Analysis: If Pitt can find a way to win, Irish/Tar Heels rematches may be feel-good tonics for disappointing season

For the purposes of advancement in the ACC Tournament, Pitt might have received the least favorable matchup for the first round that begins Tuesday in Charlotte, N.C.

When league officials unraveled the five-way tie for ninth place, Pitt was seeded 13th — the lowest of the five — and must play No. 12 Notre Dame, with the Irish (14-17, 8-12) coming off an exhilarating 112-110 four-overtime victory Saturday against California. After that, the winner must play No. 5 North Carolina in its home state after the Tar Heels won seven of eight before running into mighty Duke on Saturday.

Yet a rematch with Notre Dame might be just the opportunity Pitt (17-14, 8-12) needs to lessen the sour memory of the past two months, especially that 76-72 loss in South Bend on Feb. 22. That defeat and the next against Georgia Tech at Petersen Events Center might have represented the lowest points of the season for the Panthers, the punctuation marks for their third four-game losing streak in less than two months.

The loss to Notre Dame was Pitt’s fifth by four points or fewer in a span of 43 days, which averages out to about one avoidable disappointment every week or so.

Worse, assistant coach Jason Capel said the Irish played harder that day.

“They played harder. It’s OK to say that. It’s unfortunate to say that, but it’s OK to say that.” Capel said on the 93.7 FM postgame show that night. He was specifically referring to the second half when the Irish scored 46 points in 20 minutes.

Added coach Jeff Capel: “We didn’t play with the intelligence and the commitment and the discipline, defensively especially, that we needed to. This is another game, and there are four other ones, that if we get a few stops and make a couple of plays, we’re one or two possessions from winning the game.”

There wasn’t much talk about Notre Dame on Saturday night after Pitt rolled over Boston College, 93-67, at the Pete.

Singularly minded on the next four opponents, Jeff Capel said he hadn’t watched any Irish video since losing to them. That task likely started around midnight Saturday night.

Sophomore guard Jaland Lowe also hadn’t been thinking much about Notre Dame recently, but what he did say might be the rallying cry for the team over the next two days.

“What do I remember?” said Lowe after he scored 15 points, shot 50% and handed out 10 assists against Boston College. “That we didn’t play anywhere near as good as we can play, but we got something to prove.”

Lowe might also appreciate another chance to measure himself against Notre Dame’s Markus Burton, who scored 43 points Saturday and leads the ACC with an average of 22.2. Lowe only scored 13 against Notre Dame, nearly four below his average and his lowest point total in the past six games.

If Pitt had been the No. 10 seed, it would have taken the Cal/Stanford route to the quarterfinals against teams the Panthers already had defeated. Now, a difficult challenge awaits, something the Panthers can feel good about if they can find a way to advance.

Perhaps the Boston College game was a trigger, although the Eagles didn’t put up much of a fight.

Pitt played solid defense, forcing nine BC turnovers in the first half and holding the Eagles to a season-low for an opponent (19 points).

“I thought we were locked into the game plan,” Capel said.

Ball movement was sharp — 21 assists (Pitt’s most vs. an ACC team) on 30 made baskets.

Lowe was on top of his game, with a double-double and only one turnover in 35 minutes — the type of efficiency Capel wants.

“I thought he played a great game. He allowed the game to come to him,” the coach said.

How much of that big victory was merely Pitt playing against a weak opponent? BC (12-19, 4-16) failed to qualify for the ACC Tournament and was 3-8 in February and March.

How much of it was the Panthers finally figuring out what ails them and doing what Capel and his staff have preached all season?

The results of the next two games — if there is a second one — will answer those questions.