Pittsburgh Panthers Set to Host Canisius Golden Griffins at Petersen Events Center
As the Pittsburgh Panthers prepare to host the Canisius Golden Griffins at the Petersen Events Center, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be an electrifying matchup. The Panthers have been showing a mix of promise and areas for improvement in their recent games, and this upcoming contest is an opportunity to solidify their identity as a team.
In their last game on December 7 against the West Virginia Mountaineers, PITT displayed a dominant performance with an 80-63 victory. Their offensive prowess was on full display as they shot 47 percent from the field and an impressive 42 percent from beyond the arc. The team's ability to spread out scoring was evident with 16 three-pointers made, showcasing depth in shooting that could prove vital against CAN.
However, it wasn't just PITT's offense that shone; their defense also stepped up by limiting turnovers to just six while forcing nine from WVU. This defensive tenacity coupled with a rebounding advantage (33 total rebounds for PITT versus WVU's 32) helped them maintain control throughout the game.
On December 3, facing Clemson Tigers at home proved more challenging for PITT. Despite falling short by nine points in a hard-fought battle ending at 70-79, there were positive takeaways including resilience in fighting back and converting second-chance points (16). Yet, they'll need to address free throw accuracy which stood at only 55 percent – leaving valuable points off the board.
The November 29 encounter against Missouri Tigers highlighted areas needing attention as well; particularly ball security after committing eleven turnovers leading to nine MIZZ points off turnovers. Although they lost by seven points finishing at 64-71, one cannot overlook their free throw performance where they hit over 80 percent of their shots.
Looking ahead to December 9th’s game against CAN, it is crucial for PITT not only maintain its shooting efficiency but also tighten up defensively and on ball handling. The Panthers must exploit CAN’s weaknesses while capitalizing on second-chance opportunities – something they've shown proficiency in during past games.
The Golden Griffins will undoubtedly come prepared but if PITT can harness its demonstrated strengths and address previous shortcomings – particularly free throw consistency – there's every reason to believe that home-court advantage could play a significant role in securing another win for Pittsburgh Panthers.
Fans eager not miss any action can catch this exciting matchup live on Saturday night at Petersen Events Center or tune into ACC Network channel number:612 starting at approximately six o'clock PM Eastern Time.