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Pitt to Take on 5-Seed Wake Forest on Thursday in ACC Tournament

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Wake Forest's Kevin "Boopie" Miller drives against Pitt on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (Mitchell Northam / Pittsburgh Sports Now)

Pitt has its opponent for Thursday at the ACC Tournament.

On Thursday, the No. 4 seed Panthers will take on the No. 5 seeded Demon Deacons of Wake Forest. Wake took down 12-seeded Notre Dame on Wednesday afternoon in Washington D.C. to advance to the quarterfinals to face Pitt, who earned a double-bye for the first time since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference years ago.

In Wednesday’s game, Wake Forest looked to guard Kevin “Boopie” Miller to lead the way, along with Hunter Sallis and big man Andrew Carr, who led the team in rebounds on the day.

Pitt and Wake Forest have split the season series so far this year — with the Panthers winning at home and the Demon Deacons embarrassing Pitt in Winston-Salem weeks ago. On Jan. 31, Pitt won the game over the Deacons behind 24 points from Bub Carrington and 22 from Ish Leggett. In the win, Pitt held Wake Forest to just 27% shooting from three-point range.

In Wake’s 91-58 dismantling of the Panthers on Feb. 20, Ishmael Leggett had 15, Jaland Lowe had 12, and Blake Hinson had ten points for Pitt. The team shot just 29% from the field and 27% from three. All five of Wake’s starters scored in double figures in that game, with Miller and Sallis leading the way with 18 and 17 points, respectively.

Thursday’s game will tip off at 2:30 p.m. from Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. as part of the 2023-24 ACC Tournament. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and broadcasted live on 93.7 The Fan in and around Pittsburgh.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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Rob Radich
Rob Radich
1 month ago

Should be interesting. A de facto elimination game.

Eli
Eli
1 month ago

Not ideal. I’m still having nightmares about their last game against Wake.

kmp30
kmp30
1 month ago
Reply to  Eli

For this tournament, no not ideal. But for the hopes of the next one it’s better. ND wouldn’t have given them the chance at the resume boost they need.

Eli
Eli
1 month ago
Reply to  kmp30

Fair point.

GFF
GFF
1 month ago
Reply to  kmp30

Pitt needs a minimum of two more wins, regardless.

Columbus Panther
Columbus Panther
1 month ago

Welp here it is. You want in the Big Dance, then beat a team you’re competing with and that dismantled you 2 weeks ago. Lose and honestly do you have any complaint?

I’m rooting hard for the boys!

Alex
Alex
1 month ago

I am hoping for history to repeat itself here. In the 2013-2014 season: Pitt played Wake Forrest in the ACC Tournament then played North Carolina. Pitt won both games before losing to a very good Virginia team which won the ACC tournament that year. This team can totally do it and I hope they do. In the game against North Carolina, Talib Zanna had an amazing game against the Tarheels. H2P!

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GFF
GFF
1 month ago

Pitt lost twice to Syracuse and Clemson. Each of those teams looked terrible, losing to lower seeded opponents in the ACC Tourney.
I am curious to see what Pitt’s NET is in the AM.
I am beginning to think they have no other option: Win the ACC.

kmp30
kmp30
1 month ago
Reply to  GFF

NC state may move up quite a bit with that dismantling of Syracuse. Could even it out with the two wins on them. I think Pitt may pick up quad 1 and 2 wins. They’re sitting at 79 right now. I could be wrong about how much they move.

kmp30
kmp30
1 month ago
Reply to  kmp30

Looks like away at NC State became quad 1 overnight. NET only went up one. BC is at 80 now and close to making Pitt’s win there quad 1 as well (not likely). I’m an NC State and BC fan today. The away wins could pay dividends.

Last edited 1 month ago by kmp30
GFF
GFF
1 month ago
Reply to  kmp30

Pitt’s NET dropped to 45, this AM.
However, I overlooked the positive impact of NC St. Good catch.
But, I still think Pitt need at least two more Ws.

Skip white
Skip white
1 month ago
Reply to  GFF

The double digit BC win may help gain traction. They should have gone up a notch winning their last few games a quad 1 win last night . They are a different quad now. The fact that this all matters is crazy. Either you are good enough or not.

Last edited 1 month ago by Skip white
kmp30
kmp30
1 month ago
Reply to  Skip white

Would be nice to be good enough or not. But I think they have to look good on paper first, when the committee starts playing with names on the proverbial big chalk board. Adding a quad 1 win, making it 3 instead of two, looks good on paper. Obviously all of this requires a win today.

Tom McGraw
Tom McGraw
1 month ago

Don’t you worry about a thing The ACC regulators will make sure it an all tobacco row final 4

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