Pittsburgh Basketball: 3 keys to NIT Season Tip-Off matchup with Florida

Pittsburgh Basketball takes on its first real season test in the NIT Season Tip-Off against the Florida Gators. What are the keys for them to win?

It’s been a very strong start for Pittsburgh Basketball in the 2023-24 campaign, currently with a 4-0 start. But with none of the teams being in the top 100, we’re waiting until the Panthers play power conference competition before seeing how good they really are.

Enters Florida, who is 3-1 on the season and coming off a 31-point blowout win over Florida State. They’re a team that went heavy in the transfer portal and projects to be an NCAA Tournament. It’ll be a tough test for Pittsburgh in the semis of the NIT Season Tip-Off. Here are some keys for them to win.

1. Blake Hinson against bigger forwards

Coming off an All-ACC campaign, senior forward Hinson is off to a great start, leading the Panthers with 20.5 ppg and 5.8 rpg. But as expected, Florida offers a “big” challenge up front. Their starting frontcourt is 6’11 center Micah Handlogten and Tyrese Samuel, a 6’10 transfer from Seton Hall who is averaging 12.3 ppg and 8.5 rpg.

Hinson is a quality stretch forward so the Gators will have trouble having Samuel on him all game. On the other hand, the Pittsburgh veteran really struggled against teams with big frontcourts insider, as he’s just 6’7. He’ll need to not only avoid foul trouble but also help the team in the rebounding department. Otherwise, Hinson will need to make 4-5 three-pointers to have a real big impact.

2. Carlton Carrington’s chance on the national stage

All eyes are going to be on true freshman Carrington, currently averaging 18.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, and 6.3 apg. But these veteran Gator guards will be a tough test for the guard on both ends. Walter Clayton leads Florida with 14.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg, while Riley Kugel and Zyon Pullin are also double-digit scorers.

Getting in foul trouble won’t be optimal for Carrington but he’ll need to be just as good on the defensive end. A big outing will get the freshman on the national radar and continue to rise up the NBA Draft boards, where he’s getting 1st-round buzz.

3. Bench production

One thing Florida has is depth, with six players averaging at least 9.8 ppg. They have four forwards in the rotation listed at least 6’9, with four guards capable of scoring in double figures. The Gators can easily score 80+ points without one individual even having 20. Pittsburgh does run a 9-man rotation but realistically only has three guys (Hinson, Carrington, and Ishmael Leggett) that can put up big points.

Still, the Panthers supporting cast has plenty of great defenders. Federiko Federiko can handle the interior, while Zack Austin and Will Jeffress will add plenty of defense on the wings. Jaland Lowe will be key coming off the bench and providing some scoring for either Leggett and Carlton in the backcourt.

So far, Guillermo and Jorge Diaz-Graham are combining to average 16.5 ppg and 9.3 rpg off the bench. Since Florida also has good frontcourt depth, the Panthers need these two to play well in order to have a shot at winning this game.