Pitt looks to continue its hot streak with a road showdown with the SEC
Game Time: 9:00 pm
Opponent: Vanderbilt
Head Coach: Jerry Stackhouse (4th year)
Conference: SEC
Current Record: 4-4
Last Game: W 65-62 vs Wofford
2021 Season 19-17 (7-11 11th in SEC)
Top Player: F Myles Stute (12.6 ppg 5.9 rpg)
Vanderbilt defeated Pitt 68-52 at the Pete last season with the Panthers being undone by a 2-15 performance from beyond the arc. Gone from the Commodores is Scotty Pippen Jr. who has appeared in a few games with the Lakers this season. Vanderbilt has struggled so far this season with four losses already to Memphis, Southern Miss, VCU and Saint Mary’s. With the way Pitt has been playing recently, this is a game that they should win, even on the road. Vanderbilt was picked to finish near the bottom of the SEC and nothing about their first few games has changed that outlook. A key difference for me will be the teams getting to the free throw line. Although they have played one more game, Pitt has made more free throws (128) than Vanderbilt has attempted (120) so far. The Panthers also convert them at a much higher percentage (73.6% to 61.7%). If Pitt has even an average shooting night, I think they can win this.
Prediction: Pitt 70 Vanderbilt 61