Pittsburgh has shown a tendency to play high scoring games against non-conference foes. This is not a team like Panther teams of the past as this team has some good scorers on it. They averaged 76.5 points per game in non-conference play. Here are some examples from earlier in the season:
Pittsburgh 86 Western Michigan 67
Pittsburgh 85 Massachusetts 68
Pittsburgh 88 Florida State 66
Pittsburgh 74 Auburn 66
Pittsburgh 75 Wisconsin 89
Pittsburgh 89 Oklahoma State 95 (OT)
and most recently:
Pittsburgh 79 Wright State 58
VCU is athletic, quick and has a couple of players who might get opportunities to play in the NBA. They also implemented a more up-tempo style of play this season with the addition of new coach Grant. They are ranked #11 overall in the league in offensive efficiency. They have three players who shoot 40 percent or better from 3-point range, led by Pellot-Rosa, who is making 44 percent of his attempts from long range. He was 3 for 5 against Duke. Senior B.A. Walker, the team's leading scorer, shoots 42 percent from behind the arc and was 2 for 5 against the Blue Devils. And reserve Jamal Shuler shoots 40 percent. He was 4 for 5 against Duke. They recently put up 79 points on a solid defensive team in Duke, despite shooting only 42% for the game.
Pittsburgh is also very good in offensive efficiency raking #21 overall. Pittsburgh is coming of a game where they had 70 possessions against a team in Wright State (#303 in pace) not noted for speedy play.
I’m pretty sure the pace here will be much faster than these teams play when facing conference opponents. VCU will do the same thing that Wright State did and that’s double team Gray and leave perimeters players open. The Panthers have the players in Cook, Graves and Ramon who all shoot 40%+ from the three as they were 10/21 on three balls against the Raiders Saturday. I’m stepping out on this one and making a large wager on the over.
Pittsburgh 86 Western Michigan 67
Pittsburgh 85 Massachusetts 68
Pittsburgh 88 Florida State 66
Pittsburgh 74 Auburn 66
Pittsburgh 75 Wisconsin 89
Pittsburgh 89 Oklahoma State 95 (OT)
and most recently:
Pittsburgh 79 Wright State 58
VCU is athletic, quick and has a couple of players who might get opportunities to play in the NBA. They also implemented a more up-tempo style of play this season with the addition of new coach Grant. They are ranked #11 overall in the league in offensive efficiency. They have three players who shoot 40 percent or better from 3-point range, led by Pellot-Rosa, who is making 44 percent of his attempts from long range. He was 3 for 5 against Duke. Senior B.A. Walker, the team's leading scorer, shoots 42 percent from behind the arc and was 2 for 5 against the Blue Devils. And reserve Jamal Shuler shoots 40 percent. He was 4 for 5 against Duke. They recently put up 79 points on a solid defensive team in Duke, despite shooting only 42% for the game.
Pittsburgh is also very good in offensive efficiency raking #21 overall. Pittsburgh is coming of a game where they had 70 possessions against a team in Wright State (#303 in pace) not noted for speedy play.
I’m pretty sure the pace here will be much faster than these teams play when facing conference opponents. VCU will do the same thing that Wright State did and that’s double team Gray and leave perimeters players open. The Panthers have the players in Cook, Graves and Ramon who all shoot 40%+ from the three as they were 10/21 on three balls against the Raiders Saturday. I’m stepping out on this one and making a large wager on the over.
