1 p.m. today, South Regional
No. 4 Panthers: 26-9, 10-8 Big East No. 13 Golden Eagles: 24-8, 16-2 Summit League Key matchup.
Pitt’s Sam Young vs. Oral Roberts’ Yemi Ogunoye. Young is a versatile forward who can score inside and outside. He is averaging 18.3 points and 6.4 rebounds, and was even better in the Big East Tournament. Ogunoye is a fleet-footed defender. He has good quickness for his size (6-feet-9, 215 pounds) and is long enough to bother Young (6-6, 215).
Up high.
Pitt is a more composed team offensively with junior guard Levance Fields on the court. Fields missed 12 games because of a fractured foot, but came back to lead Pitt through the Big East Tournament. Ronald Ramon and Keith Benjamin add 3-point punch for the Panthers. Oral Roberts’ Moses Ehambe and Robert Jarvis have combined to hit 163 3-pointers this season.
Down low.
Young ranks second on the Pitt team in rebounding, but star freshman DeJuan Blair (6-7, 265) is the on-the-block force (9.1 rebounds per game) that Oral Roberts will have to deal with most. That responsibility will lie primarily with 6-10 senior center Shawn King, who is averaging 6.6 rebounds and 2.03 blocked shots.
Quote.
“Expect a miracle. We’re here to shock the world, nothing less.”
Moses Ehambe, ORU swingman
Chris Dempsey’s pick: Pittsburgh
