Pittsburgh is searching for answers-and a way to snap its latest three-game skid-as it prepares to host Wake Forest on Tuesday in a matchup of two ACC teams looking to steady the ship.
The Panthers (8-12, 1-6 ACC) have dropped six of their last seven, with their most recent setback coming in an 81-72 loss to NC State. And while there were a few bright spots in that game, one glaring issue stood out: free throws.
Pitt went just 11-for-25 from the line, a stat that’s hard to overlook in a conference as competitive as the ACC. That’s not a one-off either-the Panthers rank second-to-last in the conference in free throw percentage at 66.3%.
Head coach Jeff Capel didn’t mince words after the loss.
“We’ve got to be able to make free throws,” Capel said. “We’ve got to have the mental toughness to step up and make them.”
That mental edge-or lack thereof-has been a recurring theme during this rough stretch for Pitt. And with Wake Forest coming to town, the Panthers will need to find that edge quickly if they want to avoid digging a deeper hole in the standings.
The Demon Deacons (11-9, 2-5 ACC) aren’t exactly riding high either. They’ve lost six of their last eight, including a 90-69 blowout at the hands of Duke on Saturday. After that game, Wake head coach Steve Forbes was visibly frustrated-not just with the result, but with what he saw as a lack of effort in the hustle plays.
“This is the worst job I’ve ever done in 37 years of coaching a team to get loose balls,” Forbes said. “It’s frustrating as hell, and I feel like it’s a reflection of me - not who I am.
That’s not how I operate. That’s not how my teams play.”
Wake Forest’s issues on the glass and in 50-50 situations have been costly, and Pitt will look to exploit that with the help of big man Cameron Corhen. Corhen is averaging 8.1 rebounds per game, good for seventh in the ACC, and his ability to control the boards could be a swing factor against a Wake team that’s struggled in that department.
Offensively, Wake Forest leans heavily on Juke Harris, and for good reason. The freshman guard is third in the ACC in scoring at 20.6 points per game and has been red-hot lately, scoring at least 20 points while shooting over 50% from the field in four of his last five games. He’s not just a volume scorer-he’s an efficient one, and the Panthers will need to key in on him from the opening tip.
Myles Colvin, the Deacons’ second-leading scorer at 12.5 points per game, is looking to bounce back after a quiet five-point outing against Duke. If he can find his rhythm, it gives Wake another weapon Pitt will have to account for.
For the Panthers, Brandin Cummings continues to lead the team in scoring at 13.1 points per game, but he’s hit a bit of a wall recently. He hasn’t shot above 40% from the field in any of the last three games, and Pitt will need a more efficient performance from their top scorer if they want to keep pace with Wake’s offensive firepower.
This game isn’t just about snapping losing streaks-it’s about identity. Both teams are in the thick of a tough ACC stretch and trying to rediscover who they are.
For Pitt, it starts with toughness at the line and consistency from its scorers. For Wake, it’s about energy, effort, and getting back to the gritty style of play that Forbes demands.
Tuesday’s matchup won’t decide the ACC standings, but for two teams trying to right the ship, it’s a crucial opportunity to reset the tone for the second half of the season.