Pitt Panthers Leap to No. 25 in KenPom Rankings After Impressive Win Over Murray State

The University of Pittsburgh Panthers have made a significant ascent in the KenPom rankings following their recent victory over Murray State. On Friday night, Pitt secured a 15-point win against Murray State, building on their earlier 40-point victory over Radford. This strong performance has propelled the Panthers from No. 32 to No. 25 in KenPom’s analytics rankings, a jump of seven spots from their previous position and 12 spots from their season-opening rank of No. 37.

The win was fueled by standout performances from several key players. Damian Dunn led the charge with 19 points on 6-for-11 shooting, while Jaland Lowe contributed 20 points on 6-for-15 shooting. Ishmael Leggett added 18 points, and Cam Corhen achieved a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Coach Jeff Capel also highlighted the crucial roles played by Zack Austin and Beebah Cummings in the victory.

As a team, Pitt demonstrated impressive shooting accuracy, hitting 51% of their field goals and 42% of their three-point attempts. The Panthers also out-rebounded Murray State 36-30, further solidifying their dominance in the game.

With this win, Pitt moves to a 2-0 record for the season. Their next game is scheduled for Monday, November 11, against Gardner-Webb, who are currently ranked No. 237 in KenPom’s rankings. The game will take place at the Petersen Events Center and is expected to see a significant spread favoring the Panthers.