PITTSBURGH —
Pitt is putting together a nice little bounce back season after last year’s stunning freefall to the bottom of the Big East.
The Panthers (17-5) have a 25-point road win over Georgetown to their credit.
They’ve beaten just about everybody they’re supposed to beat and been competitive in their five losses, four of them to teams who were ranked at the time.
Still, there’s a certain something missing from Pitt’s resume: An eye-catching and NCAA tournament resume-building victory. The Panthers can close that glaring loophole today against No. 6 Syracuse (18-2, 6-1).
Pitt is a remarkable 12-1 against Top 10 teams at the Petersen Events Center since it opened a decade ago. Moving that mark to 13-1 would undoubtedly catch the attention of the various computer indexes coach Jamie Dixon loves to monitor.
“We’ve got to win,” Dixon said. “That’s what we’re here to do and that’s what we need to do.”
It’s something that used to happen with great regularity for the Panthers, particularly at home. Yet Pitt is 0-2 against ranked opponents at The Pete this season, losing to Cincinnati and Marquette by a combined 16 points. For the Panthers to emerge from the middle of a very crowded – and largely very average – Big East, Dixon knows his team needs to bring some of the menace back to what has been one of the more difficult places to play in the country.
“First and foremost we’ve got to win our home games,” Dixon said. “You want to win every one of them, we haven’t. We lost two of them. We haven’t taken care of business on home court. We need to win a good game.”
The Panthers nearly did on Monday, playing tight all the way in a 64-61 road loss at No. 12 Louisville. Pitt stayed within striking distance despite making an abysmal 3 of 12 free throws and allowing the Cardinals to get loose for 10 dunks.
Not exactly the mix of efficient offense and suffocating defense that’s become the Panthers’ trademark under Dixon. The Panthers only stayed in the game thanks to 15 offensive rebounds that turned into 25 second-chance points.
Getting those kinds of numbers against Syracuse’s 2-3 zone will be difficult. The Panthers believe a little better execution getting the first shot means there won’t be a big of a need for so many second ones.
“You’ve just got to do the right thing,” forward Talib Zanna said. “If we do the right thing, it might come easy for us; just attack the zone and do what Dixon wants us to do (like) taking good shots at the right time.”
That wasn’t an issue early in the season for Zanna, who was dominant at times during the nonconference portion of the schedule. Opposing coaches raved about the 6-foot-9 junior’s development and his aggressiveness gave freshman center Steven Adams a little room to breathe and get comfortable.
All that success, however, came at a price. Zanna hasn’t been the same over the last six games. Since a 15-point effort in that 73-48 romp over the Hoyas on Jan. 8, Zanna is averaging just 5.8 points and 5.3 rebounds.
The soft-spoken Nigeria native says he’s been pressing a little bit in recent weeks.
Playing bigger, brawnier teams that have pushed him out of the lane hasn’t helped either.
“Yeah, it’s the Big East so the intensity is going to improve,” Zanna said. “I’ve just got to be patient and let the game come to me. I think sometimes I (try to rush) some shots, so I’ve just got to take my time and make plays and make my teammates better.”
Zanna grabbed 10 rebounds – including six offensive boards – against the Cardinals but shot just 2 of 9 – and didn’t get to the free throw line for the first time in nearly two months. Dixon believes the issue isn’t Zanna so much as the natural growing pains that come when a player is dealing with significant attention from the opposition for the first time in his career.
“He’s gotten the right shots, he’s taking good shots,” Dixon said. “We’ve talked about maybe rushing some of the shots, not gathering (the ball) and stepping through and being balanced. The effort is there and good things are going to happen when you’re doing what he’s doing.”
The Panthers will need Zanna to rediscover some of that shooting touch to help open up the zone. If he can be effective at the high post or ducking in down low, that could free up space for Pitt’s 3-point shooters.
Dixon knows a little something about beating the Orange. Pitt is 9-3 against Syracuse under Dixon’s watch. Getting that number to 10-3 would go a long way to giving the Panthers a boost and serving notice their rebound season might turn into something even more substantial.
“Just having a chance to go at a team that’s ranked and is No. 1 in the Big East, it gives you a lot to look for,” forward Lamar Patterson said. “We have to come out strong and get that ‘W.’ ”
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat e-edition.
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
