Pitt's 75-74 loss at Vanderbilt on Wednesday showed us much of what we have seen already throughout various points of the season.
Here are three takeaways from the loss:
1. Inconsistencies are glaring.
You can't be a 3-and-D team in college basketball, especially in this ACC which Pitt will see this season. The Panthers need to find some more cohesion offensively, as it has largely been night-and-day in terms of synergy. When Pitt hits its shots from outside, then they won't need to rely as much on the bigs inside the paint.
It was there, and then it was not on Wednesday.
In the first half, Pitt made 7 of 11 from 3-point range. In the second half, it was at 5 of 14. So, a bit of a dropoff, while the Panthers tried to work the ball inside more. That will work with appropriate synergy, but keeping up a hot streak over 40 minutes is entirely too difficult to rely upon on a consistent basis.
Pitt was also negative in the assist-to-turnover margin, at 12 to 15. That's always unacceptable at any competitive level of basketball. The bench was also nonexistent, virtually, as the Panthers' four points off the bench were outdid by Vanderbilt's 30.
2. Is John Hugley IV alright?
I wonder out loud. He has totaled two points over his last two games. He has shot the basketball just four times while not getting to the free-throw line, and he played 14 minutes in each of the last two games, while committing three personal fouls in each of those games.
Here is the bottom line: If Hugley is not healthy yet, don't play him. Jeff Capel cannot risk losing his best forward before ACC play to some freak aggravation of his leg injury. The Panthers have plenty of size below, with Fede Federiko filling in nicely in spots, with Jorge Diaz Graham stretching out the floor -- neither of the twins played on Wednesday -- and Pitt still got out-cleaned on the glass by Vanderbilt, 39-31, and the Commodores grabbed 18 offensive boards. Vanderbilt outscored Pitt 30-12 inside the paint.
3. Is Nelly Cummings finding his groove?
The Panthers' point guard has tallied double-digit scoring in four of his last seven games, including a season-high 18 points on a nice shooting line of 6-for-9. Cummings has recorded a clip of above-.500 on 3-pointers in his last four games, making 9 of 20 from beyond the arc.
He has limited his turnovers since the trip to New York, recording two or fewer in each of his last six games. Over that stretch, Cummings has recorded 29 assists to 10 turnovers.
THE ESSENTIALS
PROGRAMMING NOTE
• All - As always, I appreciate you reading and taking time out of your day to check in with what's happening in Pitt athletics. Because of a serious family matter, I will be out of town for the next few days. I will be back inside the Asylum with you all on Monday. Be well!