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Steven Adams had a breakout performance helping the Pittsburgh Panthers improve to 10-1 on the season.
Adams recorded the first double-double of his career along with a career high scoring total, leading the way to an 89-40 Panthers blowout over the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.
The freshman center delivered 16 points and 10 rebounds while setting career highs in field goal makes and attempts, shooting 7 for 10 from the field. This was the first time in five games Adams scored in double-figures as he’s struggled with inconsistency early in his college career.
Pittsburgh hopes the performance will help boost the confidence of the 19 year-old because if Adams can get going then the Panthers will become that much stronger.
Pittsburgh has a lot of depth on the roster and coach Jamie Dixon runs 10 deep off the bench with solid contributions from everyone that receives court time. Preseason expectations predicted more from Adams then has been seen from the young center in a month and a half of the season. However, his struggles adjusting to the college game have been almost hidden given the depth of the Panthers.
J.J. Moore came off the bench to give Pittsburgh 18 points and four rebounds while Dante Taylor chipped in with six points and 11 rebounds in the win over the Wildcats. Taylor is the team’s third leading rebounder with 5.1 per game while Moore is fourth averaging 4.5 rebounds along with being the Panther’s third leading scorer with 10.2 points per contest.
The two players are the most important pieces off the bench for Dixon. Moore provides a scoring spark when the team needs offense and Taylor provides necessary insurance when Adams gets into foul trouble, something the freshman has struggled with.
The bench helps compliment the team’s strong starting-five unit that was once again led by Tray Woodall who finished with 10 assists and only two turnovers in the blowout. Woodall continues to lead the team in scoring and assists with 13.1 points and six assists, while taking great care of the ball by only committing 1.7 turnovers per game.
Woodall along with Talib Zanna have provided the Panthers a scoring duo that will be difficult to contain in conference play and will be that much more effective if Adams can find consistency. Zanna is shooting 63.3% from the field while being ranked second on Pittsburgh in scoring and rebounding with averages of 12.6 points and 5.8 rebounds.
The Panthers only loss came against the Michigan Wolverines, losing 67-62 in a game Adams didn’t even record a point and finished with only one rebound. Pittsburgh’s closest game besides that was a 74-61 victory against the Detroit Titans as the team has made quick work of their competition to begin the year.
The Panthers are a deep team with a lot of length that plays great defense. The team’s freshman center is growing more comfortable and is having a greater impact on the game making life easier for his teammates. Pittsburgh is only getting stronger as a team and they don’t care that they aren’t ranked because their focus is on the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first game of conference play.
And on New Year’s Eve when the two open up their league schedules, the Bearcats are going to have their hands full trying to contain a Panthers roster loaded with depth.
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