Welcome to the Pitt mailbag, where Post-Gazette reporters Noah Hiles and Christopher Carter answer all of your questions about the Panthers. If you have a question, tweet them at @_NoahHiles and @CarterCritiques or email them at nhiles@post-gazette.com and ccarter@post-gazette.com. Noah and Chris will answer your questions in full length each Tuesday on YouTube. You can read the condensed version of the discussion below.
Editor's note: Due to Chris Carter’s travel schedule, this week’s mailbag was done by just Noah Hiles.
Ralph: What are the chances we see a Pitt-Penn State first round NCAA tournament matchup in Dayton, and if so, who has the advantage?
Hiles: Should Pitt win Wednesday in Greensboro, I don’t think it will have to worry about playing in Dayton. But I will play along for the sake of this question. I think Penn State holds a few advantages. The Nittany Lions have been playing better basketball as of late, come from a stronger conference and have the best player out of both squads — senior guard Jalen Pickett. However, with all that being said, I still feel Pitt is the better team. Pitt’s back court is both deep and experienced. The Panthers as a team seem to play their best when the pressure is at its highest. Penn State is a fun team to watch, especially when it’s hitting shots from the outside. I just think Pitt can win in more ways, so I’ll give the overall edge to the Panthers. (Be sure to tell me how wrong I am in the comment section, Penn State fans!)
Johnny: If Pitt loses its first game in the ACC tournament, does it still make it into the dance?
Hiles: I’d like to think so, but it will be close. If the Panthers lose Wednesday, they’ll be spending the remainder of the week rooting against the rest of the teams on the bubble. It will need teams like North Carolina, Clemson, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Oregon, Arizona State, Oklahoma State and others who have lesser resumes to all have rough showings, which is a risky game. If I was picking the field of 68, I would have the Panthers in. A loss Wednesday would probably lead me to put them in Dayton, but nonetheless, I feel they’ve done enough to deserve an invite to the dance. But I’m not one of the people who makes those big decisions. I’m just a sportswriter, here to answer all of your questions.
Dan: Who has been Pitt’s MVP this season? Hinson? Burton? Cummings? Or someone else?
Hiles: Jamarius Burton is hands down this team’s most valuable player. Many others have been very involved with this team’s turnaround, but Burton was the only starter from last year that is still around, leading the charge. He and coach Jeff Capel really battled through the toughest of tasks to make this year happen. Capel and the staff put the team together and Burton helped work with the newcomers to create a winning culture. I have a few stories set to run later this week that will further expand upon that point, but trust me, the guy has been the team’s guiding voice on top of being its best overall player on the court.
Aileen: Is the Pitt women's basketball job an undesirable one? How does the AD respond to that description?
Hiles: I don’t think I would call it “undesirable.” I think any coach under Heather Lyke will tell you that you get stability and support. She gave Lance White five years and it just didn’t work out. Past coaches have had success at Pitt and I’m sure we will see the same in the future. Getting there will certainly be a challenge, but if how far other Pitt athletic programs have come in the past decade is any indication, I think that alone is worth a few strong head coaching candidates sending Ms. Lyke their resume. I obviously wouldn’t expect Geno Auriemma to be interested in the job, but I think Pitt will have the chance to find someone decent.
Don: Which Pitt player was snubbed from the ACC accolades?
Hiles: The obvious answer here is Fede Federiko. Fede probably should’ve made the ACC’s All-Defensive team. Had he hit his stride as a player earlier in the season, that probably would’ve happened. If he’s back at Pitt next year, which I believe he will be, I think there is no question that he will be viewed as one of the league’s best front court defenders. Nelly Cummings is the other Panther I think you could argue got snubbed. There are a ton of talented point guards in the ACC, but I feel Nelly’s impact on this team deserved some recognition. He probably should’ve received honorable mention for his efforts this year.
Eric: What’s your ACC tournament prediction? How far will Pitt go and who do you think wins the entire thing?
Hiles: Man, this puts me in a tough spot once again! I think no team is playing better basketball in the ACC right now than Duke. The Blue Devils are the favorite to win the tournament in Vegas, and I know better than to bet against the house. I’ll pick Pitt to win its first game over Florida State — who I’m picking to beat Georgia Tech — but I think that will be it for the Panthers. I don’t like how this group matches up against the Blue Devils, especially with how Pitt has been rebounding as of late. Had Pitt drawn a different path, I would’ve likely picked them to go a bit further. But all of you should know I’m horrible with predictions, so me guessing the Panthers will lose in the quarterfinals should be a reason for most of you to celebrate. Nonetheless, I’m very excited to cover all the action in Greensboro. It’s been a fun year on the job and I know the good stuff is just getting started!
Thank you all for following along! Be sure to send questions on twitter to @_NoahHiles and @CarterCritiques or email them at nhiles@post-gazette.com and ccarter@post-gazette.com. And subscribe to our FREE daily all-sports newsletter, PG Sports Feed.
First Published: March 7, 2023, 10:30 a.m.
