Secret to Pitt's success during 5-game win streak: 'The ball doesn't have any eyes'

When attempting to put a finger on the pulse of Pitt’s improved play on offense, Jamarius Burton kept repeating a catchphrase he heard in film study from coach Jeff Capel: The ball doesn’t have any eyes.

“We’re just taking that note and running with it,” Burton said. “When the ball doesn’t have any eyes, when it doesn’t stick, when the ball is moving and we’re taking great shots, then we like our chances. Our big emphasis is staying competitive on the defensive end. When we play that type of offense where we’re moving it, good things happen for us.”

The Panthers (6-3, 1-0 in ACC play) are hoping the ball continues to be blind when they wrap a three-game road trip by visiting Vanderbilt (4-4, 0-0 SEC) at 9 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. The teams share a common opponent in VCU, which beat Pitt, 71-67, in the Legends Classic in Brooklyn on Nov. 17, then beat Vandy, 70-65, 13 days later in Richmond.

Pitt is averaging 15.8 assists during its five-game win streak, a sign of the unselfish play in a backcourt where Burton, Nelly Cummings and Nike Sibande accounted for an average of 11.6 assists in that span. And their offensive success has transferred to the other end of the court as the Panthers are averaging 78.2 points while holding opponents to 59.4 the past five games.

Never was their willingness to share the ball more on display than in the 87-58 win at Northwestern on Nov. 28, when Pitt had assists on 22 of 26 field goals and shot 63.6% (14 for 22) from 3-point range. Burton called the Panthers’ performance “tremendous” and a “game we could build off.”

“The ball had no eyes down there at Northwestern,” Burton said. “I feel like, for us, that’s where our strength is: sharing the ball. Taking great shots instead of good shots. Taking what the defense gives us and just really having the energy and excitement for each other.”

Capel’s share-the-ball message carried over to Pitt’s 68-60 win at N.C. State on Friday, despite its struggles in shooting from beyond the arc. The Panthers made only 6 of 22 3-point attempts (27.3%) but had a balanced attack. With leading scorer Blake Hinson (13 points) in early foul trouble, Burton scored a season-high 24 points and Sibande came off the bench to add 10 points.

Where Burton and Hinson have taken turns as the leading scorer the past five games, Sibande scored 17 against Alabama State, John Hugley had 17 against Fairleigh Dickinson and 16 against William & Mary and Greg Elliott had 18 against Northwestern.

“I would say that’s the beautiful thing about this group,” Burton said. “We have a bunch of threats, a bunch of guys that’s capable of putting the ball in the basket. I feel like we’ve started to develop a rhythm, guys understanding where they’re going to get their shots at in the game. We’re just executing at a higher clip now.

“It’s great when you have multiple threats executing on the floor. We’re moving the ball. The ball has energy, and guys are taking advantage of the shots and opportunities.”