Starting your conference slate on the road for back-to-back games is not ideal, but it’s where head coach Brad Brownell and the Clemson Tigers find themselves. After a gritty win over Syracuse, the Tigers will
complete the second leg of their road trip in the cold confines of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home to the Pitt Panthers.
It’s been another abysmal start to the season for Pitt, which failed to make the postseason last year for the sixth time under Jeff Capel. The Panthers have already gotten off to a rocky start this year, losing to Quinnipiac and Hofstra at home en route to a 7-7 record. It’s a long way from the days of former head coach Jamie Dixon and the notorious Oakland Zoo that terrorized Big East foes during the late 2000s.
The key for Pitt will be getting senior forward Cameron Corhen going. Corhen is the team leader in minutes, points, and rebounds. He has become one of Capel’s most trusted players in his second year in the system after spending two years at Florida State. Alongside Corhen will be senior guard Damarco Minor and senior guard Barry Dunning Jr. Both Minor and Dunning Jr. are major contributors alongside Corhen. Dunning Jr. seems to fit right in with the Panthers after spending each of his last three seasons on different squads. His 12.5 PPG is second only to Corhen, and he leads the team in blocks. Pitt heavily relies on these guys for their offensive performance.
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A few key factors contribute to Pitt’s rough start. The Panthers struggle to force turnovers and often allow opponents to get to the free-throw line. Pitt is not fantastic at holding onto the ball either and their 67.6% free-throw shooting is among the worst in the sport. It seems the little things are holding Pitt back from excelling, and with the ACC looking much improved this year, rough waters await the Panthers.
Clemson hasn’t won its opening two road games in conference play since 2014. If the Tigers are going to keep pace with the rest of the pack, they need this win. Syracuse and Pitt are not the toughest foes Clemson will face, but road wins in the league come at a premium, and Clemson will take all they can get.
Tip-off is set for Saturday at noon on The CW Network.
