CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Pitt lost its 12th consecutive game on Saturday in a 73-49 defeat at the hands of the No. 2 Virginia Cavaliers.
Despite the Panthers’ current losing streak extending as the second-longest in program history, the Panthers have largely been competitive throughout it.
In the first 11 games of the losing streak, Pitt’s margin of defeat averaged 9.45 points per game. Their most lopsided loss was by 15 points.
Even earlier in the season, when Pitt played its highest-ranked opponents, the Panthers lost to Duke by 15 and North Carolina by 25, but beat Florida State.
Saturday, they suffered their first real beat-down in quite some time, as the Cavaliers took a 20-point lead into the halftime break and extended it throughout the second period.
Pitt’s last lead in the game came with 15:57 to play in the first half, and much of Pitt’s shortcomings were self-inflicted. The Panthers turned the ball over 10 times in the first half and let Virginia shoot 61.9 percent in the opening 20 minutes.
The Cavaliers were deadly throughout from 3-point range. Kyle Guy hit 5 of 7 from long range as part of his team-high 17 points and as a team, Virginia hit 9 of 16 from down town. Ty Jerome had 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting and DeAndre Hunter scored 12 while going 4 for 6.
Jared Wilson-Frame led Pitt with 15 points on 5 off 11 and 3 of 9 from 3-point range. Freshman Au’Diese Toney had 12 points, his most in 13 games.
Sophomore guard Khameron Davis did not make the trip after being hit in the mouth against Clemson. The injury required some dental work.
Pitt will continue it’s two-game road swing at Miami on Tuesday before wrapping up regular season play against Notre Dame on Saturday at Petersen Events Center.
I don’t think you give Virginia’s starting guards enough credit for skill and experience. Once they are out of the game, the game is competitive for Pitt.
Turn the page. I feel our guards will play like Virginia’s with time.