Busting Brackets
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Duke vs Pittsburgh: 5 biggest storylines for 2019-20 ACC matchup

By Garth Johnson

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 02: Head coach Jeff Capel of the Pittsburgh Panthers calls to his team as Sidy N'Dir #11 runs up the court in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on March 2, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - MARCH 02: Head coach Jeff Capel of the Pittsburgh Panthers calls to his team as Sidy N'Dir #11 runs up the court in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on March 2, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 08: Xavier Johnson #1 of the Pittsburgh Panthers (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Good Guard Play

Pitt goes as their guards go and lately they have been going pretty well.  Xavier Johnson and Trey McGowens had rough nights at Syracuse but have been exceeding their season averages in their last five games before that.  Justin Champagnie, who is listed as a guard but plays more three and small-ball four, has also stepped up his game of late at the same time and Pitt has had some good wins and heartbreaking losses as a result.

To make the point that they have to play to their potential, I have to throw out one game for each player during their five-game surge in production because they are inconsistent and each had a clunker, although McGowens and Champagnie’s off games were in the UNC blowout win at home, go figure.  This isn’t an exact science after all.

McGowens: Last 5: 20 pts 3.8 reb 5.3 as 2.3 st – Season: 13.4 pts 3.7 reb 3.2 as 1.9 st

Johnson: Last 5:  14.3 pts 4 reb 6 ast 1.8 stl – Season:  12 pts 3.8 reb 5.2 ast 1.3 stl

Champagnie: Last 5:  14.5 pts 10 reb 1.8 stl – Season:  11.4 pts 6.9 reb 1.2 stl

Pitt has been waiting for Xavier Johnson to make the jump they thought he would after averaging over fifteen points last year.  He has improved in other areas but not enough for us to consider him not going through a bit of a sophomore slump.

McGowens has been on fire, scoring 24 points twice in his last five games, but only had five against UNC at home after torching them in the Dean Dome.  Champagnie has been a nice surprise as he has gotten progressively better throughout the season and sits as the third best option and top rebounder as a three-star freshman with unknown expectations.

Pitt will need all three to play well on both sides of the ball for them to consider pulling the upset, but they aren’t the Panthers of a couple of years ago either.  Now we’ll check out a couple of things on the Duke side to see what they may have been working on during their hiatus:

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