PITTSBURGH — By virtually each measure, the 2018 Pitt Panthers had been the worst basketball groups the varsity has ever sponsored. In Pitt’s 116 seasons on the hardwood, solely six groups posted a profitable share decrease than his .250 mark, seven averaged fewer runs and 25 groups allowed extra factors than the extremely younger and often outmatched Panthers in 2017-18.
Pitt’s Zero-18 file in convention play is an notorious blemish on program historical past. The 12 months earlier than, Kevin Stallings felt lifeless on arrival when he was employed and in some way sank decrease than that. That season marks what is mostly thought-about the bottom of lows for a program not far faraway from the glory days of the 2000s and early 2010s. Few groups have ever come near replicating the type of distress and wholesale apathy that made it the group till the 2023 Louisville Cardinals spoke.
With a first-year head coach in Kenny Payne on the helm, the Cardinals sit at 2-16, final within the ACC, with no wins in opposition to Energy 5 opponents and 11 losses coming by double digits. Their season has miraculously deteriorated since dropping 61-60 to rivals Bellmarine, who moved as much as Division I simply final 12 months. They’re two video games away from midway by their convention slate and haven’t overwhelmed an ACC group, which naturally invitations comparisons to that 2018 Pitt group. The Cardinals are presently chasing historical past, and never in a great way.
Evaluate the 2 groups statistically.
The 2018 Panthers ranked 227th in general effectivity – 278th in offense, 166th in protection and 156th in cross rush whereas enjoying in opposition to the 39th greatest program within the nation. With a -5.76 effectivity margin, they occupied an area within the KenPom rankings shared with sub-.500 low majors – faculties like Eight-19 Columbia, 11-21 Colorado State and 10-22 James Madison.
As a result of as sterile because the outcomes had been, that Pitt group ended up in a a lot better place than the place this Louisville group is now. The Cardinals are a surprising 282nd in KenPom – 42 spots behind the closest main league group. They’re ranked 305th in offense, 233rd in protection and 288th in luck in opposition to the 37th hardest program in America. Their contemporaries are presently 7-12 Bucknell, 5-14 Northern Arizona and 6-11 Western Michigan.
By 18 video games into the season, Louisville has gained simply twice, whereas the Panthers have posted eight-plus wins on the similar level of their marketing campaign. And that handful of additional wins occurred for a motive. The Panthers moved the ball higher (with a 41.1 help charge vs. UL’s 57.Eight), shot barely higher from in all places on the ground, and whereas opponents may block their photographs at a better charge, The Panthers had been stingy defensively at instances and will lean on that to grind out some groups. additionally they performed at an extremely sluggish tempo — 351st in Division I — to shorten the sport and hold scores as little as potential.
It wasn’t very profitable, however it was higher than what Louisville is making an attempt to do now. All of the Cardinals should lean on is their excellent free throw charge — 44th nationally — and 71 % mark from the charity stripe. However the truth that they commit extra turnovers than anybody in America and might’t rating from wherever else on the sphere largely neutralizes that benefit.
There’s additionally further context that’s needed for evaluating these groups. The ACC is a way more forgiving league now than it was in 2018. The season Stallings and firm failed to interrupt one league win, Virginia gained the nationwide title, 9 groups made the Huge Dance, eight had been ranked at one level over the course of the 12 months and 12 of 15 groups completed the 12 months with profitable data. It was stocked with legendary coaches, NBA prospects and nationwide title contenders.
Whereas most of the ACC’s coaches will attempt to let you know that this league is healthier than the repute that follows it, the convention is way from the motion it was final decade. The Cavaliers are as soon as once more a nationwide title contender, however one of many solely ones within the convention. Solely six groups have been ranked at any level this season, solely three are within the present iteration of the AP top-25 and 5 sit at or beneath .500.
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Winless does not win and evaluating two winless data is type of foolish, however Pitt suffered a more durable street to get there. The Panthers have performed 12 ACC video games in opposition to groups within the high 50 in general effectivity, whereas the Cardinals have performed simply two such video games to this point, with simply two extra on the schedule.
It is protected to say the Pitt group has loved a bit extra success on a more durable street, however there is a lengthy approach to go and it is all moot if the Cardinals can proceed their 11-game profitable streak in opposition to the Panthers tonight. . All Louisville wants to flee the infamy that Pitt presently holds is to win simply one in every of its remaining 13 video games.
Pitt is subsequent on the schedule and hopes to keep away from turning into a Cardinal trivia piece by dropping.
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