PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Entering the week ranked fourth in turnovers forced and steals per game, the University of New Orleans (5-4) heads to the Petersen Events Center to take on the University of Pittsburgh (8-3) in a nonconference contest Thursday at 7 p.m. The game can be streamed on ACC Network Extra and the Watch ESPN app.
It will be the first time the Privateers take on Pitt since Dec. 30, 2000. UNO is 1-3 all-time versus the Panthers.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Game Notes:
http://unoprivateers.com/sports/2017/11/6/mens-basketball-game-notes.aspx
Live Stats:
https://pittsburghpanthers.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Watch:
http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3454682/new-orleans-vs-pittsburgh
Listen:
http://unoprivateers.com/watch/
Social Media
Twitter:
@PrivateersMBB
Instagram:
@PrivateersMBB
Facebook:
PrivateersMBB
TIP-OFF
• New Orleans plays in its fifth state this season Thursday when the Privateers take on Pitt on ACC Network Extra at 7 p.m.
• The game can be streamed on the Watch ESPN app.
•
Gerrale Gates tied his season-high with 17 points in the win over Williams Baptist Thursday and UNO featured four double digit scorers. The team tallied 28 assists on 35 field goals.
•
Jorge Rosa came off the bench with 14 points - 12 from three-point range.
• On the year, UNO has dished 20+ assists in four games (4-0 in those games) and forced 15+ turnovers in seven games (5-2).
• The club entered the week ranked fourth in the nation in turnovers forced and steals per game.
• Thursday is the fifth meeting between Pitt and New Orleans and the first since Dec. 30, 2000.
•
Ezekiel Charles and
Scott Plaisance Jr. average 10+ points per game with 11.4 and 10.2, respectively.
• Head coach
Mark Slessinger has started seven different lineups through the first nine games of the 2018-19 season.
• Plaisance Jr. is the only player to start all nine games this season.
• Following the contest at Pittsburgh, the Privateers head back home for the holidays and return to action December 29 at Baylor to conclude nonconference play.
• Tickets are available for the remainder of the season on UNOPrivateers.com/tickets.
ABOUT THE PRIVATEERS
Entering the week, New Orleans led the Southland Conference in assists (17.88), steals (10.75) and blocks (4.75). The Privateers were second in turnover margin (19.5) and assist/turnover ratio (1.14). The squad has two players averaging double figures in
Ezekiel Charles (11.4) and
Scott Plaisance Jr. (10.2).
In Tuesday's blowout win over Williams Baptist, the squad shot 53.8 percent from the floor, surpassing 50.0 percent for the third time this season.
Charles' 43.6 percent shooting from three-point range is tops in the league.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS
Pitt is 148-8 all-time at the Petersen Events Center in nonconference play. Jeff Capel is in his first season at the helm of the program.
Four of Pitt's top five scorers are newcomers. The Panthers rank second in the ACC and 11th nationally in field goal percentage defense (37.5), holding six opponents to < 40.0="" percent="">
The club began the season 6-0 under coach Capel and is coming off a 78-43 win over Maryland Eastern Shore.
According to KenPom Raw Defensive Efficiency, Pitt is No. 14 nationally. * from Pitt's notes; Last season, the Panthers ranked 289th in that category.
THE SERIES
New Orleans trails the series 3-1 with the clubs last meeting in 2000.
SWARMING DEFENSE
With a defense ranked in the top five in steals and turnovers, UNO has forced 15+ turnovers seven times this season and 20+ four times. The Privateers collected 10+ steals five times.
BALANCED ATTACK CONTINUES
In the win over Williams Baptist Tuesday, UNO featured four double digit scorers. New Orleans is 4-0 when four or more players reached double figures.
NATIONAL RANKINGS AS OF 12.11
- New Orleans
- Steals per Game - 4th (11.0)
- Turnovers Forced - 5th (20.14)
- Assists per Game - 12th (18.6)
- Fewest Fouls - 14th (124)
- Offensive Rebounds per Game - 19th (13.86)
- Blocked Shots per Game - 31st (5.1)
- Turnover Margin - 41st (3.9)
- Total Steals - 49th (77)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@PrivateersMBB on Twitter,
@PrivateersMBB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersMBB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
