Pitt-NC State Preview: Everything You Need to Know

On Wednesday night, Pitt (14-8, 5-6 ACC) will have the opportunity to get back to .500 in ACC play with a road game against the NC State Wolfpack.

Last season, Pitt got the job done in Raleigh. Let’s take a look at the preview for this season’s rematch.

PITT’S OUTLOOK

Pitt has now won four of its last five games, with recent wins over No. 7 Duke, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and Notre Dame and a tight loss to Miami. The Panthers have rallied together and earned these big wins behind Blake Hinson and company, with huge contributions from the back court trio of Bub Carrington, Ishmael Leggett, and Jaland Lowe, in addition to others.

NC STATE (15-7, 7-4 ACC)

HEAD COACH

Kevin Keatts (7th Season)

Keatts led the Wolfpack to its second NCAA Tournament appearance of his tenure last season as a No. 11 seed. Last season, in NC State’s lone matchup against the Panthers, Pitt earned a huge road victory, winning 68-60 behind 24 points from Jamarius Burton and 13 from Blake Hinson. In that game, NC State’s Terquavion Smith (now in the NBA) led the team with 15 points. Returners Casey Morsell and DJ Burns had nine and 13, respectively.

“I think the first thing that really sticks out and stands out is the joy they seem to have playing with each other,” Pitt’s Jeff Capel said about NC State on Monday. “It looks like, on film, that Kevin has a really good group that he really likes, and they really like each other. That’s the first thing.

Obviously, the talent stands out, with [DJ] Horne, with [Casey] Morsell, with [DJ] Burns, really all of those guys,” Capel continued. “They’re a very athletic team, they play really hard, they pressure you defensively, they push it in transition. They usually have at least three, a lot of times four, guys out there that can break you down off the bounce, so that can be difficult to defend. I just think they’re a really good team, they are playing very very well right now, and again, it looks like a team that has joy in playing with each other.”

LEADING SCORERS

DJ Horne – Guard – 15.7 PPG

Horne, an Arizona State transfer, is averaging 15.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game this season, along with a team-high 1.5 steals. He shoots it well from outside, hitting 42% of his threes this season.

Casey Morsell – Guard – 12.3 PPG

Morsell, at 5-foot-3, 200 pounds, has averaged double-digit scoring numbers now for back-to-back years for the Wolfpack. After beginning his career at Virginia, he has settled into a big role under Keatts. He is shooting 30% from three this year and has grabbed as many as seven rebounds in a single game this year from the guard spot.

Jayden Taylor – Guard – 12 PPG

Taylor, a Butler transfer, stands at 6-foot-4 and is coming off one of his best games of the season. Against Georgia Tech on Saturday, Taylor went 8 for 19 from the field, scoring 21 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and earning three steals. He attempted nine three pointers in the win, making three.

METRICS

Pitt is ranked No. 66 in KenPom.Com’s ratings, while NC State is ranked No. 76. The NCAA’s NET rankings have the Panthers at No. 63 and the Wolfpack at No. 78.

Because this is an away game against an opponent ranked within 76-135 in NET, this is a Quad 2 game for the Panthers.

GAME TIME

Pitt @ NC State will start at 7 p.m.

SPREAD

NC State is favored by three points, as of Wednesday morning at 10:50 a.m. The over/under is set around 143 points, and you can bet Pitt moneyline at +136 or NC State moneyline at -162. All odds via DraftKings.

TV

You can find Wednesday’s game on ESPNU and on the radio on 93.7 The Fan. Jay Alter and Debbie Antonelli will be on the call for ESPNU.