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Pitt Named One of Seth Greenberg’s Teams of the Week, Blake Hinson Players of the Week

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The Pitt Panthers put the ACC on notice this past week and garnered the attention of national outlets. 

On Monday, the head coach Jeff Capel was named Coach of the Week by ESPN’s Jeff Bozello. ESPN College Basketball Analyst Seth Greenberg named the Panthers one of his five teams of the week. Greenberg placed Pitt alongside Creighton (13-8, 7-3 Big East), and three Big 12 teams in Baylor (16-5, 5-3 Big 12), Oklahoma (12-9, 2-6 Big 12) and West Virginia (13-8, 2-6 Big 12). 

Pitt finished the week 2-0, breaking a five-way tie for third place in the ACC. The Panthers defeated Wake Forest 81-79 and shot 18-of-27 (49%) from three-point land. Capel’s squad totaled 22 assists and three blocks, once leading by 15 before holding on against the Demon Deacons in the final possessions. 

Saturday’s Miami game in front of 12,508 fans was the Panthers’ first sellout since 2019 – when Zion Williamson and Duke played at the Pete – as Pitt rallied from eight points down to defeat the Hurricanes 71-68. Trailing 68-60, the Panthers closed on an 11-0 run and went ahead following a Jamarius Burton steal and Blake Hinson tip-in basket through traffic that bounced the Panthers’ way. 

Greenberg named Hinson as a member of his five-member Players of the Week after posting 24 points on 8-of-14 field goals, all from behind the arc, in 33 minutes against Wake Forest. Hinson’s eight triples tied for the most in program history. 

Hinson started in the Panthers’ win over Miami, scoring a game-high 21 points including the game-winning tip, and grabbing eight rebounds in 36 minutes. He especially performed well in the second half, scoring two-thirds of his points (14) and posting five rebounds and two blocks. Hinson knocked down a critical three to cut the deficit to three, 68-65, with a hand in his face and provide the opportunity to clinch the comeback.

The junior forward is averaging 16.2 points and 6.5 rebounds this season, starting all 22 of Pitt’s games. Greenberg selected Hinson, NC State forward D.J. Burns, Gonzaga guard Julian Strawther, Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler, and potential Player of the Year forward Zach Edy of Purdue as his Players of the Week.

The Panthers battle North Carolina (15-6, 7-3 ACC) Wednesday from Chapel Hill at 7 p.m. UNC sits directly behind Pitt in fourth place.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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