Pitt Faces Injury Problems, Down Two Key Starters vs. Miami

PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers will be without two of its starting guards as Jaland Lowe and Damian Dunn are not playing in Saturday’s game against the Miami Hurricanes.

Lowe was evaluated for a concussion during the Panthers’ loss to SMU after he collided with Mustangs’ guard Boopie Miller. Lowe went through the concussion protocol and returned to the game but left less than a minute after getting back on the court. Dunn fractured his elbow in Pitt’s loss to North Carolina last week.

Lowe has averaged 34.8 minutes per game this season and is one of the Panthers main sources of offense as he averages 16.5 points per contest. Dunn, who was limited to just 16 games this season, averaged 25 minutes per game and 9.9 points per game.

Without two of its top guards, the Panthers will rely on the play of Ishmael Leggett and freshman Brandin Cummings to carry the backcourt in their showdown with the Hurricanes.

Cummings will likely make his second career start in-place of the injured Lowe. His first start came on New Year’s Day against Cal when he posted 15 points in 38 minutes. Cummings made three of his five three-point attempts in the win over Cal.

Fortunately for the Panthers, the Hurricanes enter the game as one of the worst ACC teams this season as they boast a 2-11 record in conference play and a 6-18 overall record. Under interim head coach Bill Courtney, the Hurricanes own the worst defense among all high-major teams this season.

The Hurricanes allow 80.1 points per game which ranks 349 out of 364 Division-I teams. Opposing teams have shot 49% from the field and 39% from three-point range against the Hurricanes this season.

Pitt holds a 14-10 overall record and 5-8 mark in ACC play as the Panthers have fallen out of the Next Four Out of the NCAA Tournament bubble, according to Joe Lunardi of ESPN.