Pittsburgh Basketball: 3 key storylines in Panthers matchup with The Citadel

3. Femi Oduakle must make good decisions

Ever since the end of last season, one of the biggest storylines for the program has been the anticipation of the sophomore guard being in the spotlight for Pittsburgh. And now, he’s literally the unquestioned lead guard of the offense. Of course, the supporting cast on the perimeter has been decimated, putting all of the pressure on him.

Odukale will have to grow up fast, as he single-handily could decide the outcome of the game. If he gets in foul trouble, turns the ball over too much, or simply can’t make a shot, there’s no Plan B for the team in the backcourt. The foul trouble issue could be the most important since there’s no depth already to begin with, so the 6’5 may have to sacrifice some defensive tenacity in order to stay on the court.

There’s good news and bad news for Oduakle when it comes to the Bulldogs. The good news is that they were one of the worst defensive teams in the country last season, even while playing at a fast pace. The lack of size and good individual defenders means that power conference programs like Pitt shouldn’t have too hard of a time scoring on Tuesday night.

The bad news is that the extra possessions that the Bulldogs will provide also create opportunities for Oduakle and Pitt to turn the ball over. Mistakes and overall offensive issues could easily create a couple of 10-0 scoring runs that the Panthers may struggle to come back from. Pitt would be better off playing with limited possessions but the new-look backcourt will have to learn on the fly to start the season.

After losing to Saint Francis (PA) to start last season, it’s important for the program to avoid another upset loss on opening night. But with a star forward on the opposing side and major backcourt issues to deal with, this could be a toss-up game for the Panthers, with any number of outcomes potentially in play.