Pitt ready to squeeze Orange

After finally breaking out of a three-game skid and escaping with a 73-67 win against… After finally breaking out of a three-game skid and escaping with a 73-67 win against Cincinnati Wednesday, the Panthers hit the road to face Syracuse Saturday at noon with one thing in mind – another win.

“Our guys are excited,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. “It’s a challenge.”

The Panthers, who are looking to improve their NCAA Tournament resume, are coming off a two-game home stand. Wednesday’s contest was the fourth game back for junior point guard Levance Fields, who fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot in Pitt’s 80-55 loss at Dayton Dec. 29.

Fields, who scored seven points and added five assists against Cincinnati, is now battling blisters on both of his feet. Dixon said Fields should be fine to play.

“They had to take care of [the blisters] after the game,” Dixon said. “Those are the things that happen when you don’t play for seven or eight weeks.”

Like Pitt, Syracuse (17-11, 7-8 Big East) has struggled with injuries this season. Starting guards Andy Rautins and Eric Devendorf suffered season-ending knee injuries, damaging the team’s depth.

Devendorf averaged 17 points and 3.9 assists through 10 games this season before his injury, while Rautins was hurt in a summer-league game.

After Devendorf and Rautins were hurt, former McDonald’s All-Americans Jonny Flynn and Donte Greene, both freshmen, were looked upon to carry much of the team’s load.

Greene started the season on a tear, but the Orange have recently seen a dramatic decrease in his production.

Although he’s averaging a team-leading 17.1 points per game, he shot 30.4 percent from the field and is averaging 12.3 points in his past six games.

Still, the 6-foot-11 forward has shown the ability to score both inside and outside. He has taken 46.6 percent of Syracuse’s 3-pointers, meaning the Panthers will have to be keyed in on him at all times. He’s also pulling in 7.4 rebounds per game.

Flynn, who has scored in double figures in all but six games this year, is averaging 15.3 points and 5.1 assists, while also leading the team in free-throw shooting at 79 percent.

“We’ve got to challenge [Greene and Flynn],” Dixon said. “Both of them can put it on the floor, both of them can shoot it from deep.”

Pitt junior Sam Young, who played against Greene in AAU in high school, said he plans on pressing up on Greene. Young is confident he can stop Greene’s outside scoring.

“I’ve played against him,” Young said. “I’m pretty familiar with his game.”

Despite winning against Cincinnati, Pitt was outrebounded by 12 – something that Dixon said his team needs to improve.

The defense also struggled, allowing Cincinnati forward John Williamson to torch the Panthers with 27 points and nine rebounds.

“We always can do things better, no matter what,” Dixon said. “We’re never satisfied with our defense.”

One Pitt player who did pull in some rebounds for the Panthers against Cincinnati was freshman center DeJuan Blair. Blair had 18 points and 10 rebounds, notching his 12th double-double of the season.

Blair also got the job done on the line, knocking down 6 of 8 free throws.

Young also had success on the offensive side Wednesday night but struggled under the glass.

The 6-6 forward scored 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting but failed to pull in any rebounds.

The Orange dropped a 94-87 decision at Notre Dame on Sunday. Notre Dame’s Kyle McAlarney took advantage of Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense, which like most zone defenses leaves opponents more opportunities to hit outside jumpers.

McAlarney had a 9-of-11 shooting performance from outside.

After Saturday, the Panthers will have two games remaining in the regular season. They travel to West Virginia Monday night for their last road game before hosting DePaul March 9.

Pitt has now won at least 20 games for the seventh consecutive season.