Analysis: The gruesome numbers behind Pitt's winless ACC start
Pitt's 81-54 loss Saturday at Duke highlighted not {only the|the particular} vast chasm between {perhaps the|probably the|possibly the} ACC's best team {and its|as well as|as well as its} almost certain worst, but it shed more light on a growing {concern|issue|problem} surrounding the Panthers.
{It|This|That} hasn't just been the losses -- it's also a perceived lack of progress from {some of|a few of|a number of} the team's better players and just how non-competitive Pitt has been of {late|past due|overdue}. The Panthers have lost seven consecutive games, {contests|competitions|challenges} {which have|which may have|that contain} been decided by a combined 145 {points|factors|details}. None of those {defeats|beats} came by fewer than 14 points. Against the Blue Devils, Pitt was down 16 before {12|twelve|13} minutes had elapsed.
{Of|Associated with|Regarding} course, these numbers {don't|avoid|may} exist in a {vacuum|vacuum cleaner|machine}. By effectively every {measurement|dimension|way of measuring}, Pitt is one of the youngest teams in Division I, and many others that fall under that category that {aren't|not necessarily|usually are} Kentucky or Duke are struggling.
The extent to which the Panthers are flailing, though, is {staggering|incredible|shocking}. Just how bad has it been?
John Peterson had been Pitt's {offensive|unpleasant|attacking} line coach each season under Pat Narduzzi.
{Brian|John} Batko
Pitt offensive {line|collection|range} coach John Peterson {leaves|simply leaves|results in} program
After the most recent defeat at the hands of the Blue Devils, Pitt has lost four of {its|the|their} 20 games {this season|this year|there is much surprise} by at least 25 {points|factors|details}. In coach Kevin Stallings' 53-game tenure, the Panthers have seven such {losses|deficits|loss}. For context, Pitt lost only two games by 25 points {or more|or even more|or maybe more} in 17 seasons under {Ben|Bill|Dan} Howland and Jamie Dixon (a stretch of 580 games). Ralph Willard, who was fired after {five|5|several} subpar seasons, had {six|6|half a dozen} such losses in his 145-game tenure.
{The|The particular|Typically the} average scoring margin of Pitt's seven ACC {games|online games|video games} is negative-20. 7. {The|The particular|Typically the} next-closest ACC team is Wake Forest at negative-7.
Pitt has {led|directed|brought} ACC opponents for {19|nineteen}: 25 of a possible 280 minutes. In {its|the|their} past four games -- which featured two {losses|deficits|loss} to Duke, as well as setbacks against Syracuse and Georgia Tech -- that lack of {competitiveness|competition} was even starker. {In|Within|Inside} those four contests, a total of 160 minutes of game time, the Panthers led {for just|just for|for only} 2: 40.
{It isn't|It’s not|It's} just that Pitt isn't competitive; in conference play, it hasn't really ever {been|already been|recently been} {in a position to|capable of|capable to} win. In the second half, when most games are decided, it is {far too often|sometimes} too {far|much|significantly} behind. In those {seven|7|more effective} ACC games, it {hasn't|has not|have not} ever held a {lead|guide|business lead} in the second {half|fifty percent|50 percent} and was tied {for just|just for|for only} 11 seconds of a possible 140 minutes (with about 12 minutes {left|remaining|still left} {in an|within an|in a} 81-67 loss {Jan|January|By}. 6 at Virginia Tech).