Pitt wraps up its non conference schedule the Wright way

Albany head coach Will Brown focussed on James Robinson and Lamar Patterson when he prepared for the Great Danes’ matchup against Pitt Tuesday.

Brown knew there would be certain players the Panthers would rely on to hit jump shots, and he knew there were players who could do a little bit of everything. He lauded Robinson’s and Patterson’s ability to distribute the basketball as he explained to his players that the two Panthers could do so while rarely turning it over.

But Brown forgot about Cameron Wright’s passing, just one facet of an all-around game that the redshirt junior has showcased all season. Against Albany, Wright’s game was no different.

Wright led a balanced effort for Pitt, posting 14 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals in 34 minutes, and the Panthers rolled to a 58-46 victory Tuesday afternoon against Albany at the Petersen Events Center in what was Pitt’s final non-conference game of the season.

Brown said that as he and Albany forward Sam Rowley waited outside the press room, Rowley said to him, “Wow, coach, all we talked about was how good of a passer Robinson was … [and] Patterson had almost 60 assists [entering the game].”

“No mention of Wright’s passing [abilities], and he walks out of here with eight assists and zero turnovers,” Brown said, almost in awe of how he could have overlooked that type of ability.

Rowley said that he read Wright’s statline after the game.

“It’s phenomenal… He was just really consistent,” Rowley said

Wright assisted on four of Pitt’s first eight made field goals, helping the Panthers (12-1) overcome a miniscule but unexpected five-point deficit in the first five minutes, which was erased and turned into a 16-16 tie with 9:23 remaining.

The teams traded a basket apiece following Wright’s fourth assist before Pitt began pulling away — this time led by Wright’s jumpshots.

He hit four jumpers in a span of just over three minutes, pushing the Panthers ahead, 26-18. Meanwhile, the Great Danes had gone cold from the floor, missing their final eight shots of the half to allow Pitt to stake a 28-18 lead entering the second half.

Rowley said that Albany struggles “when guys are that athletic and can do that many different things and can hurt [them] in so many ways.”

“[Wright] was tremendous against us tonight,” he said.

After sinking just 26.9 percent of its shots from the floor, Albany (6-7) extended its sluggish shooting into the second half. The Great Danes didn’t make a shot from the field until five minutes had elapsed from the period.

In that time, Pitt built its biggest lead of the game, leading 36-20 with 15:26 to play.

But Albany eventually settled in, started hitting shots and forced turnovers to cut Pitt’s lead to 48-40 with 4:40 remaining. AlbanyGuard D.J. Evans scored 10 of his game-high 18 points in the final 11:41. The increase in defensive intensity slowed Pitt and forced the Panthers into seven second-half turnovers.

Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon said that the Panthers need “ to be able to play at different paces,” when facing games’ tempo changes.

“If they’re patient, it can’t turn us into impatient,” Dixon said.  

Brown said his team’s comeback came from it finding its rhythm.

“After we got down 16, we settled down,” he said. “ We attacked the [defensive] zone, we got good looks [and] we got the ball behind the zone with some lobs. We just looked more efficient.”

But Pitt ultimately staved off the comeback. Patterson, who finished with 14 points and scored his 1,000th career point in the contest, made four free throws to ice the game.

The Panthers outrebounded Albany, 40-27, led by Talib Zanna, who grabbed nine boards while also posting 10 points.

Pitt finished its non-conference schedule with just one blemish in its record, a 44-43 loss to Cincinnati at Madison Square Garden Dec. 17.

“It was good. We finished 12-1,” Patterson said of the non-conference matches. “We should have finished 13-0, but we know how to build now and work off the previous games. We’ll be fine.”

Patterson said that he sees the team developing as they head into ACC play.

“Just by numbers this year, it’s showing what hard work will do for you,” he said. “We haven’t seen the best of Cam [Wright] yet — so be ready for that.”

Wright feels it, too.

“I definitely feel myself getting better, I’m confident out there,” Wright said, adding that his teammates provide him with confidence. “I know I’m surrounded by a great group of guys, so whether its passing or rebounding or scoring or defending, I’m willing to do anything for my teammates.”