Stanford vs Pitt: Tournament Showdown

0:00On March 9, Stanford faces Pitt in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Tuesday afternoon. The number 10 CD Cardinal enter with a 20-11 record, sitting on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, the number 15 seeded Panthers limp in at 12-19, barely qualifying after a tense overtime win at Syracuse on Saturday. Stanford has built momentum with four straight victories, reaching 20 wins for the second straight season under first-year coach Kyle Smith. He's the first Stanford coach to hit that mark in his initial two years. Standout guard Ebuca O'Corey leads the conference and scoring at 23.1 points per game, dropping 33 in their latest win at North Carolina State. Pitt coach Jeff Capel has faced heavy scrutiny after just one NCAA appearance in seven seasons, but his team has battled through the noise. The Panthers snapped a slump by winning three of their last five, marking their best stretch since November.

1:00Still, they lack a top score from the conference's top 25. The team's already met once this season, with Stanford pulling out a 75-67 home win on February 25. O'Corey exploded for 34 points there, despite Pitt leading at halftime. Pitt relies on forward Cameron Corhen, who averages 13.2 points and 6.8 rebounds, including 22 in that match-up. The winner advances to face seventh seed in North Carolina State on Wednesday, a crucial step for Stanford's tournament hopes, and a potential lifeline for Pitt fading season.