After putting a stop to No. 21 Virginia’s NCAA-best 23-game home win streak Tuesday, Pittsburgh looks to continue its Atlantic Coast Conference surge Saturday against visiting Louisville.
The Panthers (16-8, 7-6 ACC) have won four straight and six of their past seven contests to enter the weekend in a four-way tie for fifth place in the league.
Pitt also won the first meeting against Louisville (8-17, 3-11), defeating the Cardinals 83-70 on the road on Jan. 6.
Blake Hinson scored 27 points in the 74-63 victory at Virginia, hitting five 3-pointers to help the Panthers outscore the Cavaliers 42-12 from beyond the arc.
“We knew coming in the caliber of opponent that we were facing and what they’ve done here, especially at home,” Panthers coach Jeff Capel said after beating the Cavaliers.
“We thought it was important to get off to a good start — and we did. I thought we maintained it. … That’s what we talked about before the game, ‘Just don’t blink. You’ve got to keep fighting.'”
Hinson leads the Panthers with 18.2 points per game, followed by freshman Carlton Carrington (13.4) and Ishmael Leggett (12.2).
Louisville (8-17, 3-11) also had a good start in its Tuesday night game at Boston College. The Cardinals led by eight at the midway point, but allowed a 20-1 run in the second half en route to an 89-77 defeat.
Louisville has dropped eight of its past 10 outings.
“I thought the first half we put them on their heels,” Cardinals coach Kenny Payne said. “In the second half, they came out and punched us in the face and we submitted to it. … We gave up 89 points in the game. Way too many.”
The trio of Mike James (13.5 points per game), Skyy Clark (13.1) and Tre White (13.1) paces Louisville offensively.
–Field Level Media