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Pittsburgh vs Iowa State: 2023 NCAA Tournament game preview, TV schedule

By Tristan Freeman

Mar 14, 2023; Dayton, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Guillermo Diaz Graham (25) celebrates a play in the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2023; Dayton, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers forward Guillermo Diaz Graham (25) celebrates a play in the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at UD Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Coming off a win over Mississippi State in the NCAA Tournament play-in game, can Pittsburgh beat Iowa State in the 11 vs 6 matchup?

TV schedule: Friday, March 17th, 3:10 (approx), truTV 

Arena: Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina

Two of the last four teams to make the NCAA Tournament were Pittsburgh and Mississippi State, who faced off on Tuesday to decide who would face Iowa State in the Round of 64. The Panthers got bad news before the game, with starting center Federiko Federiko out with a left injury.

But despite being shorthanded, Pittsburgh was able to hold on to beat the Bulldogs, 60-59. Jamarius Burton was in foul trouble the entire game but made the go-ahead jumpshot to get the final lead of the game. Nelly Cummings led the team with 15 points and four assists in the win.

The Panthers’ next opponent is the Cyclones, who got a six seed after going .500 in the Big 12, the best conference in college hoops. Iowa State is similar to Mississippi State in that they’re a defense-first team with plenty of athletes. They also aren’t an elite shooting team, unless they’re playing Baylor. With Caleb Grill gone as well, their ability to make three-pointers effectively comes down to Gabe Kalscheur, second on the team with 12.9 ppg.

Jaren Holmes leads the Cyclones with 13.5 ppg and is the only other double-digit scorer on the team. The frontcourt doesn’t provide a ton of offense but there’s plenty of depth, led by shot-blocking big Osun Osunniyi, joined by Tre King, Hason Ward, Robert Jones, and Aljaz Kunc. Considering that the Panthers were out-rebounded by 20+ against Mississippi State, the frontcourt advantage has to go with them.

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But Pittsburgh’s ability to shoot the ball and having five capable double-digit scorers will force ISU’s defense to work. Blake Hinson, who had a huge three-pointer in the second half, averaged 16 ppg and can space the offense as a stretch forward. It’s a game that could easily go similar to the Bulldogs but the Cyclones are a better shooting team and with Federiko potentially not playing, look for the 6-seed to advance.

Prediction: Iowa State 70, Pittsburgh 62

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