NEW YORK — In game one of the Legends Classic, sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin led a well-balanced Michigan Wolverines squad to a dominant victory over Pitt (1-2) on Wednesday night by a score of 91-60.
With less than 12 minutes left in the game, Bufkin hurled a no-look pass from the top of the key to find All-American big man Hunter Dickinson inside for an and-one layup finish, extending Michigan’s lead up to 18 points and all-but closing out the Panthers’ hopes.
Dickinson finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while freshman wing Jett Howard — the son of Michigan head coach Juwan Howard — led the team with 17 points as Michigan cruised home to the win.
Michigan shot 58% from the field in the lopsided victory and only turned the ball over six times, compared to Pitt’s 13.
Throughout the game, Dickinson went up against Pitt’s John Hugley, who made his season debut and started the game. Hugley, a 6-foot-9 center, hit two of his six field-goal attempts in his return to the court, scoring nine points and grabbing just one rebound in 22 minutes.
Alongside Hugley, Pitt guards Jamarius Burton and Greg Elliott combined for 26 points in the loss, with Burton scoring a team-high 14 and Elliott adding 12. Elliott hit two of his six three-point attempts as the Panthers shot 30% (6-20) from beyond the arch as a team.
Junior forward Blake Hinson also contributed with 13 points and six rebounds in the defeat.
Pitt now moves to 1-2 on the season and picks up its second straight 25+ point loss. Pitt’s next game comes on Thursday in the consolation round of the Legends Classic. The Panthers will take on the loser of the matchup between VCU and Arizona State.
Pitt’s second and final game of the tournament will tip off at 7 p.m. from the Barclays Center.
Humiliation.
Well done Capel. You have the same arrogance as Narduzzi.
The clowning continues.
This guy needs fired.
H2P.
Longest dumpster fire duration I have ever witnessed
The first 8 min were competitive. Then Pitt bricks started flying and Mich stopped missing and Howard showed them what a basketball player is supposed to look like.
So far away from winning.