NCAA Tournament Predictions: 8. Pittsburgh vs. 9. Wichita State

By Kels Dayton
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Updated: March 18, 2013

Tray Woodall

Pittsburgh (24-8, 12-6 Big East)- The Panthers rebounded from a down 2012 by winning 24 games and finishing at No. 17 in the national rankings. Pittsburgh doesn’t have any huge wins (save for a home victory over then-No. 6 Syracuse), but they won the games they were supposed to.

They’re led by do-everything senior guard Tray Woodall, who averages 11.7 points and 5.8 assists per game. He’s a crunch-time shooter and excellent facilitator. But beyond him, the Panthers don’t have much that scares you. Juniors Lamar Patterson and Talib Zanna are the team’s next leading scorers, each average just under 10 points per game. If Woodall is off, Pitt is downright easy to knock off.

KEY STATS:

8th Assists Per Game (16.7)

15th Field Goal Percentage (.479)

146th Rebounds Per Game (35.2)

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Forward Cleanthony Early

9 Wichita State (26-8, 12-6 Missouri Valley)-Wichita State is a grind-it-out, in-your-shorts defensive team that likes to muddy the game up. Their offensive numbers look bad on paper. Wichita State ranks 117th in points per game (69.4), 115th in field goal percentage (.443) and 111th in assists (13.8). But hey, they play good defense!

Cleanthony Early is their best player. With a name like Cleanthony Early, he’s got to be good. And he is, averaging 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. The less excitingly-named Carl Hall also puts up 12.8 points and 7.2 boards per game for the Shockers.

KEY STATS:

117th Points Per Game (69.4)

27th Rebounds Per Game (38.4)

PREDICTION: Wichita State

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