Panthers’ Benjamin, Biggs likely to miss game
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – After having little problem beating 12th-seeded Kent State Friday night, fifth-seeded Pitt advanced to the NCAA basketball tournament round of 32 and will face Bradley University of the Missouri Valley Conference at noon today at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Panthers will probably have to do so with a short bench once again as both Keith Benjamin and Tyrell Biggs remain out due to injuries and are not expected to play. That could be bad news against Bradley.
The 13th-seeded Braves (21-10), who hail from Peoria, Ill., stunned fourth-seeded Kansas, 77-73, on Friday, leading for virtually the entire game (all but 2:34).
“I came into this tournament (thinking) that there are no upsets after going through a Big East tournament where the No. 1 and No. 2 teams didn’t even make the final,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. “I told our players seeding doesn’t mean anything and anyone can win it no matter where you’re seeded and some of the upsets that already have happened prove that point.”
The Jayhawks’ loss marked the first time a No. 4 seed or higher was eliminated in the first round two years in a row. The Panthers (25-7) did not take the attitude they were going to play Kansas and are careful not to look past Bradley.
“We’re not worrying about seeding so we don’t care Bradley is a 13-seed. We’re not looking past them at all,” Carl Krauser said. “They’re a good basketball team, and didn’t make a miraculous comeback or a last-second shot to beat a four-seed. They were in control the whole game against Kansas so they showed how good of a team they are, and we need to prepare for them.”
The Braves start two seniors in 6-0 guard Tony Bennett and 6-7 forward Marcellus Sommerville, a junior in 6-3 guard J.J. Tauai, and two sophomores in 5-10 guard Daniel Ruffin and 7-0 center Patrick O’Bryant.
“Bradley is very well balanced and do a good job of running sets and getting their shooters open, especially Sommerville,” Dixon said. “They play good man defense, they have solid depth with a good rotation, they can bring in quickness and size.”
Sommerville averaged over 16 points a game this year and is joined in double-figure scoring averages by Bennett and O’Bryant (11.4), and sixth-man, 6-4 senior forward Lawrence Wright (10.1).
“I think Pitt is a more physical team than Kansas and have a true point guard,” Sommerville said. “We feel we have a lot to prove and want to hold our hats on more than one game and show the world what we can do.”
This is the fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for the Panthers. Should they win today, they would advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in the last five years. Dixon does not feel past tournament experience will be a factor in today’s game, however.
“We have NCAA Tournament experience, but Bradley might have a more experienced team than us,” Dixon said. “I think our past experience in the tournament will not have a lot to do with the game.”
Bradley coach Jim Les feels his team is facing a challenge, but is not intimidated by the difference in seedings or conferences.
“It will be a big challenge to play Pittsburgh but we aren’t finished yet. We need to stick to business and look ahead, not look back and put Bradley basketball back on the map,” Les said. “This is an opportunity we might not get a second chance at, so we need to lay it on the line and give our best punch.”
The winner will play the survivor between top-seeded Memphis and No. 9 Bucknell, which also is being played today.