Pitt’s tumultuous 2020-21 season came to a close on Tuesday afternoon, as the team fell to Miami 79-73 in the first round of the ACC tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina. But the loss at least provided some hope for the future, as Pitt got outstanding performances out of Femi Odukale and Nike Sibande, both of whom will be leaned on heavily in the fall.
The backcourt duo combined for 52 of the Panthers’ 73 points on Tuesday, with Odukale leading the way with a career-high 28 points and Sibande coming up with a season-high 24. Odukale was particularly effective driving to the rim and went 9-for-13 on two-point tries, while Sibande poured in a handful of highlight-reel shots over the course of a 5-for-8 shooting performance from beyond the arc.