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Pittsburgh Basketball: 3 takeaways from monumental win over Duke Blue Devils

By Tristan Freeman

Jan 19, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Justin Champagnie (11) dunks against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Justin Champagnie (11) dunks against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Justin Champagnie Pittsburgh Basketball (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Justin Champagnie Pittsburgh Basketball (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

1. Justin Champagnie should be the frontrunner for ACC Player of the Year

There was a chance that we weren’t going to see the junior guard/forward at this point. Champagnie suffered a serious leg injury in practice in December and was supposed to miss nearly two months. However, a quick personal recovery combined with games being postponed due to covid allowed the Panthers to play just two games without him, going 1-1.

He certainly looks 100%, coming off spectacular performances against both Syracuse and Duke in the last few days. Champagnie is the only player in the country currently averaging at least 19 ppg and 13 rpg and is a matchup nightmare. And he made 4/7 from three-point range, which is supposed to be the biggest weakness in the sophomore’s game.

What makes this season very unique in the ACC is that there is no dominant team. Currently, there are only three that are ranked, including Virginia at 13, Virginia Tech at 16, and Clemson at 20. And the respective “best” players on those teams (Sam Hauser, Keve Aluma, and Aamir Simms), have been solid but none would be considered clear-cut favorites to win Conference Player of the Year.

In fact, a real argument can be made that the top players in the league come from unranked teams. Carlik Jones and David Johnson for Louisville each have a case, along with MJ Walker of Florida State. Georgia Tech’s Jose Alvarado and Moses Wright are putting up big numbers, while Matthew Hurt of Duke will still be a factor as long as he puts up nearly 20 and 10 stats.

However, none of them right now will have the kind of stats and story that Champagnie can offer. Coming into the season, Pittsburgh was projected to finished 13th in the ACC. Right now, they’re just one game off of first place in the standings. And it’s mainly due to the stellar play of the former three-star recruit that few were thinking about coming into the start of last season.

In the ACC, you can usually expect a five-star talent from either Duke or North Carolina to win this award. Or one of the other team’s stars if they’re ranked in the top 10 and winning the regular-season title. Right now, none of that is happening, giving an opportunity to give someone else the premier award of ACC Player of the Year.

If Pittsburgh can finish in the top-6 of the standings and make the NCAA Tournament, Justin Champagnie should be the winner.

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