their only game against a gritty defense—Virginia—Huntley-Hatfield and the offense struggled mightily.
Pitt is also a difficult team to hit threes against. The Panthers are the second-best team in the country when it comes to defending three-point shots, according to KenPom.
Sadly, Pitt might be one of the most winnable games in January for the Cards. Louisville will have limited opportunities left to notch a win in conference, and to attempt to save Kenny Payne’s job.
I expect the Cards to lose, but I’m hoping I’m wrong.
